KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAY WORSHIP NOVEMBER 20, 2016

REV. RUDY VISSER, PASTOR

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY

 “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                                                                                        Colossians 1:13-20 (p. 833)

  Message                                                                                                          “Christ The King”

  Prayer of Thanks

  Offering and Prayer of Blessing

  Intercessory Prayer

*Closing Hymn and Benediction

10 A.M.  CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

  Following worship today, all are invited to enjoy fellowship and refreshments

downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.

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

Thanks to today’s greeter, Sara Hartman.           

              Thanks to Guest Organist, David Smith                  

Preschool nursery available downstairs.

  Prelude                         Our Father who art in heaven                    Dietrich Buxtehude

  Welcome, Announcements

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  Based on Psalm 24

Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in. 

      MEN:  Who is this King of glory? 

      WOMEN:  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in. 
       ALL:  Who is he, this King of glory? 

       The Lord Almighty - he is the King of glory. 
*Hymn of Praise #92                                                               Crown Him with Many Crowns

  God’s Greeting  From Revelation 1:4-5

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession      

Today we celebrate that Christ is King. Not only King of the world but also King in and over our lives. Let us confess those time we fail to crown him with this Kingship!

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

Sovereign God, we confess that although we willingly say that “Jesus is King,” we often fail to bow our knees before him.  Instead, we grant our allegiances to the relationships and material goods of this world.  
Grant us the humility to bow before you, the Ruler of all nations, so that we may be loyal servants in your kingdom. Through your son, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Amen.

  Assurance of Forgiveness  Colossians 1:13-14

Through the crucified body and blood of Christ the King, we have been given a pardon from God.  “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, proclaiming Jesus as Lord of all. Thanks be to God, Amen.

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Children’s Sermon and Prayer of Blessing 

Lord Jesus, may our children always acknowledge you as Christ the King of their lives and of all creation. May they be your faithful subjects in this world, testifying without shame to your truth, and attracting many to the good news of your gifts of salvation and eternal life.  Amen.

  Prayer for Illumination           

  Scripture                                                                                        Colossians 1:13-20 (p. 833)

  Message                                                                                                          “Christ The King”

  Prayer of Thanks

*Hymn of Response (Insert, verses 1 & 3)                                Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

Celebrating God

*Profession of Faith 

     Apostles’ Creed  (Unison)

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilot, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

  Offering/Offertory                      Thanks be to God                         Dietrich Buxtehude

*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 (Unison)

Jesus, we worship you as Christ the King eternal. The light of your majesty shines like a sunrise on people in shadows and sadness. Use these gifts to spread the radiance of your gospel, so that many more will come to know your salvation and experience glimpses of your heavenly realm, until Christ returns in glory. Amen. 

  Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

  Hymn of Praise and Hope #86                                                    We Come, O Christ, to You

*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                            Fugue in C major (“Jig”)                          Dietrich Buxtehude

~ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE NOVEMBER 23~

The annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving service will be held at 7 pm this coming Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve, November 23, at the newly-built Seventh Day Adventist Church located across from O' Kenny's restaurant on US Route 9.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

~VALATIE FOOD PANTRY THANKSGIVING BASKETS~

Dear Kinderhook Reformed Church Family and Friends,

       Thanksgiving Food Baskets will be given again to families who use the Valatie Ecumenical Food Pantry and request one. The baskets will contain everything needed for Thanksgiving dinner: turkey, potatoes, corn, green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and brownies. The Pantry buys all food items in bulk, and if you would like to help financially, checks may be made payable to “Kinderhook Reformed Church” with “Thanksgiving Baskets” on the memo line and dropped into the offering plate. Thank you in advance for any help you are able to give. Any monies or food items left over after the baskets are distributed will be put into the pantry account or onto the pantry shelves.

