KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICES June 14, 2015

 “To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

Rev. Tom McCrossan, Guest Preacher

Director of the Men's Shelter and Guest Services, and Assistant Chaplain,

City Mission of Schenectady

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

  Scripture Lesson       Ephesians 1:1-14 (p. 827)

  Message      “In Christ and Christ’s Family”

  Prayer of Thanks

  Offering and Prayer of Blessing

  Intercessory Prayer

*Closing Hymn and Benediction

10 A.M. CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

  All are invited to refreshments and fellowship downstairs today following worship.

  Ushers:  Derick LaTorre, Chris Laurie, Ken Sutherland

  Greeter(s):  Susan Patterson                       Preschool Nursery available downstairs.

Guest Organist:  David Smith

  Prelude                                         Melody in E major                                     Horatio Parker

  Announcements

  Welcome and God’s Greeting

  Drawing Near To God

  Call to Worship (Responsive) from Psalm 107

LEADER :  O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever.
       PEOPLE:  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,

       those he redeemed from trouble.

LEADER:  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress;
       PEOPLE:  For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.

LEADER:  Some were sick through their sinful ways,

and because of their iniquities endured affliction.
       PEOPLE:  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

       and he saved them from their distress;
LEADER:  he sent out his word and healed them,

and delivered them from destruction.
       PEOPLE:  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

       for his steadfast love endures forever.

*Hymn #532                                                                                                   Be Thou My Vision

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession    

 Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.  

[The prayer continues in silence.]

  Words of Assurance  (Responsive)  2 Corinthians 5:17-18

LEADER:  Our gracious God forgives you your sin, strengthens you by the Spirit, and will keep you in life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

PEOPLE:   So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

  Law of God        Matthew 22:37-40

*Song #700     We Are God’s People

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Children’s Message and Blessing  (Unison)

Father, bless these children with the knowledge that you have adopted them into the family of Christ with unconditional, measureless love, and in return, may they love you and one another wholeheartedly with the same love. Amen.

  Prayer for Illumination

  Scripture Lesson        Ephesians 1:1-14 (p. 827)

  Message      “In Christ and Christ’s Family”

 [Moment of Silent Reflection]

Silent Prayer for Those Seeking to Accept Christ as Their Savior:

"Dear Jesus, I confess that I'm a sinner, and I admit that I am not right with you. I repent and ask your forgiveness.  I believe that you died on the cross to take my punishment and to pay the price for my offences.  I believe that you rose from death to give me new life. Wash me clean, Jesus, from all sin, shame, and guilt, and come into my heart as my Lord and Savior.  In your name I pray.  Amen."

  Prayer of Blessing

    Celebrating God

  Offering/Offertory                   Cantilena in G major, op. 71/1                 Arthur Foote    

  Doxology and Prayer of Blessing  (Unison)

Generous God, we marvel at your lavish gifts to us: life and breath, food and shelter, and most especially, hope and peace in Christ. We pledge ourselves to reflect the glory of your self-giving love, and to continue in the pattern of generosity we see perfectly revealed in Christ, through whom we pray. Amen.

  Prayer Requests and Pastoral Prayer

*Hymn (Insert)        More About Jesus

*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                                       Postlude in A major                                    Horatio Parker

ABOUT TODAY’S OPENING HYMN, “BE THOU MY VISION”

In the eighth century, an unknown Irish poet wrote a prayer asking God to be his Vision, his Wisdom, and his Best Thought by 
day or night.  In 1905, Mary Elizabeth Byrne, a scholar in Dublin, Ireland, translated this ancient poem into English.  Another 
scholar, Eleanor Hull of Manchester, England, took Byrne’s translation and crafted it into verses with rhyme and meter.  Shortly 
thereafter it was set to a traditional Irish folk song, “Slane,” named for an area in Ireland where St. Patrick reportedly 
challenged local Druids with the gospel. “Be Thou My Vision” is one of our oldest and most moving hymns.              
 Robert J. Morgan

~ PLEASE NOTE ~

SUNDAY, JULY 5, THROUGH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

8:30 & 10 AM WORSHIP SERVICES WILL COMBINE FOR WORSHIP AT 9 A.M.

