Kinderhook Reformed Church Worship, May 28, 2017

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

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

  Morning Prayer

*Morning Praise

  Scripture Reading                                                                                     Acts 1:6-11 (p. 749)

  Message      “The God We Proclaim Upends the Ordinary Understanding of Power.”

  Offering and Prayer of Blessing    

  Intercessory Prayer

*Closing Hymn and Benediction

  10:00 A.M.  CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

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

Thanks to today’s greeters.      

 Nursery facility available downstairs.

  Prelude                                                

  Welcome and Announcements

  God's Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  Adapted from Psalm 68:32-35

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord.
       To him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,

       who thunders with mighty voice. 
Proclaim the power of God. 
       Whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens. 
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;  
       The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. 

       Praise be to God! 

*Hymn of  Praise #16                                                          Give to Our God Immortal Praise

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession

In his infinite love for us, Jesus submitted to the will of his Father, exchanged his divine glory for the lowly estate of a servant, and took upon himself the sin of the world.  Let us confess together our share of the burden Christ suffered on the cross for our salvation.

   Prayer of Confession  (Responsive)  

Our Father in heaven, we thank you for sending your Son to bring us from the darkness of death into the light of your life. But we confess that we are helpless to live the new life that Christ calls us to live. We have seen your glory in his face and have lifted our hands to him in praise.  Yet our feet still walk in the ways of sin and selfishness. We have seen your commandments in your word and know them well, but we refuse to see your face in the faces of the hurting, distressed, and needy.  Lord, we confess how hard it is to be your people. You have called us to continue the mission of Jesus to a lonely and confused world, and you have taught us how to carry it out.  But we have not listened or responded faithfully. Forgive us, O Father! In the light of your power and grace, grant us courage and strength to live a new life in you, and give us faith to believe that with your help we will not fail. Amen.

  Words of Assurance  (Responsive)  Based on Psalm 66:16-20

Come and listen, all you who fear God; this is what he has done for you:  You cried out to him with your mouths; his praise was on your tongues.  If you had cherished sin in your hearts, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely heard your confessions and listened to your voices in prayer.

Praise be to God, who has not rejected our prayers or withheld his love and forgiveness from us!

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Prayer for Illumination and Scripture Reading                                  

  Scripture Reading                                                                                     Acts 1:6-11 (p. 749)

  Message      “The God We Proclaim Upends the Ordinary Understanding of Power.”

  Prayer of Thanks and Moment of Silent Meditation

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."

Celebrating God, His Abundance, and His Care

  Offering/Offertory

*Doxology #809                                                   Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

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

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

*Hymn #98                                                                                                                        Majesty

*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

Elize Visser (4^th), Joan Clause (5^th), Sara Hartman (9^th),

 Brenda Longe (9^th), Tom Call (23^rd), Andrew Welcome (23^rd),

Phil Hurst (26^th), Liezl Visser (28^th), Anina Visagie (29^th),

 Jerry Flansburg (30^th)

Each member’s share of this year’s classis assessment has been set at $88.50 (down 43¢ from last year).  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 $2.74 per week for the remaining 31 weeks in this year. Please clearly designate 
all contributions, “Classis Assessment.”  

~STOP HUNGER NOW FOOD-PACKAGING EVENT SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER~ 

Stop Hunger Now, which has recently rebranded itself “Rise Against Hunger,” packages and ships food and 
life-saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable people and works to end global hunger in our lifetime.  
This year, nearly 60 million meals will be packaged by more than 350,000 volunteers, and will be distributed 
in needy locations around the world to nourish more than a half-million lives.  In addition, $15 million in 
donated medicines, medical supplies, clothes, soap, and solar lights will be shipped to at least 37 countries.  
A RISE AGAINST HUNGER FOOD-PACKAGING EVENT IS AN IMMENSELY-REWARDING EXPERIENCE OF EASY, HANDS-ON WORK, FUN, 
AND FELLOWSHIP THAT YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS!  A group of 40 to 50 volunteers (any age) can package over 10,000 
meals in just two hours.  Our local packaging event will take place Saturday, September 9, at the Kinderhook 
Town Hall (formerly Martin H. Glynn school) on Church Street in Valatie, during which we hope to pack 20 – 30 
thousand meals.  Plan to save this date on your calendar and to lend a helping hand to this extraordinary 
ministry. Donation baggies and canisters are now available on the back table of the sanctuary to take home for 
saving up your contributions, and you are encouraged to take canisters to work or to businesses willing to 
display them. A donation of 29¢ buys one meal, $29 one hundred meals, $290 one thousand meals.  