                             Sincerely, Jean S. Norton, for the Valatie Ecumenical Food Pantry

~KRC SANCTUARY DECORATION DECEMBER 1 ~

Decorating the church for the Christmas Season will be done beginning at 9:00 am  Thursday, December 1, under the direction of Jim and Bonnie Dunham.  All are invited to offer their services to the ministry of beautifying our sanctuary in celebration of the birth of our Lord.

~CANDLELIGHT NIGHT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9~

KRC will sponsor its annual Candlelight Night Open House 6 – 8:30 p.m. Friday, December 9, in conjunction with Kinderhook Village’s Candlelight Walk celebration.  KRC’s Open House will feature tours of our beautiful sanctuary -  decorated with lighted garlands, candles, poinsettias, the lovely Chrismon tree, and the nearly-life-size Fontanini Nativity - together with Christmas music, cookie decorating, refreshments, and community fellowship in the Fellowship Room. Volunteers to assist, as well as donations of buffet items and Christmas paper products, will be much-appreciated.  Please sign up on the sheet at the back table, or contact a member of the Outreach Ministry if you are able to help with this ministry.

  ANGEL TREE GIFT PROGRAM~

       The Angel Tree Program, founded by ex-convict, Mary Kay Beard, has been part of Prison Fellowship's work for 35 years.  This ministry has served millions of children and brought the love of Christ, as well as reconciliation, to countless homes during the Christmas season.                                                             

      GIFT NEEDS FOR ANGEL TREE’S CHILDREN OF PRISONERS WILL SOON BE DISPLAYED ON ANGEL CUT-OUTS ON A CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE CHURCH’S MAIN ENTRANCE. Each angel will contain very specific age, size, and gift-request information for a particular child to assist donors as they gift-shop.  Please consider taking an angel when the tree goes up.  Your gifts will bring Christmas joy to those Christ blessed and of whom he said, “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

       Volunteers will also be needed to participate in the delivery of the gifts to local Angel Tree families. Please see Sara Hartman at church, or call 828-6368 or 917-538-6576, if you would be willing to participate in the gift-delivery ministry.

~ CONCERTS IN THE VILLAGE 2016-2017 SEASON CONTINUES IN FEBRUARY ~        

       On February 12^th CITV returns to The School/Jack Shainman Gallery with 20^th Century Music for Strings and Women’s Voices, including works by Vaughan Williams, Britten, Saint-Saëns, Poulenc and Foote. The women of the Broad Street Chorale will perform, along with soprano Amanda Boyd, soloist in Britten’s Les Illuminations. On April 2^nd at Kinderhook Reformed Church Masterpieces from the Classical Age will feature Mozart’s magnificent Mass in c minor, as well as Haydn’s virtuosic Sinfonia Concertante for which the soloists will be principals of the Broad Street Orchestra: violinist Elizabeth Silver, cellist Erica Pickhardt, oboist Karen Hosmer, and bassoonist Cornelia McGiver.

~ELVES’ CHRISTMAS SALE - ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, VALATIE~

  Craft Items, Gently Used Gifts, Raffle, Bake Sale

   TODAY, Nov. 20 - Following 7:30 and 10:30 services

~MUITZESKILL REFORMED CHURCH CHRISTMAS BAZAAR DECEMBER 3~

The Reformed Dutch Church of Schodack at Muitzeskill will be holding its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The church is located at the intersection of Schodack Landing Road & Muitzeskill Road in Schodack Landing.  The Bazaar will include new and gently used Christmas decorations, cards, gifts, books, and a Luncheon Cafe and Bake Sale.  Hope to see you there!

~PLEASE NOTE WORSHIP SERVICE CHANGES FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4~

       The 8:30 am Early Communion Worship Service will not meet December 4, but will combine with the 10 am Communion Worship Service and Children’s Sunday School.  Rev. Willem Nel, brother of Elize Visser and missionary at "Volta a Biblia" near Chokwe in Mozambique, will be preaching for us. Both Willem and his wife, Carol, are fluent in Portuguese and English, and Carol is in the process of “catching up” on her Afrikaans. 90 % of their ministry, however, is in Portuguese. Carol, who had been on our prayer list for several months in support of her recovery from breast cancer, is currently in her hometown of Portland, Oregon.

