News

Presenting a new eNews feature designed to help Derry members and friends learn more about each other. You never know when Pastor Stephen might reach out and ask you the Question of the Week. How would you answer?

If you could only read three books (besides the Bible) for the rest of your life, what would they be?  

Pete Feil:

• The Brothers Karamazov (Fyodor Dostoevsky)
• Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (Ted Lawson)
• Guns, Germs, and Steel (Vernon McKreith)

Shari Lapano:

• Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
• Journeys of a Lifetime (National Geographic)
• If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? (Erma Bombeck)

Peter Gawron:

• Shawshank Redemption (Stephen King)
• Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen) 
• The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom)

Eliana Hempel:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (J.K. Rowling)  
• A Mysterious Affair at Styles (Agatha Christie)   
• Choosing Happiness (Stephanie Dowrick)

Lee Freeman:

• Unbroken (Laura Hillenbrand)
• Addictive Organization (Ann Wilson Scahef/Diane Fassel)
• 1,000 Events that Shaped the World (Jared Diamond/National Geographic)

ISSUES CLASS: Ireland and the Power of Stories
9-10 AM IN THE JOHN ELDER CLASSROOM & STREAMING

In Northern Ireland, the Corrymeela Community and other reconcilers understand stories as the space where we can speak our questions, express our uncertainty and brokenness, the hurt done to others by us, and the hurt done to us by others. In our life together, often shaped by the ebb and flow of mutual fears and antagonisms, stories can be uncomfortable or discomforting. They can also be restorative and transformative, surprises that open up life to us and others we live in community with. We a need a space for stories, because a space of stories becomes a space of engagement, and engagement and experience precedes understanding. Discover what Pastor Stephen learned in Ireland and how stories may help us live life better together.

BIBLE STUDY: Women of Exodus, Part 4: Miriam
9:30-10:15 AM IN ROOM 1

This week Meara Kwee leads a study of Exodus 2:1-10 and Exodus 15:1-21. Miriam is the first woman in the Old Testament to be identified as a prophet. Beloved by her people, Miriam led them in a song of liberation as they left Egypt and crossed the Reed Sea. How did she act as a prophet to her people? How can we join in the songs of modern day Miriams working for justice in our communities and world?

This is your last chance to drop in the summer Bible study series before leaders take the month of August to regroup and plan for the fall. Contact Meara Kwee or Tom Folts if there’s something you’re interested in studying on Sunday mornings in the coming months.

The children of Derry Church invite you to hang out with them in the church nursery on Sunday mornings! This is a fun and great way for you to get to know the youngest members of our church. By volunteering in the nursery one or two Sundays a quarter, you will have the opportunity to experience the joy of play. You will also help to fulfill the baptism promise we all pledge: to watch over and guide each child of God.

The link below takes you to our new digital sign-up sheet. Please place your name (or your youth’s name) on dates you are available to join the nursery team:

  Click to Help in the Derry Church Nursery  

Our mission partner — Hope Within Community Health, Counseling & Dental Center — is having their annual chicken BBQ fundraiser! Order at the link below and pickup 11 am – 1 pm Saturday, Aug 13 at Hope Within, 4748 Harrisburg Pike, Elizabethtown.

  Click to Order Chicken BBQ

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 6/30/22

Notes from the treasurer:

• Contributions are about $12K behind 2021 and $31K behind estimated contributions through June
• Mission and Peace is $27K behind 2021. Building and grounds is about $9K below 2021. We expect these committees to spend their 2022 budget. Some personnel expenses are backloaded. We expect to be similar to 2021 at break-even

ISSUES CLASS: Switzerland Travelogue: Churches, Castles and Scenery
9-10 AM SUNDAY, JULY 24 IN THE JOHN ELDER CLASSROOM & STREAMING

Join Jack Keene for a virtual tour of Switzerland in this week’s Issues Class! Whether you join in person or by streaming, you’ll enjoy seeing highlights of Jack and Heidi’s recent trip.