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

• those who do not know Christ or who are struggling in their faith journey. 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.
• Pastor Rudy and Rev. Paige Convis, KRC’s associate pastor, as they fulfill their ministerial duties.
• KRC ministries, programs & projects and those planning & administering them: KRC’s Consistory; KRC’s administrative ministries; KRC’s Youth Group; VBS; KRC’s small group ministries and Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; 1st Friday, and other outreach programs.
• our state, national, and world leaders, especially President Donald Trump and all of the new government officials now in office, 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, especially Jason Lansing serving in South Korea.
• 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 Mark Johnson, son of Erika and Merrill, in your prayers following the recent death of his friend, Matthew.  Mark was a close and very supportive friend of Matthew, who struggled with challenging personal and family issues.  Please pray for God's comfort and peace for Mark, who is grieving deeply, and for strength to cope with this unexpected and tragic loss.
• those who, even after many years, still hurt from the void left by loved ones who have passed on from this world.
• reassurance, peace, and dignity for loved ones nearing the close of this life.
• Christopher Dick, son of Noreen, just diagnosed definitively with rheumatoid arthritis, and now on a life-long treatment regimen.  Please pray for God’s healing, relief from pain, reassurance, and peace for Christopher as he begins to cope with this life-changing news.
• the father-in-law of Holly Clause, hospitalized in Arizona with stroke like symptoms and facing possible carotid artery surgery.
• John and Cathy, following a car accident.
• a woman experiencing deep sadness because she is unable to conceive a child.
• Our graduates facing challenges of higher education, career choices and job searches.
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Ahtua Teo; Gail Schubert; Chris, Elize Visser’s dad; Annis and her young daughter; Keith Niver; Betty Osborn; Darla and Jill; Lennox; Lynn; Rob; Virginia Rothermel; Maggie; Art Gross; Angie Rivera; Harriet Stockhoff; Ruth Edge; Jean Skipper; Floyd Haber; Paul Varga.
• others battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Michael; Don Morse, brother of Kay Haber; Jill; J.B; Jen; Bill, Janet Smith's brother; Ronny; Ron Dick; Donna Scalera; Kim Helm; Carol Nel; Paul Osborn; Jeff Peter; Mark; Ann; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler.
• others facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Stacey Baker; Libby Little-Saxton, now back to work with refugees after assisting her husband, John, in his recovery from knee-replacement surgery; Vince Beaudoin; the epidemic of addiction to heroin and other substances.
• residence-bound KRC family, George Clowe, and those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill.

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, John Bowen, and others who lead worship at 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.
• Jen's acceptance of Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
• a smooth, problem-free house-closing recently for Patti Varga.
• successful shoulder surgery and exceptional healing for Amy Deweerd's father.
• the blessings of family.
• the well-received and productive Community Conversations Workshop held recently at KRC.
• relief for Jay Rippel following 5 days of continuous hiccups.
• all those of KRC's family and friends who volunteer their time, talent, and energy so generously and so willingly to the various ministries and programs of our church, and who often do this quietly and selflessly behind-the-scenes with little notice or recognition.
• His provision for all of our basic life needs, and the wonderful ways God shows His love to us, especially during difficult times.

New York Faithwalking Circle

KRC 2017 CONSISTORY

Pastor Rev. Rudy Visser, President of Consistory

Deacons

Jane Deane – ’17  Outreach, Cemetery. . . . . .  758-7051  jdeane1943@gmail.com

Noreen Dick – ’18  Church Family . . . . . . . . . . 758-6640  noreend122@twc.com

Beth Anne Rippel – ’18  Stewardship  . . . . . . . 392-5044  barippel@yahoo.com

Elders

Merrill Johnson – ’18  Worship      . . . . . . . . . . . 828-6726  docjohnson36@gmail.com

Dawn Van Buren – ’18  Pastoral Relations . . 758-7564  dawnandleo@fairpoint.net

Patti Varga – ’17  Christian Education, Outreach,

                                Consistory Vice President . .755-3054  patvarga66@gmail.com

Barbara Vosburgh – ’17 Personnel, Clerk. . . . 758-6512  vosburgh1@nycap.rr.com

KRC TREASURER

Derick LaTorre – 376-1882  derick.latorre@gmail.com                                         

                                           KRC STAFF

                KRC Office Manager              KRC Office Assistant          

            Paul Clause – 859-4158      Courtney Wood – 784-2134

                   KRC Sexton                 KRC Cemetery Supervisor        

           Greg Clause Jr – 653-2786       Greg Clause – 369-8472

COMING EVENTS

Today,   May 28  Children’s Sunday – Last Day of Children’s Sunday School

      8:30 am  Early Worship Service

      9:45 am  Bible study, Book of Genesis, continues.

    10:00 am  Worship Service, Sunday School students participating

Tues,  May 30

      7:00 pm  KRC Youth Group meets

Thur, June 1

       9:00 am  Small Group continuing Bible-based study @KRC:

              Group continues a new Bible study, 1 & 2 Thessalonians

     10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @KRC

      7:00 pm  Bible study group meets, KRC main floor Conference Room

Fri,   June  2

Please Note:  In lieu of KRC’s Annual Free Pancake Breakfast Saturday, June 3, there will be no First Friday Community Dinner in June.

Sat,   June  3 

      8:00 - 11:00 am  Annual KRC Pancake Breakfast

      8:00 - Noon  Annual KRC Plant Swap/Sale

Sun,  June  4        

      8:30 am  Early Communion Worship Service

      9:45 am  Bible study, Book of Genesis, continues.

    10:00 am  Communion Worship Service

Mon,  June 19

      6:30 pm  Consistory meets

Mon,  June 26

      6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Servers Next Sunday, June 4
 

Ushers:  Greg Clause Jr, Jim Dunham, Gary Leggett

Greeter(s): Jean and Stacey Hurst