Large Letters, Boasting and Back Talk
May 11, 2025
Pastor Drew Derreth
WELCOME TO HANOVER VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Our purpose is to become an authentic community that knows Christ and makes His grace and truth known with such power and glory that lives are transformed by the gospel, multiplying worship and praise to God throughout Hanover and the world.
Welcome. We’re glad that you’re with us. We hope you’ll find joyful worship that engages both your heart and mind, as well as genuine friendship and a caring atmosphere. Please take advantage of any of the opportunities offered here. If we can serve you in any way today, simply speak to one of the ushers.
Children are welcome to stay in the service, but if you prefer, quality childcare is provided throughout the service for children from infants to kindergarten aged. Please speak to one of our ushers for locations.
This bulletin will guide you through the service – just start on the next page and continue as the pastor leads. (Moments when you should stand are noted).
As a courtesy to you and those around you, we ask that you please mute cell phones during the worship time.
To all who are spiritually weary and seek rest;
To all who mourn and long for comfort;
To all who struggle and desire victory;
To all who sin and need a Savior;
To all who are strangers and want fellowship;
To all who hunger and thirst after righteousness;
And to all who will come,
this church opens wide her doors and
offers welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
REFLECTIONS
Did the Law ever love me? Did the Law ever sacrifice itself for me? Did the Law ever die for me? On the contrary, it accuses me, it frightens me, it drives me crazy. Somebody else saved me from the Law, from sin and death unto eternal life. That Somebody is the Son of God (Who loved me and gave Himself for me). Hence, Christ is no Moses, no tyrant, no lawgiver, but the Giver of grace, the Savior, full of mercy…Visualize Christ in these His true colors. I do not say that it is easy. Even in the present diffusion of the Gospel light, I have much trouble to see Christ as Paul portrays Him. So deeply has the diseased opinion that Christ is a lawgiver sunk into my bones. You younger men are a good deal better off than we who are old. You have never become infected with the nefarious errors on which I suckled all my youth, until at the mention of the name of Christ I shivered with fear. You, I say, who are young may learn to know Christ in all His sweetness. For Christ is Joy and Sweetness to a broken heart. Christ is a Lover of poor sinners, and such a Lover that He gave Himself for us. Now if this is true, and it is true, then are we never justified by our own righteousness.
Martin Luther
SUNDAY WORSHIP
May 11th, 2025
Prelude
Call to Worship
Gathering Songs (Please Stand)
Here in This Place
Lay your burden down, every care you carry
And come to the table of grace, for there is mercy
We come just as we are, though we’re all unworthy
To enter Your presence, Oh Lord, for You are holy.
Chorus: We lift our heart, we lift our hands,
We fall on our knees and pray
To the King of Kings for the love You bring
Is here, in this place
We raise our voices, raise our song,
We offer You our praise,
You’re the King of Kings and the joy You bring
Is here, You are here in this place
Fill our lives with praise, show us Your forgiveness
And give us the faith to believe that You’ve redeemed us
You are Lord of all and we give You glory,
All honor and power and praise, for You are worthy Chorus
Praise My Soul King of Heaven
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To His feet, thy tribute bring
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven
Who, like me, His praise should sing?
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him
Praise the everlasting King
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him
Praise the everlasting King
Fatherlike, He tends and spares us,
Well, our feeble frame He knows
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him
Widely as His mercy goes
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him
Widely as His mercy goes
Angels, help us to adore Him
Ye behold Him face to face
Sun and moon bow down before Him
Dwellers, all in time and space
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him
Praise with us, the God of grace
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him
Praise with us, the God of grace
Before the Throne of God Above
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, and perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart;
I know that while in Heav’n He stands,
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of my guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him There! The risen Lamb,
My perfect, spotless righteousness;
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of Glory and of grace!
One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God,
With Christ, my Savior and my God.
Corporate Prayer of Confession
Lord God, we have given more weight to our successes and our happiness than to your will. We have eaten without a thought for the hungry. We have spoken without an effort to understand others. We have kept silent instead of telling the truth. We have judged others, forgetful that you alone are the Judge. We have acted in accordance with our opinions rather than according to your commands. In the church, we have been slow to practice love of our neighbors. And in the world we have not been your faithful servants. We come again asking for grace because of what your son has done at the cross. Forgive us and help us to live as followers of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Private Confession
Words of Encouragement
The Lord builds up His people; he gathers the outcasts. He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
Psalm 147:2-3, 5
Song of Assurance (Please Stand)
This I Believe (The Creed)
Our Father everlasting,
The all-creating One, God Almighty.
Through Your Holy Spirit
Conceiving Christ the Son, Jesus our Savior.
Chorus: I believe in God the Father, I believe in Christ the Son,
I believe in the Holy Spirit, our God is three in One.
I believe in the resurrection, that we will rise again.