     The 9:45 am Sunday Bible study will be in recess December 4, and will resume Sunday, December 11.

Tim Falsen and crew have been installing and painting the new trim sections around the tower clock, and installing a drip edge at the middle level of trim.

Workmen are due to arrive tomorrow to begin the roofing phase of the restoration. 

~NOTE OF THANKS – STOP HUNGER NOW~

Dear Friends of Stop Hunger Now,

       Thanks you for your gift of $2,666.54 received on October 21, 2016.  You play a crucial role in our ability to distribute food and other life-changing aid to people around the world who suffer from hunger, and we are truly grateful.  With your help, we have shipped more than 200 million meals to schools, orphanages, vocational training programs, medical centers, and other development programs around the world.  Many of those 200 million meals have gone to school feeding programs like the one at St. Andre School in Haiti.  The meals the children receive at school are a vital step in their paths toward a successful life. 

       “I am really happy because sometimes this is the only meal I get for the whole day,” said Jonathan Lambert, a 6^th grader at St. Andre.  “My parents are not able to buy me food.”

       Because of you, Jonathan is able to eat, learn, and grow.  His grades improved after he began eating meals at school, and he has more energy to study and focus on his schoolwork.  You have made a difference for Jonathan and children like him around the world. Thank you!

       Keep up with local events by visiting www.stophungernow.org, or by contacting your local program staff.  Please accept our sincere appreciation for sharing in our vision of a world without hunger.

Thank you so much and warmest regards,

Rod Brooks, President and CEO

and Emily

 ~STEWARDSHIP REPORT~

     Our weekly offering this past Sunday of $2,611 was again just short of our weekly minimum need of $3,000.  Many thanks to our regular contributors who “doubled up” on their giving to cover the Sundays they missed. Stewardship Ministry continues to urge everyone to give prayerful consideration to how they might adjust their giving to help keep income at a level that will meet daily operating expenses.   

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.

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.
• Rev. Paige Convis, KRC’s associate pastor, as she fulfills her ministerial duties as full-time pastor to the Muitzeskill and Stuyvesant Reformed Churches.
• KRC ministries, programs & projects and those planning & administering them: KRC’s Consistory; KRC’s administrative ministries; Adult and Children’s Sunday School; KRC’s Youth Group; 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-elect Donald Trump, 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.
• 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.     
• Rob, a friend of Glenn & Cricket Warren, hospitalized with congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and a kidney problem. Please pray for wisdom in his doctors and  for a healthy recovery. Please also pray for Rob's wife and caregiver, Judy.
• Lyn, who is in the final stages of a fatal brain disease, and for her husband, Rick and their family. Lyn is the grandmother of the 6-month-old boy on our prayer list who had been very ill, but is doing very well now.
• Alex Jennings, grandson of Alan and Noreen Dick, as he recovers from surgery to repair his clavicle, broken in two places.  Please pray for relief from pain and for a speedy and complete healing for Alex.
• a family Lori Kolb-Speer is working with who must move by the end of the month and needs to find a 4 – 5 bedroom house in the ICC school district.  Please pray that the right house becomes available for them, and that God gives this family peace.
• Karina Speer, who injured her foot and is still in a pressure boot for at least 5 more weeks.
• Susan Lamont, recovering from a recent, very difficult abdominal surgery complicated by an infection and blood clot.  Praise God that biopsy results returned negative, and please continue to pray for speedy and complete healing, peace, and reassurance for Susan during this trying time.  Cards and notes of encouragement may be sent to her at 65 North Street, Catskill, NY 12414.
• Jaheim, Angel Tree child whose mom has 5 years yet to serve in prison and who, along with his twin brother, is in his grandmother’s care, which includes church attendance.  Jaheim needs much prayer as no school has been willing to accept him due to behavioral issues.  Please pray for God to open a door to a school with a born-again Christian on the faculty who will take him under their wing and mentor him.
• The mother-in-law of an Angel Tree parent is having foot surgery in January and has asked if anyone has a knee-walker that she could borrow for a couple of months.
• Donna Scalera, struggling with difficulty in her battle with cancer.
• others battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Paul Osborn; Jeff Peter; Mark; Jay, co-worker of Deborah Spaulding; Angie, friend of Sara Hartman; Ann; Jill; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler.
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Merrill Johnson; Chris Nel; Dina; Mike Smith; Loren Speer; Vickie Metzger; Chrissy Blackwood; Alexandria Noxon; Eddie; Patti Varga’s Uncle Martin; Jay Rippel; Fred Borelli; Mark; Virginia Rothermel; Maggie; Art Gross; Angie Rivera; Susan Clause; Stacey Baker; Harriet Stockhoff; Ruth Edge; Jean Skipper; Floyd Haber; Alan Dick; Paul Varga; Liz Carroll.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Cydney Rippel, Carly Rippel, Greg Clause Jr., and others as they face the challenges of a higher level of education or seek a career; Vince Beaudoin; the alarming epidemic of  heroin addicts.
• those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill: Nancy Stewart; Rick Scalera.
• those traveling.
• residence-bound KRC family, Murray Leonardson; Joan Van Alstyne; George Clowe.

