July 29, 2012

Kinderhook Reformed Church Worship Service
Route 9 & Church Street, Kinderhook, NY
10:00 A.M. July 29, 2012
“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”
Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

A WARM WELCOME TO VISITORS
You are invited to sign our Guest Book at the church entrance and to fill out a pew card and place it in the offering plate.  We would like to get to know you better, and we invite you to enjoy fellowship and refreshments with us at the Lemonade Stand hosted by Heather Donahue and Derick LaTorre on the front lawn following Worship today.

Ushers: Jim Dunham, Gary Leggett, Fred Hickman, Barry Knights
Greeter(s): Virginia and Chuck Rothermel and Kari-Anne Powell
Preschool Nursery facility available downstairs.
Guest Organist:  David Smith
Order of Worship
Boldly Approaching Our God

  PRELUDE                                                  In Paradisum (1893) - Théodore Dubois
  VOTUM AND GOD'S GREETING
  CALL TO WORSHIP  Based on Psalm 65:5-8  (Responsive)  
     Are you weary, worn out, tired?
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
     Do you feel frail, weak and uncertain of your future?
Truly God is my rock and my salvation;
             he is my fortress, I will not be  shaken.
     Are you trusting in your own strength?
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
             he is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in him at all times –
             pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
*HYMN OF PRAISE #21                                                          How Great Thou Art
  INVOCATION
  CALL TO CONFESSION
“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” With these words to Moses, God calls us to walk in newness of life, yet we fall short. Let us confess our sin together.
  PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison) 
Merciful Friend and Savior, we confess that, while your love and grace free us to live as new creations, we too often cling to and are weighed down by the old. We hold on to grudges and hurts rather than forgive; we justify our envy and greed rather than embrace self-sacrifice and the common good; we turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the needs of the world rather than accept “the least of these” as our neighbor.
[Moment of Silence]
For those times when we have been angry instead of kind,
self-absorbed instead of thoughtful, fearful instead of bold, we ask your forgiveness. Renew in us a heart of pure devotion and outrageous delight in serving you and your purposes in this world. Amen.
   ASSURANCE OF PARDON  
God knows our frailties and looks upon us with compassion and mercy.
     We receive the gift of God’s forgiveness with joy and thanksgiving!
     Hallelujah! Amen.

We Come Before God’s Open Word
  PRAYER for ILLUMINATION
  SCRIPTURE LESSON                                                                 Psalm 130 (p. 442)
      MESSAGE         
           "When Restoring Us, God Doesn't Eliminate the Sheen of Age and Use"
  PRAYER OF BLESSING
  SOLO, Deborah Spaulding, soprano                                     Lamb of God – Twila Paris
Celebrating God
  PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES and OFFERINGS / OFFERTORY
                                                                                 Prière (1893) - Théodore Dubois           
*DOXOLOGY 
  OFFERTORY PRAYER  (Unison)
We bring to you, O God, all of our resources. We offer to you our lives and our dollars; our love and our loyalty; our skills and our talents; and our devotion and our time.  May all our gifts be of service in the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ through the church. Amen.
  ANNOUNCEMENTS CONCERNING THE FAMILY OF GOD
  PASTORAL PRAYER and THE LORD’S PRAYER
*CLOSING HYMN #710                                       We Are Called To Be God's People
*BENEDICTION and RESPONSE – 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.
To God be the glory, now and forever, now and forever, amen.
  POSTLUDE                         March-Sortie - Théodore Dubois

