KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE, MARCH 13, 2016

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

Rev. Paige Convis, Guest Preacher

Rev. Convis, currently Pastoral Resident at First Reformed Church, Schenectady,

 is a candidate for the Muitzeskill/Stuyvesant pastoral position.

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                                                                                                     John 12:1-8 (p. 761)        

  Message                                                                 “My Most Expensive Gift I Give to Him”     

  Offering and Prayer of Blessing

  Intercessory Prayer

*Closing Hymn and Benediction

10 A.M. CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP 

    All are invited to enjoy fellowship and refreshments

downstairs in the Fellowship Room today following worship.

Thanks to today’s ushers, Jim Baker, Max DiOrio, and Merrill Johnson

       Thanks to today’s greeter(s):  Johnathan and Jennifer Pratt

Preschool nursery is available downstairs.

  Prelude                                       Jesus Is All the World to Me                                          #491   
  Welcome 

  Announcements

  God’s Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  Based on Psalm 126

We gather to worship with expectations:
God revealed in new and astonishing ways.
       God comes to us in real time. 
Sometimes God’s presence is hard to take in - difficult to believe.
       O God, we long to believe. Help our unbelief!
God is present here. God is working in our midst.
       Then our mouths are filled with laughter,
       our tongues shout out with joy!  

*Hymn #115                                                                                                         Fairest Lord Jesus

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession

We are often a wondering people; we lose sight of God and God’s leading in our lives. We chose to live in our brokenness instead of God’s leading light. This holds us back from experiencing the fullness of God’s blessing. Let us confess our lives together.

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

Holy God, we confess that we do not trust you fully.  We put our hope in worldly gain and in human promises, and find ourselves defeated and lost when things fall apart. You have given us a love more fully than anything we could experience in this world, but we do not seek it, we do not hold on to it, and we look to our own means of assurance and security. Forgive us, O God, when our vision is limited. Call us back to you, that we may put our trust in you and not be afraid. Amen.

  Assurance of Pardon  (Responsive)

Hear this Good News: Even in the face of betrayal and rebellion, even in the face of death and denial, even in the face of fear and despair, God's Grace knows no bounds. We are forgiven, we are called back into relationship, we are set back on the path that leads to God.

              Thanks be to God. Amen.

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Children’s Message and Prayer of Blessing (Unison)

God of love, help our children to love you without holding back; when the world pulls them one way, bring them back to you. Help them to be lovers of you and your world, never forgetting that you are where that love begins.  Amen.

  Blessing on the Word Proclaimed             

  Scripture                                                                                                     John 12:1-8 (p. 761)

  Message                                                                                     “The Miracle of Generosity”

  Prayer of Thanks 

Celebrating God

  Offering/Offertory                                                                 How Can I Help But Love Him?   

*Doxology (#809) and Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Most generous God: with thankful hearts we rejoice in your goodness towards us and in the many blessings that we receive each day. In love you provide for your people’s needs and you accompany us along the way to bring the Good News of your salvation to the whole world.  Amen.

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

*Hymn of Commitment #539                                    I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light 

*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                                         His Name Is Wonderful                                                #87

Donations for Easter lilies to decorate our pulpit area are now being  accepted, and are greatly appreciated.  Contributions may be placed directly in the offering plate clearly marked for this purpose.

~VALATIE ECUMENICAL FOOD PANTRY EASTER BASKETS~

       Easter Food Baskets will be given to families who use the Valatie Ecumenical Food Pantry and request one. In November, 135 families received Thanksgiving baskets, and we anticipate about the same number of families for Easter. The baskets include food for Easter dinner: ham, potatoes, yams, corn, green beans, pineapple, and brownies. The Pantry buys all food items for the baskets in bulk, and if you would like to help financially with these purchases, checks may be made payable to Kinderhook Reformed Church, with Easter Baskets on the memo line, and dropped in the offering plate.  If you prefer, you may make checks out directly to Valatie Ecumenical Food Pantry, Inc., with Easter Baskets on the memo line, and mail them to:  Jean Norton, 35 Harris Drive, Valatie, NY 12184. The Pantry thanks you in advance for any help you are able to give. All monies or food items left over after the Easter baskets are distributed will be put into the Pantry account or onto the Pantry shelves

       In January, the Pantry served 75 families, including 118 children, 31 seniors, and 152 adults.

