News

If you could return to one place you’ve visited, where would you like to go back to and why?

Tom Davis:
I have been fortunate to have traveled to many places around the world; however, there is one place that will always be “special.“ My family celebrated my first birthday in Avalon, NJ. Most of my birthdays have been celebrated there. I love the beach and the ocean. Some of my happiest memories with my Dad were our family vacations at the shore. As my Dad would often say, it was our happy place and the first swim in the ocean washed away all our cobwebs.

Cathy Olson:
I would love to return to Provence. Its towns have the best of modern France, and their Roman amphitheaters and thermal baths are well preserved.

Joanne McMullen:
I would return to Morocco because of the beauty, culture, food, geographical diversity, history, most importantly, the wonderful and friendly people.

Al Reed:
I would love to revisit Iceland and see the magical mystical northern lights at their peak.

Neal Rhoads:
I have lived in Turkey for two years and visited it three other times, however, it is one country I would like to visit again. I would visit numerous ruins of countless cultures since during every visit more of the ruins have been unearthed and others have been discovered. The people are very friendly and the food is delicious.  

• The Session joyfully approved the following children for baptism on September 18: Charlotte Anele and Hazel Ruth Hempel, twin daughters of Tyler & Eliana Hempel and Nolan Michael Farbaniec, son of Michael & Rebecca Farbaniec.
• Updated Derry’s active membership roll.
• Approved the following building use requests:
  o Continued Capital Area Intermediate Unit’s program to offer speech therapy classes in coordination with Derry Discovery Days
  o Use of fellowship hall for two children’s birthday parties on August 20 and September 17
  o Use of fellowship hall for a “Zumba thon” to benefit Four Diamonds Fund on September 24 from 10-2 as requested by Carly Wilfong
  o Use of the Chapel for the wedding of Melissa Barlow and Ralph Fertrow on Saturday, October 1
  o Susquehanna Chorale’s request to use the sanctuary for their spring concert rehearsal on May 1, 2023 (the spring concert on May 12, 2023 was previously approved).
• Reviewed and approved revisions to Derry’s Safe Children Policy.
• Rally Day, which traditionally marks the start of a new church school year, is September 18.
• Called two congregational meetings:
  o October 2 for election of church officers, and
  o December 11 to act on Pastors’ Terms of Call (this item moved from the Annual Meeting to facilitate payroll record keeping)
• Scheduled a fall session retreat for Wednesday, September 21 from 6-9 pm.
• Approved the hiring of four Derry Discovery Days employees: Jennifer Harman-LadybugLead Teacher, Laura Mills-Ladybug Aide, Kate Kucharski-Turtle Aide, and Susan Stanton-Butterfly Aide.
• Approved George Porter, Duncan Campbell, and Greg Taylor as new signatories for Derry’s Vanguard investment account.
• Hope Within will be the recipient of the Peace and Global Witness offering.
• The Membership & Involvement committee will be coordinating upcoming Post Worship Fellowship gatherings.

9-10 AM IN ROOM 2

On Sunday, join Jack Keene and friends in room 2 to watch a DVD lecture from Chautauqua Institution’s 2019 Interfaith Series. The final class in the series is presented by Mustafa Akyol, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, where he focuses on the intersection of public policy, Islam, and modernity. A Turkish journalist and author, he is a regular contributing opinion writer for the New York Times since 2013, and has been a regular opinion columnist for Turkish publications such as Hurriyet Daily News, and for the Middle-East focused Al-Monitor.com.

Akyol is the author of Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty, praised by The Financial Times as “a forthright and elegant Muslim defense of freedom.”

Following the video presentation, there will be time for questions and discussion, and even a chance to hear some of the questions posed by the Chautauqua audience. 

 10:30 am – 12 pm Thursdays beginning Sept 8 in room 7
This study group is led by Jan Nixon. On Sept 8, Pastor Stephen will talk about what he learned on his recent sabbatical trip to Ireland. In following weeks, the group will delve into the Presbyterian Women’s study, “God’s Promise.”

9-10 am Sundays beginning Sept 18 in room 2
Led by Meara Kwee and Tom Folts, this study/discussion group will start each week by taking time to “catch our breath” through a reflection or centering exercise. Discussion will focus on the book of Ruth for the first five weeks.

