News

February 2021 Financial Snapshot

Cash Flow – Operating Fund as of 1/31/21

     ACTUAL       BUDGETED
Income YTD:       $125,709      $104,167
Expenses YTD:    102,510        109,951
Surplus/(Deficit) YTD:          23,199         (5,784)

Notes from the treasurer:

  • Contributions are a touch under 2020, but in line with expectations.
  • Mission & Peace spending is ahead of budget. All other variances are in line with expectations.

Coming Soon: Mission Madness V

Derry’s “Mission Madness” featuring actual March Madness college basketball games with commentary by the inimitable Pete Steelman returns this year! Once again, proceeds will support scholarships for students at Presbyterian Education Board schools in Pakistan. Stay tuned for details.

WOOHOO! Derry Church has received $9,250 for Scholarships!

That’s enough to fund not only the ten students we’ve been supporting, but more than 20 ADDITIONAL students attending Presbyterian Education Board schools in Pakistan! Thank you, Derry Church, for your amazing generosity.

It’s not too late to participate in this fundraiser that closes at the end of February and a final tally will be reported in March. Read on for details…

Meet Aman, One of Derry Church’s PEB Scholarship Recipients 

Aman

I would like to thank you for your support and love. It will help me a lot in my education. I live in the city of Sargodha, which is know as city of eagles. An air base is also in Sargodha. Dear donor, I am a good student and always take good grades. I want to become a doctor. Thank you again for your generosity and thoughtfulness.

For ten 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. 

Our goal is 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 Rev. Nancy Reinert’s message inviting you to participate. This fundraiser continues through February 2021.

Orange Day is Feb 25

Wear orange or an orange ribbon to support people revealing and countering the exploitation of females worldwide. Three sisters were arrested in Malaysia for trafficking 35 women for their day-cleaning business. 32 Indonesians and three Cambodians were locked in their home at night, denied phone use, and were not paid their monthly wages. Although overseas, this happens throughout the world. Wear Orange next Thursday.

Epistemology and the Search for Truth: Session #3

Week #3 of Pastor Stephen’s class, “Epistemology and the Search for Truth.” This week you’ll learn about the “Nature of Justification.” Justification is a concept in epistemology used to describe beliefs that one has good reason for holding… in other words, you are justified for holding a belief whether it turns out to be a true belief or not. How do we determine if we are justified in believing a story, a report, a theory, or a belief?

Tips for Scheduling a COVID-19 Vaccine in Central PA

If you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and have not had success getting one scheduled, the following information may be of help to you:

Pharmacy and Store Websites

https://covid-19schedulinglink.as.me/vaccine
This website is for some different independent pharmacies in places such as Carlisle, Jim Thorpe, etc.  You just have to keep checking to see if there are any appointments available.

https://giantfoodstores.com/pages/tgc-vaccines
This is the website for Giant.  There are many different Giant pharmacies offering the vaccine around the area.  They seem to put up appointments at various times but more often between 4:30 and 6:30 in the evening.

https://www.weismarkets.com/pharmacy-services
This is the website for Weis.  Again, there are many different stores in the area offering the vaccine.  They put up new appointments on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I have had the best luck in the evening and early in the morning (between 6:00 and 7:00 AM).

https://vaccine-scheduler.pennstatehealth.org/s/ or call 1-844-774-8883.
Penn State Health Vaccination Registration and Scheduling site. You will be prompted to provide some basic information about your age, preexisting conditions and occupation. After you have completed your registration, you will receive an email asking you to log in to your Penn State Health Vaccination Registration and Scheduling account and create a password. If you are in the current phase designated by the DOH and appointments are available, you will be able to schedule your vaccination.

https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/apt-scheduler
This is the website for Rite Aid. Some people have been able to get appointments, some have had no luck here.

https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?WT.ac=cvs-storelocator-covid-vaccine-searchpilot#statetool
CVS – the pharmacy in Hummelstown says they expect a shipment of the vaccine this week but no date yet and no guarantees as to when they will actually get it

Walmart is expecting to be able to administer the vaccine, but no date as to when.  The pharmacist at the Walmart in Palmyra said he expects to receive the vaccine in two to three weeks. This is probably the same for other Walmart stores. He also said that they will only be giving 10 vaccines per day, so you can see that the supplies are very limited and that is why it is so hard to get an appointment. He also said that the website for scheduling is not yet set up so he will be making appointments by phone, but he is not sure when he will start doing that. You may want to just keep calling to see if you can get on the list.

