KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, OCTOBER 16, 2016

REV. RUDY VISSER, PASTOR

“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Rev. Tom McCrossan, Guest Preacher

Director of the Men's Shelter and Guest Services, and Assistant Chaplain,

City Mission of Schenectady

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                                                                                             Hebrews 13:1-8 (p. 853)

  Message                                                                                                     "Don't Lose Heart."

  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, Bob Dreier, Phil Hurst, Dick Silvano, Andrew Welcome

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

Flowers are given today by Jane Deane in loving memory of her parents,

Elliott and Helen Smith.

Guest Organist, David Smith

  Prelude                                     En forme de légend                                        Eugène Gigout

  Welcome, Announcements, and God's Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  Psalm 34:1-3, 8-9, 17-19, NLT

I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.

       I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are discouraged take heart.

Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

       Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!

Let the LORD’s people show him reverence,

for those who honor him will have all they need.

       The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help.

       He rescues them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

       The righteous face many troubles,

       but the LORD rescues them from each and every one.

ALL: Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

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

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Prayer for Our Worship

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

  Prayer of Confession  (Responsive)

Minister:  Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily bless and magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.

People:  Holy God, you have called us to follow in the way of your risen Son, and to care for those who are our companions, not only with words of comfort, but with acts of love.  Help us to be true friends of all in this world Christ loved so much he died for.  You walk behind, beside, beyond; you shepherd us.  Forgive and restore us.  Break through the disillusionment and despair clouding our vision, so that, with wonder at your mercy and love, we may find our way and journey on as messengers of your good news.  Amen.

[Silent Confession]

Assurance of Pardon  (Responsive)  Psalm 103:8, 10-12

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 

Thanks be to God!

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Children’s Sermon and Prayer of Blessing  (Unison)

Loving Father, transform our children into the likeness of your living Son, Jesus Christ. Guard them from the evils of this world, and renew them day by day.  Bring them ever closer to Christ’s perfection, and clothe them in his righteousness.   Amen.

  Scripture                                                                                             Hebrews 13:1-8 (p. 853)

  Message                                                                                                     "Don't Lose Heart."

  Prayer of Thanks

Celebrating God

  Offering/Offertory                       Moderato in D major                                Eugène Gigout

  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)

Almighty God, your goodness has created us, your bounty has sustained us, your discipline has chastened us, your patience has borne with us, and your love has redeemed us.  Give us a heart to love and serve you, and enable us to show our thankfulness for all your goodness by devoting ourselves and our resources to your service.  Cheerfully, we submit in all things to your blessed will. Amen.

  Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn of Aspiration and Hope #539                      I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

*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                            Voluntary No. 7 in e minor, op. VII                         John Stanley 

~UPDATE – PLANT AND BAKE SALE~

KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH’s October 8 plant sale raised $157 to benefit the KRC Youth Group's 2017 REACH mission trip., and the bake sale raised $227 to benefit the October 15 Stop Hunger Now meal-packing event. Praise God for and many thanks to all those who organized and supported these fundraising efforts.

~BBQ UPDATE FROM THE CEMETERY COMMITTEE~

Praises and thanks to our Lord that the recent BROOKS BAR-B-CUE/dessert sale/community outreach, sponsored by Kinderhook Reformed Church Cemetery, more than met expectations.  $4,075 was raised, all of which will go toward operation and maintenance of the cemetery grounds, an increasingly costly ministry to our community. The Cemetery Committee wishes to thank all those who helped in making this important event a great success again this year.  

~MESSAGE FROM CHURCH FAMILY MINISTRY~

There are a number of items from the church kitchen on a table along the north wall of the Fellowship Room. We believe that many of them have been left behind by people who made donations of food for church functions.  Please look them over and take back home anything that belongs to you. After a few weeks, those items that have not been claimed will be disposed of in a sale or given to charity.

 ~STEWARDSHIP REPORT~

Our weekly offering this past Sunday was $1,662 – well under our weekly need of $3,000. 

Income-to-Date:  $136,749                Expenses-to-Date:  $137,213

Many thanks to those who have recently made substantial gifts toward bringing our income more into line with expenses, and 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.