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

• those who do not know Christ or who are struggling in their faith, especially Anne, that she will see beyond the deception of the things of this world and know peace, mercy and grace in the truth and promises of the Lord's covenant in Jesus Christ. Anne is fighting a spiritual battle that seems to enslave her to all that she does not think she has and does not trust she will receive.  
• 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, 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 worldwide.
• 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 Mark Van Buren and family and friends grieving the death of Mark’s father, Gordie Van Buren, this past Thursday. Viewing hours will be 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 pm this coming Tuesday at Bond Funeral Home, and the funeral service will be at 11 a.m. this coming Wednesday at KRC.
• Bill Van Alstyne, recovering from successful surgery this past Thursday to repair a broken hip following a recent fall.  Pray for a speedy healing for Bill as he enters rehab upon discharge from the hospital, and for his wife, Arlene, as she assists in Bill’s recovery.
• Caleb, dealing with depression & anger.  Pray that he gets the care and placement needed to help him overcome these issues. 
• Carol Zincio’s mother, recovering from recent hip surgery following a fall.
• 7-year-old Callan, grandson of Sally and Wayne Heimroth, hospitalized recently with digestive issues. 
• Jean Skipper, KRC member now living in New York City near her daughter; Jean has been hospitalized 8 times since last October for treatment of cardiac and respiratory issues, and has been placed on oxygen round the clock.
• those in hospice care or battling, or recovering from cancer:  Jack; Bob Mellott; Joan Kennedy; Donna Scalera; Marlene; Daniel; Zoe Covey; Andy; Lucy B. and Rodrigo; Jean; 2-year-old Logan; Sandy; Charlie Ropollo. 
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Florence Rivera; Steve Shpur; Carley Rippel; Stacey Baker; Harriet Stockhoff; Bill, brother of Tana Thompson; John Bowen; Floyd Haber; Art Gross; Faity Tuttle; Alan Dick; Harriet Simpkins; Paul Varga; Jean Skipper; Jane Smith; Blanche Rogers; Liz Carroll; Ruth Edge; Laurie Maul.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions:  Vince Beaudoin; Libby Little – copies of Libby’s May newsletter are available on the back table; Jean and Evangelique, sponsored Compassion International Children of John & Isabelle Bosquet-Morra; Susan Lamont and her children, now back in New York; 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 Alan and Noreen Dick & family vacationing in Maine, and Deborah & Michael Spaulding, flying home today from the west coast.
• 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 Murray Leonardson, Doris Schmieder, Joan Van Alstyne.

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 Aaron Clause was released from observation recently at Columbia Memorial Emergency after MRI and all other test results returned negative.  The Clauses wish to thank everyone who has been praying for Aaron, and ask that you continue to remember him as he does a routine follow-up with his neurologist in a few days. 
• the good report that Jim, son of Cricket Warren, landed the job for which he recently interviewed.
• 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.

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

HAPPY JUNE BIRTHJDAY!

Leré Visagie (2^nd), Jean Hacker, (9^th), David Mooney (10^th),

Dawn Tuttle (10^th), Lois Bertram (13^th), Seth Mooney (15^th),

Brooke Barmen (21^st), Bill Schneider (26^th), Florence Rivera (27^th)

CLASSIS ASSESSMENT

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 merica 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
just over $3 weekly for the remaining weeks in this year. All contributions made for this purpose should be designated, “Classis Assessment.” 

                                       KRC 2015 CONSISTORY

                Pastor Rev. Rudy Visser, President of Consistory

                                                      Deacons

Liz Carroll – ’16,  Clerk of Consistory / Outreach /  CITV Committee     758-6034

Noreen Dick – ’15,  Church Family      758-6640

Derick LaTorre – ’16,  KRC Treasurer / Stewardship /

                                        Cemetery     376-1882

Barbara Vosburgh – ’15,   Property   758-6512

                                                                                                    Elders

            Merrill Johnson – ‘16,  Worship    828-6726

            Patrice Lyons – ‘16,  Outreach   758-8400

Dawn Van Buren – ‘15,  Personnel / Pastoral Care    758-7564

Patti Varga – ’15  Consistory Vice President /   Christian Education / Classis Delegate   392-4771

                                                     KRC STAFF

                 KRC Office Manager                     KRC Office Assistant     

              Paul Clause – 859-4158                   Liz Carroll – 758-6034

                                  Cemetery Supervisor/KRC Sexton

                                           Greg Clause – 369-8472

                     Coming Events

Today, June 14  Rev. Tom McCrossan Preaching

         8:30 am  Early Worship Service

       10:00 am  Worship Service 

   Please Note:  Children’s Sunday School is in recess until the fall.

       11:15 am  Adult Sunday School - main floor Conference Room

                           Please join us in our current study of

The Ten(der) Commandments: Reflections on the Father's Love, by Ron Mehl

Tues.,  June 16

         2-4 pm & 6-8 pm  Viewing hours for Gordie Van Buren, Bond Funeral Home       

         7:00 pm  KRC Youth Group meets

Wed.,  June 17

       11:00 am  Funeral Service for Gordie Van Buren 

Thur., June 18

          9:00 am  Small Group Bible Study meets

  Please join us as we continue our Bible study on the Book of Isaiah.

       10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

Mon., June 22

         6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Servers Next Sunday, June 21, 2015

       Ushers:  Derick LaTorre, Chris Laurie, Steve Shpur, Ken Sutherland