BIBLE STUDY: Women of Exodus, Part 3: Zipporah 
9:30-10:15 AM SUNDAY, JULY 24 IN ROOM 1

According to womanist biblical scholar Wil Gafney, Zipporah was a shepherd, survivor, wife, mother, God-wrestler and divorcee. Who was this Midianite woman who married Moses? How did her courage pave the way for the liberation of the Hebrew people from Egypt? Join Meara Kwee for a discussion of Exodus 2:16-22; 4:18-26 and 18:1-7. This class was originally scheduled for June 26, 2022.

7 PM TUESDAY, AUG 23 ON THE FRONT LAWN, WEATHER PERMITTING

In celebration of all of God’s creatures and their presence in our lives, Derry Church offers its 15th annual worship service that includes a blessing of animals. Animals on leash, in a kennel, or otherwise controlled are invited to attend along with their owners. The worship service will include praise songs and hymns in addition to a hands-on blessing of animals and the people with whom they live. 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. Requested items include non-scoopable cat litter, puppy training pads, paper box lids (for litter boxes), metal pet dishes, sheets, towels, blankets, paper towels, garbage bags of any size, dust pans and brushes, odor neutralizers, glass cleaner, floor cleaner, and gift certificates to pet stores, grocery stores, and hardware stores. 

Since spring 2020, Derry friends have been gathering weekly on Zoom to talk and learn from each other. What started as a way to practice the new Zoom platform has evolved into a supportive online community. Friends from as far away as Portland, Oregon drop in to ask questions about their smart phones and computers. We’ve talked about everything from electric vehicles and Twitter to how to avoid email phishing attacks. Every week is different but one thing stays the same: we learn something new from each other.

Newcomers are  welcome to join Sue George and friends on Tech Time at 1 pm on Mondays. Drop in whenever your schedule permits – you don’t even need to ask a question. Click this link to join the meeting any time between 1-2 pm. If you’d like a weekly text reminder, click here to sign up.

Monday, July 25 is designated as Orange Day by Presbyterian Women to show awareness of exploitation of females worldwide and to support people who are working to end it.

Various NGOs have addressed sexual violence in conflicts: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, FIDH, TRIAL International, CIVITAS MAXIMUS, REDRESS and others. They work to sensitize the international community and civil society on this subject and also to care for the victims and prosecute the aggressors. However, there is no unifying pole of expertise and actions entirely devoted to war rape. WWoW is attempting to fill this gap

Wear orange or an orange ribbon to show support for these efforts, especially in light of news from Ukraine.

5:30 PM TUESDAY, AUG 16 AT THE LEADER FARM IN HUMMELSTOWN • RAIN DATE: THURSDAY, AUG 18
CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE FOR DIRECTIONS: 717-533-9667

This year’s corn roast features delicious corn on the cob roasted over hot coals, plus hot dogs and soft drinks. Bring a side dish or dessert to share.

There’s a pond for fishing (bring your own gear) and plenty of activities and games for all ages to enjoy.

Cost is $3 per person, FREE for age 6 & under.

Many hands needed for setup and cleanup: click to volunteer

  RSVP for the Corn Roast  

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, SEPT 9-11 AT KRISLUND CAMP, MADISONBURG

Get away from it all with your church family! Arrive on Friday evening or Saturday morning. We’ll begin with a service project for the camp, and the afternoon is free time where many opt to go to Penn’s Cave (15 minutes away) which has an excellent gift shop and you can take a boat trip through the cave. Alternatively, you can join in games and activities at the main lodge.  

Saturday evening features a wagon ride through the woods followed by a s’mores roast. On Sunday morning we’ll worship, either outdoors or in the lodge.

More details coming soon. Send your questions to Jack Keene.

At least 50 people are needed to get more than 300 pairs of sneakers to the Lower Dauphin and Derry Township students who need them. Help is needed for scheduling appointments, managing inventory, greeting families on distribution day, and fitting students with their new sneakers.

Any time you can volunteer is appreciated! Event dates and times are broken into shifts; you may sign up for one or as many shifts as you are able. If your availability does not fit a specific shift listed, please call the Love INC office (717-835-0101) and they will be happy to accommodate your schedule.