Kinderhook Reformed Church Worship Services

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Sunday, August 17, 2014 - Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

A warm welcome to visitors.

We would like to get to know you better and invite you to sign our Guest Book in the entranceway

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

All are invited to enjoy refreshments and fellowship at our Summer Lemonade Stand hosted by Beth Anne Rippel

on the front lawn of the church following today’s Worship Service.

9 A.M.  COMBINED CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

Ushers:  Dave Ennis, Will Ferguson, Chuck Rothermel, Andrew Welcome

  Greeter(s): Liz  and Will Carroll   

 Pre-school Nursery available downstairs.

  Guest Organist, David Smith   

    Prelude            “Our Father who art in heaven” BuxWV 219               D. Buxtehude

    Welcome, Announcements

Boldly Approaching our God

    Call to Worship  (Responsive) Based on Psalm 98:1-6

Sing a new song to the Lord, who has worked wonders,

whose right hand and holy arm have brought salvation.

       The Lord has made known salvation; has shown justice to the nations;

       has remembered truth and love for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

       Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing out your joy.

Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp, with the sound of music.

       With trumpets and the sound of the horn acclaim the King, the Lord.

*Hymn of Praise #328                                              God’s Holy Ways Are Just and True

  Invocation

  Call to Confession From Isaiah 30:15, 18

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength . . . The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.  We confess that it is all too easy for us to sacrifice our convictions for convenience, your standards for status, your principles for promotion, your absolutes for our ambition, our souls for shallow and unsatisfying success.  How easily we are seduced by power, prestige, pleasure, or possessions - seduced into violating our integrity or harming our fellowship with you.

 [Moment of personal Confession]

From earth’s fullest delights, we return to you again, unfulfilled.

Forgive us our half-hearted devotion and our double-minded spirit. Rebuild our integrity and restore us to a wholesome relationship with you Amen.

  Assurance of Pardon  Based on Isaiah 44:21, 22

This is what the Lord says:  “Remember these things: I formed you, and you are my servants; you will not be forgotten by me. I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.”   

       Thanks and praise to the Lord, our God.  Amen.

We Come before God’s Open Word

  Prayer for Illumination

  Scripture                                                                                 Jeremiah 31:31-34 (p. 561)

  Message                                                                                 “Last Chance for Change?”

  Prayer of Blessing 

Celebrating God

  Offering/Offertory                                                  Improvisation on “Amazing Grace”

*Doxology and Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift, teach us to render to you all that we have and all that we are, that we may praise you, not with our lips only, but with our whole lives, turning the duties, the sorrows, and the joys of all our days into a living sacrifice to you. Amen.

  Prayer Requests, Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn of Prayer #30                                             I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord

*Blessing, Benediction, 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                     Prelude and Fugue in F major BWV 556                      J. S. Bach

SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM

     This year, the First Presbyterian Church, Valatie, has started an outreach ministry to the children who were eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch during the school year.  KRC will assist with this ministry for one more Friday, August 29. Volunteers to help set up, cook, and serve are needed, and contributions of fresh fruit/veggies, juice, milk, and cookies are welcome.  There is a sign up sheet on the back table if you feel called to help.                                                                                

                                                                                 Thank you,    KRC Outreach Ministry

SON THE BACK TABLES

● SUMMER LUNCH OUTREACH PROGRAM VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP SHEET  

● VBS REGISTRATION FORMS & VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP SHEETS   

● NEW KRC DIRECTORY – Some directories are still on the back table. They are labeled in alphabetical order by family name, and if you have not yet picked yours up, please remember to do so today.

● KRC CHURCH ADMINISTRATIVE MINISTRIES – KRC’s administrative ministries are looking for additional members to assist them in fulfilling their designated functions, and you are urged to prayerfully consider participating in one of these ministries.  Sign-up sheets are available on the back table. 

● COLUMBIA COUNTY ACTIVITY/DINING GUIDE BOOKLETS – Pick up your free copy today from the back table.

KINDERHOOK & MUITZESKILL REFORMED CHURCHES’ VBS 2014

       VBS will begin tomorrow, AUGUST 18, and will be in session each day through next Friday from 9 am to Noon.  Arrival and sign-in will be from 8:45 to 
9 am daily.  We are very excited and busy making preparations for the SonTreasure Island theme! Set your sails for Shipwreck Bay! Visitors to SonTreasure 
Island are welcomed by the scent of exotic flowers, the taste of tropical fruits and the captivating sound of island music. But this is no ordinary tropical 
escape! There is treasure to be found here. More precious than gold, more lasting than diamonds, it is the greatest treasure of all - God’s love! At 
SonTreasure Island, treasure seekers will play island games, create colorful crafts, and enjoy tropical snacks. But more importantly, they will discover 
the rich treasure of God’s love through the life of Jesus.  We hope you'll be able to join us this year, and ask that you register your children today if you have ot yet done so.  Students ages 3 who are potty trained to those entering grade 8 are welcome to attend.  Students Grade 6 and above are allowed to be helpers if they would prefer to do that, however they still need a completed registration form in order to help. REGISTRATION FORMS MAY BE FOUND ON THE
BACK TABLE, and may be presented tomorrow at sign-in time.   

