KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE JULY 19, 2015

 “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.

9 A.M.  CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

  All are invited to refreshments and fellowship at the Lemonade Stand hosted today by Susan Patterson on the front lawn of the church following worship.

Ushers:  Dave Ennis, Will Ferguson, Chuck Rothermel, Jonathan Pratt

  Greeter(s):                          Preschool Nursery available downstairs.

Guest Organist: David Smith

Flowers are given today in loving memory of Esther Leeming Tuttle.

  Prelude               "Prelude in G major, op. 37 no. 2"                       F. Mendelssohn

  Announcements

  Welcome and God’s Greeting

  Drawing Near To God

  Call to Worship (Responsive) 

Look to God and be radiant with the joy of life in abundance.

We know that God is good and great and awesome.

Together now in our time of worship, we will give God praise and thanks.

We give thanks in song and with our lives as well. Now here we are to worship God, Lord of life and Creator of all.

*Hymn of Praise # 130                                                 O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Allowing God to Shape Us

   Call to Confession 

Faith is not for the faint hearted. We are called to speak up for the oppressed and to be quiet and listen to the stories of the suffering. Let us come together and confess before God the countless times we have failed to tell the difference between the two.

   Prayer of Confession (Unison)                                                                                                

How easy it is to forget, loving God, that we are all created in your image. How quickly we judge people by what they wear or what they do rather than who they are. How easy it is to lift our voices in criticism rather than lift our hands in compassionate care. How fast we are to dodge reality rather than face what is -- and make it better.  Forgive us, O God. Grant us the wisdom to listen with love and the courage to speak out for those who have lost their voices to hopelessness and despair. We ask in the name of Jesus the Christ, who came to show us what a life of love looks like. Amen.

   Assurance of Pardon

Hear this good news: God loves you into life -- again and again. Go therefore and do likewise!

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Prayer for Illumination 

  Scripture                                                                                Ephesians 2:11-22 (p.827-828)

  Message                                                                             “In, Through and By Christ Alone”

  Prayer of Blessings  

 Celebrating God

  Alexander's slide show

  Offering and Offertory                               “Étude no. 16 in C major, op. 50"       Louise Farrenc

  Doxology and Offertory Prayer  (Unison) 

Accept these gifts, gracious God, the first fruits of our labor and toil. May they proclaim your gospel as they do the work of peace and justice, healing and restoration. Use them, as you use each one of us, to build up your kingdom here on earth. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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

*Hymn (Screen)                                                                                                        In Christ Alone

*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                      "Fugue in G major, op. 37 no. 2"                     F. Mendelssohn

KRC family and friends are encouraged to volunteer as front-door greeters for our 9 a.m. combined summer worship service.  A sign-up sheet for this purpose may be found on the back table of the sanctuary, and your willingness to participate in this important ministry is much appreciated.

The Reformed Dutch Church of Schodack at Muitzeskill will hold its annual Mini-Market and Chicken Barbeque on Saturday, August 8^th. Cleaning out your attic or storage unit and not sure what to do with unwanted items?  Had a garage sale and have items that didn't sell? Should have had a sale, but didn't get around to it? Well, let us help! We will take your donations of unwanted items!  (Please no clothing, stuffed animals, or outdated electronics.) Call 732-7976 or 732-2471 to make arrangements for drop-off of Mini-Market items, and WATCH THIS SPACE for additional information about the Chicken Barbeque.

~NOTE OF APPRECIATION & UPDATE FROM STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY~

LOOKING AHEAD

KRC VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2015

                 VBS will run this summer at KRC from AUGUST 17^th to 21^st, 9 am to Noon, with arrival and sign-in at 8:45 to 9 am daily.  All kids of our community ages Pre-K (3 and potty-trained) through Grade 6 are invited to this year’s fun and spiritually-nurturing program.  Forms are now available on the back table for pre-registering your children or grandchildren, and Christian Ed Ministry is looking for VBS volunteers to teach and to help. For information about the positive rewards of serving in this ministry and the relatively small time commitment involved, please speak with Patti Varga.

HAPPY JULY BIRTHDAY!

