Derry Presbyterian Church, 248 E. Derry Road, Hershey, will host a variety of holiday services and events in December.

The church's Presbyterian Women group will hold its cookie walk from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 7, in the fellowship hall.

A wide variety of home-baked cookies, including gluten-free options, will be for sale by the pound, and customers may mix and match to create an assortment. Some cookies and baked goods will be individually priced. Proceeds will support mission work of the Presbyterian Church.

The Jumbles Shop will include jewelry, Christmas decorations, collectibles, and items suitable for gifts, priced as marked. In addition, handmade greeting cards will be available with sales supporting scholarships for Presbyterian Education Board students in Pakistan.

The choirs of Derry Presbyterian Church will present "A Derry Christmas" concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, in the sanctuary. The concert is part of the church's 2024-25 Arts Alive cultural series. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. A freewill offering will be received. The performers will be directed by Daniel L. Dorty, director of music and organist.

The program will look to the Nativity with works such as "The Angel Gabriel," Paul Manz's "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come," and Mack Wilberg's "Gloria in Excelsis Deo," featuring choir, orchestra, organ, percussion, and liturgical dance.

The program will also look to those surrounding the Christ child in "We Three Kings," "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming," and Seth Bingham's setting of "Away in a Manger." The Derry Ringers handbell ensemble will perform Douglas E. Wagner's setting of "My Spirit Be Joyful" from Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata No. 146 and Sandra Eithun's arrangement of "O Holy Night," featuring Derry's five-octave set of Malmark handbells and Choirchimes, with added wind chimes.

The audience will be invited to sing along on selections such as "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and Mack Wilberg's setting of "Joy to the World." Featured soloists will include Charley Miller, bass; Janice Click Holl, soprano; Julie Miller, soprano; and Loren Geeting, tenor. A handbell quartet will ring Kevin McChesney's arrangement of "What Child Is This?"

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, a "Longest Night" worship service will be held at 6 p.m. in the chapel. Taking place on one of the longest, darkest nights of the year, this reflective service with Communion is designed for those experiencing divorce, broken relationships, grief after the loss of a loved one, employment or financial instability, or other difficulties. The service is intended to give people an opportunity to remember and acknowledge sadness and grief and to know that they are not alone.

Three Christmas Eve candlelight worship services will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 24, in the sanctuary. All three will include the singing of "Silent Night" and the sharing of candlelight.

The first service will begin at 2:30 p.m. Worship will include Lessons and Carols and Communion. Holiday music will be presented by the Derry Brass.

At 5 p.m., a candlelight service of Lessons and Carols will feature participation by children and music.

A traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service of Lessons and Carols will be presented at 7:30 p.m., with music by the Derry Ringers handbell choir and the Sanctuary Choir.

Child care will be available at the 2:30 and 5 p.m. services. The lounge adjacent to the sanctuary will offer a candle-free worship zone and a space where young families can move about freely.

The Christmas Eve services at 5 and 7:30 p.m. will also be livestreamed at http://www.derrypres.org, www.youtube.com/derrypres, and www.facebook.com/derrypres.

Worship on Christmas morning, Wednesday, Dec. 25, will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel. The informal service will be led by the Rev. Stephen McKinney-Whitaker. A birthday party for Jesus will be held afterward.

The church offers handicapped-accessible parking and an elevator.

Derry Church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Worship services are held on Sundays at 8 and 10:30 a.m., and the 10:30 a.m. service is livestreamed at the three aforementioned websites. A mid-week service is held at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. For more information, call the church office at 717-533-9667 or visit www.derrypres.org.