We have been particularly grateful for the family-oriented worship activities afforded by the 10:30 service. Since that time we have continued to be lifted by the love and positive attitude of the church displayed by our pastors, session members and fellow congregants.
#Jim shaw estey organ full#
Our visits soon turned into exploring the new member classes and eventual joining as full members. We were immediately impressed by the positive energy exuded by the congregants as a group as well as those we met individually. We originally began visiting Derry Presbyterian about ten years ago on the recommendation of some member friends. They simply reflect God’s grace, most often through faithful, unselfish messengers, like the community that is Derry Presbyterian Church. “God winks” arrive without our requesting them or deserving them. Sometimes, when one reflects upon past events and their influence, one can see what Marcy would call “God winks,” events that display God’s grace without great fanfare, but rather with a whisper that says, “I’ve got this here’s a special gift to ease your burdens.” Derry Church is one such “God wink.” How could we know that the clergy and the members would be right where we needed them, when we needed them? Perhaps we didn’t need to know. Hand-delivered flowers, apple cakes, a stunning prayer shawl, and numerous cards with handwritten notes of encouragement were indicative of Derry community’s commitment to care for its parishioners.
Indeed, their sincere expressions of concern extended far beyond what we could possibly expect! Their calm, reasoned guidance and encouragement provided a much-needed respite from the chaos that enveloped us during those dark days.Įven more astonishing (at least to us) was the outpouring of sympathy and offers of help from members of the Derry congregation, many of whom we didn’t even know. While one would expect the clergy to offer their guidance, we were not prepared for Derry’s pastors’ numerous expressions of care via phone calls, texts, emails, and cards. Seeking some direction and support at a particularly difficult time, we turned to the Derry ministerial staff. Just a quick trip to the emergency room, a diagnosis within hours, and brain surgery scheduled within days. Then, in a blink of the proverbial eye, our lives were upended, as Rudy was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. We couldn’t possibly know at that point just how important our connection to Derry Presbyterian would become in the following months.Īs the pandemic continued to preclude worshipping in person, we adjusted ourselves to “remote” membership in the anticipation of full participation when the pandemic subsided. The streaming services allowed us to continue to worship each Sunday, but we still felt removed from the actual life of the church and from fellowship with its members. Then COVID hit, and the opportunity to know more members of the congregation and to become involved in the life of the church seemed to disappear. We realized from the first Sunday service that there was a friendliness and sincerity at Derry that led us to attend membership classes and become a part of that family.
Because our friend and former student, Dan Stokes, became interim organist at Derry, we decided to spend a few Sundays visiting Derry Church to hear Dan play.
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