For I believe in the Name of Jesus
Our judge and our defender,
Suffered and crucified, forgiveness is in You.
Descended into darkness,
You rose in glorious life, forever seated high. Chorus
Announcements & Prayers of the People
Special Music & Offering
Scripture
Galatians 6.11-18
Sermon
Large Letters, Boasting and Back Talk
Song of Reflection (Please Stand)
Your Love is Better Than Life
O Lord, You are my Lord. Your ways are higher than mine.
I’ve seen the broken restored. Your love is better than life.
We thirst in a dry weary land. We hunger for thee.
Lord, rain down as we lift up our hands. Your love is better than life.
O God, I stand amazed, how high, how deep, how wide.
My lips offer you praise. Your love is better than life.
I stand in the shade of your wing. My soul clings to thee.
In the joy of the Lord will I sing. Your love is better than life.
O Lord, You are my Lord. Your ways are higher than mine.
I’ve seen the broken restored. Your love is better than life.
Lord, your love is better than life.
Benediction
Parting Song of Praise
Your Love is Better Than Life
O God, I stand amazed, how high, how deep, how wide.
My lips offer you praise. Your love is better than life.
Lord, your love is better than life.
WORSHIP MUSICIANS
Jessi Stauffer – piano, vocals
SCRIPTURE
Galatians 6.11-18
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
NOTES
COMMUNITY & CHURCH LIFE
Parking on Sundays
We’re glad you’re here today! There is a map available on our website (www.hanovervalley.org), highlighting available local parking. There’s plenty and it’s all less than a block away. There is also a parking lot, especially for guests, next to our building outside the Railroad Street Entrance. All public, metered, on-street parking is free on Sundays.
Live Stream & Bulletin Instructions
You can access the livestream from the front page of hanovervalley.org or through youtube.com/user/HanoverValley.
If you would like to access the weekly bulletin electronically, you can do so through the member area of our website. To access the bulletin, login to the website (after registering for free using your email), click the drop down menu in the upper right hand corner and select ‘Weekly Bulletin’ to download and view the most recent bulletin.
Sunday Morning Childcare
We have childcare for children up to the age of four during our 10:00am worship service. The nursery has recently been renovated to provide more space and will be cleaned thoroughly each week.
Catechism Class
Classes will be on break until the fall.
Pre-K & K Sunday School Class
Classes will be on break until the fall.
Ladies Bible Study
The ladies Bible Study will continue to study “Becoming a Woman of Grace”, by Cynthia Heald, the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at 10:00am at Hanover Valley PCA, beginning January 12th, 2025. You don’t have to have been to the study previously to come study God’s grace with us. All are welcome.
Prayer Gathering
We are meeting on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month @ 6:30 pm at the church. We would love to have you join us! Please contact Gary Harrity for more information at (717) 630-2771.
Youth Group & Kids Group
Youth group (6-8pm) and kids Group (6-7:30pm) meet on Sunday evenings. Youth group is for students 6th-12th grade and kids group is for students in 1st-5th grade. Kids group is currently coordinated by Ellis Lankford while youth group is coordinated by Noah Trask.
The final meeting of the school year for Kids Group will be on May 18th from 6:00-7:00pm.
Kids Fest Information Meeting
Our first information meeting for ALL Kids Fest volunteers will be Sunday, May 18th from 7:00-7:40pm. We will meet at the church building. At this meeting we will discuss plans for future meetings, training dates, updated plans for Kids Fest 2025, and have a time for Q&A.
PRAYERS
Prayer Requests:
- Please continue to pray for the Schmoyer family as they grieve the death of Carrie earlier this year. Pray for her husband Brian and her girls Ella and Addy.
- Please pray for Amanda Cooper’s mom as she’s struggling with knee pain and has an upcoming knee replacement surgery in June.
- Amanda Cooper’s, mom’s best friend, Leslie, had surgery for ovarian cancer and it was successful! They were able to get all of the cancer. Please pray for strength, as she will have a few more chemo treatments.
- Please continue to pray for Tom Simon: for healing, pain relief and stamina. The family is grateful for all the prayer support and expressions of love and care.
- Val Gatz had surgery on her shoulder this week. Please pray for healing and pain relief as she recovers.
- Pray that Andrew Hauser will continue to remain clear of any rejection of his new organs and for safety as he travels to and from Pittsburgh for his tests.
- Pray that we would recognize God’s hand in our lives and the lives around us.
- Ann Kerrison, a friend of Debbie Stapf, was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Pray for Ann and her family as they navigate this challenging time, both physically and emotionally. Please pray for the doctors in their discernment of her treatment.
- Debbie Stapf had surgery on her back on December 4th. Please pray for continued healing and strength.
We want to share your concerns and praises. If you have something to include here please contact Sarah Trask; Call or text 443-277-0110 or email office@hanovervalley.org Nothing is included here without express permission.