July 24, 2016

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, JULY 24, 2016

KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH - REV. RUDY VISSER, PASTOR

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Welcome visitors!  Please fill out a pew card and place it in the offering plate.

 

9 A.M.  CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

  Following worship today, all are invited to enjoy fellowship and refreshments at the Lemonade Stand hosted by Jane Deane on the front lawn of the church.

 

Thanks to today’s ushers, Ted Call, Jerry Flansburg, Glenn Warren, Chip Wood

Thanks to today’s greeter(s), Maureen Mooney   Preschool nursery available downstairs.

 

  Prelude

  Welcome, Announcements, and God’s Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  Based on selected Old and New Testament passages

We come to meet our God of abundant provision of grace,

who relieves our distress; who has mercy on us; who hears our prayers; and whose right hand is filled with righteousness.

We come seeking the Lord, our holy God,

who has commanded us to obey his laws, which will be our righteousness.

We come to worship our God of justice and peace,

who probes minds and hearts, who will bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.

We come to glory in the presence of our faithful God,

who keeps his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. 

*Song of Praise                                                                                                          I Exalt Thee

  Morning Prayer

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession – Hymn of invitation #443  (Verses 1 & 3)                  Only Trust Him

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

O God, you give us the gift of your presence, yet we ignore it. You give us your word, yet we distort it.  You give us your commandments, yet we disregard them. Jesus did not come to abolish the law; instead, we abolish it in our own hearts. We know that forgiveness is found through you, and so we become complacent. “Thou shalt not” seems peculiar and quaint to our indulgent selves.  Forgive us, O God, for our halfhearted discipleship. Let your commandments thunder in our hearts. Give us the joy to follow you in word and deed. Make us new, and prepare us to be servants of you, the living God, in whose name we pray. Amen.

  Assurance of Pardon (Responsive)  Based on Psalm 66:16-20

Come and listen, all you who fear God; this is what he has done for you:  You cried out to him with your mouths; his praise was on your tongues.  If you had cherished sin in your hearts, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely heard your confessions and listened to your voices in prayer.

Praise be to God, who has not rejected our prayers or withheld his love and forgiveness from us!

 

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Prayer of Blessing

  Scripture                                                                               Exodus 20:1-4,7-9, 12-20 (p. 54)

  Message                                                              “Colliding with the Ten Commandments”

  Prayer of Thanks

Celebrating God

  Offering/Offertory        “How priceless your unfailing love, O Lord.“

“We will delight ourselves in you, O Lord.  We will trust in you and do what is good. You’ll make our righteousness shine like the dawn.”

 

 

   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)

Generous God, with this offering we also present to you ourselves: all that we are because of your love, all that we shall become because of your grace, and our resolve to walk with obedience in your way.  Accept us and our offering, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

  Pastoral Prayer, and The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn of Exhortation #523                                                                          “Trust and Obey”

*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                       

 

 

“God is with me and will watch over me wherever I go!”

Genesis 28:15

VBS WILL RUN THIS SUMMER AT KRC FROM AUGUST 15TH TO 19TH, 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.

At Deep Sea Discovery, kids dive into God’s Word to see how He

has been with His people every step of the way. Hands-on service projects and sea science will help kids experience a VBS adventure like no other! KIDS WILL: Know that God is always with them!
Explore God’s presence in their lives!
Serve God by serving others!

 

        

 

PULPIT FLOWERS

Many KRC family and friends have, in the past, provided cut flowers for the pulpit in celebration of an anniversary or birthday, in honor of a special day or event, and in loving memory of family and friends who have passed away. During the summer months, those of you who are gardeners are invited to arrange and display your own garden flowers on a Sunday of your choice.  If you are interested in purchasing or providing flowers for a particular Sunday, please contact Dawn, 758-7564.

 

 

 

MUITZESKILL REFORMED CHURCH ANNUAL MINI-MARKET AND CHICKEN BBQ

       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! The Reformed Dutch Church of Schodack at Muitzeskill will hold its annual Mini-Market on Saturday, August 13. (Please, no clothing, stuffed animals, or outdated electronics.) If you would like to donate items for the Mini-Market, call 732-7976 or 732-2471, to make arrangements for drop off.

