KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE, DECEMBER 27, 2015
First Sunday of Epiphany
“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”
Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor
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 Lesson Psalm 148 (p. 448)
Message “God, My Force and My Shield”
Prayer of Thanks
Offering and Prayer of Blessing
Intercessory Prayer
*Closing Hymn and Benediction
10 A.M. CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP
All are invited to enjoy fellowship and refreshments
downstairs in the Fellowship Room today following worship.
Thanks to today’s ushers, Dave Ennis, Will Ferguson, Jonathan Pratt, Chuck Rothermel.
Preschool Nursery facilities available downstairs.
Prelude My Tribute (Hymn #46)
Announcements, Welcome, and God’s Greeting
Drawing Near To God
Call to Worship (Responsive)
Arise, shine; for your light has come.
Emmanuel: God with us, God in us, revealed to us.
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
The Lord is our everlasting light and glory.
Praise and glory be to you, now and forevermore.
*Hymn #532 Be Thou My Vision
*For those who are able, please stand.
Allowing God to Shape Us
Call to Confession
The psalmist reminds us, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.” With this knowledge, we may confess our sins before God and one another with confidence.
Prayer of Confession (Unison)
Merciful God, we go about our days failing to proclaim your saving power with our voices or with our actions. We do not live as ones saved, but rather as people filled with fear and doubt. We often choose what is expedient, not what is right. We close our eyes and ears to those who are in need, and close our hearts to those we claim to love. We are quick to hurt others, and slow to right our wrongs. Forgive us, O God, for all the ways we have not lived up to a right relationship with you. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon (Responsive)
Friends, “God does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.”
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Coming before God’s Open Word
Children’s Message and Prayer of Blessing
Draw our children close to you, O God. May they know and celebrate the glory of your presence, goodness, and love in their lives; may they experience your power to renew and strengthen them in times of need; and may they long for more of you each day. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson Psalm 148 (p. 448)
Message “God, My Force and My Shield”
Prayer of Thanks
Celebrating God
Offertory I Exalt Thee Pete Sanchez For thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth. Thou art exalted far above all gods.
I exalt thee, I exalt thee, I exalt thee, O Lord.
*Doxology and Offertory Prayer (Unison)
Heavenly Father, with glad and eager hearts we lay our offerings before you. Sanctify them for the purpose of increasing your kingdom and bringing honor and glory to your name and to the Gospel of Christ. Amen.
Prayer Requests, Pastoral Prayer, and The Lord’s Prayer
*Hymn #101 My Jesus, I Love Thee *Benediction, Blessing, and Response Hymn By the Gift of God’s Grace
By the gift of God’s grace may your burdens be light
and your heart with his love be aglow.
May your spirit be glad, May your soul be at rest,
And may Christ grant you peace as you go. Amen
Postlude To God Be the Glory (Hymn #72)
MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED
TO THIS YEAR’S CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS
Will and Jayne Ferguson, in loving memory of
Will Sr. & Theresa Ferguson, and our dear friend, Zoe Covey
Arnie and Claudia March, in memory of
Doris Schmieder and loved ones
Virginia Rothermel, in loving memory of
Ed, Bill, and Paul Rothermel and Justin Lynch
Nancy Swinyard, in loving memory of
Reginald and Edna Swinyard and
Linda Swinyard Morehouse
Glenn and Cricket Warren, in memory of
Ann Van Benschoten
Sug Hawver Bill and Suzy Nieman
THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO POSITIONS ON THE 2016 CONSISTORY: As Deacons: Tana Thompson and Chip Wood. As Elders: Patti Varga and Barbara Vosburgh. Please keep these individuals in your prayers as they anticipate serving the Lord in their respective ministries. New Consistory members will be installed and ordained at the January 17 worship service.
KRC family and friends are asked to volunteer as greeters
for our 10 am worship services.
Please sign up on the sheet available at the back table.
ENVELOPE SYSTEM AVAILABLE FOR PRESENTING WEEKLY CONTRIBUTIONS
For those currently participating in the envelope system to present offerings to the church, new envelope sets are now available for pick-up at the back of the sanctuary and ready for use beginning next Sunday, January 3. If you are not currently using the weekly envelope system to present your contributions to the church, but would like to do so in 2016, please pick up one of the small green request forms in the last window well to your left at the back of the sanctuary. Completed forms may be dropped into the offering plate.
~WEEKLY STEWARDSHIP UPDATE~
Praise God for last Sunday’s offering of $3,222, just above the weekly minimum of $3,000 necessary to cover daily operating expenses. However, as we come to the end of this year, we find ourselves still operating in a deficit budget. Stewardship Ministry asks each of us to prayerfully consider how we might adjust our giving to avoid shortfalls in the coming year, and reminds us to “double up” on our giving if we miss a Sunday,
In light of 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.
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.
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 happy report that 2-year-old Liam, son of friends of Aaron and Susan Clause, has recovered nicely from his digestive problems and is home from the hospital.the
reassurance that, in her passing for this world, a friend of Erika Johnson is no longer in pain and her suffering has now ended.
the good report that Holly, daughter of Paul and Joan Clause, has recovered nicely from her recent outpatient surgery. Joan and Paul thank God for this and for all of your prayers for Holly.
all His provisions for our basic life needs, and the wonderful ways God shows His love to us, especially during difficult times.
the many dedicated and hard-working friends and members of the Kinderhook Reformed Church Family who serve on Consistory, ministries, and committees; teach Sunday School; lead Youth Group, Bible studies, and prayer group; organize and special events; prepare food, serve, and clean up for coffee hours, receptions, and dinners; and who always offer whatever support they can to those in need.
