KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICES NOVEMBER 23, 2014

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

A warm welcome to visitors.  We would like to get to know you better  

and 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 and the Lord’s Greeting

  Morning Prayer

*Morning Praise                                                                                       Shout to the Lord

  Scripture                                                                                                Psalm 100 (p. 427)

  Sermon                                                                “Thanksgiving on the Eve of Advent”

  Prayer of Blessing

  Offering  

  Intercessory Prayer

*Closing Hymn                                                                                 How Great Is Our God

*Benediction

10 A.M. CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

All are invited to enjoy refreshments and fellowship downstairs in the Fellowship Room following today’s Worship service.

Ushers:  Jim Dunham, Fred Hickman, Barry Knights, Gary Leggett

Greeter(s):  Will and Jayne Ferguson                       Preschool Nursery available downstairs.

  Prelude  

  Announcements and God’s Greeting

  Drawing Near To God  

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)

Christ is calling, inviting, urging, and wooing: Come and follow me!

Let us set aside our worry and fear, our busyness,

and competing agendas to respond to Christ's call.

Christ offers us the opportunity to walk with him,

to come to know his heart more deeply day by day.

Nothing is more precious than opening our hearts to God,

who fills us with love.

Christ grants us the privilege of working alongside him

in our Father's business.

There is no higher call and no greater joy

than making a difference in the kingdom of God.

Come, let us worship the One who calls us to follow!

We worship in joy, in gratitude, in praise:

Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

*Hymn of Praise #317                                                All People That on Earth Do Dwell

  Call to Confession

Let us come before God with contrite and open hearts, striving to be honest in

admitting our shortcomings, and open to receiving forgiveness so that we might let go and move on.

  Prayer of Confession  (Responsive)

We acknowledge the times when we have worked hard

and fallen short of the mark.
       We regret the times when we did not try at all.
We are sorry for the times when we didn't try to make things better.
       And sorrier still when we made it difficult

       for someone else to work for justice.

We look back with regret at the occasions

when we didn't offer praise for work well done.
       And we ask forgiveness for the times when we belittled

       and scorned someone for doing what we should have done.
We see now the opportunities missed

when we could have given our time to help others.
       And we are sorrier still that we did not even give of our money

       so someone else could help in our stead.
We regret the times when we looked the other way.
      And we regret even more when we were the ones committing the wrong.
In these moments of silence, examine your hearts,

and confess to God your shortcomings.

[Moment of Silent Prayer]

  Assurance of Pardon

Listen! Hear this good news: Our God is a God of mercy and love. In the name of Christ, your sins are forgiven. In response to this gift of grace, make your pledge to do better as you follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Amen. 

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Children’s Message and Prayer of Blessing  (Unison)

God of all creation, who sustains and watches over the lives of these, your children, bless each of them with a heart of thanksgiving and praise for your enduring love, and everlasting faithfulness.  Amen.  

  Prayer for Illumination

  Scripture                                                                                                Psalm 100 (p. 427)

  Sermon                                                                “Thanksgiving on the Eve of Advent”

  Prayer of Thanks

    Giving Ourselves for God’s Glory

  Offering and Offertory,

     Duet, Nancy Baker and Deborah Spaulding     Thanksgiving Medley    arr. Hal Wright

*Doxology and Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Let us give out of gratitude and not self-satisfaction. Let us give out of love, and rejoice that we are able, quietly and faithfully, to help another. Make it so, loving God. Amen. 

  Prayer Requests and Pastoral Prayer

*Hymn of Rejoicing #108                                                  Come, Christians, Join to Sing

*Blessing, Benediction, and Response Hymn                     By the Gift of God’s Grace

By the gift of God’s grace may your burdens be light, and your heart with his love be aglow.

May your spirit be glad, may your soul be at rest,

and may Christ grant you peace as you go.  Amen.

  Postlude

Donations for poinsettias to decorate our pulpit area

are now being accepted and are greatly appreciated.   Contributions may be placed in the offering plate

clearly marked for this purpose.

~FAMILY CONTRIBUTION REPORTS READY FOR PICK-UP~

2014 Family Contribution Reports, January 1 through November 16,

are now available on the back table in alphabetical order.

Please pick yours up today.

CELEBRATE THE SEASON!

~ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE NOVEMBER 26~

The United Methodist Church of Niverville will host the Ichabod Crane Council’s Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve Service at 7 p.m. THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, November 26.  All are invited to share in the blessing of this Thanksgiving Worship.

~KRC SANCTUARY DECORATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2~

Decorating the church for the Christmas Season will be done from 9 am - 12 noon Tuesday, December 2, 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.

