Kinderhook Reformed Church

KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE, OCTOBER 18, 2015

 “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 and Morning Prayer

*Morning Praise

  Scripture                                                                                                Mark 8:34-38  (p. 714)

  Message                                                            “To Move Out of Ourselves and Into 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 refreshments and fellowship downstairs today following worship.

Ushers today are Jim Dunham, Keith Garwood, Barry Knights, Gary Leggett.

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

Elliott and Helen Smith.

Preschool Nursery facilities available downstairs.

  Prelude                                           Arabesque, op. 31                                         Louis Vierne        

  Announcements,

  Welcome, and God’s Greeting

Drawing Near To God

    Call to Worship  (Responsive)  Based on 1 Peter 1:15-22

We are invited into God’s presence

       To seek His holiness, because He is holy.

We enter God’s holy house

       To worship Christ, the Lamb without Blemish,

       chosen before the foundation of the world.

We come into God’s holy sanctuary
       To praise Christ, who has redeemed us with his precious blood,

       and whom God has raised from the death of the cross and glorified.

In word and in song, let us exalt God and Christ, his only Son,

       through whom we have the gifts of truth, purity, love, faith, and hope!

*Hymn (Insert)                                                      I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art

*For those who are able, please stand.

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession

Acts 3:19 reads, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”    

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

Compassionate God, you have loved us with unfailing, self-giving mercy, but we have not loved you as we should. You constantly call us, but we do not listen or respond readily. You ask us to love and to share our faith, but caught up in our own concerns and reluctance, we walk away from the unlovely and the needy and are indifferent to the faithless. We wink at evil, tolerate prejudice and injustice, and succumb to greed. God of grace, we repent in spirit and in truth, admit our sin, and seek forgiveness. Strengthen our resolve to follow after Jesus Christ, who suffered the agony of the cross to redeem and renew us. Amen.

  Assurance of Pardon  (Responsive)  Based on Ephesians 1:3 - 8 

God chose us in Christ, before the creation of the world,  to be holy and blameless  in his sight. In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us in love and with all wisdom and understanding. 

              Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Amen.

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Children’s Message and Prayer of Blessing  (Unison)

Lord Jesus, lead our children to trust not in their own good works, but only in the grace received through your suffering and death on the cross for their salvation.  Assure them that through faith in you, they are righteous in the sight of God and will enjoy abundant life with you for all eternity.  Amen.

  Prayer for Illumination

  Scripture                                                                                                Mark 8:34-38  (p. 714)

  Message                                                            “To Move Out of Ourselves and Into God”

  Prayer of Blessing

Celebrating God

  Offertory and Offering                               Berceuse, op. 31                             Louis Vierne

  Doxology (p. 809) and Offertory Prayer  (Unison)

God of glory, receive these gifts and the offering of our lives. As Jesus was lifted up from death into the light and life of your presence,  draw us likewise to your heart in the midst of this world, that all creation may be brought from bondage to freedom, from darkness to light, and from death to life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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

*Hymn #213                                                                     When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

*Benediction, Blessing, and Response Hymn           My Friends May You Grow in Grace

  Postlude                                 Menuet gothique, op. 25                               Léon Boëllmann

                                                                 ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS CONTINUES NEW STUDY

~NEW BIBLE STUDY GROUPS TO BEGIN~

A number of people in our KRC family have expressed interest in forming new Bible study groups.  For those who wish to take advantage of this opportunity, a survey sheet is available on the back table of the sanctuary for indicating interest and noting days and times convenient for you to participate. 

~“FIRST FRIDAY” PLANNING COMMITTEE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS~

The First Friday Planning Committee is looking for volunteers to assist in arranging KRC’s free community dinners held on the first Friday of each month.  Please consider joining in this outreach ministry and helping to make it an on-going success. Just contact one of the current committee members, Amy Deweerd, Maureen Mooney, Tana Thompson, or Patti Varga if you are willing to serve.

~WEEKLY STEWARDSHIP UPDATE~

Last week's offering of $2,108 fell nearly $900 below our weekly need of  $3,000. This shortfall will be readily overcome if regular contributors who were not able to be in church last week remember to “double up” on their giving this week. 

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 of at least $3,000

 in order to meet expenses and avoid further deficits.

~CITV PERFORMS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, AT KRC~

Sunday, November 8^th at Kinderhook Reformed Church (3:00 p.m.)

Alexander’s Feast, or The Power of Musick  (c. 1751) 

Vocal and instrumental splendor combine

in one of Handel’s most colorful oratorios.

HAPPY OCTOBER BIRTHDAY!

