May 20, 2012, 300th Celebration Service

KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH

A SERVICE IN CELEBRATION OF 300 YEARS OF

KNOWING CHRIST AND MAKING HIM KNOWN

4 P.M. SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012

Order of Worship
  PRELUDE  Fantasia upon the tune "Intercessor", op. 187       C. V. Stanford
  WELCOME
  VOTUM and GOD’S GREETING
Dutch - Rev. Rudolph Visser       English, Rev. Ron Stockhoff
Boldly Approaching Our God

 

Renewed in His Grace
   CALL TO WORSHIP   (Responsive)                               Rev. Rudolph Visser
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
     One generation commends your works to another;
     they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
     They tell of the power of your awesome works—
     and I will proclaim your great deeds.

 They celebrate your abundant goodness and
joyfully sing of your righteousness.
     My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
     Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
                                                                           (Based on Psalm 145:3-7 & 21)
*HYMN OF PRAISE                     I Greet Thee, Whom My Sure Redeemer Art
                                     Attributed to John Calvin, 1545

 SURRENDERING IN PRAYER                                        Rev. Rudolph Visser
  REMEMBERING TO HONOR HIM                                      Elder Paul Clause
Hardy settlers, Dutch and English
stood together on muddy land
determined

     to build a place to worship
     to make a place to bury their dead –
     most taken too soon.

Slowly the structure rose
through fire and tribulation –
a home for farmer, martyr, and President.

Now golden music flows
from brilliant windows.
Villagers stop to listen
to the tower’s pealing bells.
From the pulpit the call goes out –
a beacon for all
to bow for God’s blessing
and come to him.
                                               Joan Clause

   TRIO        Nancy Baker, Stacey Williams-Baker, and Jessica Zalucky
                                              Amazing Grace

We Come before God’s Open Word
  PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION                                           Rev. John Bowen
  SCRIPTURE LESSON  Acts 8: 26-40                            Rev. John Bowen
  MESSAGE  “An Old Model for a New Century”                 Rev. Gregg Mast
  PRAYER OF BLESSING                                                    Rev. Nate Meldrim

Celebrating God with Word and Deed
  CONFESSION OF OUR FAITH
          in the words of the Apostolische Geloofsbelijdenis / Apostles’ Creed
Dutch - Rev. Rudolph Visser
     English - Rev. Ron Stockhoff and congregation
Ik geloof in God de Vader, de Almachtige,
Schepper van de hemel en de aarde.                                       
     I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
En in Jezus Christus, zijn eniggeboren Zoon, onze Here;
     and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
die ontvangen is van de Heilige Geest, geboren uit de maagd Maria;
     Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
die geleden heeft onder Pontius Pilatus,
is gekruisigd, gestorven en begraven, neergedaald in de hel;
     suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
     He descended into hell.
op de derde dag opgestaan uit de doden;
     the third day He arose again from the dead;
opgevaren naar de hemel, en zit aan de rechterhand van God,
de almachtige Vader;
     He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God
     the Father Almighty;
vandaar zal Hij komen om te oordelen de levenden en de doden.
     From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
Ik geloof in de Heilige Geest.
     I believe in the Holy Spirit;
Ik geloof een heilige, algemene, christelijke kerk,
de gemeenschap der heiligen;
     the holy catholic church; the communion of saints;
vergeving van de zonden;
     the forgiveness of sins;
opstanding van het vlees;
     the resurrection of the body;
en een eeuwig leven.
     and the life everlasting.  Amen.

  SOLO   Leigh Ann Hinton, soprano      My Heart Ever Faithful     J. S. Bach     
  ORGAN OFFERTORY  Praeludium in G major, op. 698/4          Carl Czerny
  PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY  Hymn #809          Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
*OFFERTORY PRAYER                                   Rev. Rudolph Visser
Unsearchable and everlasting God, today, reaching into the fourth generation of this church’s existence, this generation commends your works to the next. Our offering tells of your faithfulness and mighty acts. Indeed, we celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. May what we have brought today be pleasing unto you and be used to further your kingdom. In your holy name we pray. Amen.
  ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                  Rev. Rudolph Visser
The Kinderhook Reformed Church Family extends a special welcome to Anna Mae Swenson who is worshiping with us today.  Anna Mae, who will be 104 in November, is the great-great grand daughter of Rev. Dr. Jacob Sickles, Kinderhook Reformed Church pastor from 1801 – 1835.

