SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, JULY 3, 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 Joy Bertram on the front lawn of the church.

Thanks to today’s ushers, Greg Clause Jr, Jim Dunham, Keith Garwood, Gary Leggett

Thanks to today’s greeter(s), Sug Hawver

 Preschool nursery available downstairs.

  Prelude                                 Voluntary 3 in G major (1758)                             John Bennett

  Welcome

  Announcements and God’s Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship (Responsive)

What a day for celebration! What a day to rejoice!

       The Spirit of God is in our midst; God has come to meet with us!

Bring your hearts before him.

       We worship him in word and song and prayer.

       We are here, as one, the body of Christ.

       Let us celebrate together our great and wonderful God!

*Hymn                                                                                                              Come Sing to God

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession
We cannot earn God's grace or favor. It comes to us, not as something owed, but as a gift freely given. Confident of God's love for us, let us confess our sins before God and one another.

  Prayer of Confession (Unison)

Holy and merciful God, Jesus exhorts us to know what time it is, but the truth is that we are half-asleep, unaware of the urgency of your call, oblivious to the haste of your return, ignorant of the pressing need to make our time count. We absent-mindedly walk through our days, trusting in ourselves and our own abilities, deluded into thinking we are in control, sure there is time to deal with you "later." Forgive us, Lord! Later is now, and your kingdom cannot wait. Sides must be chosen and allegiances declared. Wake us to the truth, give us courage for the choice, embolden us by your mercy. For the sake of Christ, we pray. Amen.

  Assurance of Forgiveness (Responsive)

By the mercies of God, I declare to you that your sins are forgiven. You are beloved, redeemed brothers and sisters of Christ. Thanks be to God! Amen.

       Thanks be to God. Amen.

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Prayer for Illumination

  Scripture                                                                                                2 Kings 5:1-14 (p. 263)

  Message                                                                                             “Washed by the Water”

  Prayer of Thanks

Celebrating God

  Duet                         Deborah Spaulding (soprano), Nancy Baker (alto)

   Panis Angelicus (Heavenly Bread)                    César Franck

“Heavenly bread that becomes the bread for all mankind; bread from the angelic host that is the end of all imaginings; oh, miraculous thing! This body of God will nourish even the poorest, the most humble of servants. Even the poorest, the most humble of servants.”

  Sacrament of Communion 

  Offering/Offertory                     Offertory in A flat, op. 50, no. 3                   Arthur Foote

*Doxology (#809)

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 in your way.  Accept us and our offering, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

  Pastoral Prayer, and The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn of Devotion #473                                                   And Can It Be That I Should Gain

*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 F major, HWV 11                                G. F. Handel

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

Genesis 28:15

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

HAPPY JULY BIRTHDAY!

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

Virginia celebrates her 89^th birthday today!

Congratulations, Ginny!

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

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 report that Aaron and Susan Clause continue to improve following a recent auto accident, and that Aaron is able to be back to work part time.
• the amazing improvement that Gary Silvano's recent successful heart transplant has made in his energy and activity levels.
• David Smith’s presence again on the organ bench and doing well following a brief hospitalization recently.
• this happy update from Claudia and Arnie March: “Our new grandson was born May 16th and is gorgeous.  His name is Mason Gray March, 8lb 14oz and 20".  Gary and Sarah are just rolling into parenthood so naturally. We are sure in love with this new Blessing!”
• 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.

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 is called to take up her ministerial duties as full-time pastor to the Muitzeskill and Stuyvesant Reformed Churches beginning May 1.
• KRC ministries, programs & projects and those planning & administering them: KRC’s Consistory, especially new members, Tana Thompson and Chip Wood; 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: Susan and her daughter grieving the very sudden recent loss of husband and father, aged 47 -  Susan is a co-worker of Deborah Spaulding.
• 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.
• Virginia Rothermel, now recovering at home from a virus following several hospitalizations over the past three weeks.  Pray for a speedy and complete recovery without complications for Ginny.
• Vicki, wife of David Smith, following knee-replacement surgery last Monday. All continues to go well with Vicki.  Initial results of the surgery and the surgeon's comments are very encouraging. You are invited to call Vicki on her cell (518-944-3882) or email her lindenvtsmith@nycap.rr.com
• Donna Scalera, now at home but in a great deal of pain. Please pray that Donna's caregivers will quickly find effective medications to relieve her discomfort and suffering.  Donna says she misses her KRC friends and family.
• Mark, in remission from kidney cancer, but severely diabetic. Pray that Mark's doctors will find a treatment regimen that will bring his condition under better control.
• An unspoken request for Laurie.
• a family friend of Patti Varga who, praise God, survived a massive heart attack recently and is in need of prayer for complete recovery.
• Art Gross, and Ted Tuttle, both recovering from recent cataract surgery. Pray for speedy healing without complications for Art and Ted.
• Maggie Brower, suffering continued back pain following recent back surgery.  Play for pain relief and complete healing for Maggie.
• Jay, in his mid-forties, who has had an initial diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.  Please pray for peace and reassurance for him and his family during this very difficult time.  Jay is a co-worker of Deborah Spaulding.
• others battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Ron Dick; Charles Spaulding; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler; 6-month-old 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: Elize Visser’s mother; Angie Rivera; Aaron and Susan Clause; Steve Shpur; 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: 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.
• residence-bound KRC friends and 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

~STEWARDSHIP UPDATE~

This past Sunday our weekly offering was $3112, slightly over our weekly need of $3,000. Previous shortfalls, however, have resulted in a current budget deficit of $10,655 as reflected 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:    $76,987

Total expenses to date: $87,642

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.

~2016 CLASSIS ASSESSMENT~

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 PER MEMBER:        $88.93

                          (Up $0.91 from 2014)