Bobby Bailey (4^th), Bonnie Dunham (6^th),

Susan Patterson (14^th), Jean Wildermuth (15^th), Aiden Visagie (18^th),

Will Patterson (21^st), Amy Clinton (22^nd), Rudy Visser (27^th), Austin Bailey (28^th), Barbara Vosburgh (28^th), Derick Latorre (29^th)

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

          INTER NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH  SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2015

• those who do not know Christ or who are struggling in their faith. Pray especially for Amber, that she will come to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior. 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
• KRC programs & projects and those planning & administering them: KRC’s youth group; small group ministries; adult Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; First Friday, and other outreach programs. 
• KRC’s Consistory members and administrative ministries.
• 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, especially Jason, beginning his military career with some anxiety, that he will be blessed with God's protection, strength, and reassurance; Tom Eastman, fulfilling a tour of military duty in Afghanistan.
• those throughout the world suffering from natural and other hardships and tragedies: earthquakes, famine, and other climate-related disasters; economic instability; poverty, hunger, and poor health; political oppression and unrest; warfare and terrorism. Pray especially for the thousands of refugees flooding into European countries from the war-torn Middle East, and for wisdom and compassionate spirits for the leaders and institutions of these countries as they attempt to cope with the overwhelming magnitude of this situation.
• those grieving the death of loved ones, especially: the Kennedy Family, grieving the sudden loss of Johnny Kennedy, cousin of Maureen Mooney; family and friends grieving the recent death of Zoe Covey; Cricket Warren’s Aunt Doris and her children grieving the recent death of husband and father, Dick.
• those who, even after many years, still hurt from the void left by loved ones who have passed on from this world. 
• Florence Rivera, admitted recently to St. Peter's Hospital with breathing problems and undergoing procedures to remove fluid from her lungs.
• Linda, co-worker of Noreen Dick and Merrill Johnson, recovering with some difficulty from open-heart surgery.
• TWR missionaries, Alex and Fran Knauss. The Knausses arrived yesterday in Albany, and will continue on from there to minister to their supporting churches. Remember Fran especially, who has had her own health problems with a root canal infection.  She has a great heart for the women being reached by TWR's Project Hannah ministry, and asks for prayers that God will give her physical and emotional energy as she delivers her Spirit-filled message to supporters.
• Gary Silvano, brother of Dick Silvano, recovering from heart by-pass surgery.
• Vicki Metzger, Nancy Baker's mother, recovering from a minor stroke.
• Marlene, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Donna Scalera, awaiting results of a biopsy. Pray that the spot that has been found on Donna's lung will not be a metastasis of the cancer she has been battling. 
• others in hospice care or battling or recovering from cancer: Bill Metzger; TJ Vooris; Chris Howard and his ten-year-old son, Jonah; Elizabeth Clinton; Susan Lamont's sister; a friend of Erika Johnson; Cheryl Johnson; Diane, friend of Cricket Warren; Jack; Bob Mellott; Marlene; Daniel; Andy; Lucy; Rodrigo; Jean.
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: TWR missionaries, Alex and Fran Knauss; Rev. Ed Van Kampen; Noreen, mother of Maureen Mooney; Stacey Baker; Ann, sister of Nancy Baker; Tristen Collins; Chris Treadway; Suzanne; Ruth Edge; Merrill Johnson; Jean Skipper; Florence Rivera; Steve Shpur; John Bowen; Floyd Haber; Art Gross; Alan Dick; Paul Varga; Jane Smith; Liz Carroll; Laurie Maul.
• those who are traveling, especially Nancy Baker traveling to Colorado to be with and support her daughter, Stacey; and Merrill and Erika Johnson, traveling to North Carolina to be with and be of some assistance to their granddaughter; Ainsley Clinton, daughter of Neal and Amy Clinton and granddaughter of Alan and Noreen Dick, in England to compete today in the Great Britain Irish Dance Championships.
• reassurance, peace, and dignity for our loved ones who are nearing the close of this life; those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Russ and his family, experiencing a personal family crisis; Dana, mother and caretaker of her 2-year-old daughter; Kevin and family, in crisis; Caleb; Stuart, that God will give guidance in providing home care; Cliff Laraway; the alarming wave of new, young addicts seen on the streets of Albany and at the Capital City Rescue Mission; those facing the challenges of beginning a higher level of education or seeking a career -  pray that God will provide them with wisdom in making the many choices and decisions before  them; Greg L; 16-year-old pregnant teenager, whose unborn baby has an irregular heartbeat and may not survive; Vince Beaudoin; Libby Little.
• Residence-bound members Murray Leonardson, Doris Schmieder, 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 very good news that Alex Knauss’s inner-ear steroid injection has been working, balance is slowly improving, lightheaded is less each day, and that he is able to drive again. Alex and Fran are very thankful for all your prayers!
• the good report of a very successful chicken Bar-B-Que recently, which raised  $2792 to benefit the KRC Cemetery Association;  Praise God also for the 20 or so volunteers who did an outstanding job of serving up the meals, and for the good fellowship they had in carrying out this ministry.
• 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.

