Kinderhook Reformed Church Palm Sunday Worship, 2017

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

Rev. Tom McCrossan, Guest Preacher

Director of the Men's Shelter & Guest Services and Assistant Chaplain,

City Mission of Schenectady

A warm welcome to visitors.  We invite you to sign our Guest Book

 in the entranceway and fill out a pew card and place it in the offering plate.

8:30 A.M.  CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

  Announcements, The Lord’s Greeting, and Morning Prayer

*Morning Praise

  Scripture Reading                                                                                 Mark 11:1-26 (p. 717)

  Message                                                                                                         "The King Comes"      

  Prayer of Thanks

  Offering and Prayer of Blessing

  Intercessory Prayer

*Closing Hymn and Benediction

10:00 A.M.  CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

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

Thanks to today’s greeter, Dawn Van Buren.      

 Nursery facility available downstairs.

Flowers are given today by Deborah Drebitko and Geoffrey Gross

in loving memory of their mother, Glenda Gross.

Following worship, all are invited downstairs for fellowship and refreshments.

  Prelude                                            The King Is Coming                     Bill and Gloria Gaither     

  Welcome, Announcements and God's Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  Based on Zechariah 9:9 and Psalm 118:26, 28-29

Rejoice greatly, O people of Zion!

       Shout in celebration, O people of Jerusalem 

Look, your king is coming to you.

       He is righteous and victorious,

yet he is humble, riding on a donkey’s colt.

       Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

You are our God, and we will praise You!

       You are our God, and we will exalt you!

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

       His faithful love endures forever

*Hymn of Praise #203                                                                        Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession

Imagine Jesus entering our presence just as he entered Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. Envision the palm branches, the donkey, the crowds shouting, "Hosanna! We beg you to deliver us!" Understanding who he is, and knowing who we are, let us come together in a moment of confession.  

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)  

O God, you know us well. We are quick to speak of faith, but slow to live it fully. As the people of Jerusalem did many centuries ago, we shout, "Hosanna! Save us we pray!" as Jesus approaches; but we do not want him to come too close.  You know that we are quick to claim faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior; but you also know where we fail: like the throng who greeted his entry into Jerusalem, we are fickle, slow to live fully and everywhere as Christ’s faithful disciples.  Like his chosen Twelve, who spent Jesus’s last week with him, we are quick to want his blessings, but slow to accept the challenges and difficulties of authentic Christ-like living. Merciful God, forgive our weakness, our fear, and our wavering commitment. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon  (Responsive)

Rejoice that the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever and ever! The Lord is God. The Lord brings light to those in darkness, forgiveness to those who truly confess, and pardon to all who seek to follow Jesus. Amen.

       Thanks be to our God of deliverance!

Coming before God’s Open Word

 Children’s Message and Prayer of Blessing  (Unison)

King Jesus of supreme power, glory, and majesty, who sustains and watches over the lives of these children, bless each of them with a heart full of praise for your enduring love and everlasting faithfulness.  Amen.  

  Prayer for Illumination and Scripture Reading                               Mark 11:1-26 (p. 717)

  Message                                                                                                         "The King Comes"      

  Prayer of Blessing

Celebrating God, His Abundance, and His Care

  Offering/Offertory                  Majesty, Worship His Majesty                        Jack Hayford

*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) Based on 1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, O Lord, is the splendor and the majesty, the triumph and the dominion; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. With thanks and praise we offer these gifts to accomplish your holy purposes.  Amen.

  Prayer Requests, Pastoral Prayer, and The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn of Praise and Prayer to Christ  (Insert)        My Lord, You Wore No Royal Crown

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

  My friends, may you grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.

My friends, may you grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

 To God be the glory, now and forever, now and forever, amen. (2x)

  Postlude                       

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

~MAUNDY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP SERVICES~

A Communion Worship will be held on Maundy Thursday, April 15, at 7 p.m. at Muitzeskill, and a Good Friday Worship will be held at 3 p.m. at KRC.  All are cordially invited and encouraged to take part in these special services led by Pastor Paige Convis.

~VALATIE ECUMENICAL FOOD PANTRY EASTER BASKETS~

Easter Food Baskets will be given to families who use the Valatie Ecumenical Food Pantry and request one. In November, 135 families received Thanksgiving baskets, and we anticipate about the same number of families for Easter. The baskets include food for Easter dinner: ham, potatoes, yams, corn, green beans, pineapple, and brownies. The Pantry buys all food items for the baskets in bulk, and if you would like to help financially with these purchases, checks may be made payable to Kinderhook Reformed Church, with Easter Baskets on the memo line, and dropped in the offering plate.  If you prefer, you may make checks out directly to Valatie Ecumenical Food Pantry, Inc., with Easter Baskets on the memo line, and mail them to:  Jean Norton, 35 Harris Drive, Valatie, NY 12184. The Pantry thanks you in advance for any help you are able to give. All monies or food items left over after the Easter baskets are distributed will be put into the Pantry account or onto the Pantry shelves