Dear Kinderhook Reformed Church Family,
     With our pending trip to South Africa just around the corner, I wanted to let you know a little more with regards to the what and where and how of the month of August.
     God willing, we are flying out of John F. Kennedy International Airport at around 11 am tomorrow morning, July 30, and will be arriving 16 hours later at Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Arrival is scheduled at 8 am the morning of July 31. This will be at around 2 am EST! We will then be traveling 4 hours north by car to Elize’s parents who live in a town called Ellisras. We will be spending three weeks with them and hope to be of great help to Elize’s mom who recently had successful back surgery. Over the weekends we will get a chance to see at least three of Elize’s four siblings and their families.
     On August 22 we’ll be driving the four hours back to Johannesburg to board a plane heading for Cape Town, the Mother City, on the very southern tip of Africa. Here we will be staying a week with my brother, whom you have met, and get a chance to see my sister and Elize’s other sister. At my alma mater, the Stellenbosch University where I attended seminary, I will take part in a four-day seminar and will be preaching there on Sunday, August 26. At around 10 am on the 29th, we will be boarding a plane to return to Johannesburg where we will overnight with Elize’s sister, and the following day we will board our international flight to head back home. Arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport is scheduled for 6:40 am EST, August 31.  Know that we will be thinking of you much and praying constantly. We will return with stacks of stories and photos, and remember that emailing me is equally as quick whether I am in Kinderhook or in Ellisras or Cape Town.  I have added a tab to our www.kinderhookreformedchurch.com website reading, “Blog - South Africa,” and will do everything in my power to write and post pictures as often as I can. Have a look at these posts, stories, and photos, and follow us on our journey. You are welcome, too, to leave a response on the website and so be in conversation with us!  

     Here at the home front Reverends John Bowen and McCrossen will be filling the pulpit in August, and Rev. Ed Van Kampen from the Stuyvesant Reformed Church will be available to tend to any pastoral needs that might arise.  Please do not hesitate to call on elders Paul Clause and Dawn Van Buren if you need help, prayer, or just want to chat. We covet your prayers in our absence, but let us not neglect praying for our congregation, the remainder of the 2012 celebration year, and the specific ministry focuses and tasks that lie ahead for KRC.
     May the Lord our God who is our ever present help, guide, and friend be with you now and forever more and unite us all joyfully towards the end of August.                                             
                                                                             Rudy and family    

Happy August Birthday:

Jeff Barmen (2nd), Sally Heimroth (3rd), Virginia Rothermel (3rd),
Patrice Lyons (5th), Jay Rippel, (6th), Will Ferguson (7th), Mid Glass (8th),
Haley Hickman (12th,) Dick Van Alstyne (13th), Ted Tuttle (18th),
Edward Arnold (26th), Glenn Warren (26th ), Carien Zietsman (28th),
Patti Varga (30th)

YOUTH GROUP HAS STARTED AGAIN AT KRC TUESDAY NIGHTS FROM 7-8:30 PM. All youth who will be entering Grades 6 through Grade 12 in the fall are welcome to attend!  Just like VBS, we have students who attend from various churches & who bring friends, so please feel free to join in the events, activities, and projects we are planning for the rest of the summer. Parents - you are always welcome to stay & help out if you'd like.  We hope to see you here on Tuesday.   

KRC SMALL GROUPS
KRC offers a small group opportunity at 9 am Thursdays at the church.  The group is continuing its new study, “Battlefield of the Mind,” based on the book by Joyce Meyer.  All are encouraged to attend, and walk-ins are welcome!The Church of St. Joseph of Stuyvesant Falls/Stottville is sponsoring a community-wide photo contest entitled “Columbia County Faith” that may be of interest to some of us in the KRC family. If you are interested, detailed information, contest rules, and entry forms may be picked up from the back table.  Deadline for photo entries is Wednesday, August 15.

~Kinderhook Village-Wide Yard Sale – 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15th~
KRC will participate in the day’s event - rain or shine - with a Recycling Sale sponsored by the Evangelism Ministry.  We will be open Saturday from 9 am - 3 pm, and  we will also be open Thursday and Friday, Sept 13 and 14, 4 - 7 pm. Donations of gently used clothes/coats, books, toys, linens, sports equipment, small appliances, fall plant divisions, etc, would be greatly appreciated.  Helpers are needed on Wednesday and Thursday to organize sale items. Items may be dropped off now and put in the back room by the ladies restroom, or if you are unable to do this, you may arrange to have donated items picked up - see Maureen or Dawn if you have questions.  You or other interested community members may also set up your own table if you are willing to bring in, organize, and takeout all of your own items. We just ask that you donate 10% of your sales to KRC. 

