News

5-7 PM MONDAYS BEGINNING JULY 17 IN ROOM 7AB • 13-WEEK SERIES

GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who walk alongside people through one of life’s most difficult experiences, offering support to those who are dealing with the loss of a loved ones from death.

Each GriefShare session is organized in two parts. During the first 30-40 minutes of the meeting, the group views a video seminar featuring top experts on grief and recovery subjects. These videos are produced in an interesting-to-watch television magazine format featuring expert interviews, real-life case studies, dramatic reenactments and on-location video. Following the video, participants spend time discussing what was presented on that week’s video seminar and what is going on in each other’s lives.

Those interested may begin attending the GriefShare group at any time. Each session is self-contained, and any missed weeks can be joined when the next 13-week cycle is offered.

Register by contacting the church office (717-533-9667). No cost to attend. Child care is not available.

In June, check out Derry’s collection of books about local places and history:

• Learn more about how Hershey Medical Center started
• Hear Kitty Hershey’s great ideas
• Step into the life of colonial Presbyterians
• Experience the fate of the Conestoga tribe
• Bake a yummy chocolate treat

Take a look at the staff shelf to get new ideas about where to visit, what to eat, and what to do all around Pennsylvania (and find out which staff member you might find riding the Trailblazer rollercoaster at Hersheypark).

Come back in July as we take a trip across the USA, then travel around the world with us in August. Browse books all summer in our online catalog and stop in to see the book displays. Derry’s lending library is just inside Entrance #1.

Keep your eyes open for our mobile book cart! Courtney McKinney-Whitaker introduced the cart at the picnic last Sunday (pictured), and it will be in the Narthex this summer, fully stocked with a rotating selection of titles for all ages. 

TAKE THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE FOR A CHANCE TO TITLE ONE OF PASTOR STEPHEN’S UPCOMING SERMONS!

1. Check out a book from the Codington Library or the mobile cart.
2. Take it somewhere (anywhere! your back yard, the playground, on a road trip, in your carry-on luggage to Zimbabwe).
3. Take a photo or selfie of you with the book.
4. Email the photo to Pastor Stephen or Sue George and it will be posted on the church’s Facebook page and Instagram account.

Each new book photo counts as an entry in a random drawing. The prize? You get to title one of Pastor Stephen’s upcoming sermons. That’s right: you pick the title and Pastor Stephen will preach on that topic!

• Last day to enter: Aug 13 
• Winner announced Aug 20

Good luck and happy reading!

NOW THROUGH WEDNESDAY, AUG 2

Now in its 10th year, Love INC’s network of 21 area churches — alongside caring members of our community — are coming together to offer school-aged students in need a brand-new pair of name-brand sneakers.

New, name brand athletic sneakers may be dropped off at Derry Church: look for the “Lace Up with Love INC” Sneaker bin near the mission closet in the lower level atrium. Or drop off donated sneakers directly to the Love INC office across the street from Derry Church between 9 am and 2 pm on Monday-Thursday. 

Love INC will need more than 300 pairs of new sneakers to outfit girls and boys in sizes ranging from Youth 11 to Adult 17. Click here for a shopping list of needed sizes.

Students will be fitted for their new sneakers Thursday, Aug 3 – Saturday, Aug 5 by appointment only. Click here for more information about volunteering with the distribution.

On Monday, June 5, the groundbreaking was held for Veterans Outreach of PA’s village of 15 tiny homes that will surround a community center for homeless Veterans on the Susquehanna River in South Harrisburg. Photos show the inside and the outside of a sample tiny home.

Click here to watch John Hickey’s June 4 Issues Class presentation explaining the project. A $50,000 fundraising campaign is under way now for the Tiny Home Derry Church is sponsoring.

To donate to this project, place checks in offering boxes notated “VOP Tiny Homes” or mail checks to the church office (248 E. Derry Road, Hershey PA 17033) or give online.

Watch for information on how you can help to build Derry’s Tiny Home next year.

11:30 AM THURSDAY, AUG 24 AT DUTCH APPLE DINNER THEATRE, 510 CENTERVILLE ROAD, LANCASTER

Join the Derry Daytrippers for a buffet lunch followed by the performance of Guys and Dolls. Lunch is served at 11:30 am and the show begins at 1 pm. Cost per ticket: $69. RSVP to Patti Jo Hibshman.