       Our Annual Chicken Barbecue will be held on the same day as our Mini-Market, August 13.  Please watch for additional details for this event!

 

 

HAPPY JULY BIRTHDAY!

Sally Heimroth (3rd), Virginia Rothermel (3rd),

Patrice Lyons (5th), Jay Rippel, (6th), Will Ferguson (7th)

 Dick Van Alstyne (13th), Ted Tuttle (18th), Edward Arnold (26th), Glenn Warren (26th), Carien Zietsman (28th), Patti Varga (30th),

Stacey Dunbar (31st)

 

 

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

  • those who do not know Christ or who are struggling in their faith journey, especially Martha, suffering depression and having difficulty with questions of 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.
  • Rev. Paige Convis, KRC’s new associate pastor, as she takes up 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; VBS; KRC’s small group ministries; Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; 1st Friday, and other outreach programs. 
  • 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.
  • 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: Bill Van Alstyne and family grieving the recent death of Linda Van Alstyne.
  • those who, even after many years, still hurt from the void left by loved ones who have passed on from this world. 
  • all who have suffered and struggled with significant recent loss of any kind.
  • reassurance, peace, and dignity for loved ones nearing the close of this life.     
  • those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill.
  • Donna Scalera, who began another round of chemotherapy this past week. Pray especially that it will be effective, as it is being administered at only half strength. 
  • Fred Borrelli, nephew of Jane Deane, recovering from surgery on his esophagus this past Thursday.  Please pray a speedy recovery without complications for Fred.
  • Susan Clause, daughter-in-law of Paul and Joan, diagnosed recently with a blood clot in her leg, and doctors are treating her condition on an outpatient basis with blood thinners. Please pray for a speedy healing without complications for Suzy.
  • Steve, recovering from recent surgery to repair multiple fractures in his heel.  Please also keep his wife Gayle (John Schubert's sister) in your prayers as she attends to Steve's post-surgical needs.
  • those battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Jay; Ron Dick; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler; Baby Szafran; TJ Vooris; Judy Alvarez; Leonard Blish; Carol, Elize Visser’s sister-in-law; Marlene.
  • those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Mark; Virginia Rothermel; Vicki Smith; Maggie Brower; Art Gross; Ted Tuttle; Angie Rivera; Aaron and Susan Clause; Stacey Baker; Harriet Stockhoff; Ruth Edge; Merrill Johnson; Jean Skipper; John Bowen; Floyd Haber; Alan Dick; Paul Varga; Liz Carroll; Laurie Maul.
  • those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Laurie; the Lamont Family; Greg Clause Jr and his mother; Donna and Jason; Amber, granddaughter of Erika and Merrill Johnson; Don and Phyllis Tymeson; Harry Sturgill; the alarming wave of new, young heroin addicts; those facing the challenges of a higher level of education or seeking a career; Vince Beaudoin; Libby Little copies of Libby’s latest newsletter, which includes official announcement of her engagement,  are available on the back table.
  • residence-bound KRC family, Murray Leonardson; Joan Van Alstyne; George Clowe.

 

 

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

 

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, and others who visit 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 Charles Spaulding has completed radiation treatments and is doing well at nearly 92!
  • the amazing improvement that Gary Silvano's recent successful heart transplant has made in his energy and activity levels.
  • 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 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.

 

 

 

~STEWARDSHIP UPDATE~

 

This past Sunday our weekly offering of $1,959, again fell well under our weekly need of $3,000. However, a recent and very generous $5,000 gift to the general operating fund by an anonymous donor has substantially offset the deficit produced from last week’s and previous shortfalls. As a result, the current budget deficit has been kept at $7,184 as seen in the figures below. Regular contributors are asked to “double up” on their giving if they miss a Sunday, and Stewardship Ministry urges that everyone give prayerful consideration to how they might adjust their giving to help keep income at a level that will meet daily operating expenses.    

Total income to date:    $88,643             Total expenses to date: $95,827

Inspired by 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.

 

 

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, visitations, and counseling.

For immediate assistance at any time, call 859-4158.

