December 17, 2017

Kinderhook Reformed Church Celebration of Worship, December 17, 2017

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

A warm welcome to visitors. 

We invite you to fill out a visitors pew card and place it in the offering plate.

 

  10:00 A.M.  CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

Following worship today, all are invited to enjoy refreshments and fellowship

downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.

Thanks to today’s ushers, Chris Laurie, Derick LaTorre, Steve Shpur.

Thanks to today’s greeters, Ryan Morris and Girls.

Nursery facility available downstairs.

 

  Prelude

  Welcome and Introduction

Drawing Near to God

  Call To Worship  (Responsive)  

Come, holy people, called by God, let us follow the way prepared for us.

Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among those who please God.

Once again the world is surprised at a manger, as the glory of God surpasses what is expected.

Let us go to Bethlehem to see what God has made known to us.

There in Bethlehem and here today at the Kinderhook Reformed Church, we are reminded anew of the wonder of God’s ways.

Let us glorify and praise God for all that we have seen and heard!

 

Hymn                                                                                                                    Come All Ye Faithful

 

        Amazing God, on this night so long ago, You gathered a group of unlikely outsiders—Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and others to be part of a great miracle: the birth of Jesus, our Savior.

Today You have sought us out and brought us to the manger.

You have interrupted our routines with Your Good News.

You have gathered this unlikely assortment of folk to become a holy people, a community of faith. We want to respond. Show us how.

Help us receive your renewing love as we praise You for offering us salvation in the name of Jesus, Who taught us to pray,

Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

Celebrating God, His Abundance, and His Care

  Offering/Offertory                                                                                          Mary Did You Know?

*Doxology #809                                                           Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below.

Praise him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

*Offertory Prayer  (Unison) 

God thank you for the gifts you have given us. Help us to see these gifts and to share them with others. We ask your blessing on these gifts that we offer today. Thank you for your love, mercy and grace. We pray these things in your name, Amen. 

 

Christmas Pageant

Narrator: In the Genesis story, we hear that God created the world with language. God said, “Let there be light.” God said, “Let there be night and day.” God said, “It is good.” Then, in the first chapter in the Gospel of John, we hear how this language, the Word, is with God and Jesus.

 

Reader #1: John 1:1-4, 9 –13, 18b; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a man’s will, but born of God.   It is Jesus, a child of God, who by being close to the Father's heart, has made God known.

 

  Around the Advent Wreath – (Responsive)

LEADER:  Today we relight the candles of HOPE and PEACE.

Now we light the third candle of Advent. This is the candle of JOY (Third purple candle is lit.)

PEOPLE:  As the coming of Jesus, our Savior, draws nearer, our joy builds with our anticipation of his birth.

LEADER:  From the Book of Isaiah we read the words of our Lord:  "But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight."  (Isaiah 65:18)    

PEOPLE:  From the New Testament, we find the words of Paul to the people of the church at Galatia:  "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22 – 25) 

LEADER:  Let us pray:

ALL:  We joyfully praise you, O Lord, for the fulfillment of your promise of a savior and what that means in our lives. Thank you for the gift of salvation through the birth of your son, Jesus.   Create us anew as we wait, and help us to see your glory as you fill our lives with your living Spirit. Amen.

LEADER:  You are invited to take a devotional booklet and a 2017 Advent Prayer Calendar from the back table.

 

Prayer

 

 

NARRATOR:  In the 1st chapter of the Gospel of Luke, we learn of Mary’s willingness to work with God even though what is being asked of her will not be easy. Being pregnant when not married is against the rules where and when she lives. There are some very hard consequences for breaking these rules – the worst consequence being death.

 

READER #2:  Luke 1 :26-38; In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,  to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”  The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.  For no word from God will ever fail.”   “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

 

*SING (please stand):                                                                                              Here I am LORD

 

NARRATOR:  The place of Jesus’ birth is in Bethlehem, a small town a few miles south of Jerusalem. But Bethlehem was not Joseph or Mary’s hometown. They had to go to Bethlehem because Caesar Augustus had made a law that everyone must be counted in the towns where their great-great grandparents (or ancestors) had been born. This was a long trip to travel by foot (about 60 miles or 3 days time). It would’ve been even more difficult since Mary was pregnant. When Mary and Joseph finally made it to Bethlehem, the inn was already filled with people and there was no place for Mary and Joseph to stay. But there was a stable, where the animals rested, that Mary and Joseph were allowed to rest in as well.

