News

BEGINS 11 AM MONDAY, NOV 20 IN THE HAMMOND LIBRARY

You’re invited to join the Monday Morning Bible Study as they begin a new study for Advent: Not A Silent Night: Mary Looks Back At Bethlehem by Adam Hamilton. Questions? Contact Claudia Holtzman.

6 PM TUESDAY, DEC 19 IN THE CHAPEL

Christmas can be a painful time for some. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member who has recently died; it may be a time that has always been difficult.

The constant refrain on radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation – all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. We need to know that we are not alone.

Our spirits sink, as the days grow shorter. We feel the darkness growing deeper around us. We need encouragement to live the days ahead of us. For these reasons, Derry offers Longest Night worship, led this year by Pastor Stephen.

Come and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, communion and music that acknowledge that God’s presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle  – and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone is welcome.

7:15 PM SUNDAY, DEC 10 AT FENICCIS RESTAURANT, 102 W. CHOCOLATE AVE.

The Day Trippers also do evenings, and you’re invited to join them after Derry’s Christmas concert for some Christmas fellowship! Those attending will order off the regular menu and everyone will pay for their own meal. RSVP to Sue Whitaker by Sunday, Dec 3.

1:30 PM MONDAY, DEC 11 AT THE DI MATTEO WORSHIP CENTER/CHAPEL

Pastor Stephen will lead worship with communion, prayers, a meditation and carol singing, with organ accompaniment by Kathy Yingst. A time of fellowship follows the service. The Prime Timers have been invited to participate.

If you’d like to share your recipe for the cookies you’re bringing to the Cookie Walk on Dec 2, bring a copy of the recipe with your cookies. Recipes will be displayed with the cookies and people can take a photo or wait for a printed copy to be made available later. 

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. Where do you see signs of hope in the world?
2. How has God given you hope in your life?
3. What do you hope for the world in the future?

We are excited to welcome Shawn to our ministry team as of December 1. He has many years of experience working with children and youth in a Christian Educator role, most recently at Paxton Presbyterian Church.

Shawn has completed seminary and all the requirements to be an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA). There are just a couple procedural things that need to be completed before he can accept a position as an ordained pastor. When those things are completed over the next few months, Shawn can then serve as our Associate Pastor for Christian Education.

This is a two-year contract position similar to the annual contract we had with Rev. Marie Buffaloe for many years. Please be in prayer for Shawn and Paxton Church through this transition. Shawn will bring energy, experience, knowledge, and passion to our Christian Education ministry and to Derry Church as a whole.

Shawn Gray grew up in the Pocono Mountains region, graduating from Messiah University with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries with a Youth Focus and a minor in Adventure Education. He has served in camps, para-church ministries, behavioral health and rehabilitation services, and parish ministry for the past 20 years. 

Shawn graduated from Lancaster Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity. He is married to Mollie and their family includes an eight-year-old son, Gideon; a five-year old daughter, Mercy, and two rescue dogs, Beryl and Rex. Shawn enjoys working with his hands doing automotive and home repair, going on adventures outdoors and traveling. He has been to Juarez, Mexico, South Africa/Swaziland (Eswatini), Scotland, Palestine (West bank)/Israel, and Canada. Shawn’s ministry inspirations are Mr. Rogers, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Apostle Paul.

Shawn says, “I am excited and honored to be invited to serve at Derry Church. If everyone whom I met so far is any reflection of the church as a whole, it will be a blessing to walk alongside the church and do the good work that God has in store for all of us.”

A donor has matched up to $10,000 in donations given to Derry Church’s Tiny House project, so when we we add $10,000 to the $39,612 raised to date, we are less than $500 from our goal of raising $50,000 to build a tiny home for veterans in Harrisburg! Thanks, Derry!

  Donate to the Tiny House Project  

In September, Derry’s Faith Community Nurse, Beckie Freiberg, erolled in the Westberg Institute’s Faith Community Nursing Course through the West Virginia University School of Nursing. Faith Community Nursing (FCN) is a recognized nursing specialty. The focus of this eight-week online class was on the Spiritual Dimension, Professionalism, Wholistic Health, and Community of the specialty.  

Beckie learned much through the readings and videos, and interacted with fellow classmates through the discussion questions and meeting with the instructor via zoom. Beckie is delighted to report that she has completed the course and can now officially claim the title of FCN. Congratulations, Beckie! We are blessed to have you serving as Derry’s first Faith Community Nurse. Learn more about her role as Beckie leads next week’s Issues Class, 9:15 am Sunday, Nov 19 in room 7B and streaming. 

8:30 AM – 12:30 PM SUNDAY, DEC 3 IN FELLOWSHIP HALL

Derry’s annual blood drive is a few weeks away. Click here to sign up for your time slot or call 1-800-771-0059. Everyone who comes in to donate will receive a $5 Funcks’ gift card and two admission vouchers to the Pennsylvania Auto Show. Walk-ins also welcome.

2 PM AND 5 PM SUNDAY, DEC 10 IN THE SANCTUARY • 2 PM LIVE STREAMING • FREE WILL OFFERING

“Gaudete” is a fancy word for “Rejoice,” and that’s what the singers and ringers will be doing plenty of at Derry’s 2023 Christmas concert. Featuring our Sanctuary Choir, Derry Ringers, harp and orchestra, you can look forward to hearing works including Angels Carol, In the Bleak Midwinter, Carol of the Bells, and opportunities for the audience to sing along on carols including Angels We Have Heard on High and It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. Featured soloists include Nina Cline and Christyan Seay. Join us in rejoicing in the birth of our Savior this Christmas season!

According to author Virginia Kroll in one of our library’s children’s books, “there is no official biblical law or teaching in the church that instructs us to say grace before or after meals.” But we do, and many of us will come to the Thanksgiving table with many prayers of gratitude, awash with wonder at the sweetness of it all (from Three Gratitudes by Carrie Newcomer, a favorite of one of our staff members).

Ever wonder where our most loved prayers came from? Looking for ways to get better at praying? Curious how those in other cultures or religions express their thanks? The answers may just be on our library shelves!

Search the “Prayer” or “Thanksgiving” keyword in our online catalog. Or, stop in to browse the shelves where our collection of books about prayer are featured for you to borrow (the library is just inside Entrance #1). While you’re there, don’t forget to add your favorite Turkey Day foods and football predictions to the graffiti wall, then visit the staff shelf to get inspiration from their favorite mealtime prayers (one is an Eagle Scout favorite. Can you guess who has 3 in his or her family?)