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 Giulbert Muguna, 18, Kenya
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
Regular updates are needed on the progress or condition of all individuals on our prayer and praise lists, especially those whose names are in bold type. Please forward this information, as well as new praise/prayer requests, to krc@fairpoint.net or call 859-4158.
REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR
those who do not know Christ or who are struggling in their faith. 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.
RC programs & projects and those planning & administering them: KRC’s Sunday School and youth group; small group ministries; adult Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; First Friday, and other outreach programs.
KRC’s Consistory members and administrative ministries. our state, national, and world leaders, 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, just beginning his military career.
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: David Smith and family and friends grieving the sudden death this past week of David's mother, Jane Smith; Nancy Baker and family and friends grieving the recent loss of Nancy's brother, Bill Metzger; Cheryl and family grieving the loss of Cheryl's mom; the Agan children grieving the death of their mother.
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 our loved ones who are nearing the close of this life; those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill.
all who have suffered from and struggled with significant loss, of whatever kind, this past year.
April Grimes, whose pregnancy is in difficulty and may not come to full term.others awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Elize Visser’s father; Vicki;
Barbara Feliciano; Christopher Proper; grandparents of Marissa Brevoort; Bob, friend of Patti Varga and family; Gary Silvano; Angie Rivera; Florence Rivera; Harriet Stockhoff; Rev. Ed Van Kampen; Stacey Baker; Ruth Edge; Merrill Johnson; Jean Skipper; Steve Shpur; John Bowen; Floyd Haber; Art Gross; Alan Dick; Paul Varga; Liz Carroll; Laurie Maul.
those in hospice care or battling or recovering from cancer: Donna Scalera; Bill Metzger; TJ Vooris; Judy Alvarez; Leonard Blish; Donna Scalera; Carol, Elize Visser’s sister-in-law; Marlene; Chris Howard and his young son, Jonah.
Angel Tree children and their families, that their hearts may be open to the truth and hope of the Gospel of Christmas through this ministry of giving.
those who are traveling, especially Glenn and Cricket Warren and family as they travel to and from Florida by car and by air this Christmas season.
Phyllis Tymeson, traveling to Connecticut to be with her children and to work out troubling family issues of concern to them.
others facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Harry Sturgill; Tom Eastman; Cliff Laraway; the alarming wave of new, young heroin addicts; those facing the challenges of a higher level of education or seeking a career - pray that God will provide them with wisdom in making the many choices and decisions before them; Greg L and friend, Joshua; Vince Beaudoin; Libby Little.residence-bound members Murray Leonardson, Joan Van Alstyne.
Classis Assessment contributions are divided three ways, with portions going to the General Synod (national), Albany Synod (regional), and Columbia-Greene Classis (local). The 2016 assessment will be $88.02, and will be distributed as follows:
General Synod: $53.71 (Up $1.98 from 2015)
Albany Synod: $29.00 (Unchanged from 2015)
C. G. Classis: $ 6.22 (Down $1.07 from 2015)
2016 TOTAL $88.93 (Up $0.91 from 2014)
HAPPY DECEMBER BIRTHDAY!
Birgitta Sherman (2nd), Elizabeth Carroll (4th), Dave Ennis (8th),
Merrill Johnson (15th), Marion Arnold (22nd), Nikki Barmen(22nd),
Mackensie Clinton (22nd), Cricket Warren (26th,), Patrick Carroll (27th)
COMING EVENTS
Today, December 27
8:30 am Early Worship Service
10:00 am Worship Service
Please Note: Children’s Sunday School will be in recess
December 27 and January 3. It will resume January 10.
11:15 am Adult Sunday School - main floor Conference Room
The class continues its study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.
Mon, December 28
6:30 pm Outreach Ministry meets
Tues., December 29
Please Note: Youth Group will not meet December 29.
Thur, December 31
Please Note: Community Prayer Group will not meet December 31.
Sun, January 3
10:00 am Combined Communion Worship Service with
Rev. John Bowen
11:15 am Adult Sunday School - main floor Conference Room
The class continues its study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.
Please Note: Children’s Sunday School will be in recess January 3.
It will resume January 10.
Tues., January 5
6:30 pm Youth Group meets @KRC
Thur, January 7
9:00 am Small Group Bible Study meets
10:00 am Community Prayer Group @ KRC
Sun, January 10 Installation and Ordination of Consistory Electees
8:30 am Early Worship Service
10:00 am Worship Service and Sunday School
11:15 am Adult Sunday School - main floor Conference Room
The class continues its study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.
Mon, January 11
6:30 pm Consistory meets
Sun, January 17
8:30 am Early Worship Service
10:00 am Worship Service and Sunday School
11:15 am Adult Sunday School - main floor Conference Room
The class continues its study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.
Servers Next Sunday, January 3, 2015
Ushers: Dave Ennis, Will Ferguson, Jonathan Pratt, Chuck Rothermel
Greeter(s): Greg and Paul Clause
EMAIL, WEBSITE, AND FAX INFORMATION
Email Address – krc@fairpoint.net
Website Address – kinderhookreformedchurch.com
Rev. Rudy is available at his church office
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings.
Please call ahead for an appointment.
Evenings are set aside
for meetings, pastoral visitations, and counseling.
For immediate assistance at any time, call 859-4158.
Church Phone 758-6401 Church Fax 758-6402
