News

In recent weeks the staff has been hard at work rearranging furniture, sorting books, cleaning out closets and generally tidying up classrooms and spaces as we prepare for activities and programs this summer and fall. In your own spring cleaning, if you come across something you think the church might be able to use, please check with Pastor Stephen before dropping it off. You’re welcome to bring canned goods for the Hershey Food Bank, personal care items for Love INC, calendars and stickers for the Community Check-Up Center, and any items PW has requested. Thanks, Derry!

The Birthday Offering of Presbyterian Women celebrates our history of generous giving.  Launched in 1922, the Birthday Offering has become an annual tradition.  It has funded over 200 major mission projects that continue to impact people in the United States and around the world. While projects and donation amounts have changed over the almost 100 years, Presbyterian Women’s commitment to improving the lives of women and children has not changed.

The second project for 2021 is Memorial Drive Ministries in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Located in a most diverse square mile of North America, Memorial Drive Ministries provides a welcoming environment for the vibrant ministries there. The $77,061 grant from the Birthday Offering provides a desperately needed roof to replace the one that leaks onto the gymnasium floor where sewing, karate, dance, frisbee, badminton, basketball and other after-school activities take place. With a new roof, Memorial Drive Ministries can continue to provide a place of welcome to diverse worshipping communities and innovative community services.

Your continued support will allow PW to fund next year’s projects. You can give online, or mail checks to the church. You can give online or mail checks to the church. Together let us lovingly plant and tend seeds of promise so that programs and ministries can grow and flourish.

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 3/31/21

Notes from the treasurer:

• Contributions are in line with 2020.
• Mission & Peace is spending ahead of last year but is in line with budget.
• Per capita is not yet paid, and insurance was paid in 2020, reducing S&F and Admin compared to 2020.
• Cash flow at 3/31 is about $50K ahead of last year.

Looking for lovely handmade Mother’s Day cards? Look no farther than these $2 beauties created by Claudia Holtzman. Cards for all occasions are available outside the church office: pay at the box next to the container of cards. All proceeds support scholarships for Presbyterian Education Board students in Pakistan.

The Birthday Offering of Presbyterian Women celebrates our history of generous giving. Launched in 1922, the Birthday Offering has become an annual tradition. It has funded over 200 major mission projects that continue to impact people in the United States and around the world. While projects and donation amounts have changed over the years, Presbyterian Women’s commitment to improving the lives of women and children has not changed.

The first project for 2021 is the Garden Gate Ranch, Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa. This location provides safe housing and restorative and transitional services for sexually exploited women and their children. The $150,000 grant from the Birthday Offering will assist in building an education center for programming, therapeutic services and vocational education on this large campus.

 As we establish a “new normal,” your continued support will allow PW to fund next year’s projects. You can give online or mail checks to the church. Together let us lovingly plant and tend seeds of promise so that programs and ministries can grow and flourish.

• Approved Baptismal Instruction and Infant Baptism for Sophia Vatter, daughter of Derry members Jeff & Katrina Vatter for May 30, 2021.
• Renewed the yearly Covenant of Agreement for Pastoral Relationship with Rev. Dr. Marie L. Buffaloe.
• Reviewed the Treasurer’s report for the year to date. Contributions are generally in line with the budget although lower than 2020. Expenses are also in line with the budget.
• A review of the initial in-person worship services indicated that the gatherings are going well with worshippers adhering to established protocols. The staff is also pleased with the integration of live and pre-recorded presentations. The Covid Task Force met on March 16 and recommended that the Session approve beginning Phase 1B which would allow small group gatherings, bell choir to play in worship (masked), live family worship services, and in-person funerals. Another recommendation was to increase Sunday worship attendance to 60 people and to begin 8 AM in-person worship on Easter Sunday following the same protocols as the 10:30 service. After discussion, the Session approved these items.
• Another Task Force recommendation was to allow one unmasked soloist sitting in the choir loft to participate in worship. A lengthy discussion followed resulting in approval to have masked soloists, and eventually duets and trios, participating in worship leadership from the choir loft.
• Reviewed Pastor Stephen’s sabbatical request to study the theology of reconciliation and stories of reconciliation lived out in the world. Foundational work will begin upon approval of the proposal through a comprehensive reading list and participation in a 6-month Journey of Hope Leadership Program through Reconcilers Together. The time off portion is planned for June, 2022 for approximately four weeks of study in Ireland with special attention to Northern Ireland where the Corrymeela Community is located (dependent upon travel/Covid restrictions).
• Elders reviewed Pastor Stephen’s comprehensive outline of the proposed sabbatical and approved the request. Also approved was the use of the Brong Scholarship Fund for up to $10,000 of sabbatical expenses in Ireland such as airfare, lodging, car rental & gas, educational tours, etc.  While Pastor Stephen’s family will accompany him to Ireland, no family expenses would be covered by the scholarship funds.
• Charlie & Marilyn Koch submitted a request to provide a takeaway Easter breakfast to be picked up on Saturday, April 3. Donations received are earmarked for Bridges to Community. The Session unanimously approved the request and thanks Charlie, Marilyn, and their entire team for their continuing efforts to provide Easter breakfast.

After three weeks and 63 games played, Mission Madness has come to a bittersweet end. Baylor grabbed its proverbial slingshot and took down the Goliath Gonzaga last night, and in so doing also took out Craig Kegerise, who had been leading our competition since the Sweet 16. Nonetheless, after a great run Craig falls to a respectable 9th place.

Our winner, who will be given his 2021 trophy and whose name will be etched on the plaque and thus in history, is Gregg “3G” Robertson! Congratulations on your peerless prognostication, Gregg! Now, some folks might pause here to point out that Gregg also had three brackets finish in the bottom 20. While that’s true, it’s worth noting that everyone is welcome to fill out multiple brackets…imagine if we all followed the “3G Model” next year and entered multiple brackets and quadrupled our scholarship donations! Here’s hoping the 3G Model is the wave of the future!

MISSION MADNESS TOP 20
1st: Gregg “3G” Robertson
2nd: Annie “Hufflepuff” Burke (Best in Youth)
3rd: Bruce “Snow Goose” McKinney (Best in Session)
4th: Jim “The Destroyer” Royer (Best in Music)
5th: Andrew “Berserk” Burke (Best in Children)
6th: Susan “Swag” Stagg
7th: Andy “No Look” Cook
8th: Craig “Extra Spice” Kegerise
9th: Grant “If the Shoes Fit, I’ll” Wareham (Best in Staff)
10th: Karen “Smooth” Carns
11th: Ray “Typhoon” June
12th: Marty “Bam-Bam” Walker 
13th: Brooks “Unscramble” Campbell
14th: Jim “Clever Pig” Cunningham
15th: Lois “The Prophet” Harris
16th: Mike “Buster” Parrish
17th: Michael “Mad Dog” McKenna
18th: Joey “the Prognosticator” Owsley 
19th: David “Sneak Attack” Whitenack
20th: Joe “Nostradamus” Owsley (Joe Sr.)