~HOPE COLLEGE CHAPEL CHOIR PERFORMS NEXT SUNDAY EVENING~

       You are cordially invited to hear Hope College Chapel Choir from Holland, Michigan, perform on Sunday, March 20, at 7:00 pm at the Claverack Reformed Church located on Route 9H in Claverack. Admission is free, but donations would be appreciated. The Chapel Choir was organized in 1929 and began touring annually in 1953. In addition to touring extensively in the United States and Canada, the Choir has toured Europe six times, most recently in France and the Netherlands.  In May of 2009 the choir toured South Africa.

       Hope College, founded more than 150 years ago in partnership with the Reformed Church in America, is a four-year liberal arts college with a deep commitment to our Christian heritage and faith. Growing from only 10 students in 1862, Hope College has more than 3,300 students on campus today.

~St. LUKE’S FREE DINNER MINISTRY~

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church family, Valatie, together with other area churches, continue the tradition of preparing and serving free dinners once a month in the St. Luke’s Fellowship Hall. KRC will be providing and serving the free dinner offered Tuesday, March 29, and it is anticipated that up to 150 people will be attending.  A sign-up sheet is now on the back table for volunteers who are willing to participate in this ministry.

HAPPY MARCH BIRTHDAY! 

 Maureen Mooney (5^th), Stan Bertram (12^th),

Nancy Call (14^th), Greg Clause (19^th), Emily Wood (20^th), Beth Ennis (30^th),

Paul Zietsman (31^st).

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 PRAY FOR

• those who do not know Christ or who are struggling in their 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.
• KRC ministries, programs & projects and those planning & administering them: KRC’s Consistory, especially new members, Tana Thompson and Chip Wood; KRC’s administrative ministries; KRC’s Youth Group; KRC’s small group ministries; adult Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; First 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.
• 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.
• God's blessing on the Bible studies, "War Room," which focus, among other topics, on the power of prayer.  The second study in the series of 5 will be presented today at 10 am and again at 11:30 am.
• reassurance, peace, and dignity for loved ones nearing the close of this life.     
• those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill
• Sug Hawver, preparing for surgery early in April.  The wonderful news received by Sug from her surgeon is that the polyp in her colon is NOT cancerous, but could become cancerous if not removed. Sug sincerely thanks everyone for their prayers and concern. Those prayers are working! 
• Cathryn Rhodes, mother of Donna Rhodes, who has been in and out of the hospital over the last few weeks. Pray for God's strength and healing for Christine, who is weak and needs a lot of assistance. Pray also for God's strength for Mike and Donna, who are tending to every detail of Christine's care over the weekends.
• Ron, Alan Dick's brother, recovering from a recent surgical procedure to remove a melanoma on his head. Please pray for a successful treatment and outcome, and for peace for Ron and his wife, Judie.
• Donna Scalera, not doing well in her struggle with the current round of chemotherapy, and discouraged. Cards and notes of encouragement may be sent to Donna at 13 Michael Court, Hudson, NY 12534.
• others battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Steve; Dorothy Wheeler; Darryl Ferguson; 6-month-old Baby Szafran; TJ Vooris; Judy Alvarez; Leonard Blish; Carol, Elize Visser’s sister-in-law; Marlene.
• others awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Sug Hawver; Sissy Mahoney; Vicky, cousin of Susan Lamont; Donald Smith, father of Janet Allen; Tom Carroll, son-in-law of Barbara Gross; Brian Post; Stacey Baker; Vickie Metzger; Ann Powell; April Grimes; Gary Silvano; Angie Rivera; Harriet Stockhoff; Rev. Ed Van Kampen; Ruth Edge; Merrill Johnson; Jean Skipper; Steve Shpur; John Bowen; Floyd Haber; Art Gross; Alan Dick; Paul Varga; Liz Carroll; Laurie Maul
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: 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; Cliff Laraway; Greg L and friend, Joshua; Vince Beaudoin; Libby Little.
• God's protection and safety for those traveling, especially: Sara Schubert, in Oregon visiting daughter, Lisa.
• residence-bound members, Murray Leonardson and Joan Van Alstyne.

