News

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.

• New start time for Prime Timers weekly fellowship changes to 12:45 pm as of Monday, Sept 11
• New start time for Derry’s weekly evening worship in the Chapel moves to 6 pm beginning Tuesday, Sept 12

“Rally Day” Sunday School Kick-Off
9:15 AM SUNDAY, SEPT 10 
Each year we love to kick off our programs with a joyful day of celebration! Mark your calendars now and make plans to join. Children can check out their new classroom spaces, meet teachers and have fun getting to know their classmates. 

Kids Fellowship is Back!
12 PM SUNDAY, SEPT 10
Kids in grades 3-5 are invited to our first fellowship event of the program year following the 10:30 am service. We’ll join forces with our youth group and take over GET AIR in Harrisburg. 

Music & Creative Arts
5:45 PM TUESDAYS BEGINNING SEPT 12
Come have dinner at the church on Tuesday evenings, then stick around for music and creative arts programming. 

10:30 am – 12 pm Thursdays in room 7
This study group, led by Jan Nixon, will discuss Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy-Jill Levine.

9:15-10:15 am Sundays beginning Oct 8 in room 2
Weekly study group led by Jenn Owsley. The letter of James is a short book with a lot of wisdom and practical advice on living the faith we profess. This discussion-based class will use James as a guide to sharing how our faith plays out in our day-to-day lives, priorities, and choices. Participants will be challenged through this letter to reflect on how we follow Christ’s teachings and share His love with the world, and how we can do it better. 

11:45 am Sundays in the Chapel
Pastor Stephen’s 11-minute lessons are back! Join him as he takes the books of First and Second Peter verse by verse as together we get to know and understand these complete letters.

11 am Mondays in the Hammond Library
This weekly study group will be considering When Christians Get It Wrong by Adam Hamilton. Contact Claudia Holtzman for more information.

7 pm on the first Monday of the month beginning Oct 2 in Room 7 and on Zoom
First up for the monthly women’s study group is a discussion of Kate Moore’s The Woman They Could Not Silence, led by Jane Robertson. Contact Sue George for more information.

1 pm on the third Wednesday of the month beginning Sept 20 in the Lounge
The Presbyterian Women’s Morning Circle Bible study for 2023-24 is Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke-Acts. For more information, contact Doris Feil.

More options with Pastor Stephen:

• Men’s breakfast at 7:30 am on the first Wednesday of the month in Fellowship Hall
• Monthly Bible Study with Prime Timers, 12:30 pm Mondays in room 7 (12:45 pm beginning Sept 11)