SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, MAY 22, 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.

8:30 A.M.  CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

  Announcements, The Lord’s Greeting, and Morning Prayer

*Morning Praise

  Scripture                                                                                   Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 (p. 454)

  Message                                                                       “Meet Sophia, the Wisdom of God” 

  Prayer of Thanks

  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 following worship.

Thanks to today’s ushers, Ted Call, Jerry Flansburg, and Glenn Warren

 Thanks to today’s greeter(s), Susan Patterson      Preschool nursery available downstairs.

  Prelude      Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise / “Be thou my Wisdom. . .”   Hymns 62, 532

  Welcome, Announcements, and God’s Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)

Glory be to God, our Redeemer!
       Glory be to God, the One who is sovereign! 
Glory be to God, the One who is holy!
       Glory be to God, the One who loves us! 
Glory be to God, the God of all the earth! 
       Come now, let us worship the Lord God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Allowing God to Shape Us

*Hymn #5                                                                                         Come, Thou Almighty King

  Call to Confession

Our faith calls us to break down walls and to live our lives courageously so that others might know who we are by our love. For the times when we have been less than faithful disciples, we offer now our prayer:

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

Lord, forgive the rationalizations we present to you - grounded most often in fear and unbelief - as reasons for not following you fully.  Forgive us, O Lord, for our reliance on ourselves and our lack of trust in you; for our willfulness that turns us away from your will for our lives; and for our refusal to hear and believe your assurance of a rewarding spiritual journey. Forgive us all that is past, and free us to a new and living faith in you, through Christ our risen Lord. 

  Assurance of Forgiveness  (Responsive)

Our God is a God of love and mercy who allows us always to begin again. By God's grace, we are forgiven to walk in newness of life. Thanks be to God. Amen.

       Thanks Be to Our God of Grace!

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Children’s Message and Prayer of Blessing (Unison)

Heavenly Father, bless our children with wisdom.  Give them a constant hunger for more, and fill them with the knowledge of your Word and your will.  Grant them a life-long reverence for you, for that is where wisdom begins.  Amen.

  Prayer for Illumination

  Scripture                                                                                   Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 (p. 454)

  Message                                                                       “Meet Sophia, the Wisdom of God” 

  Prayer of Thanks

Celebrating God

      Offering/Offertory   

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, riches, wisdom, & strength . . .”

*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)

Lord God, we bless you for all your many gifts to us.  We now return these gifts as a token of our gratitude, and offer our whole lives to your service.  Grant us the wisdom and discernment to be good stewards of these offerings, that they may bear rich fruit in your kingdom. Through Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

  Prayer Requests, Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn of Proclamation #700                                                                We Are God’s People

*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      “I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule by day.”   Hymn 52

Saturday, June 4, all are welcome to come and to invite family and friends to an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast of amazing food and fellowship with great people in the KRC Fellowship Hall. Sausage, coffee, and juice will be served along with the pancakes. No reservations needed, free-will donations accepted, and 100% of this year’s proceeds will to benefit the Wee Care program which outreaches to mothers in need of outfitting their newborn babies.

NEXT SUNDAY, May 29, David Alexander, RCA missionary to Taiwan whom our church family has helped to support for many years, will be visiting KRC.  Dave will be updating us on his mission work, and on that of his wife, Char, at a combined 10 a.m. worship service.  Following worship, a light brunch will be served downstairs where we can meet, welcome, and fellowship with Dave personally.  A signup sheet is now on the back table for contributing food items to the brunch menu.

ABOUT DAVE & CHAR ALEXANDER

Charlene Bos and David Alexander met in Taiwan in 1976 while serving as RCA volunteers. They were married four years later, and returned to Taiwan in 1982 as career missionaries. Currently, Char teaches English at Chang Jung Christian University, which is associated with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. Dave teaches practical theology and ministry skills to ministerial trainees at Tainan Theological College and Seminary and offers courses in the lay training division there. The Alexanders have two children, Kate and Grant. Dave and Char work in partnership with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.

~HAPPY MAY BIRTHDAY!~

Elize Visser (4^th), Joan Clause (5^th), Sara Hartman (9^th), Tom Call (23^rd),

Andrew Welcome (23^rd), Sarah Bailey (24^th), Liezl Visser (28^th),

 Anina Visagie (29^th), Jerry Flansburg (30^th)

~ANNUAL CROP WALK UPDATE~

THANK YOU all who donated to the annual Northern Columbia Crop Walk.  KRC's representatives, Patti Varga and Patrice Lyons, collected $439 toward the total, just under $7000, raised on May 1, the day of the walk.  More donations may trickle in over the next few weeks.  Please remember that 25% of the total raised stays locally to help food pantries help the needy right in our back yard. Thank You for your caring and generosity!