To carpool, contact Patti Jo or Sue Whitaker. Otherwise, meet Patti Jo in the theater lobby at 11:15 am on Aug 24 to pick up your tickets.

7 PM TUESDAYS, JUNE 20 & JULY 18

This summer worship with communion – and music by the Derry Brass – returns to the front lawn! Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and find a comfortable spot under the shady oaks as we gather to sing, pray, and worship together.

JUNE 9-25 AT THEATRE HARRISBURG, KREVSKY CENTER

Derry member Joseph Chubb is performing as William Barfee this month in Theatre Harrisburg’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Click for more information and tickets.

3 PM SUNDAY, JUNE 11 AT FAITH IMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1801 COLONIAL ROAD, HARRISBURG

This concert in memory of Faith Immanuel’s music director, Caleb Flick, features some of Caleb’s favorite works for Piano Four Hands by Ravel, Faure and Rachmaninoff performed by Stuart Malina and Ya-Ting Chang. MORE

5:30-7:30 PM SUNDAY, JULY 9 – THURSDAY, JULY 13 • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Derry Church welcomes you to our annual VBS program. This year’s theme is “A Place at the Table.”  We’ll spend our week listening to stories that teach us how fulfilling it can be to gather around the table with friends, family, strangers and even our enemies. Our stories will encourage us, strengthen us and comfort us as we remind one another that God is always gathering to eat with us. And our lessons will give new meaning to our favorite mealtime gathering spaces!  

Derry’s VBS program is open to children age 4 – entering grade 5. Children must be toilet trained. $15 per child includes a nightly adventure filled with fun, excitement, amazing creations & games, fabulous music and s’mores around the campfire in the courtyard area. 

9:15-10:15 AM SUNDAY, JUNE 4 IN ROOM 7 AND STREAMING

Veterans Outreach of PA plans to build a village of 15 tiny homes surrounding a community center for homeless Veterans on the Susquehanna River in South Harrisburg on a beautifully situated 5-acre parcel. Homes are designed to meet the unique needs of Veterans while recreating the stable support network last offered to them before they left the service.

Learn about the project from John Hickey, VOPA Board Member and Governance Committee Chair, and how Derry Church will be supporting the project over the next year. John will also present a Minute for Mission in worship on Sunday, June 4.

7-8 PM THURSDAY, JUNE 8 AT JOE OWSLEY’S HOME IN HERSHEY

The Derry Church men’s group will spend an hour next week honing their axe throwing skills and enjoying fellowship together. All men welcome!

Summer is upon us – Memorial Day and the Church Picnic are the close signs that life at Derry will ease up a bit. Only a bit, but hopefully this summer you and your family can catch your breath and soak up all the sun and sand and mountain dirt or whatever feeds your soul these days. 

One thing I wanted to suggest is that you consider joining us on Tuesday evenings for our on-going Evening Praise and Communion Worship Service. Starting in June, we will be meeting nearly every Tuesday evening at 7 pm (taking off for July 4 and the Corn Roast on August 15). 

If you are not able to worship on a Sunday morning, come on Tuesday evening! Worship is relaxed, with lots of music, color, creativity, and communion. Most weeks we will be worshiping in the Chapel, but on occasion we will move inside and outside the building. For example, on Tuesday, June 6 we will be meeting in the Codington Library on the Lower Level. On Tuesdays, June 20, July 11, July 18, and August 22 we will worship out in the courtyard (weather permitting). Sometimes, we will meet in the Sanctuary and gather in the choir loft for a hymn-themed worship. Signs will be posted on the Chapel door when we are not using that space.

Continuing to lead worship will be Pastor Stephen, Nancy Reinert, Tom Folts, me and other surprises. Music will be provided by Dan Dorty, Mary Lemons, Kathy Yingst, and anyone else who would like to share their gifts of music with us. Let any of those mentioned by name know of your interest and availability.

All ages are welcome, and this coming Tuesday, May 30 we will worship one last time at 6 pm in the Chapel. I will be leading our time together with Dan Dorty’s help. Our theme is “Curiouser and Curiouser.” Come, bring your own take out dinner, relax and praise God! Hope to see you this summer.