~NOTE OF THANKS FROM PRISON FELLOWSHIP~
Dear Kinderhook Reformed Church Family,
     Thank you for your very generous gift of $1,000 for Angel Tree Camping this summer!  The experiences that the children you have sponsored will enjoy and have a lasting impact on their present lives and future. We are praying that when these children are away from the everyday stresses of their lives, their hearts will be even more open to receive the Gospel. Just as Christ welcomed the little children into his presence when He was on earth, we know that He longs for each child attending these camps to surrender his or her heart to Him and allow Him to provide the peace and comfort they so desperately need.  Thank you again for your early support!  As you enjoy your summer plans, I pray that your heart will be warmed as you picture the children you have sponsored enjoying an Angel Tree Camp!
     Blessings to you and your generous congregation,         Tamara Wahl 

~WEIGHT WATCHERS PROGRAM~

We are in the planning stages of starting a Weight Watchers program at KRC for anyone interested.  The class would be in the morning, and we would like to know which morning of the week works best for those who may wish to attend. Please speak with Dawn Van Buren or send an e-mail to her at  dawnandleo@fairpoint.net

 

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN "THE OLDE DUTCH & SUCH" CRAFTS GROUP when we resume meeting 9:30 AM FRIDAY, JULY 13, IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL. We are creating items for the KRC fair/bazaar which will take place November 3.  Please save wine corks and plastic grocery bags for use in this project.  A box is available in the room across from the church office for collecting these materials. 

Remember To Thank & Praise God for
• all who serve KRC Ministries by meeting regularly, setting goals, preparing recommendations, & working together to complete projects and responsibilities.
• Karina Speer’s response to treatment; Loren and Lori thank you all for your prayers, and please continue to pray that God will lend Karina his grace to heal her fragile state of mind.
• the very positive pathology report just received by John and Isabelle Bosquet-Morra following John’s kidney surgery one month ago. Praise God also that John has started to paint again!
• the good news that Elize Visser’s mom is doing well following recent back surgery.
• the encouraging report on Sal Alessi’s good progress with chemo treatments.
• Pastor Rudy Visser, a Spirit-filled preacher of the Word and leader of vision.
• the blessing of family and friends.
• the wonderful ways God shows his love to us, especially during difficult times.
• those men and women who have served or are now serving our country, & those who have sacrificed their well-being and lives for the peace & liberties we enjoy.

Please forward praise and prayer requests to krc@fairpoint.net or call Paul at 859-4158.  If you are not already on our email prayer list, and would like to receive prayer and praise requests through email, please contact Paul to have your address added. If you do not have email, contact Jane Smith at 758-6442, and she will be happy to include you in the phone prayer chain.