Jeff Barmen (2^nd), Edward Bailey (2^nd), Sally Heimroth (3^rd), Virginia Rothermel (3^rd),

Patrice Lyons (5^th), Jay Rippel, (6^th), Will Ferguson (7^th), Haley Hickman (12^th,)

 Dick Van Alstyne (13^th), Ted Tuttle (18^th), Edward Arnold (26^th), Glenn Warren (26^th), Carien Zietsman (28^th), Patti Varga

(30^th), Stacey Dunbar (31^st)

CLASSIS ASSESSMENT 2015

KRC’s share of support this year is $5,633.28 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 $88.02.  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 increments as are convenient. If offered weekly,
that’s around $4 for each of the remaining weeks in this year. All contributions made for this purpose should be designated
“Classis Assessment.” 

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

• those who do not know Christ or who are struggling in their faith,
• KRC programs & projects and those planning & administering them: adult and children’s VBS; KRC’s youth; small group ministries; adult Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; outreach programs. 
• KRC’s Consistory members and administrative ministries.
• our military men & women, their families, and friends, that they may know God’s presence, protection, and peace, especially Tom Eastman, fulfilling a tour of military duty in Afghanistan. Pray for Tom's safety, and for his family’s peace & reassurance.
• survivors of warfare, terrorism, violence, and natural and other disasters.
• 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.
• those, especially children, suffering poverty and hunger; abuse; exploitation; neglect; family hostility.
• families and friends grieving the death of loved ones, especially the Frisbee family, grieving the death this past Tuesday of Priscilla Frisbee, 97, the oldest member of the KRC congregation;  the Milem and LaTorre families, grieving the death of Marie Milem, grandmother of Derick Latorre; the Tuttle and Carroll families grieving the death of Faity Tuttle, 104, mother of Ted Tuttle and grandmother of Liz Carroll; Karen, friend of Isabelle Bosquet-Morra, grieving the loss of her husband; Rose Kennedy, family, and friends grieving the loss of Rose's mother, Joan; Joan was Maureen Mooney's aunt.
• Elizabeth Clinton, mother-in-law of Amy Dick Clinton. Elizabeth has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and is awaiting the next step toward treatment.  Pray for healing for Elizabeth, and for peace, strength, and reassurance for her and for her family during this difficult time.
• Donna Scalera, having a difficult time with the therapies being administered for recurring cancer. Pray for peace and reassurance for Donna, and for a positive outcome to her treatments.
• Zoe Covey and her family as they struggle through Zoe's illness.
• others in hospice care or battling or recovering from cancer:  2-year-old Logan; Sandy; Charlie Ropollo Diane, friend of Cricket Warren; Jack; Bob Mellott; Marlene; Daniel; Andy; Lucy B. and Rodrigo; Jean. 
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Rick Skiermont; Bruce Hawver; Merrill Johnson; Jean Skipper; Florence Rivera; Steve Shpur; Carley Rippel; Stacey Baker; Harriet Stockhoff; John Bowen; Floyd Haber; Art Gross; Alan Dick; Paul Varga; Jane Smith; Blanche Rogers; Liz Carroll; Ruth Edge; Laurie Maul.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions:  Caleb; Vince Beaudoin; Libby Little; Jean and Evangelique, sponsored Compassion International Children of John & Isabelle Bosquet-Morra; Susan Lamont and her children; Bill and Abby; Greg L; Craig Johnson; those facing the challenges of graduation, beginning a higher level of education, or seeking a career - pray that God will bless them with wisdom in all of the many choices and decisions they face.
• those who are traveling, especially the Clause family.
• 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.
• Residence-bound members Murray Leonardson, Doris Schmieder, Joan Van Alstyne.

The Property Ministry is planning an outdoor clean-up morning at KRC on Saturday 7-18-15 from 10 am to 12 noon. (weather permitting)  Please bring your rakes, trowels and any other garden tools to help us beautify our yard while enjoying fellowship time.

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. Forward information, as well as new praise and prayer requests, to krc@fairpoint.net or call Paul at 859-4158. 

REMEMBER TO THANK & PRAISE GOD FOR  

• Pastor Rudy Visser, our Spirit-filled minister and leader of vision.
• 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 Stacey Baker is showing some success in overcoming the lingering results of a concussion suffered some weeks ago.  Please continue to keep Stacey in your prayers
• 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.