~NEW SEWING GROUP BEING CONSIDERED AT KRC~

A signup sheet is available on the back table for those who would like to take part in starting a sewing group at KRC. Although some ideas have already been put forward about sewing for different charities, the direction the group takes and what it decides to sew all depends on who joins.  If you enjoy sewing, please consider taking advantage of this outreach opportunity. 

~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)

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 good report that Kathleen Campbell, mother-in-law of Jane Deane's daughter, Jen, has recovered very successfully from a recent heart attack; Kathleen and family thank everyone for their prayers.
• the good news that Ron Dick's recent PET scan showed no active cancer. Please keep Ron in your prayers, as he will be treated with four rounds of chemo as a preventative measure.  He thanks you all for your continued prayers and support during this time of stress for him and Judie.
• 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.

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.
• 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; 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.
• 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, especially Nancy Stewart as she manages the needs of her aging parents in Ogdensburg, NY.
• the Lamont family, residing again in a motel.  Prayers are desperately needed for Susan and her children as they attempt to cope with difficult issues and circumstances.
• Gary Silvano, who has voluntarily removed himself from the waiting list for a heart transplant in order to relieve his family from a heavy financial burden.  Please continue your prayers for Gary, who is surviving on a mechanical heart pump.
• Donna Scalera, following the prognosis that her cancer is incurable.  Pray for God’s courage, comfort, reassurance, and peace for Donna and the Scalera family at this very difficult time, and for his blessing on the family cruise being planned.
• Others battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Ron Dick; Charles Spaulding, Michael Spaulding’s uncle; 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: Angie Rivera; Suzanne, daughter-in-law of Alan and Noreen Dick; Steve Shpur; Elizabeth Clinton; Stacey Baker; Art Gross; 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: 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; Cliff Laraway; 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

~LETTER FROM INTERSERVE’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – LIBBY LITTLE’S SABBATICAL~

Dear Friends,

       In talking and praying with Libby, we both feel that she is due for a sabbatical. Libby has been going strong ever since 2010. Just after the memorial service for Tom in October of 2010, Libby was off to Cape Town, South Africa to speak at the Lausanne Congress for World Evangelization. She hasn’t stopped since then.

       Libby has felt for almost two years that a change was in the wind; yet, she didn’t know exactly what God was calling her to do. We talked about it and we prayed. Last year about this time we again talked about this. I suggested she consider taking some time off for a sabbatical. She was sensing the need to hear from God about what he had for her in the future. A sabbatical would give her the time she needed for the Spirit to formulate something in her heart and mind as she reflected on her future.

       Yet, you all know Libby. She is an incredibly devoted and faithful soul. She was passionate about being faithful to all who have supported her over these years. For Libby, expressing that faithfulness was accepting all the speaking invitations she could accept.

       So, I just prayed and waited another year. Now, Libby has come to the place where she will actually do a sabbatical! We in Interserve wholeheartedly support this. This sabbatical will give Libby the opportunity to remain situated in one place, the time she needs to hear from the Lord, and the incredible opportunity to be a volunteer mentor to Afghan refugees who have immigrated to her home city, Afghans who have been traumatized by war and by coming to a radically different country. Being an immigrant is not easy for anyone; it is much harder for those who have come out of a context of senseless violence and great loss.

       So, I ask you to support Libby as she pulls back from her travels and takes time to be refreshed by all the Lord has for her.

Sincerely,

Patrick Krayer, Executive Director

~STEWARDSHIP UPDATE~

This past Sunday, our weekly offering of $3,206 came in just over our weekly need of $3,000.  Previous shortfalls lead quickly to a budget deficit (currently $4,274) as can be seen 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:    $62,665

Total expenses to date: $66,939

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.

                                      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

COMING EVENTS

Today, May 22   

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

     10:00 am  Worship Service and Sunday School

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

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

Mon,  May 23

       6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Tues, May 24

       7:00 pm  Youth Group meets

Thur, May 26

      9:00 am  Small Group Bible Study meets @KRC

     10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

Sun,   May 29 

     10:00 am  Combined Worship Service

             Dave Alexander, KRC missionary to Taiwan, speaks at KRC.

               A light brunch will be served following the worship service.

PLEASE NOTE:

JUNE 3 FIRST FRIDAY COMMUNITY DINNER CANCELED.

Sat., June 4 

       8 – 11 am  KRC’s Annual Free Pancake Breakfast  

             Donations accepted to benefit the Wee Care outreach program.

Sun, June 5   

       8:30 am  Early Communion Worship Service

     10:00 am  Communion Worship Service and Sunday School

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

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

Servers Next Sunday, May 29, 2016

       Ushers: Jim Baker, Merrill Johnson , Max DiOrio