April 20, 2025
Pastor Drew Derreth
The Gardener
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
Christ came not merely to restore the original, but to bring into existence something different, a human experience not subject even to the possibility of death. It is in this sense that the Bible speaks of Christ’s work as a ‘new creation.’
-Ranald Macaulay & Jerram Barrs
Being Human
Easter ’15
…with the resurrection, and the disciples’ seeing of Jesus again after his death, the new creation has dawned, the eighth ‘day’ of God’s creation has arrived, and everything is now to be made new… Easter is the time when the true light shines in the darkness and cannot be quenched…
-N.T. Wright
The Resurrection of the Son of God
If Easter says anything to us today, it says this: You can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there. You can nail it to a cross, wrap it in winding sheets and shut it up in a tomb, but it will rise!
-Clarence W. Hall
SUNDAY WORSHIP
April 20th, 2025
Prelude
Ain’t No Grave
Call to Worship
Gathering Songs (Please Stand)
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns and earth reply, Alleluia!
Lives again, our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, o death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died, our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where, thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
The Wonderful Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Chorus: O the wonderful cross
O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find
That I may truly live
O the wonderful cross
O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace
Draw near and bless Your name
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all
Chorus
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My Comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
‘Til on the cross, as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied,
For every sin on Him was laid,
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground, His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.
For I am His and He is mine,
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand,
‘Til He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
Corporate Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. You broke into our dying, decaying world and have begun to work healing. You have begun a marvelous and miraculous work of redemption right before our very eyes. We confess that we remain captivated by the gods of this world that promise so much, but deliver so little. We do not believe that you could be calling us to something more noble and beautiful than our own cramped personal dramas. So we settle for lives of comfort and mediocrity. We confess that we remain fixated on our own failures or the failures of others. We quickly forget that your grace is infinite. We quickly forget that Jesus came, not to call the righteous, but the unrighteous. Forgive us, God of mercy. Invade our lives by your Spirit and make us new. That we may know the joy of abundant life given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Amen.
Private Confession
Words of Encouragement
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
John 11:25
Song of Assurance (Please Stand)
Hosanna
Let the weak say “I am strong.” Let the poor say “I am rich”
Let the blind say “I can see,” it’s what the Lord has done in me.
Let the weak say “I am strong.” Let the poor say “I am rich”
Let the blind say “I can see,” it’s what the Lord has done in me.
Chorus: Hosanna, hosanna to the Lamb that was slain.
Hosanna, hosanna, Jesus died and rose again.
Hosanna, hosanna to the Lamb that was slain.
Hosanna, hosanna, Jesus died and rose again.
Into the river I will wade, there my sins are washed away.
From the heaven’s mercy stream of the Savior’s love for me.
I will rise from waters deep into the saving arms of God.
I will sing salvation songs. Jesus Christ has set me free. Chorus
Jesus died and rose again, Jesus died and rose again.
Announcements & Prayers of the People
Special Music & Offering
No Body
Scripture
John 20:1-23
Sermon
The Gardener
Song of Reflection (Please Stand)
Death in His Grave
Though the earth cried out for blood, satisfied her hunger was.
Billows calmed on raging seas, for the souls of men she craved.
Sun and moon and balcony turned their head in disbelief,
Precious love would taste the sting, disfigured and disdained.
Chorus: On Friday a thief, on Sunday a King,
Laid down in grief, but woke with the keys
Of hell on that day, firstborn of the slain,
The Man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave.
So three days in darkness slept the morning Son of Righteousness,
But rose to shame the throws of death and overturn his rule.
Now daughters and the sons of men would pay not their dues again.
The debt of blood they owed was rent, when the day rolled anew.
Benediction
Parting Song of Praise
Death in His Grave
Chorus: On Friday a thief, on Sunday a King,
Laid down in grief, but woke with the keys
Of hell on that day, firstborn of the slain,
The Man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave.
Tag: The man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave
WORSHIP MUSICIANS
Jessi Stauffer – piano, vocals
Angela Brewer – vocals
SCRIPTURE
John 20:1-23
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
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
From 9:00-9:45am we offer a class discussing the Westminster Shorter Catechism for students in 1st-5th grades. This class is taught by Noah Trask. This class meets in the 1-3 grade class room.
Pre-K & K Sunday School Class
From 9:00-9:45am we a class for students in Pre-K and K (ages 3-5). This class will be taught by Becky Derreth and Sarah Schwarz and meets in the 3-K Sunday School room.
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) resume this evening after a holiday break! 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.
20/20 Vision Class
Curious about the church? This course, held Friday, April 25th at 7:00 pm and Saturday, April 26th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, goes through the distinctive nature and personality of Hanover Valley Church. Learn about the church’s vision, leadership, history, theology, and ministry structure. Participation does not mean you are expected to become a member, but the course is vital for all those desiring membership. Please contact Pastor Drew Derreth (drew@hanovervalley.org) if you are interested.
Thank you
We are so very grateful to all who assisted in making the holy week event possible. Dozens of folks collaborated to serve and arrange and produce the various elements from food preparation, to set up and break down, to flowers and candles, to clean up and prep, to music and readings. Thank you for your sacrifices of love to share the love of Christ with our neighbors, friends and community.
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.
- Tom Simon returned home this week after a return stay at Johns Hopkins to address some infection, but he is healing well and happy to be home to recover. Please pray for healing, pain relief and stamina. The family is grateful for all the prayer support and expressions of love and care.
- 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.