~ANGEL TREE UPDATE~

       The calendar says early fall, but Angel Tree season is in full swing.  For months now, incarcerated men and women have been signing up their children for an Angel Tree Christmas.   KRC will once again participate in this extraordinary outreach opportunity, and we will be asking for your help to make sure that each one of these precious children gets a chance to feel loved by receiving a gift from their parent who is in prison. 

Your generous support of Angel Tree will plant seeds of hope in hurting hearts.                

       When Angie’s family was shattered by crime, Angel Tree helped her pick up the pieces.  Here is her heartwarming story, and prepare yourself to be blessed.

       The police were outside.  The children were terrified. All Angie could do was watch helplessly as her husband, Brad, was led away in handcuffs.  It was a mother’s worst nightmare.  And it was all too frighteningly real.  Until officers arrived at her door, Angie knew nothing about her husband’s criminal past.  She was stunned.  Her whole world had just been turned upside down.  But it was the children she worried about.  And she had good reason to be concerned.  Her girls were just toddlers when their father was torn from them.  Malia, the oldest, took it hard.  Soon she was getting into trouble – and getting kicked out of day care.  Malia’s sisters, Ikee, and Alayna, were just as devastated, but they didn’t know how to express the pain they were feeling.  Angie couldn’t help but wonder, “Will they even remember their father when they get older?”  She knew that he loved them, but she also knew that with the charges he was facing, her husband could be sentenced to decades behind bars.

       Behind bars, Brad was worried, too.  It wasn’t about the time he was facing.  He knew he had to pay for his crime.  Brad had come to Christ, and turned his life around.  He wanted to serve God, whatever that might require of him.  But he was concerned about this family, and especially his three young daughters.  He ached for a way to show them how much he loved them, and how he thought about them every day. 

       Angel Tree was the answer to Brad’s prayers.  For Malia, Ikee, and Alayna, it was like a dream come true.  They hadn’t seen their dad in over a year and a half, but on the way to their Angel Tree party last Christmas, they got to talk to him on the phone.

       They were so excited,” Angie remembers.  “Angel Tree really helps their relationship with their dad, because the gifts are given on behalf of their dad.  They can look at their gifts, and play with their gifts, and remember their dad gave them their gifts every time they use them.”

       As Angie and her girls can tell you, just a single gift from Angel Tree can help a child get through the hard times.  It gives them hope – an eternal hope to hold on to.  And the gift is only the beginning.  When you give a gift to a child on behalf of their incarcerated parent, you help mend a broken heart.  That’s what Angie says made the difference for Malia.  “It showed her that she isn’t the only girl who has a dad in prison.  Angel Tree makes all the difference in the world.  It brings families together – dads and kids.” 

       Malia isn’t as angry anymore, and all of the girls are getting closer to their dad.  They are still very young – just 8, 7, and 6 years old.  And their dad still has many years to serve in prison before he will be free.  Please pray that God will continue to heal their family and keep them close to one another and Him, and that thousands of Angel Tree children like them will feel loved and remembered again this Christmas . . . because you’ve helped make it possible!

                                                                                        KRC 2015 CONSISTORY

                                 Pastor Rev. Rudy Visser, President of Consistory

                                                             Deacons

Liz Carroll – ’16,  Clerk of Consistory / Outreach /CITV Committee    758-6034

Noreen Dick – ’15,  Church Family   758-6640

Derick LaTorre – ’16,  KRC Treasurer / Stewardship / Cemetery    376-1882

Barbara Vosburgh – ’15,   Property   758-6512

                                                                                                                                                     Elders

                                    Merrill Johnson – ‘16,  Worship    828-6726

                                    Patrice Lyons – ‘16,  Outreach    758-8400

Dawn Van Buren – ‘15,  Personnel / Pastoral Care   758-7564

Patti Varga – ’15  Consistory Vice President /Christian Education / Classis Delegate   392-4771

COMING EVENTS

Today, October 18

         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 a new study:  1 & 2 Peter and Jude.

Tues, Wed., October 20, 21

         5:30 pm  CCRM Silent Auction

         6:30 pm  CCRM Banquet

     Please Note:  KRC Youth Group will not meet October 20.

Thur., October 23

         9:00 am  Small Group Bible Study meets

       10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

Sat.,    October 24  Reformed Church @Muitzeskill Annual Turkey Dinner

Mon.,  October 26  

         6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Tues.,  October 27

     Please Note:  KRC Youth Group will not meet October 27.

Sun., November 1 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

         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 their study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.

Fri.,  November 6 

         6:00 pm  First Friday Free Community Dinner @KRC

Sat.,  November 7

       10:00 am - 2 pm  Olde Dutch ’n Such Annual Bazaar @ KRC  

Sun., November 8

         3:00 pm  CITV concert, Handel, The Power of Musick, @KRC

Servers Next Sunday, October 25, 2015

       Ushers:  Jim Dunham, Keith Garwood, Barry Knights, Gary Leggett        

       Greeter(s):  The LaTorre Family