Remember to Pray for
• those who do not know Christ, or are struggling in their faith or with other spiritual issues. 
• KRC’s Consistory members and administrative ministries.
• KRC programs & projects and those administering them: Youth Group; church restoration; tricentennial events.
• small group ministries, adult Bible studies, Community Prayer Group.
• our state and national leaders, that God will grant them the leadership skills, wisdom, and the personal protection needed to govern effectively and safely.
• our missionaries: Dave and Char Alexander, Perry Jones and Capital City Rescue Mission, Alex and Fran Knauss, Maureen Menard, Dick and Carolyn Otterness, Brian and Bea Post, Seth and Melissa Rogati, Betty Ann Stedwell. 
• our children sponsored through Compassion or other agencies..
• those, especially children, victimized by natural disasters; abuses of war and violence; exploitation; neglect; and family hostility.
• families and friends grieving the loss of loved ones, especially Robin Siter and her family grieving the loss of her father, Edward Gay, last weekend; the families of Noreen Kennedy and Maureen Mooney grieving the recent death of Maureen’s uncle, Ned Kennedy; Jane, friend of Harriet Simpkins, grieving the tragic and unexpected loss of her son; the Bloomer family suffering the loss of their four-month old son.
• Holly Clause's husband, Marc Morales, battling severely high blood pressure, please continue to remember them during this stressful time.
• those traveling, especially Pastor Rudy and family as they leave for South Africa early tomorrow morning; Stacey Baker in Valencia, Spain, through August 11.
• those battling or recovering from cancer: John Bosquet-Morra; Roman Murynec; Helen Drumm; Tammy DeVito; Dick; Sal Alessi; Melissa M; Judy Iocco; Stephanie; Ron Jensen; Patricia’s mother; Donna Scalera; Tom Saulpaugh.  
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; chronically ill; or in hospice care: Romona DenBesten; Billie-Jean Cartwright, ICC senior; Linda Moran; Baby Luther; Linda’s sister; Elize Visser’s mother; Don Bartow; Evan; Kenny Cadieux; Sara Schubert; Pete McCardle; Ruth Edge; Blanche Rogers; Jack, grandfather of Patti Varga; Lou Galm; Jim Baker’s mother; Dave Ennis’s father; Joan Clause; Florence Rivera; Kathy Schneider’s father in Barnwell; Paul Varga.
• a favorable outcome in John’s arbitration case. 
• those facing challenges, conflicts, difficult decisions: Paul and Tora Lyons; Pastor Glenn Metzler battling a blood disorder; the Schuberts as they attempt to sell John’s mother’s home in Troy; Louise; Libby Little facing a demanding schedule; those struggling with unnamed issues, especially Sara, Elizabeth, and Nancy; caregivers of children with health/developmental issues; those with employment or other economic troubles; those suffering discouragement, depression, despair, or other mental health issues, especially Karina Speer;  those struggling with dependencies/substance abuse, especially George in South Africa; those dealing with family relationships; young people challenged by the demands of schooling, looking for jobs, dealing with many temptations confronting young adults.
• God’s blessing on those recently engaged/married, expecting babies, new/first-time parents: 1st-time-parents Tom and Jaime (Welcome) Eastman (Baby Evan Anthony Eastman, born Saturday, May 19); Terry Nawrot (twins, Baby Joshua and Baby Brian, born June 29; Brad & Kelly Babic (Baby Taylor Marie); Jeannie and Scott (Baby Luther); the Principis (Baby Gianna Drew).
• those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill, especially Diane Morgan. 
• our residence-bound members:  Ken Smith; Murray Leonardson, and Mike Rivera.
• our military men and women, especially Josh Heimroth, recently deployed to Afghanistan - that they  may know God’s presence and protection.
• families and friends of our military troops, and victims of warfare & violence worldwide,  that they may be blessed with God’s peace and reassurance.

Regular reports are needed on the progress or condition of all individuals on our prayer and praise lists.  If you have updated information, especially regarding individuals whose names appear in bold print, please call the church office.

During the month of July, Northeast Health/ Eddy Lifeline is offering free installation (normally $50) of a Lifeline 2-way emergency response system.  If you know someone who lives alone, or has a tendency to fall, or who is recovering from recent surgery and might benefit from this protection, the Eddy contact number is 833-1040.  The monthly cost of the system after the free installation is $38.

2012 EVENTS IN CELEBRATION OF OUR 300th YEAR
Fall Concert (details TBA)
November 3, Church Bazaar
December 16, 3rd annual Lessons & Carols with organist David Smith & choir

OFFICE, EMAIL,
WEBSITE,  AND FAX INFORMATION 
Email Address – krc@fairpoint.net
Website Address – kinderhookreformedchurch.com
Rev. Rudy is scheduled to be in his church office
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings.
If you wish to meet with Pastor during these times,
please call ahead for an appointment.
Evenings are set aside for meetings, pastoral visitations, and counseling.
For assistance on Mondays, please call 859-4158
Church Phone  758-6401                Church Fax   758-6402
Phone messages are picked up several times daily.
If you need immediate assistance anytime, please call 859-4158.

          
KRC 2012-2013 CONSISTORY

Pastor Rev. Rudy Visser, President of Consistory, Classis Delegate

                                                   Deacons
Noreen Dick – ’13,  Church Family     758-6640
Patrice Lyons – ’13,  Missions      758-8400
Barbara Vosburgh –’13,  Stewardship / Treasurer   758-6512

                                                   Elders
Dave Ennis – ’13,  Worship    784-9656
Maureen Mooney – ’12,  Evangelism / Clerk    210-6079
Dawn Van Buren – ’13,  Cemetery / Pastoral Relations /
                                           Personnel / VP of Consistory   758-7564
Patti Varga–’12,  Christian Education   392-4771

                   John Schubert, Chairman, Classis Financial Committee

                                             KRC STAFF
                   KRC Office Manager                     KRC Office Assistant     
                 Paul Clause – 859-4158                   Liz Carroll – 758-6034
                                 Cemetery Supervisor/KRC Sexton
                               Greg Clause  –  369-8472, 758-1338