 

SING (congregation stays seated):                                                 O Little Town of Bethlehem 

 

NARRATOR: In this stable, with only Joseph to help her, Mary gave birth to a baby boy. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger. Mary and Joseph named him Jesus.

 

SING (seated):                                                                                                                   Silent Night  

 

NARRATOR: Now, it was night time and in the fields nearby, shepherds were watching their flocks. Then an angel stood before the shepherds and the shepherds were terrified. But the angel of the Lord said to them: Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you a child is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." Immediately after the angel stopped speaking, there were suddenly many angels praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

 

SING (seated):                                                                                                               The First Noel

 

NARRATOR:  Then the angels left the shepherds and the shepherds took a deep breath. Then they looked at each other and said: “We better go see this baby!”

 

SING (seated):                                                                                                O Come All Ye Faithful

 

NARRATOR: Now when the shepherds saw Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the stable, and saw that what the angel had said to them was true, they went out and made it known to whomever they met. Which means it’s very possible that some of the townspeople went to the stable that very night to see and maybe even help Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus because of what the shepherds had told them.

 

SING: (seated)                                                                                         Go tell it on the mountain

 

NARRATOR:   Well look at us! What a full and busy stable we are! In all this busyness and moving around, it is possible to forget why we came here in the first place. So I remind us today that we celebrate and remember the birth of Jesus not just because he was born, but because of the life that Jesus lived. The baby-Jesus grew into an adult-Jesus, an adult who chose live God’s way, all the time. It is exciting that Jesus was born in a manger. But what is even more exciting is that Jesus was born of a mother, just like us, and grew up, just like us. Then, when he was all grown up, he chose to live God’s way, and said to us, “You can do this too, and here, I’ll show you how – just follow me.” This is the Good News today, and why we celebrate Christmas, because Christmas is the story that reminds us that any and all of us can choose to live God’s way and live as God’s sons and daughters. So let us go from here today, giving thanks to God for Jesus and reminding others that the gift of Jesus is that he chose to live God’s way and lived to show us how we can do the exact same thing. Hallelujah! Amen!

 

*SING:                                                                                                                        Joy to the World

 

  *Benediction, Blessing, and Response Hymn                 My Friends May You Grow in Grace

 

  Postlude                                                                                               Hark the Herald Angels Sing

 

Celebrate the Season

Donations for poinsettias to decorate our pulpit area are now being accepted and are greatly appreciated.  Contributions may be placed in the offering plate clearly marked for this purpose.

 

~NOTE OF THANKS~

A heartfelt thank-you to all who worked so diligently to make KRC’s recent Candlelight Night Open House such a success. Praise God that so many of our immediate neighbors and nearby community members visited KRC to enjoy the beauty of our sanctuary, the special Christmas music, and the fellowship and refreshments in the Fellowship Room.  x

 

~CCRM WOMEN’S GIFTS DUE TODAY~

PLEASE PLACE YOUR UNWRAPPED CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CCRM WOMEN IN EITHER OF THE LABELED RECEPTACLES IN THE MAIN OR SIDE ENTRANCES OF THE CHURCH TODAY.  Gifts will be taken to Albany tomorrow, where the mission will sort and distribute them to the women.   

~LESSONS AND CAROLS AT 4 P.M. THIS AFTERNOON~

Directed by David Smith, Lessons and Carols is a worship service celebrating the birth of Jesus, and will be presented at 4 p.m. this afternoon at KRC. A Christmas gift to our community from the KRC family, Lessons and Carols is open to all. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus are told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books, and the Gospels, along with choir music and the singing of Christmas carols and hymns. The first Lessons and Carols was held on Christmas Eve, 1918, at King's College, Cambridge, England, and has been broadcast from there by the BBC to millions of listeners around the world each Christmas Eve since 1931. The order of worship was adapted from an order prepared 38 years earlier by Edward White Benson, Bishop of Truro. Tradition says that the bishop organized a 10 pm service in Cornwall on Christmas Eve, 1880, in a temporary wooden shed serving as his cathedral.

 

~7 P.M. CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT WORSHIP SERVICE~

As always, KRC’s Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship is a highlight of the season of giving and a special time to express our joy, praise, and gratitude for the Gift of Jesus, Light of the World, from God the Father.