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.
• 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 encouraging update on Sabrina Sigmon, friend of Floyd and Kay Haber. Sabrina's recent ovarian surgery was successful, there is no cancer, and she is now  home. Continued prayers for a speedy recovery will be appreciated. 
• the 125 church family and community members who enjoyed the wonderful potluck buffet, good fellowship and excellent Irish dance and vocal entertainment provided by the Clinton sisters and Triskele at our March First Friday outreach event. Praise God also for the hard work and efforts of all who organized, set up, served, and cleaned up after the festivities.  
• the good report that Maria Zincio is recovering at home and doing fine following recent cancer surgery. Thanks to all who offered prayers for Maria. 
• the happy news that Sara Schubert has a granddaughter due to arrive May 29 to son, Josh Schubert, and his wife, Helen.
• the happy news from Arnie and Claudia March that they have a grandson who is due to arrive in May. 
• 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.

~WEEKLY STEWARDSHIP UPDATE~

This past Sunday, our weekly offering of $2,868 again came in just below our weekly need of $3,000. Repeated shortfalls, as we see from the income/expense figures below, lead quickly to a budget deficit, and regular contributors are asked to “double up” on their giving if they miss a Sunday. 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: $31,830

Total expenses to date: $33,144

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.

                                                                                            ~ELEVATOR FUND UPDDATE~

To date we have raised $7,512 towards the cost of installing an elevator.  Your contribution to this special project is encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Please mark donation "Elevator Fund".  Many thanks to those who have already given.

~BARE ROOTS TREE SALE~

The Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District is now holding its Annual Bare Root Tree Sale.  Orders may be mailed in or delivered to the District’s office prepaid, and must be received in the office by April 1.  Order forms and additional Information on the sale details are available on the back table for your convenience.

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

                                                           KRC STAFF

                       KRC Office Manager                     KRC Office Assistant     

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

                                    Cemetery Supervisor         KRC Sexton

                                          Greg Clause                 Mike Deegan

Today, March 13

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

     10:00 am  Worship Service and Sunday School

                      WAR ROOM Bible Study #2 @KRC 

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

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

     11:30 am  WAR ROOM Bible Study #2 @KRC 

Mon, March  14

       6:30 pm  Consistory meets

Tues,  March 15

       6:30 pm  Youth Group meets @KRC

       7:00 pm  WAR ROOM Bible Study @KRC 

Thur, March 17

     9:00 am  Small Group Bible Study meets @KRC

     10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

       7:00 pm  WAR ROOM Bible Study @KRC 

Sat,   March  19

      10:00 am  Annual KRC Easter Egg Hunt

Palm Sunday,  March 20

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

     10:00 am  Worship Service and Sunday School

                      WAR ROOM Bible Study #3 @KRC 

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

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

     11:30 am  WAR ROOM Bible Study #3 @KRC 

       7:00 pm  Hope College Chapel Choir @ Claverack Reformed Church

Thur, March 24  Maundy Thursday Communion – Watch for more details.

Mon, March  28

       6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Tues, March 29

       5:00 – 7:00 pm  KRC family cooks/serves free community supper,

                                  St. Luke’s Lutheran Church

Servers Next Sunday, March 20, 2016

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

       Greeter(s):  Joy Bertram