11:45 am Sundays, Sept 18-Oct 2 in the Chapel
Pastor Stephen’s 11-minute lessons are back! Join him for a three-week study on reconciliation and things he learned at Corrymeela. The series takes a break in mid-October, resuming on Oct 23 with a new topic.

7-8:30 pm Mondays, Sept 19, Oct 3 & Nov 7 on Zoom
This women’s study group is reading Dr. Amy-Jill Levine’s “The Difficult Words of Jesus.” The author invites and encourages readers to “wrestle” with some of Jesus’s more confusing, controversial, and historically damage-inflicting words as recorded in the Gospels. Two of the six chapters will be discussed in each session. Click to join on Zoom

Over the past few months, Derry Church’s lending library has received a makeover with new organization and fresh titles. In less than two minutes, find out what’s new from Derry’s resident librarian, Chris Gawron.

Weekly Terrific Tuesday dinners begin at 5 pm, but that’s not all: we’re bringing back Derry’s exciting weekly music and creative arts education for children age 4 through grade 12. Programming gets under way at 5:45 pm with opportunities for vocal and instrumental music as well as creative arts. No need to RSVP. Bring a friend!

Check out photos from Derry’s annual worship service celebrating our covenant with animals on August 23, 2022. It was a beautiful evening for an outdoor service, with 50 people and almost as many dogs in attendance.

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 7/31/22

Notes from the treasurer:

• Contributions are about $53K ahead of 2021 and $44K ahead of estimated contributions through July
• Mission and Peace is $21K behind 2021. Building and grounds is about $27K below 2021. We expect these committees to spend their 2022 budget. Some personnel expenses are backloaded. 

9-10 AM IN ROOM 2

On Sunday, join Jack Keene and friends in room 2 to watch another DVD lecture from Chautauqua Institution’s 2019 Interfaith Series. Rabbi Saul J. Berman was ordained at Yeshiva University, from which he also received his B.A. and his M.H.L. He completed a degree in law, a J.D., at New York University, and an M.A. in Political Science at the University of California at Berkeley.

Rabbi Berman was the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley, California, from 1963 to 1969. He was an early leader in the Soviet Jewry movement and, an active participant in the Civil Rights movement, he was present and was arrested at the demonstrations in Selma, Alabama in 1965. In 1971 Rabbi Berman was appointed Chairman of the Department of Judaic Studies of Stern College for Women of Yeshiva University. Under his leadership over the next thirteen years, it grew into the largest undergraduate Department of Jewish Studies in the United States. In 1984 Rabbi Berman accepted the position as Senior Rabbi of Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan, where he served until 1990, then returned to academic life.

Following the video presentation, there will be time for questions and discussion, and even a chance to hear some of the questions posed by the Chautauqua audience. 

DEPARTING DERRY CHURCH FOR GRANTVILLE AT 4:30 PM MONDAY, AUG 29

It’s Derry Church’s turn to host a meal for the back-of the-track workers at Penn National racetrack. The meal will be prepared by Loretta Chubb and served indoors. You can help by providing a dessert and/or helping to serve the meal: contact Craig Smith (717) 574 9296.

1:30 PM MONDAY, AUG 29 AT COUNTRY MEADOWS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, 451 SAND HILL ROAD, HERSHEY

Pastor Stephen will lead a communion service in a room adjacent to the Rose Room, assisted by members of the Care & Share committee.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Meara Kwee:
I would go to Peru. While I speak Spanish and have traveled quite a bit in Central America, I’ve only been to one country in South America. I’d love to hike to Machu Picchu and experience the cultures and flavors of Peru.

Bill McGregor:
Garmisch Parkenkirch in Germany: I went on vacation there as a child with family and friends when I was growing up in Germany. 

Stacey Ruch:
I would like to visit New Zealand. The wild beauty and variety of nature appeals to me. Mountains, oceans, and remote locations feel peaceful to me.

Greg Taylor:
Australia, because I was born there. 

Mark Verner:
I would love to visit a monk monastery and spend time there. It would grow my faith and enrich my soul.