 

Please take a moment during this Christmas season to enjoy the beauty and meaning of the white and gold ornaments on our Chrismon Tree on the sanctuary platform.  The term "Chrismon" is a combination of the words "Christ" and "monogram," and means "symbols of Christ." The ornaments, all emblems of our Christian faith and heritage, were hand-made by KRC family and friends several years ago for annual display on the tree. You are invited to pick up one of the informative handouts from the back table about the Chrismon tree history and tradition.  

x

ENVELOPE SYSTEM AVAILABLE FOR PRESENTING 2018 WEEKLY CONTRIBUTIONS
For those currently participating in the envelope system to present offerings to the church, new envelope sets 
will be available next Sunday for pick-up at the small table in the back of the sanctuary and ready for use 
beginning Sunday, January 7. If you are not currently using the weekly envelope system to present contributions 
to the church, but would like to do so in 2018, please complete one of the small green request forms and drop 
it into the offering plate.

 

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

  • those who do not know Christ or who are struggling in their faith journey. Pray also that God will provide opportunities for us to witness for Jesus, and give us the courage and winsome words needed to make the most of these opportunities.
  • Pastor Rudy, as he fulfills his ministerial duties.
  • KRC ministries, programs & projects and those planning & administering them: KRC’s Consistory; KRC’s administrative ministries; KRC’s Youth Group; Sunday School; KRC’s small group ministries and Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; 1st Friday; and other outreach programs.
  • our state, national, and world leaders, especially President Donald Trump and all of the government officials now in office, that God will grant them the leadership skills, wisdom, and the personal protection needed to govern effectively and safely.
  • our military men & women, their families, and friends, that they may know God’s presence, protection, and peace, especially Jason Lansing serving in S. Korea.
  • victims world-wide suffering natural and other hardships and tragedies: economic instability; poverty, hunger, and poor health; political oppression, unrest, terrorism, war, displacement.
  • those grieving the death of loved ones, especially Angie and Chris Rivera, family, and friends grieving the recent unexpected death of Julie Rivera; Heather DiOrio, family, and friends grieving the recent death of Heather's father. Kay Haber, family, and friends grieving the death this past week of Kay's oldest brother, James Morse.
  • those who, even after many years, still hurt from the void left by loved ones who have passed on from this world.
  • reassurance, peace, and dignity for loved ones nearing the close of this life.
  • those battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Terri; Christine; Michael, brother of Mary Jane Haywood; Connie Witkowski; Michael; Don Morse; Jill; J.B.; Jen; Bill, Janet Smith's brother; Ronny; Ron Dick; Carol Nel; Jeff Peter; Mark; Ann; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler.                        
  • those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Seth Mooney; Asha and her baby; Connie; Esther Baker, Jim Baker’s mom; Ruth Edge; Barbara Vosburgh; Virginia Rothermel; Art Gross; Harriet Stockhoff; Jean Skipper; Floyd Haber; Paul Varga.
  • those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Merrill Johnson, dealing with a number of unspoken issues; our students as they deal with the challenges of higher levels of education in this school year, career choices, and job searches; Greg Clause Jr.; Libby Little-Saxton, working with Afghan refugees; the epidemic of addiction to life-threatening drugs.
  • residence-bound KRC family, George Clowe, and those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill.

Outreach Ministry is asking that those who submit a prayer request to KRC’s family and friends also inform us if they know of any additional material or physical needs, beyond the initial prayer request, that we might be able to meet. We would love the opportunity to engage with those in need of prayer in tangible ways as well, such as with meals, emergency   monies, a ride, a listening ear, a visit, childcare - to name a few.

 

 

REMEMBER TO THANK & PRAISE GOD FOR

  • Pastor Rudy Visser, our Spirit-filled minister and leader of vision, and for the Christ-centered messages God gives to Pastor each and every Sunday for the spiritual nourishment and growth of our church family. 
  • the inspirational ministries of our guest preachers, Perry Jones, Tom McCrossan, John Bowen, Derek DeJager, and others who lead worship at KRC from time to time.                                           
  • the encouraging news Cricket Warren's father, Marvin Von Benschoten, was willing to accept his need for assisted living, but please pray that he will make a speedy and comfortable adjustment to his new situation and surroundings.
  • the good report that Lesley Haywood’s recent hernia surgery was successful, and that Lesley is recovering well and able to be in worship with us.
  • the good news that Stacey Baker has completed her college studies after a long and sometimes difficult struggle to do so while recovering from a serious concussion.
  • those men and women who have served or are now serving our country, and those who have sacrificed their wellbeing and lives for the peace & liberty we enjoy.
  • the encouraging report that Virginia Rothermel is now home from Whitter following a recent mobility issue.
  • all those of KRC's family and friends who volunteer their time, talent, and energy so generously and so selflessly to the various ministries and programs of our church, and who often do this quietly behind-the-scenes with little notice or recognition.

