News

3 PM SUNDAY, MAR 27 IN THE SANCTUARY AND STREAMING

We’re planning a celebration on Rev. Marie Buffaloe’s last Sunday at Derry Church before she retires. The program will be held in the Sanctuary, with a reception following in Fellowship Hall. For those unable to attend in person, the program will be streamed on derrypres.org and YouTube.

Cards for Marie can be brought with you that day or mailed to Derry Church, 248 E. Derry Rd, Hershey PA 17033. Write “Marie” beneath your return address label to make it easy to sort cards from the regular church mail. 

Worship that morning will be led by Pastor Marie at 8 am in the Chapel and 10:30 am in the Sanctuary and streaming. 

Thanks to many who participated in the blood drive on Sunday, our first since December 2019. We had 32 donors provide 96 blood products to the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank. One of them was first-time donor Joey Owsley, one of our Youth Sunday leaders.

Friday is Orange Day — when Presbyterian Women asks people to wear orange or an orange ribbon to show support for those working to end female exploitation.

Promised $500 a month, room and board and legal immigration to the US, some women thought they had found the American dream. Instead, the new job was working 16 hours a day cleaning private homes, office buildings and stores. Victims were provided little or no pay to support themselves or their families in the Ukraine. Free room and board was a dirty mattress in a room shared with five others. They were kept from leaving by beatings and threats to their families. This story of trafficking in Pennsylvania not unique. Wearing orange on the 25th of each month raises awareness of the plight of women like these who are being exploited.

PW BOOK DISCUSSION: Join on Zoom to discuss “Caste: The Origin of Our Discontent” by Isabel Wilkerson, a presentation by the PW Justice & Peace Book Group at 6:30 pm Monday, March 14. A copy of the book is available in our library. Click to register.

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, MAR 9 – MAY 11 AT CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 500 W CHOCOLATE AVE, HERSHEY • CONTACT MICHELLE MIDURI (717-835-0101)

Love INC of Greater Hershey is in urgent need of three babysitters each week for its upcoming “Faith and Finances” series. All adults need their child abuse clearances (PA State Criminal background check, PA State Child Abuse clearance, and FBI Criminal background check). One teen would be permitted as the third helper provided there are two other cleared adults. While finding volunteers that will commit to all 10 weeks is great, we understand that some people may only be able to help on one or a few weeks: this is fine.

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am from class 9. Thank you very much for the love that you show in choosing me. It is like a silver lining in my life. Nowadays everyone is sad and disturb because of corona virus and lockdown. Being a student of board class I was also very disturb for my exams. A big relief came when our school is open. Nowadays I am preparing for my exams. We are praying for whole world, you are always in my prayers. Thank you very much. People like you are make this world worth to live in.

For 11 years, Derry Church has maintained a partnership with the Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan. PEB operates 25 schools, primary through high school, including some boarding schools, that serve more than 5,900 students. Derry, through the Friends of Sargodha group, has a particular relationship with the schools in Sargodha. 

Friends of Sargodha’s goal is to continue to provide ten scholarships every year. You can help.

A full scholarship for a day student is $370 a year, about a dollar a day. We are dividing that amount into ten shares, $37 each, to offer you the opportunity to support a portion of a scholarship. 

You can purchase one or more shares by writing a check to Derry Church notated “Pakistan Scholarship” or giving online through the church website and selecting “Pakistan Scholarship.” 

Read Claudia Holtzman’s message inviting you to participate. This fundraiser continues through February 2022.

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 1/31/22

	ACTUAL	BUDGETED
Income YTD:	$105,666	$104,167
Expenses YTD:	88,395	107,832
Surplus/(Deficit) YTD:	17,271	(3,665)

Note from the treasurer:

• Nothing major at this point. Income is in line with budget and expenses are slightly less than budget.

9:10-9:25 AM WEDNESDAY, MAR 2 IN THE SANCTUARY 

Our Discovery Days Preschool children will gather on Ash Wednesday for a chance to learn about Ash Wednesday and receive ashes, either on their hands or foreheads or on a sticker. Our pastors will offer the short service and anyone from Derry Church congregation is welcome to attend and receive ashes. 

Derry members and outside groups who are interested in applying to use space at Derry Church for meetings or events can now apply online. A link to the form is available on the church website: go to the CONTACT tab, then click on ASK US. Access the form by clicking on the blue button at the bottom of the page. Remember that all uses of the church building must be approved by the Session.

Covid numbers are dropping, so the Derry Day Trippers have begun planning more fun activities for the next few months:

2 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 12: HERSHEY SYMPHONY PRESENTS “SYMPHONY OF ILLUSIONS WITH MICHAEL GRANDINETTI” AT THE HERSHEY THEATRE
Pat Meilands is working on getting tickets as a group, and cost will be between $20 – $25 per person. Once we know how many are joining, we’ll let participants know the exact price and where we’ll meet for lunch in downtown Hershey before the concert.

11 AM THURSDAY, APRIL 28: “DAVID” AT SIGHT & SOUND THEATER, LANCASTER
As long as we have a group of 15 or more, the cost will be $65.55 per person. Then we can collect the money and pay for tickets so that we can get good seats together. 

Please email Sue Whitaker by Friday, Feb 25 if you’d like to attend either the March or the April events.

LOOKING AHEAD
We are thinking about a picnic lunch in May, and we hope to go to a Harrisburg Senators’ baseball game in June. Send your suggestions for Day Tripping to Pat Meilands or Sue Whitaker.

Horizons is the magazine (and Bible study) by and for Presbyterian Women. Cost is $18.95 instead of the individual rate of $24.95, and magazines on this subscription will be delivered to Derry Church. To join the bulk order, notify Doris Feil by Sunday, Feb 27.

7:30 PM FRIDAY, MAR 4 & SATURDAY, MAR 5 AND 1:30 PM SUNDAY, MAR 6 AT HERSHEY HIGH SCHOOL • CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO ORDER TICKETS

The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end, and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. 

Participating Derry Church youth include Hattie Gavazzi as Belle, Ryan Hosenfeld as Gaston, Mayangela Speicher as A Silly Girl, Morgan Owsley as Wolf, Napkin, Shepherd Boy and Singer/Dance Ensemble, Katie Bortel as Wolf, Napkin and Singer/Dance Ensemble, and Emma Burke in the orchestra. Let us know if we missed anyone in the cast, crew or orchestra and we’ll add to the list.

Reserved seats are $15 for adults, $10 for students/senior citizens, and $20 for general admission at the door. 

My name is Hossana and I study in class 2. I wish to become a doctor in future. Your angelic presence on the earth is of great importance. Because of you it is possible to fulfil the dreams of my parents. We can’t forget you support specially in the time of COVID-19 lockdown situation. We really love you and always pray for you and your family. Thank you once again.

For 11 years, Derry Church has maintained a partnership with the Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan. PEB operates 25 schools, primary through high school, including some boarding schools, that serve more than 5,900 students. Derry, through the Friends of Sargodha group, has a particular relationship with the schools in Sargodha. 

Friends of Sargodha’s goal is to continue to provide ten scholarships every year. You can help.

A full scholarship for a day student is $370 a year, about a dollar a day. We are dividing that amount into ten shares, $37 each, to offer you the opportunity to support a portion of a scholarship. 

You can purchase one or more shares by writing a check to Derry Church notated “Pakistan Scholarship” or giving online through the church website and selecting “Pakistan Scholarship.” 

Read Claudia Holtzman’s message inviting you to participate. This fundraiser continues through February 2022.