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.
• Rev. Paige Convis, KRC’s associate pastor, as she fulfills her ministerial duties as full-time pastor to the Muitzeskill and Stuyvesant Reformed Churches.
• KRC ministries, programs & projects and those planning & administering them: KRC’s Consistory; KRC’s administrative ministries; Adult and Children’s Sunday School; KRC’s Youth Group; 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 new 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 South Korea.
• victims world-wide suffering natural and other hardships and tragedies: famine, earthquakes, and other climate-related disasters; economic instability; poverty, hunger, and poor health; political oppression, unrest, terrorism, war, displacement.
• those grieving the death of loved ones, especially Noreen Dick, family, and friends grieving the recent death of Alan Dick. 
• 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.
• Annis, and her young daughter, who is terminally ill. Pray for God's comfort and healing for Annis's daughter, and for God's strength, reassurance, and peace for Annis during this very difficult time.  Annis is a former Compassion student from Columbia, SA, sponsored by Merrill and Erika Johnson.
• Jay Marston, suffering pancreatic cancer and now in hospice care. Jay is a co-worker of Deb Spaulding.  Pray for God's comfort and peace for Jay, as well as for God's strength and consolation for his extended family
• those battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Jeff First; J.B; Jen; Bill, Janet Smith's brother; Ronny; Ron Dick; Donna Scalera; Kim Helm; Carol Nel; Paul Osborn; Jeff Peter; Mark; Jay, Ann; Jill; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler.
• the grandmother of Heather LaTorre, suffering health issues and now moved to a hospice facility. Pray for God’s comfort, peace, and reassurance for Heather’s grandmother and her family.
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Derick LaTorre; Valarie Molnar; Sara Hartman; Keith Niver; Jim Van Deusen, friend of the Vargas; Betty Osborn; Darla and Jill; Lennox; Lynn; Rob; Virginia Rothermel; Maggie; Art Gross; Angie Rivera; Stacey Baker; Harriet Stockhoff; Ruth Edge; Jean Skipper; Floyd Haber; Paul Varga.
• those who are traveling, especially Jane Deane and her brother, vacationing together in Holland April 8 – 18; Jane Deane's daughter, Jen Anderson, and family, travelling to California April 12 – 20; Noreen Dick and Beth Anne Rippel traveling to Ireland April 12 – 17;.Pastor Visser and family visiting family and friends in South Africa.
• others facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Peggy and Fostera, mother and daughter of Keanya Meyer, experiencing special challenges at this time and in need of prayers for God's healing, reassurance, comfort, and peace.  Brianna; Libby Little-Saxton; Cydney Rippel, Carly Rippel, Greg Clause Jr., and others as they face the challenges of a higher level of education or seek a career; Vince Beaudoin; the epidemic of addiction to heroin and other substances.
• those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill: Maureen Mooney; Nancy Stewart; Rick Scalera.
• residence-bound KRC family, George Clowe.

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, and others who lead worship at KRC from time to time.
• those men and women who have served or are now serving our country, and those who have sacrificed their well-being and lives for the peace & liberties we enjoy.
• the good news that Valerie Molnar, although still in the hospital, is doing much better. Valerie is the mother of one of Nancy Baker's co-workers.
• the encouraging report that Jeff First, friend of the Bakers, is now home and doing well following recent surgery. Jeff’s doctors believe that all of his cancer was removed.
• new KRC members recently received into fellowship. Please lift them up in your prayers as they join with us in ministry and fellowship.
• all those of KRC's family and friends who volunteer their time, talent, and energy so generously and so willingly to the various ministries and programs of our church, and who often do this quietly and selflessly behind-the-scenes with little notice or recognition.
• His provision for all of our basic life needs, and the wonderful ways God shows His love to us, especially during difficult times.

Deborah Spaulding (1^st), Annake Visser (6^th), Beth Anne Rippel (11^th),

Anne-Marie Zietsman (11^th), Angela Rivera (12^th), Bill Nieman (16^th),

Arnie March (17^th), Leo Dolan (18^th), Cydney Rippel (22^nd), Paul Zietsman (29^th)

Each member’s share of this year’s classis assessment has been set at $88.50 (down 43¢ from last year).  
ll who are able to do so are encouraged to offer, over and above regular giving, their share of this support. 
The full share does not have to be given at one time, but may be given in as many increments as are convenient.
If offered weekly, that’s just $2.39 per week for the remaining weeks (37) in this year. Please clearly
designate all contributions, “Classis Assessment.” 

~2017 CLASSIS ASSESSMENT DISTRIBUTION ~

General Synod:      $52.23   (Down $1.48 from 2016)

Albany Synod:       $30.00   (Up $1 from 2016)

C.  G.   Classis:          $  6.27   (Up $0.05  from 2016

2017 TOTAL:           $88.50   (Down $0.43 from 2016)

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

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

Tana Thompson – ’17  Property  . . . . . . . . . . . 392-3312  tanastrome@gmail.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

                KRC Office Manager              KRC Office Assistant          

            Paul Clause – 859-4158      Courtney Wood – 784-2134

                   KRC Sexton                 KRC Cemetery Supervisor        

           Greg Clause Jr – 653-2786       Greg Clause – 369-8472 

COMING EVENTS

Today,   Palm Sunday, April 9  Rev. Tom McCrossan, Guest Preacher

      8:30 am  Early Worship Service

      9:45 am  Bible study, Book of Genesis, continues.

    10:00 am  Worship Service and Children’s Sunday School

Tues,  April 11

       7:00 pm  KRC Youth Group meets

Thur, April 13

       9:00 am  Small Group continuing Bible-based study @KRC:

              Group continues a new Bible study, 1 & 2 Thessalonians

     10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @KRC

      7:00 pm  Bible study group meets, KRC main floor Conference Room

                     Maundy Thursday Communion with Pastor Paige @Muitzeskill

Good Friday, April  14

      3:00 pm  Good Friday Worship with Pastor Paige @Kinderhook

Easter Sunday, April 16   Rev. Rudy Preaching

    10:00 am  Combined Easter Worship Service

        Please Note:  Children’s Sunday School is in recess Easter Sunday.

Sat,  April  22   KRC volunteers will again be serving at CCRM, Albany.

      7:30 pm  Hudson Valley Choral Society Spring Concert

                        Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kinderhook

Servers Easter Sunday, April 9
 

Ushers:  Phil Hurst, Glenn Warren, Andrew Welcome

Greeter(s):  Phil, Jean, and Stacey Hurst