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.
• Donna Scalera’s presence in the Early Worship Service this past Sunday!
• the good news that Kay Haber's biopsy returned negative she will not require surgery.
• the good report that Virginia Rothermel continues to do well. Notes and cards of encouragement may be sent to  her at 26 Eichybush Road, Kinderhook, NY 12106’
• His provision for all of 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.

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

PULPIT FLOWERS

                                                                                                                    HAPPY NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY!

                                        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     Courtney Wood – 784-2134                                

                          KRC Sexton                 KRC Cemetery Supervisor        

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

                                     COMING EVENTS

Today, November 20

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

       9:45 am  New Bible-based study continues

           “I Am a Church Member – Discovering the Attitudes that Make the Difference”

     10:00 am  Worship Service and Children’s Sunday School

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

     New Study Continues: "Ephesians - Discovering Your Identity and Purpose in Christ"      

Mon, November 21

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

“A Study Book for Serious Students of Scripture.”

       7:00 pm  New members’ class meets @the parsonage.

Tues, November 22

       7:00 pm  KRC Youth Group meets @KRC

Wed, November 23, Thanksgiving Eve

       7:00 pm  Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at the newly-built Seventh        

Sun,  November 28

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

       9:45 am  New Bible-based study continues

           “I Am a Church Member – Discovering the Attitudes that Make the Difference”

     10:00 am  Worship Service and Children’s Sunday School

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

     New Study Continues: "Ephesians - Discovering Your Identity and Purpose in Christ"      

Mon, November 28

        6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Sun,   December 4  Please Note: 8:30 am Early Communion Worship will not     

            meet December 4, but will combine with the 10 am Communion Worship.   

            The 9:45 Bible study will be in recess and will resume Sunday, December 11.

      10:00 am  Communion Worship and Children’s Sunday School

           Rev. Willem Nel, missionary at "Volta a Biblia" near Chokwe in             

             Mozambique, preaching. Rev. Nel is the brother of Elize Visser.

      11:15 am  2017 KRC budget presentation & voting for new Consistory officers

Thur, December 1

        9:00 am  Decoration of the KRC sanctuary for the Christmas season

Fri,  December 9

        6:00 -  8:30 pm  KRC’s annual Candlelight Night Open House   

Servers Next Sunday, November 27, 2016

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

       Greeter(s):  Joy Bertram