       As always, VBS here in Kinderhook is free, but donations to help offset the cost are always welcome.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call the church or contact Patti Varga at any time.  We look forward to seeing many of you in August at SonTreasure Island VBS!

REMEMBER TO THANK & PRAISE GOD FOR

• Pastor Rudy Visser, our Spirit-filled minister and leader of vision.
• the encouraging report, based on recent tests, that Marlys Haughie will not require further medical evaluation for six months.
• 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 many dedicated and hard-working friends and members of the Kinderhook Reformed Church Family who serve on Consistory, church ministries, and committees; teach Sunday School; lead Youth Group, Bible studies, and prayer group; organize and carry out special church events; prepare food, serve, and clean up for coffee hours, receptions, and dinners; and who are always ready to offer whatever help and support they can to those in need.
• all His provisions for our basic life needs, and the wonderful ways God shows His love to us, especially during difficult times.
• the blessing of times in which families fellowship, grow, give support; and bond together.

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

• those who do not know Christ, or who are struggling in their faith, especially: Brian, who is also experiencing disabling health issues; and Craig.
• KRC programs & projects and those planning & administering them: adult and children’s Sunday School; KRC’s youth; VBS; small group ministries; adult Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; outreach programs. 
• KRC’s 2014 Consistory members; KRC’s administrative ministries, chairpersons, and supporting members.
• our children sponsored through Compassion or other agencies.
• our military men & women, their families, and friends, that they may know God’s presence, protection, and peace.
• survivors of warfare, terrorism, violence, and natural and other disasters worldwide, especially those in Iraq, other areas of the Middle East, and in our own country,  that they may be blessed with God’s peace and the reassurance that he is in control.
• our state and national leaders, that God will grant them the leadership skills, wisdom, and the personal protection needed to govern effectively and safely.
• those, especially children, suffering poverty and hunger; abuse; exploitation; neglect; family hostility.  
• family and friends grieving the death of loved ones: the family of Meredith Sutherland, grieving the deaths this past Wednesday of the husbands of both Meredith’s mother and her mother’s sister; Dan Joyce and family, grieving the death this past Tuesday of wife and mother, Kathy Joyce; Jhanet and her two children, ages 14 and 17, grieving the recent death of husband and father – Jhanet and her children are friends in South Africa of the Vissers; those grieving the death of John Deane, Sr., especially John and Jane Deane.
• Edwad Giordano, battling stomach cancer.
• others battling or recovering from cancer: Glen; Karen; 2-year-old Logan; Sandy; Bridget; Charlie Ropollo; Donna Scalera.
• Vicky Metzger, Nancy Baker's mom, recovering well from recent hip-replacement surgery in Whittier Rehab.  Cards and notes of encouragement may be sent to Vicky at 1 Whittier Way, Room 324b, Ghent, NY 12075, or you may call her at 828-0800 ext. 724. Thank you for the cards & visits she's had so far. We all really appreciate them!
• others awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness;  chronically ill; or in hospice care: Jane Smith; Susan Lamont’s Aunt Sylvia; Phil Morse, brother of Kay Haber; Blanch Rogers, mother of Diane Morgan; Kate, sister of Maureen Mooney; Dawn Tuttle; Doris Schmieder; Baby Ellie LaTorre; Isabelle Bosquet-Morra; Maureen Mooney; Liz Carroll; Ruth Edge; Laurie (Dunham) Maul; Paul Varga; Florence Rivera.
• those facing challenges and difficult decisions: Craig; Jaime, dealing with a severe social anxiety disorder; Amber and others as they make their plans to attend college in the fall; pray that God will bless them with wisdom in all of the many challenges, choices, and decisions that they are facing; Cliff, desperately in need of prayers; Jean Brouwer and family; Christopher, Abby and Bill, Greg and Lisa, fighting addictions; Alex and his family; mothers and children who have had to leave their homes due to family violence; Christians, wherever they be, who are suffering persecution; Libby Little (FIND LIBBY’S JULY NEWSLETTER ON THE BACK TABLE.)
• Stacey Baker, now in Colorado to begin graduate studies.  Stacey’s lease does not start until Sept 1, so please pray that she will find a safe place to stay in the interim, and that she will assimilate with ease into her new life style
• those who are traveling.
• reassurance and peace for our loved ones who are nearing the close of this life; those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill.
• our residence-bound members Gordie Van Buren, Murray Leonardson, and Joan Van Alstyne.

Isabelle Bosquet-Morra (2^nd), Sara Schubert (3^rd), Jessica Alessi (5th),

Jim Dunham (7^th), Carly Rippel (13^th), Robert Bailey (15^th),

 Dolly Petith (18^th), Alan Dick (24^th), Suzy Nieman (27^th,)

Melissa Welcome (28^th), Thomas Carroll (28^th), Erika Johnson (31^st)

KRC’s share of support this year is $5,728.14 for services and resources to be provided for us by the Reformed Church in America at the local, regional, and 
national levels. EACH MEMBER’S SHARE OF THIS YEAR’S CLASSIS ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN SET AT $86.79.  All 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 i
ncrements as are convenient. That’s just a little over $4.00 per week for each week remaining in this year. All contributions for this purpose should be 
designated, “Classis Assessment.”