~CCRM MEN’S and WOMEN’S GIFT PROGRAMS ~

       LET’S SHARE OUR BLESSINGS and bring some warmth and caring to many who might not otherwise have much “Holiday Cheer” in these difficult times.  KRC is again be collecting gifts for homeless men, and Capital City Rescue Mission will distribute these gifts at the Mission’s community Christmas dinners.  In a gallon-size zip lock bag, place the following 5 items: (1) two new pairs men’s warm socks; (2) one knitted hat; (3) one pair of LG or XLG mittens or gloves – no MEDIUM please; (4) a personal care item or pair of items such as toothbrush/paste, deodorant, shaving gel/razor, nail clipper; and (5) a non-perishable snack or treat that will not crush or melt - no peanuts or chocolate, please.  Wrap with festive paper (no bows), tape securely, mark LG or XLG on the outside of package, and return to the church collection boxes by SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7.

       Outreach Ministry is also collecting ladies TOILETRIES and COSMETICS for the CCRM women. Toiletries requested include  hand lotion, Chapstick, shower gel, shampoo, shower mist, perfumes, colognes, and fancy soaps;  Cosmetics - all in neutral colors - include  lipstick, lip gloss, eye liner, blush, mascara, or anything that would make a lady feel a little special.  Baskets will be placed in convenient locations in the church for collecting individual items.  AFTER SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, the toiletries and cosmetics will be delivered to the mission, where Christmas gift bags will be made up for the ladies.

ANGEL TREE GIFT PROGRAM~

     Gift needs for Angel Tree’s children of prisoners are now displayed on angel cut-outs on a Christmas tree in the church’s main entrance. Each angel contains very specific age, size, and gift-request information for a particular child to assist donors as they gift-shop.  Please consider taking an angel.  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, or call 828-6368 or 917-538-6576, if you are willing to participate in the gift-delivery ministry.

~CHRISTMAS TEA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6~

Bunny Otterbeck has extended an invitation to the women of KRC to attend Christian Community Church's Christmas Tea Saturday, December 6, from 2 - 4 p.m.  Libby Little will be speaking, so mark your calendar and plan to attend.  You will not want to miss the spiritual blessing and inspiration of God that Christians the world over have experienced through Libby's ministry.  We have been asked to give a count of how many will be coming from our church, as a number of other churches have also been invited. If you would like to attend the tea, a sign-up sheet will be available on the back table of the sanctuary, or you may speak directly to Patti Varga who has agreed to be KRC's contact person for this event.

~MUITZESKILL REFORMED CHURCH CHRISTMAS BAZAAR DECMBER 6~

The Reformed Dutch Church of Schodack at Muitzeskill will be holding its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, December 6, 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 Christmas Bazaar will include new and gently used Christmas decorations, cards, gifts, and books, as well as a Luncheon Cafe and a Bake Sale.  For more information, call the Church office at 732-7500.

~CANDLELIGHT NIGHT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12E

       KRC will sponsor its annual Candlelight Night Open House 6 – 8:30 p.m. Friday, December 12, 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. Refreshment buffet will include hot dogs, cookies, cake, candy, hot drinks, and eggnog. Volunteers to assist, as well as donations of buffet items and Christmas paper products, will be much appreciated.  Please watch for a sign-up sheet on the back table in the near future, but feel free to contact a member of the Outreach Ministry if you are able to help with this ministry.

       The hay wagon ride will be making a second stop at the Fairpoint parking lot this year to enable people to visit KRC and the art gallery next door more easily. In order to do this, at least two volunteers are needed at all times to assist people on and off the wagon over the 2-hour period it will operate, and this will help reduce the cost of providing the 2^nd stop.  Jim Dunham has volunteered to take one half-hour shift of duty, and has told KBPA that KRC will try to line up 3 other volunteers, each to take a half-hour shift.  This will provide the same service over two hours as one person alone would provide, and KBPA will recruit the additional assistant(s) needed. If you are willing to work a half-hour (or more) at the wagon stop, please contact Jim.      

~SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PAGEANT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14S

As part of our Worship Service Sunday, December 14, KRC’s Sunday School children will be celebrating the birth of Jesus with the presentation of their Annual Christmas Pageant.  (Snow Date is Sunday, December 21.)

~LESSONS AND CAROLS 4 P.M. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21~

      Directed by David Smith, Lessons and Carols is a worship service celebrating the birth of Jesus, and will be presented at 4 p.m. Sunday, December 21, at KRC. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books, and the Gospels, along with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns, and choir music. The first Lessons and Carols was held on Christmas Eve, 1918, at King's College, Cambridge, England, and has been broadcast from there by the BBC to millions of listeners around the world each Christmas Eve since 1931. The order of worship was adapted from an order prepared 38 years earlier by Edward White Benson, Bishop of Truro. Tradition says that the bishop organized a 10 pm service in Cornwall on Christmas Eve, 1880, in a temporary wooden shed serving as his cathedral.

      A Christmas gift to our community from the KRC family, Lessons and Carols is open to all.

~SALVATION ARMY LOOKING FOR BELL-RINGERS~

If you don’t mind the cold weather of winter, this might be the ministry for you this holiday season.  Also, the hours spent doing this count toward  completing community service requirements for anyone who may need them.  If you would like to volunteer, call 567-6412.