All are cordially invited downstairs to the Fellowship Hall following today’s service for time of refreshment, fellowship, and celebration.

Today’s flowers provided & arranged by Isabelle Bosquet-Morra.
  PASTORAL PRAYER and THE LORD’S PRAYER      Elder Dawn Van Buren
Going Forth in Worship
*HYMN OF THANKSGIVING #53                           Let All Things Now Living
*BENEDICTION AND BLESSING                                      Rev. Nate Meldrim
*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                Toccata (1889)                                     Théodore Dubois
Participants in the Service

OFFICIATING PASTORS

Rev. Rudolph Visser
Pastor, Kinderhook Reformed Church

Rev. Ron Stockhoff
Reformed Church in America Pastor, Retired

Rev. John Bowen
Reformed Church in America Pastor, Retired

Rev. Gregg Mast, PhD
   President, New Brunswick Theological Seminary

Rev. Nate Meldrim
Pastor, North Blendon Reformed Church, Hudsonville, Michigan
Former Pastor, Kinderhook Reformed Church, 2004 - 2008


ELDERS

Paul Clause
Kinderhook Reformed Church Great Consistory

Dawn Van Buren
Vice-President, Kinderhook Reformed Church Consistory

VOCALISTS

Nancy Baker, Stacey Williams-Baker, and Jessica Zalucky
Kinderhook Reformed Church Family members and friends

Leigh Ann Hinton
Soprano soloist, US Army Band, "Pershing's Own", Washington DC

ORGANIST

David Smith

A Grateful Thank-You to Our Lord for all 300 Committee members and numerous other individuals who so generously and faithfully gave of their talents, time, and energy over many months to plan and implement today’s worship celebration.

Succession of Pastors
Reformed Protestant Dutch Church Of Kinderhook, New York

From 1677 – 1712 this Church was a Mission of the Mother Church at Albany and was served by Various “Voorleezers” or Readers.

Hendrick Abelson, Peter Van Driessen and
John Jacob Ehle.…………………………………………………...............1712 – 1727

Johannes Van Driessen  ………………………………………….............1727 – 1735
Cornelius Van Schie and
Theodorus Frelinghuysen, Albany Church…………………….............1735 – 1756
Fredinandus Frelinghuysen called, but died at sea before settlement…......1753
Johannes Casparus Fryenmost………………………………….............1756 – 1777
Johannes Ritzema …………………………………………………............1778 – 1788
Isaac Labagh  ………………………………………………………............1789 – 1801
Jacob Sickles   ………………………………………………………..........1801 – 1835
Enoch Van Aken, colleague of Dr. Sickles………………………..........1834 – 1835
Henry Heermance ………………………………………………….............1835 – 1837
John C. Van Deervoort ……………………………………………............1837 – 1842
Benjamin Van Zandt ……………………………………………….............1842 – 1852
Oliver Bronson..…………………………………………………….............1854 – 1857
James Romeyn Berry ……………………………………………..............1857 – 1863
Edward A. Collier  ………………………………………………….............1864 – 1907
       Pastor – Emeritus    ...…………………………………………..........1907 – 1920
Charles W. Burrowe ……………………………………………….............1908 – 1914
Arthur M. Ellis   ……………………………………………………..............1915 – 1917
Eldred C. Vanderlaa..……………………………………………................1917 – 1920

William Lyle Robinson ……………………………………………..............1921 – 1923
Herbert Bennett Roberts…………………………………………......,,,,,,,.1923 – 1934
William Lee Huntsman……………………………………………...............1934 – 1939
William A. Heydorn ………………………………………………................1939 – 1949
Chester A. Moore …………………………………………………...............1950 – 1958
Merle W. Hoogheem………………………………………………...............1958 – 1963
John Vander Tuin…………………………………………………...............1963 – 1970
Richard E. Detrich…………………………………………………...............1970 – 1981
Frank J. Bahr called, but died in car accident before assuming pulpit  .........1981
Gerald E. Shibley………………………………………………….................1982 – 1991
Daniel E. Wray……………………………………………………..................1992 – 1995
Stephen S. Allison …………………………………………………...............1995 – 2002
James Nathanael Meldrim…………………………………………..............2004 – 2008
Rudolph Philippus Visser  ………………………………………….............2009 -