You can also sign up with your medical provider and/or Wellspan. These places are not currently making appointments for the vaccine, but you can sign up to be notified when they are taking appointments. 

Basic tips

Try various locations (and zip codes if asked) for locating a place for the vaccine. The more flexible you can be with the location, the better the chance of getting an appointment

Have your personal information easily available so you can enter it quickly if you get an appointment. Some sites require insurance information and others do not. They usually want name, address, phone number, email address, birthdate.   You have a limited amount of time once you actually get an appointment to enter your information and confirm the appointment.

Keep the pages open on your phone or computer and just keep checking back.  It takes dogged persistence, a lot of time, and a good deal of luck!

Once you actually get the first vaccine, you will be scheduled for an appointment for the second one so you do not have to go through the scheduling process again. If you want a different location it does not hurt to ask. Be sure to keep the second appointment as you will not get maximum benefit from the vaccine from just the first dose.

If there are two of you and you only get one appointment, when you go for the appointment, ask if the second person can also get vaccinated. Sometimes they have enough vaccine that they will do it. It does not hurt to ask!

Hershey Vaccine Clinic Seek Greeters, Ushers and Monitors

While Penn State Health has not yet announced exact locations, there will be a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Hershey and volunteers are needed. The only requirements for volunteers are that you are able to work at least four hours at a time, and that you are able to stand and move freely. These roles are critical to the success of such a massive project, as they will assist members of the community to navigate the clinic, and will also assist clinicians in meeting the needs of those in the clinic. Hours of operation will be Monday-Saturday 7am-7pm.

As a logistics coordinator for this undertaking, and knowing how many of you would love to assist in efforts to curtail this awful virus, Derry’s own Julie Miller requests that anyone who might be interested in filling one of these roles contact her at jmiller25@pennstatehealth.psu.edu for more information.

The Way to Shalom: A Lenten Journey to Peace and Wholeness

Lent is all about spiritual renewal. It is a sacred time of preparation for Easter and a time to reflect on what God has done to redeem us and how we can live a whole and full life as a child of God.

Many of us see Lent as a season of penitence, fasting, service and contemplation — but at the top of our list should be a prayer for the acquisition of peace. In our devotional this year, we invite you to reflect upon the gift of shalom, the Hebrew word with a host of meanings: peace, security, well-being, health, completeness. Our spiritual goal: exploring how can we receive this gift of shalom and, in turn, bestow it upon the world.

Now, more than ever, we deeply crave shalom. Our world is in desperate need of peace. The United States has just come out of a contentious election, a struggle with a global pandemic, and painful racial violence. Poverty, misery and despair fill many corners of the world. Yes, we desire peace. We need peace.

Every week from Ash Wednesday (Feb 17) through Easter (April 4), this year’s devotional from Presbyterians Today Magazine focuses on shalom and what it can mean in our lives and how we can bring it to the world. Explore themes of justice, peace, healing, hope, repairing and reconciliation. Find Scripture readings along with beautiful meditations and prayers.

The Way to Shalom is free for download or print. You’re invited to use it, share it, excerpt from it and make it your spiritual companion this Lent.

Meet Anaya, One of Derry Church’s PEB Scholarship Recipients 

I am studying in 1 class. Thank you so much for granting me the scholarship. I am studying with great interest because I want to become a doctor in the future. Thank you.

For ten 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. 

Our goal is 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 Rev. Nancy Reinert’s message inviting you to participate. This fundraiser continues through February 2021.