News

9:15-10:15 AM SEPT 10-17-24 7 OCT 1 IN ROOM 7 • The Sept 10 class is hybrid: attend via Zoom or participate with others in our Zoom Room (Room 7 on the lower level). Buz Myers will be in person for the remaining sessions, which will also be live streamed.

One of our most popular lecture-based adult educators returns to Derry Church for four weeks beginning Sunday, Sept 10. The Rev. Charles (Buz) Myers, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Gettysburg College and an ordained minister in the PCUSA, tells us about “The Genius of Mark the Evangelist.”

Down through the years the Gospel of Mark has taken a back seat to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The reasons for the depreciation of Mark are many and varied. In the first place, Mark does not have the literary polish of Luke or the highly stylized format of Matthew.

Furthermore, Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the canonical Gospels, and it lacks some of the familiar stories about and teachings of Jesus that the other Gospels contain. As a result, the Gospel of Mark has been overshadowed by the “fuller” and “more refined” accounts of Matthew and Luke.

In recent years there has been an ever-increasing apprecia­tion for the Gospel of Mark. As the earliest of the canonical Gospels, Mark’s Gospel represents a remarkable achievement in its own right. For this reason, Mark’s poignant portrayal of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will be the focus of this four-week study. We’ll consider such pertinent topics as the identity of Jesus, the role of suffering in the life of Christ and his followers, the meaning of true disciple­ship, and the proper place of miracles in the Christian community.

SEPT 10: Jesus, the Wonder-Worker: A Study of Mark 1:1 – 6:6
SEPT 17: Jesus, the Predictor: A Study of Mark 6:7 – 10:52
SEPT 24: Jesus, the Prophet: A Study of Mark 11:1 – 14:72
OCT 1: Jesus, the Crucified Messiah: A Study of Mark 15:1-16:8

Big congratulations to the winners of our Summer Reading Challenge, Hudson and Oliver Bartz! These pint-sized readers won the big prize of naming an upcoming sermon. They requested Transformers. Will the beast rise? Will there be an appearance from Optimus Prime? Stay tuned…it will surely be more than meets the eye. Thanks to everyone who participated and visited the library this summer. Come back often!

Did you know you can spell L-I-B-R-A-R-Y with symbols from the periodic table? Makes sense since reading is elemental! Visit the Codington Library this back-to-school September and check out our collection of books about science.

• Interested in science and theology? Try Wrestling with the Divine (231 Kni)
• Brush up on your theoretical physics in a graphic novel about Stephen Hawking (YA Bio Haw)
• Study the archaeology of ancient Egypt (J 932 Log)
• Let Fred Rogers explain the psychology of families (PE 306 Rog)
• Try your luck with botany and plan a Bible Garden for next spring (635 Hep)
• Have medical questions or want to be an ally for someone in your life? We have titles about anxiety, autism, cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and many more.

Search these keywords and titles anytime in our online catalog, or stop in to browse the shelves (the library is just inside Entrance #1). While you’re there, don’t forget to write on the Back-to-School graffiti wall and see how our staff answered questions about their favorite school memories.

Our mission partner, the Harrisburg-based Community Check-Up Center, can make good use of your spare 2024 calendars (wall calendars, planners, etc.). Calendars are shared with clients to help them keep track of upcoming appointments.

From entrance #1, go to the mission closet in the corner of the library. Drop your calendars in the white basket marked “Stickers & Calendars.” Thanks, Derry!

4 PM SUNDAY, SEPT 24 IN THE SANCTUARY • FREE WILL OFFERING

Tyler Canonico, nationally acclaimed organist and Minister of Music and Organist at Market Square Presbyterian Church, and Derry’s own Dan Dorty will present the works of classical composers, hymn arrangements, and movie music including Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, and more! Come hear our Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ and Steinway & Sons concert grand piano in action for an afternoon of exciting music.

ARRIVE AT 12 PM, LUNCH SERVED 12:30 PM MONDAY, SEPT 18 AT SKYLINE COMMONS PARK, UPPER PAVILION, 305 SHORT STREET, WEST HANOVER TWP (HARRISBURG)

All are welcome to join the fun and fellowship. Here’s what will be provided:

• Turkey and cheese roll ups
• Paper plates, cups, napkins, silverware, table cloths
• Cooler with ice and bottled water

Please bring a dish to share. RSVP to Kathy McGrath.

Directions to Skyline Commons Park (about 15 minutes from Derry Church):

E. Derry Rd, left on 743 N/Park Ave
Left on Hershey Park Rd/PA-39
Right on PA-39 W
Left on Manor Dr. (Abrahams Restaurant on corner)
Left on Avondale (first street after the stop sign) look for brown Skyline Commons drive sign
Left on Short Street
Left into Skyline Park/Ray Straining Ct.

The pavilion has bathrooms, electric and picnic tables.  In case of bad weather, the potluck will be held at church in room 7.

You are invited to ponder and discuss the following questions with your family, with small groups and committees, or on your own so what happens in worship can follow you, inspire you, and guide you throughout the week:

1. What situation or circumstance has made you feel bitter? How did you resolve those feelings?
2. Have you known someone you would describe as bitter? What was it like being in relationship with them?
3. How does faith help you deal with your own, or someone else’s bitterness? What is a faithful way to engage with this hard feeling?