Church Phone   758-6401                Church Fax   758-6402

 

 

 

 

 

FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR JACK HAYFORD

Jack Hayford serves as Chancellor of The Kings University (formerly The King's College and Seminary) in Los Angeles and Dallas, which he founded in 1997. From 2004 to 2009, he also served as President of The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. He is probably best known, however, as "Pastor Jack," founding pastor of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California, where he served as senior pastor for more than three decades. A prolific and best-selling writer, Pastor Hayford is the author (or co-author) of more than fifty books and has composed 500 hymns and choruses, including the internationally known and widely recorded "Majesty."

 

 

 

July 2016

 

Dear Loved One,

As we celebrated another year of America’s independence, I found myself reflecting upon something the Lord asked me to do in November 1973. During this difficult time in our history, the climate of our nation was nothing short of hopeless. Anarchy was at high tide on our nation’s college campuses; controversy and scandal surrounded our government and the credibility of many political leaders was crumbling. The struggle over policies relating to a far-away war in Vietnam wrenched our nation’s soul with dissension and confusion. Yes, hopelessness prevailed like a heavy cloud over our land during this era. While the specifics may have changed, many of these situations likely sound very familiar in principle to you today. The news is full of injustices occurring on college campuses, the drama surrounding our current Presidential election, scandals and alleged cover-ups in our government and a terrorism crisis that is taking innocent lives and inciting fear at home and across the globe. In the midst of all of this, a feeling of hopelessness is likely one that many are struggling with. Which brings me back to what the Lord called me to do in November 1973, to lead my congregation in very intentional intercession. At first, I thought this was only a local call, but I quickly discovered that during the same time period a movement was being born by the Spirit across our country. Many churches and believers were coming together to pray, and God did something wonderful! In less than four years, America’s condition, which journalists were likening at the time to the potential self-destruction of the Civil War, had been considerably reversed. By 1976 the Washington Post was trumpeting, “A New Spirit has come to America!” Loved One, you and I know what that “spirit” was, the Holy Spirit of God’s creative, redemptive power at work.

A message for this time and generation

God is speaking about America today, as well as to her. We are wise to listen. As believers, we have reason for hope, and cause to chart a course of faith-filled action! Though seriously imperiled, the future of America is salvageable. Praying believers, filled with passion and living faith, are the key to this or any nation’s rescue. This isn’t mere nationalistic small talk or patriotic excitement; it is our Biblical assignment. Our prayers and influence hold the potential to determine our nation’s very destiny. The Lord has brought miraculous turnarounds before, and I strongly believe the Church has a distinct opportunity at this very moment in history to rise in faith and impact our nation again!

So, what do you and I do now?

To start, we must believe and trust the promises of the eternal Scriptures. We must be caught in the grips of God’s promise, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land . . .” (2 Chronicles 7:14-15).  Beyond merely referencing or quoting this scripture in a sentimental manner, we must treat this promise like the covenant with the Almighty that it truly is. If we do our part in prayer, He will do His part in redeeming grace. We must also be intentional about blessing our enemies. Facing the distressing aspects of American society’s behavior and legislation has caused many to become “fueled by fury.” There have even been some that have sought to rowel up their congregations to anger. Please hear this, dear friend, Jesus is calling us to be the answer to our nation, not to be angry with it. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus specifically calls us to, “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” We can never pray effectively for either a person or a nation that we don’t love, and we can never pray successfully for a society if we are filled with anger toward it.

Standing firm, but in love

We are at a crisis point in our nation on a number of moral fronts. But here again, any self-righteous moralizing will only further isolate us from our society and build walls of resistance in our ministries.

Instead, may our hearts be broken and our spirits be moved to pray against the sinful devaluation of God’s creation. We must understand that the emptiness and apathy towards many issues in our nation is rooted in a loss of hope for tomorrow. As hope is restored in our society, the value of life and family will be restored, as well.

Standing together, across doctrinal lines

For the Church to rise up and change the tide in America, we must pursue unity. The effectiveness of the Body of Christ is crippled when disunity is present. Mutual respect among all God’s redeemed family is absolutely essential for us to win a nation. Such unity requires an end of suspicion, criticism, judgmentalism and all separatism based on any ethnic, cultural or other divisive factor. We must also set aside doctrinal hair-splitting. Driving wedges between believers is a very effective ploy of the enemy to debilitate the Church. Jesus’ prayer is ours to answer, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21 NJKV)

Reshaping a society. Recreating a culture.

