News

Derry member and videographer Dan Poeschl captured program highlights from the recent 300th Anniversary Celebration Dinner so that you can watch it right here! Thanks, Dan, for making it possible to relive (or see for the first time) this special evening in the life of Derry Church.

A congregational meeting will follow 10:30 am worship on Sunday, Oct 13 for the purpose of electing six elders and five deacons for the class of 2027, and four church members to serve on the 2025 nominating committee.

These Derry members have accepted nominations: 

Elders: Bobbie Atkinson (Membership & Involvement), Bill Alexander (Building & Grounds), Peggy Ladd (DDD), Kathy McGrath (Personnel), Lynn Shirk (Christian Education), Matt Smoluk (Communications & Technology)

Deacons: Courtney Garcia, Lynn Porter, Emily Spingler, Julie Harris, Twila Zivellio

Nominating Committee: Suzie Gloeckler, Heidi Keene, Chris Cooper, Sara Matthews

10-11 AM SATURDAY, OCT 26 IN THE DERRY CHURCH PARKING LOT

Families, you’re invited to enjoy a safe space to “Trunk or Treat” with your little ones. There is no cost to participate, simply come in costume and enjoy saying hello and trick-or-treating with your church friends. 

Individuals, couples and families can join the fun by decorating their vehicles and providing candy for the “Trunk or Treat” experience. Let us know you’ll participate:

Register a Trunk or Treat Vehicle or Table

Register Your Trunk or Treaters

Candy donations welcome! Drop candy in the designated box at entrance #1.

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 8/31/24:

	YTD	BUDGET
Income YTD:	$922,774	$873,867
Expenses YTD:	$805,524	$915,639
Surplus/(Deficit) YTD:	$117,250	($41,772)

Dear Members and Friends of Derry Presbyterian Church, 

Words cannot fully express our deep gratitude for the extraordinary generosity of Derry Presbyterian Church. Your support over the years and most especially your recent contribution have been instrumental in making expanding our program possible. In celebration of Derry Presbyterian Church’s 300th anniversary, your gifts to the building renovation project account for almost a third of the funds needed to make fifth grade a reality. Thank you for making Logos Academy Harrisburg’s students a part of the recognition of three centuries of ministry in Hershey. Truly an honor!

THe investment is not just about bricks and mortar or drywall and carpeting: it is an investment in students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to benefit from a Christ-centered, private school education. It is our sincere hope and prayer that this investment will not only benefit our current students but will also positively impact students for generations to come.

On behalf of students like Iyana, Amauri, and Rhaegar, who have long hoped for the addition of fifth grade, and from the nearly 70 other students who will benefit in the coming years, we extend our heartfelt thanks.

We invite you to visit any time to see how your generosity is making a difference, impacting lives with the love of God and contributing to the cultivation of well-educated and virtuous young men and women.

A special thanks to Charlie and Marilyn Koch and their team for the countless hours of ‘sweat equity’ in the transformation of our existing space to a library, office space, and a music/art room.

Thanks again for your partnership in this unique ministry and congratulations on 300 years!

Grace and peace, Andy Phillips, Founding CEO

9 AM – 12 PM SATURDAY, SEPT 14 IN THE CHURCH CEMETERY

Your help is needed to complete a final spit and polish prior to the cemetery rededication on Sunday, Sept 22. Bring a bucket, work gloves, and a scrub brush with you. Thank you, Derry!

On this special Homecoming Sunday, Derry Church will receive an offering in the pews. Click this link for more information and to sign up to serve as one of eight ushers next Sunday morning. 

Change 4 Children has been a project of Christian Ed for many years. Your donations go to Alliance for Children Everywhere in Zambia, which states: “Family is at the heart of everything we do. We show the love of Jesus by bringing orphaned and vulnerable children into secure families, schools and communities.” Their temporary crisis homes are House of Moses (0-2yrs) and Bill and Bette Bryant Crisis Nursery (2-5yrs).

Additional programs include food relief, skills training, savings groups, and seed capital for micro-enterprises for parents. There are seven FaithWorks primary schools and the Helen Devos Christian School for secondary education. Change will be collected Sunday, Sept 15 in baskets outside the Sanctuary and Chapel. Place coins in zip-closed bags, making sure there are no extraneous items included such as paper clips, batteries, pins, buttons, tokens, etc.  Place foreign coins in a separate bag. Thanks for your support.

Presenting Derry’s 2024 keepsake ornament handcrafted by blacksmith Mark Smith! These copper ornaments are 3-1/2″ wide by 4-1/2″ high and cost $15 each.

You can purchase ornaments in the Narthex after both services. During the week, stop by the church office and ask for Sue George. A few ornaments from previous years are also available for sale ($15 each). 

Proceeds fund scholarships for students who attend Presbyterian Education Board schools in Pakistan. Only 150 ornaments have been made, so don’t wait to get yours and add to (or start) your collection. 

12:45 PM MONDAYS BEGINNING SEPT 9 | ROOM 7A

SEPT 9: Prime Timers kicks off with “Where is God When it Hurts?” a Bible study and discussion with Pastor Stephen. This hybrid session meets in Room 7B and on Zoom: click to join.
SEPT 16: Get a first look at the picture book the third-fifth graders worked on over the past year for Derry’s 300th Anniversary celebration. Jill Peckelun and Courtney McKinney-Whitaker, who led the project, will be on hand to read the book, tell about the process, and answer your questions.
SEPT 23: Membership Connections committee members lead Derry Bingo!
SEPT 30: Enjoy a special 300th Anniversary heritage trip review. This is an opportunity to learn more about what happened on the trip, what we learned, and what travelers took away from the trip. Everyone who went on the trip is invited to come and share their memories and reflections.

4 PM SUNDAY, OCT 6 | SANCTUARY | FREE WILL OFFERING

Internationally celebrated pianist Thomas Pandolfi returns for his fourth Derry Church concert. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School, with both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees earned as a scholarship student, Mr. Pandolfi was recently appointed as Dean of the Piano Department and Professor of Piano at Midwest University.

In recent seasons, Thomas has appeared as guest soloist with The Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, Symphonicity, the Florence Symphony, Londontowne Symphony, Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, Monticello Chamber Orchestra, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, and Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra. He has also been guest soloist with The Manassas Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, The Altoona Symphony, The Piedmont Symphony, The Chesapeake Orchestra, and The National Symphony Orchestra of London.

A recent recital tour took him to 18 states, and his international concerts have carried him across the globe to China and Europe. Click to enjoy a musical sample.