KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICES

  JANUARY 18, 2015  

 “To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

Rev. Perry Jones, Guest Preacher

Executive Director, Capital City Rescue Mission

.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 #43                                                                  A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

  Scripture                                                                                                  Luke 2:25-35 (p. 725)

  Message                                                                              “Your Most Important Meeting”

  Prayer of Thanks

  Offering and Prayer of Blessing

  Intercessory Prayer

*Prayer Hymn #101                                                                                 My Jesus, I Love Thee

*Benediction

10 A.M. CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

All are invited to enjoy refreshments and fellowship downstairs following Worship.

Ushers:  Alan Dick, Merrill Johnson, Bob Wildermuth, Paul Zietsman

Greeter(s):                        Preschool Nursery available downstairs.

Guest Organist, David Smith

  Prelude              Intermezzo from Organ Sonata No. 4, op. 98            Josef Rheinberger 

  Announcements, and God’s Greeting

Drawing Near To God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  Based on Psalm 27, John 4:23

Let us worship God, our light and our salvation.

       The Lord is the stronghold of our lives.

We desire to live in God’s house and to seek God in his holy temple.

       We have come with shouts of joy, to sing and to make music to the Lord.

Let us worship God in spirit and in truth.

       Teach us your ways and make straight our paths

       in this hour of worship and always.

*Hymn of Praise #43                                                                  A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Turning Our Hearts to God

  Call to Confession  Based on Romans 5:8, Hebrews 4:16

While we were sinners, Christ died for us and for our salvation. Because of this amazing act of love, we may approach the throne of God with boldness to receive mercy and find grace. Trusting in God’s faithfulness and compassion, let us confess our sin.

  Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon  (Unison)

Father God, forgive us for minimizing your greatness and forgetting that you are sovereign ruler of the universe. Jesus, forgive us for not recognizing you as Lord and Savior of our lives, and for our blindness to your glory. Holy Spirit, forgive us for underestimating your power and squandering your gifts. O triune God, we confess that we have been unfaithful to you by serving our own self-interests and worshiping the gods of comfort, convenience, pleasure, and prestige.

[Silent Prayer of Confession]

Thanks be to God, who, through Christ our Lord and his Holy Spirit, forgives us, reconciles us to himself, and empowers us for righteous living.  Hallelujah! Amen.

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Children’s Message and Prayer of Blessing  (Unison)

Lord Jesus, may these children always recognize and acknowledge you as the Son of the Most High God; may they experience the power and direction of your Spirit in their lives; and may they be your light in this world.  Amen.

  Prayer for Illumination

  Scripture                                                                                           Luke 2:25-35 (p. 725)

  Message                                                                       “Your Most Important Meeting”

  Prayer of Blessing

  Hymn of Assurance #519                                                             It Is Well with My Soul

  Offering/Offertory                    Monologue I, op. 162                     Josef Rheinberger

*Doxology and Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Gracious God, we acknowledge your gift of your only Son, Jesus, as our only means of redemption, holiness, and life everlasting.  You have inspired us with your generosity, and in return we give these gifts freely so that others may experience your love, salvation, eternal life.  Amen. 

  Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

*Prayer Hymn #101                                                                          My Jesus, I Love Thee

*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     Fuga cromatica from Organ Sonata No. 4, op. 98      Josef Rheinberger 

MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED

Please keep the KRC Youth Group and leaders in your prayers as they attend the closing Excel conference sessions and return home from Saratoga this afternoon. Christian Ed Ministry is looking for sponsors to help fund the $300 cost for two members of the group who attended. If you would like to contribute to this ministry, checks should be made payable to Kinderhook Reformed Church with “Excel” in the memo line, and dropped into the offering plate

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

• those who do not know Christ or who are struggling in their faith, especially Diane, that she will come to know the Lord.
• KRC programs & projects and those planning & administering them: adult and children’s Sunday School; KRC’s youth; small group ministries; adult Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; outreach programs. 
• KRC’s Consistory members and administrative ministries, chairpersons, and supporting members.
• 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.
• 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.
• families and friends grieving the death of loved ones, especially Tana Thompson, grieving the recent death of her mother.
• Alan Dick, hospitalized for more vigorous treatment of the pneumonia he has been battling at home over the past few days. 
• Patti Varga, Sara Ploss, and the 6 young people in their care as they attend the closing sessions of the Excel conference in Saratoga Springs and return home today.
• 6-month-old Baby Emma, born with a rare disorder of the lymphatic system.  Pray for a miracle, as doctors seem to be out of options for restoring Emma to full health.
• Scott Calhoun, Patrick Calhoun's father, diagnosed with severe congestive heart failure. Pray that Scott's condition will respond well to the treatments prescribed.
• those battling or recovering from cancer: Zoe Covey; Andy; Lucy B. and Rodrigo; Jean; Edward Giordano; Glen Simmons; 2-year-old Logan; Sandy; Bridget; Charlie Ropollo; Donna Scalera.
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; chronically ill; or in hospice care: Paul Varga; Floyd Haber; Dick Van Alstyne; Alan Dick; Jane Smith; Blanche Rogers; Liz Carroll; Ruth Edge; Laurie (Dunham) Maul; Florence Rivera.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Jim, in need of job opportunities; Greg L; Bill and Abby, in need of many special prayers; Craig Johnson; Holly and Marc Morales; those facing the challenges of their college education - pray that God will bless them with wisdom in all of the many choices, and decisions that they are facing; Christians everywhere who are suffering persecution; Libby Little.
• those who are traveling,  especially: Jim and Nancy Baker, traveling to Colorado this coming week to visit daughter, Stacey, who is attending college there; Pastor Rudy, Elize, Annake, and Liezl visiting family and friends in South Africa.
• reassurance and peace for our loved ones who are nearing the close of this life; those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill.
• Residence-bound members Gordie Van Buren, Murray Leonardson, Joan Van Alstyne, and Doris Schmieder.

REMEMBER TO THANK & PRAISE GOD FORPastor Rudy Visser, our Spirit-filled minister and leader of vision. Praise God also that Pastor Rudy had a safe flight to South Africa and is relaxing and enjoying the benefits of balmy weather!

• 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 encouraging report that Linda Moran is now recovering at home and improving.
• 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, 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.

HAPPY JANUARY BIRTHDAY

  Paul Clause (2^nd), Libby Little (2^nd), Kari Anne Powell (2^nd),

 Harriet Simpkins (2^nd), Robert Carroll (12^th), Jennifer Jennings (19^th),

Stacey Baker (20^th), Noreen Dick (22^nd), Sug Hawver (27^th), Jean Skipper (29^th), 

William Carroll (31^st), Ainsley Clinton (31^st)

For those now using the envelope system to present offerings to the church, a few new envelope sets are still awaiting 
pick-up at the back of the sanctuary. If you are not currently using the system, but would like to do so in 2015, please pick up one of the small green request forms near the new envelopes, fill it out, and drop it into the offering plate. The system 
facilitates the efficient processing of weekly contributions, and those not using it are encouraged to give it a try.  There is a $3 suggested donation to help offset printing costs, but this is not a requirement for using the system.