News

2-3 PM WEDNESDAYS: CLICK THIS LINK TO JOIN FROM YOUR COMPUTER, TABLET OR SMARTPHONE. HELPFUL HINT: MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOGGED IN TO ZOOM BEFORE YOU CLICK THE LINK

When it comes to managing arthritis discomfort and pain, studies have shown that “motion is lotion.” Join Derry member Sandy Morales, a certified arthritis exercise instructor who has been teaching the class for 14 years. She will guide you through a series of gentle exercises designed to take your joints through their range of motion.

Most of these exercises are done seated in a chair. An important goal of the class is fall prevention. Strength and balance exercises are included which will help you to prevent a fall. No special exercise equipment is required: just have some light hand weights or even small water bottles or soup cans handy for the strength training exercises, along with water to drink to keep yourself well-hydrated. 

Our mission partner — Hope Within Community Health, Counseling & Dental Center — is having their annual chicken BBQ fundraiser! Nolt’s BBQ from Manheim prepares a delicious, slow-cooked, charcoal-grilled ½ chicken in the “Amish style.” The meal also includes a baked potato, applesauce, roll, butter and a drink. Order at the link below by Aug 1 and pickup 11 am – 1 pm Saturday, Aug 12 at Hope Within, 4748 Harrisburg Pike, Elizabethtown. There’s also an option to purchase meals for Hope Within patients. Click to order

Our church treasurer, Craig Kegerise, has expressed his need to resign from the position. We thank Craig for all his work and service to Derry Church.

We are now in the process of identifying a new church treasurer. If we cannot find a volunteer, we may have to outsource or hire for the position.

The person selected as treasurer will be very familiar with accounting practices, bookkeeping, and financial software. Click to view the position description.

Contact Pastor Stephen if you have questions or are interested in applying.

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 6/30/23:

Treasurer’s note: June income again fell short of budget, but expenses were also below budget

Derry Church’s Sanctuary Guild teams come over to the church every other week to make sure supplies in the pew racks are restocked and the pews are tidy.

More teams are needed to get the job done on a regular basis. Sign up as a single and we’ll pair you with someone, or sign up as a couple. Either way, you decide when to come in on your scheduled week. This job takes about an hour. Contact Kathy Yingst or Pastor Stephen for more information and to sign up.

7 PM TUESDAY, AUG 22 ON THE FRONT LAWN, WEATHER PERMITTING

In celebration of all of God’s creatures and their presence in our lives, Derry Church offers its 16th annual worship service that includes a hands-on blessing of animals and the people with whom they live. Animals on leash, in a kennel, or otherwise controlled are invited to attend along with their owners. Praise songs and hymns, prayer and a brief meditation are also a part of the worship service. Dress casual.

You’re invited to bring donations for the Humane Society as an outreach to those who help care for animals in need of help and homes. Click for a list of most-needed items.

Derry member Bob Foster is offering classes in Japanese swordsmanship on Wednesday evenings in Fellowship Hall. Derry members may take lessons free of charge (excludes the cost of basic gear). To learn more, click here or text Bob at 931-444-9394.

Renovations are under way this week in Rooms 4 and 5 on the lower level. The wall between the two classrooms has been removed to create a large space for Tuesday evening programming, KIWI and other large group uses. The folding wall between rooms 7A and 7B will be removed and placed here so that Rooms 4 and 5 can also be stand-alone classrooms when needed.

Come and get your Derry Church reusable shopping bag on Sunday, July 16! The bags were created in a collaboration with the Communications & Technology Committee (CTC) and our Vacation Bible School leaders. All children who participated in VBS will take home their projects tonight in one of these sturdy Derry Church branded bags.

The CTC ordered plenty of extras so you can have one free of charge, to help promote Derry Church in the community as you do your shopping and errands. Bags will be available for pickup at the welcome table in the Narthex as long as supplies last. One per family, please.

Three cheers to this amazing group of volunteers who led Derry’s “A Place at the Table” Vacation Bible School this past week. Click to see photos from this fun and busy week.

This year’s Vacation Bible School explored how meaningful, healing, comforting and encouraging it can be to have “A Place at the Table.” Participating families donated to Derry’s mission partners that help everyone feel like they have “A Place at the Table.” Now church families are invited to support our mission partners by bringing items to worship on Sunday or dropping off at the church office by Thursday, July 20. Items needed:

Hershey Food Bank: Canned meats, soups, peanut butter, rice, shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste 
Grantville Racetrack Ministry: Reusable water bottles
Gather the Spirit: Financial donations
Downtown Daily Bread: Men’s & women’s underwear, dark colored socks and disposable razors

Items may be placed on the chancel and financial donations may be placed in the secure donation boxes outside the kitchen and office suite. Mark your checks or envelopes “VBS Missions.”

9 AM – 2 PM SATURDAY, AUG 19 AT DERRY CHURCH

Volunteers are needed to host the Gathering of Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of Carlisle: a pianist for the morning session, ushers/people directors, and a clean-up crew, plus set-up helpers (1 pm Friday, Aug 18) and lunch prep & servers (10 am – 2 pm).

Contact Doris Feil to volunteer. 

The afternoon program will be a presentation on Derry Church’s refugee resettlement experience.

7 PM TUESDAY, AUG 8 AT JOE OWSLEY’S HOME

Due to popular demand, the Derry Dads have scheduled another axe throwing event. All men welcome to attend.