ME Steelman, who has served Derry as a part-time Children’s Ministry Coordinator and more recently as our full-time Director of Church Life and Connection, has decided to resign her position. ME has found that the demands of her new position, requiring evening and Sunday hours, have taken her away from her young family. Click here to read ME’s resignation letter, which goes into more detail about her reasons for leaving her position.

ME will be working at Derry until December 31, 2023 or until the Personnel Committee finds a replacement for her responsibilities. ME intends to continue worshiping with her church family, but will step away from the Christian Education Committee and the Membership Connections Committee for a period of two years. This will allow her successor and volunteers room to grow into those responsibilities. You will recall that Debbie Hough, our past Director of Christian Education, took a similar respite after her retirement.

The Personnel Committee is evaluating Derry’s needs in consultation with Session and committees and will develop a staffing plan to meet those needs.

Personnel Committee and Session members Julie Yutesler and Gregg Robertson will be pleased to answer any question you may have.

8:45 & 11:45 AM IN THE CHAPEL • WATCH ON YOUTUBE & FACEBOOK LATER IN THE WEEK

Join Pastor Stephen this year in a verse-by-verse study of the books of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude. It’s an opportunity to dig into the context and meaning of these Biblical letters, eleven minutes at a time.

We start with 1 Peter, which centers on the role of apostles as chosen by God to share his Gospel. Because of this, their persecution can actually be seen as a gift because it offers them a chance to show others the surprising generosity and love of Jesus, which is fueled by hope in his return and victory over evil. If you miss a Sunday you can catch up online get that week’s handout from Pastor Stephen.

The women’s Monday night study group invites you to join them for their 2023-24 series beginning at 7 pm Monday, Oct 2. This year is hybrid: the group meets in room 7 and will use the church’s Zoom Room technology to connect everyone who would like to join remotely. Books will be available soon in the church library. No need to RSVP: all are welcome. Questions? Contact Sue George. To join on Zoom, click this link.

Oct 2: “The Woman They Could Not Silence” by Kate Moore
Leader: Jane Robertson

Nov 6: “Journey to the Common Good” by Walter Brueggemann
Leader: Eleanor Schneider

Dec 4: Christmas potluck & fellowship at Jane Robertson’s home

Jan 15: “A Leap of Faith” by David Latimer
Leader: Claudia Holtzman

Feb 5: Conversation/discussion around the Sunday sermon: what it means to each person, the impact in relationship to God and others and how it might encourage self reflection and what that might be.
Leader: Pam Jamison

Mar 4, Apr 1 & May 6: “The Liturgy of the Ordinary” by Tish Harrison Warren, leader TBA

Attention horn, trombone, euphonium & baritone players: the Derry Brass welcomes you to join them in providing music for 10:30 am worship. Rehearsals are held at Derry Church on Tuesday evenings. Please email Scott Ramirez or call him at 717-867-0399.

You are invited to ponder and discuss the following questions with your family, with small groups and committees, or on your own so what happens in worship can follow you, inspire you, and guide you throughout the week:

1. Describe a time when you have been part of a joyful celebration. What made it special? How did it make you feel?
2. What does the word “glory” mean to you? How would describe the glory of God? Where do you see the glory of God manifested in your life or in the world?
3. “Water into wine” has become a cliché. Have you ever had the experience of something ordinary in your life becoming a means of grace? Did you recognize it at the time?

• Approved hiring Haily Radnor as Derry’s Nursery Childcare Leader. Derry Discovery Days submitted the following individuals as candidates for open positions: Krissy Leonard, Katie Pieper, Chelsea Kraus, Kelsey Freeman, and Stephanie Crandall. All were approved.
• Approved the following building use requests: Use of Room 1 during the DDD school year by Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15 for speech/language therapy, use of the sanctuary on Thursday, December 28 for the wedding of Kate Valenziano & Bill Parrish, and use of the sanctuary/fellowship hall on Saturday June 8, 2024 for the wedding/reception of Dan Dorty & Sarah Hykes.
• Transferred the membership of Eric & Kimberly Goetter to South Aiken Presbyterian Church in Aiken, South Carolina.
• July income again was below budget with expenses also less than budget. Year-to-date actual income continues to be ahead of total expenses.
• The Personnel Committee requested that the hourly pay rate for Nursery Childcare Workers be raised from $12 to $15/hr to improve Derry’s ability to attract candidates for the position. The Session approved the request.
• Reviewed updated fee schedules for weddings and funerals, which have not been increased for many years. The Session approved the new schedules as submitted.
• Rev. Marie Buffaloe and Rev. Brad Bradburn wish to purchase Derry cemetery plots. Since they are not members of Derry, this request was brought before the Session for discussion. The request was approved.
• The Peace and Global Witness offering will be collected throughout September. Each church retains half of the offering collected and distributes it to a local mission project. This year, Derry’s half will be distributed to the Harrisburg YWCA.
• The Mission Committee requested that Alaa Haikal be permitted to use the church kitchen for food preparation which she will sell through CWS/Global Marketplace. Alaa is a skilled baker, and her use of the kitchen is supported by Loretta Chubb and will be supervised by the mission committee. The Session approved the request.