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

• those who do not know Christ, or who are struggling in their faith.
• KRC programs & projects and those planning & administering them: adult and children’s Sunday School; KRC’s youth; small group ministries; adult Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; outreach programs. 
• KRC’s Consistory members and administrative ministries, chairpersons, and supporting members.
• our military men & women, their families, and friends, that they may know God’s presence, protection, and peace.
• survivors of warfare, terrorism, violence, and natural and other disasters worldwide, especially those in Syria, Iraq, other areas of the Middle East, and in our own country, that they may be blessed with God’s reassurance that he is in control.
• our state and national leaders, that God will grant them the leadership skills, wisdom, and the personal protection needed to govern effectively and safely.
• those, especially children, suffering poverty and hunger; abuse; exploitation; neglect; family hostility.
• containment of the ebola virus, and for the thousands who are suffering from or have lost family members and friends to this disease.
• family and friends grieving the death of Brittny Shook after a long battle with cancer.  Remember especially Lisa and Brittny's 5-year-old daughter. 
• Dick Van Alstyne, recovering at home following successful partial knee-replacement surgery Monday. Pray also for Jeff, Dick’s son, as he assists in his father’s recovery.
• Linda Moran, recovering from abdominal surgery this past Wednesday.
• those battling or recovering from cancer: Andy; Lucy B. and Rodrigo; Zoe Covey; Jean; Edward Giordano; Glen Simmons; Karen; 2-year-old Logan; Sandy; Bridget; Charlie Ropollo; Donna Scalera.
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; chronically ill; or in hospice care: Carl, Susan Lamont’s cousin; Randall; Karen Warren; Kara Ennis; Paul Varga; Jackie and her sister Barbara; Brother Arnold, Shaker friend of Suzy Nieman; Alan Dick; Doris Schmeider; Maureen Mooney; Jane Smith; Blanche Rogers; Baby Ellie LaTorre; Liz Carroll; Ruth Edge; Laurie (Dunham) Maul; Florence Rivera.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Craig Johnson, struggling through a difficult and stressful family crisis; Holly and Marc Morales; those facing the challenges of their college education - pray that God will bless them with wisdom in all of the many choices, and decisions that they are facing; Susan Lamont and kids, settling in to their new home; Cliff, desperately in need of prayers; Christians everywhere who are suffering persecution; Libby Little.
• those who are traveling,  especially Thanksgiving travelers; and Elize, Annake, and Liezl Visser, flying to South Africa this coming Wednesday.
• reassurance and peace for our loved ones who are nearing the close of this life; those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill.
• Residence-bound members Gordie Van Buren, Murray Leonardson, and Joan Van Alstyne.

REMEMBER TO THANK & PRAISE GOD FOR

• Pastor Rudy Visser, our Spirit-filled minister and leader of vision.
• 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.
• 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, church ministries, and committees; teach Sunday School; lead Youth Group, Bible studies, and prayer group; organize and carry out special church events; prepare food, serve, and clean up for coffee hours, receptions, and dinners; and who are always ready to offer whatever help and support they can to those in need.

HAPPY NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY!

Fred Hickman (3^rd), Ted Call (11^th), Joy Bertram (14^th), Claudia March (22^nd),

 Joan Van Alstyne (26^th)

COMING EVENTS

Today, November 23  CCRM and Angel Tree Gift Programs Continue     

         8:30 am  Early Worship Service

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

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

Tues., November 25

                 7:00 pm  KRC Youth Group meets        

Wed., November 26

         7:00 pm   Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve Service

                   United Methodist Church, Niverville

Mon., December 1

         6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Tues., December 2

                 9 am – Noon   Decoration of church sanctuary        

Thur., December 4

   9:00 am  Small Group meets @ KRC

Please join us as we continue our Stonecroft Bible Study,

Living in God’s Will – A Guide to Decision-Making

       10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

Fri.,   December 5  First Friday Potluck Supper, KRC Fellowship Hall

Sat.,   December 6 

       10 am – 2 pm  Muitzeskill Reformed Church Christmas Bazaar

         2 pm – 4 pm  Christian Community Church Christmas Tea

                                    Libby Little, Guest Speaker

Sun.,  December 7   Deadline for CCRM Gift Donations

         8:30 am  Early Communion Worship Service

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

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

Mon., December 8

          6:30 pm  Consistory meets

Wed., December 10

        11:30 am  Columbia-Greene Women’s Luncheon, Coxsackie

Fri.,   December 12

          5:30 – 8:30 pm   KRC Annual Candlelight Night Open House

Sun., December 14   Sunday School Christmas Program

Sun., December 21  Snow Date for Sunday School Christmas Program

          4:00 pm  KRC Annual Lessons and Carols Worship Service  

Wed., December 24

          7:00 pm  KRC Annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service 

 Servers Next Sunday, November 30, 2014

       Ushers:  Jim Baker, Bob Dreier, Dick Silvano

       Greeter(s):