The early Church showed that the best way to take the moral high-ground in a corrupt culture was through leading by example, not by taking the role of an adversary.  As believers, we need to live according to the standards of the Bible, regardless of what culture declares as “the norm.” Philippians 2:15 encourages us to, “become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” as we strive to live in purity, we must be careful to not shoot at society, but instead shine in it. Another dynamic way the living Church can capture the moment and seek to save America is to be active in the social needs and crises in our communities. Winning the trust of those we want to reach for Christ begins with showing them His love, which can only be done through serving. Jesus set the ultimate example of revealing how good works create a platform for sharing the Gospel.

Believers have a role in preserving liberty!

We must not become one-sided in our mindset or approach, as we seek to affect change in our nation. Over the years, I have lamented the preoccupation some American Christians have had of seeking to change our country through a political agenda alone. Without first laying a foundation in prayer, love and good works, their worthy goals often have a clanging sound to them. That being said, the preservation of America’s liberty, and the redemption of our society does necessitate taking certain action. Our participation in the political privileges of our free society is actually the responsible exercise of our role as disciples of Jesus.

Demonstrate. Declare. Dispense.

I bring this up lastly not to diminish its importance in any way, but rather to accentuate it. I also hope to make clear that the Gospel will be more readily received and believed if we have done the other things I have shared above first. Sharing the Gospel has to do with the power of the Spirit of God being manifest in you. It has to do with something of substance being in your life, so that wherever you walk, Jesus’ footprints are left behind as the marks you’ve made in your circle of influence. As living evidences of the Resurrected Savior, who demonstrate Him, let us be people who declare His truth and dispense His power, as the Holy Spirit fills us for the task. I don’t need to belabor this point, because I have confidence that you know this needs to be done. Our primary mission is to evangelize lost souls. Ultimately, that is how America will be saved! Above all, let us thank God that His hand is moved by the prayers of His people! God doesn’t need the anger of an enraged group of saints who feel their standards have been violated. Rather, He desires to see the compassion and fiery intercession of those who see how hell has intruded upon our land. Focus on the right enemy, and come before your Father in Heaven with faith!

 

Joining with you in prayer,

Pastor Jack

 

 

                                     KRC 2016 CONSISTORY

                     Pastor Rev. Rudy Visser, President of Consistory

                                                       Deacons

Liz Carroll – ’16  Outreach, CITV Committee, Clerk  

Derick LaTorre  ’16  Cemetery, Stewardship, Treasurer  

Tana Thompson  ’17  Church Family

Chip Wood  ’17  Property   

                                                         Elders

          Merrill Johnson – ’16  Worship
          Patrice Lyons – ’16  Outreach, Clerk

Patti Varga  ’17  Christian Education, Vice President of Consistory

Barbara Vosburgh  ’17 Personnel and Pastoral Relations

 

COMING EVENTS

Today, July 24  

       9:00 am  Combined Worship Service

     10:15 am  Adult Sunday School - main floor Conference Room          

               The class continues its study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.

Mon,  July 25

             Please Note:  Outreach Ministry will not meet in July.

Tues,  July 26

                Please Note:  Youth Group will not meet July 26.

Thur, July 28

      9:00 am  Small Group Bible Study meets @KRC

     10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

Fri,   July 29

     12 Noon - 1 pm  “We Do Lunch,”  Valatie Presbyterian Church

Sun, August 7

       9:00 am  Combined Communion Worship Service

     10:15 am  Adult Sunday School - main floor Conference Room          

               The class continues its study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.

Sat.,   August  13   Muitzeskill Reformed Mini-Market and Chicken Barbeque

Mon. – Fri, August 15 – 19  Vacation Bible School @ KRC

        9:00 - Noon   Deep Sea Discovery Adventure

 

                            Servers Next Sunday, July 31, 2016

       Ushers: Ted Call, Jerry Flansburg, Glenn Warren, Chip Wood

       Greeter(s): Jean and Stacey Hurst

       Lemonade Stand Host(s): Donna Flansburg