       At 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 29^th at the Kinderhook Village Hall, Concerts in the Village will present the Broad Street Orchestra in the first program of CITV’s seventh season. Founded in 2010, CITV includes the Broad Street Chorale, the Broad Street Orchestra, and the Broad Street Chamber Players, often joined by guest soloists. The late afternoon concert will feature works of Bach, Handel, Mozart and Haydn.

       According to David Smith, CITV’s Artistic Director and Conductor, “this special event will be an exciting public re-introduction of an acoustically ideal, but nearly forgotten performing space. In a region with few midsize locations suitable for classical music performance, this is an exciting find! I know our concert will take great advantage of this space.”

       The all-professional Broad Street Orchestra will open the October 29^th program with one of Bach’s best-known works, the colorful first Brandenburg Concerto, a feast of instrumental virtuosity. Handel’s brilliantly imaginative Concerto Grosso in e minor follows.

       Following intermission the program moves from the Baroque to the Classical period, with two dramatic concert arias by Mozart. For these CITV’s guest artist will be the outstanding soprano Kameryn Lueng. The concert continues with Haydn’s early Symphony 22 (“The Philosopher”). With pairs of both English and French horns, this masterpiece guarantees a very spirited conclusion to the concert.

       CITV’s enlarged 2016-2017 season continues with Royal Handel on November 13^th at Kinderhook Reformed Church. Included will be Handel’s most celebratory works for chorus, orchestra, and soloists. 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.

       Suggested donation for all performances - $20.  For further information and assured seating go to www.concertsinthevillage.org or call 758-6869.

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; Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; 1st Friday, and other outreach programs. Pray especially for the Stop Hunger Now campaign and upcoming October meal-packing event.
• 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. Pray especially that God’s hand will direct our nation’s upcoming Presidential and other government elections.
• our military men & women, their families, and friends, that they may know God’s presence, protection, and peace, especially Jason Lansing, being deployed to service 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 Tabitha, family, and friends grieving the death of husband and father, Jeff; Craig Wood, family, and friends grieving the sudden loss of Craig’s wife; Jayne Ferguson, her mom, her siblings, and other family members and friends grieving the loss of Jayne’s father, Dave Peterson.
• 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.     
• Vickie Metzger, mother of Nancy Baker, recently given the definitive diagnosis of legally blind. Please pray that Vickie will open up to available services, and for Nancy's and Jim's continued resilience provided by the grace of God.
• Sara Schubert, recovering at home from recent foot surgery.
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Merrill Johnson; Chrissy Blackwood; Alexandria Noxon; Eddie; Loran Speer; Patti Varga’s Uncle Martin; Jay Rippel; Fred Borelli; Mark; Virginia Rothermel; Vicki Smith; Maggie; Art Gross; Angie Rivera; Susan Clause; Stacey Baker; Harriet Stockhoff; Ruth Edge; Merrill Johnson; Jean Skipper; Floyd Haber; Alan Dick; Paul Varga; Liz Carroll.
• Donna Scalera, hospitalized and struggling to get through medical complications and another difficult chemotherapy regimen.
• others battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Mark; Jay, Co-worker of Deborah Spaulding; Angie, friend of Sara Hartman; 6-month-old grandson of Rick; Ann; Jill; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Wisdom for the Lamont Family as they move into a new residence Cydney Rippel, Carly Rippel, Greg Clause Jr., and others as they face the challenges of a higher level of education or seek a career; the Lamont Family; Vince Beaudoin; the alarming wave of new, young heroin addicts.

• those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill, especially Nancy Stewart and Rick Scalera.
• those traveling, especially Ainsley, granddaughter of Alan and Noreen Dick, as she travels to and from England.
• residence-bound KRC family, Murray Leonardson; Joan Van Alstyne; George Clowe.

XREMEMBER 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.
• the good news that Aaron and Susan Clause have their own transportation after several months of doing without following their car accident.
• the good report that Laurie (Dunham) Maul’s last aneurysm checkup showed that everything was fine and the "coil" is doing its job.
• the good report that Virginia Rothermel is doing better. Ginny thanks the congregation for the cards and messages of encouragement she received, and she hopes to be back in church as the cooler fall weather sets in.
• 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

                                     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 X