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS OUR MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES

Dave and Char Alexander, RCA missionaries, Taiwan;

Alight Pregnancy Center, Hudson

Perry Jones and Capital City Rescue Mission, Albany

Compassion International, KRC-Sponsored Children:

Evelin Chuquinia, 15, Bolivia             

Alex and Fran Knauss, Trans-World Radio

Maureen Menard, Youth with a Mission

Dick and Carolyn Otterness, RCA missionaries, Hungary

Brian and Bea Post, Wycliffe Bible Translators

Seth and Melissa Rogati, missionaries, Young Life Ministry, St. Thomas

Betty Ann Stedwell, Christar International Mission

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO READ THE THANK-YOU NOTES ON THE MISSIONS BULLETIN BOARD IN THE FELLOWSHIP ROOM

 FROM SOME OF OUR MISSIONARIES.

 

 

Birgitta Sherman (2nd), Elizabeth Carroll (4th), Dave Ennis (8th),

 Merrill Johnson (15th), Ed Arnold (22nd), Mackensie Clinton (22nd),

Cricket Warren (26th,), Patrick Carroll (27th)

 

 

       Praise God, our offering this past Sunday of $2,877 came close to the $3,000 needed weekly to meet daily operating expenses.  Regular contributors are asked to continue “doubling up” on their giving if they miss a Sunday, and Stewardship Ministry urges that everyone give prayerful consideration to how they might adjust their giving to help keep income at a level that will meet daily operating expenses.

       Inspired by the abundance with which the Lord has blessed us, let us continue, as his faithful stewards, to be ever mindful of the need to maintain a weekly offering sufficient to cover our commitments.      

 

 

CLASSIS ASSESSMENT 2017

Each member’s share of this year’s classis assessment has been set at $88.50 (down 43¢ from last year).  All who
are able to do so are encouraged to offer, over and above regular giving, their share of this support.  Please
clearly designate all contributions, “Classis Assessment.” 

 

 

 

KRC 2017 CONSISTORY

Pastor Rev. Rudy Visser, President of Consistory

Deacons

Jane Deane  ’17  Outreach, Cemetery. . . . . .  758-7051  jdeane1943@gmail.com

Noreen Dick  ’18  Church Family . . . . . . . . . . 758-6640  noreend122@twc.com

Patrice Lyons – ’17  Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . .    758-8400  patricelyons50@gmail.com

Beth Anne Rippel ’18  Stewardship  . . . . . . . 392-5044  barippel@yahoo.com

Elders

Merrill Johnson’18  Worship      . . . . . . . . . . . 828-6726  docjohnson36@gmail.com

Dawn Van Buren ’18  Pastoral Relations . . 758-7564  dawnandleo@fairpoint.net

Patti Varga  ’17  Christian Education, Outreach,

                                Consistory Vice President . .755-3054  patvarga66@gmail.com

Barbara Vosburgh  ’17 Personnel, Clerk. . . . 758-6512  vosburgh1@nycap.rr.com

 

KRC TREASURER

Derick LaTorre – 376-1882  derick.latorre@gmail.com

 

 

                                                   KRC STAFF 

            Paul Clause – 859-4158      Courtney Wood – 852-7172

                       KRC  Sexton                  KRC Cemetery Supervisor        

           Steven Green – 505-4918        Greg Clause – 369-8472 

 

COMING EVENTS

Please Note:

Each Sunday, December 17, December 24, and December 31,

we will have one combined worship service at 10:00 a.m.

 

Today, December 17  Deadline for CCRM women’s gifts to be delivered to KRC

    10:00 am  Worship Service and Children’s Christmas Program

      4:00 pm  KRC’s Annual Lessons and Carols Worship Service

Thur, December 21

      9:00 am  Small Group Bible study @KRC.

            Group continues a new study: Grace, by Max Lucado – Please join us!

     10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @KRC

      7:00 pm  Bible study, 1 and 2 Peter, KRC main floor Conference Room

Sun, December 24  Christmas Eve

    10:00 am  Worship Service and Children’s Christmas Pageant

      7:00 pm  KRC’s Annual Candlelight Worship Service

Servers Next Sunday, December 24

Ushers:  Phil Hurst, Andrew Welcome

Greeter(s):