Kinderhook Reformed Church Celebration of Worship, October 22, 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, and Morning Prayer

*Morning Praise

  Scripture Reading                                                                                          Zechariah 8:9-13

  Message                                                                               “Who Received a Boiled Seed?”

  Prayer of Thanks

  Offering and Prayer of Blessing

    PLEASE NOTE:  BASKETS ON THE BACK TABLE FOR COLLECTION OF DISASTER RELIEF DONATIONS.

  Intercessory Prayer

*Closing Hymn and Benediction

  10:00 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, Dave Ennis, Johnathan Pratt, Chuck Rothermel.

Thanks to today’s greeters, Ryan Morris & Daughters.      

 Nursery facility available downstairs.

  Prelude

  Welcome, Announcements, and God's Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive) 

We gather here to worship our God of promise,

       to praise our God whose saving grace brought his people from captivity

       to a land of liberty, blessing, and abundance .

We gather here to worship our God of infinite love,

       who still leads his people from bondage into freedom,

       and blesses them with forgiveness, peace, productivity, and eternal life.

The promises of God will be fulfilled!

       The promises of God will endure forever!

*Hymn of Praise and Assurance #84                                 Children of the Heavenly Father

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession  

Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against him.  Let us then renounce our willfulness and seek his mercy by confessing our sins in penitence and faith. 

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

Holy God, hear our prayer. Sometimes our lives are a mess because we have not loved you and your commands with all our whole heart.  We have made poor choices, pursued self-centered interests and behaviors, and disgraced our relationship with you.  Still, we trust that in all of this you are present with us, walking with us when we stray, nudging, pulling us back to the right path.  Humbly and gratefully we thank you, ask for your forgiveness, and seek the blessing of a renewed and fruitful relationship with you.  In Jesus’s name we pray.  Amen. 

  Assurance of Pardon  (Responsive) 

The Lord, who knows our every weakness, loves us still, and his mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. May the God of mercy who forgives our sins strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of his Spirit keep us in eternal life.

       Praise be to our God of love and mercy! Amen.

  Children’s Sermon and Prayer of Blessing

Gracious Father, shower our children with abundant blessings that exceed our dreams. Let your love flow without measure into their lives, filling them with an irresistible desire to share your love and the gifts of your blessings with others.   Amen.

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Prayer for Illumination

  Scripture Reading                                                                                          Zechariah 8:9-13

  Message                                                                               “Who Received a Boiled Seed?”

  Prayer of Blessing

Silent Prayer for Those Seeking to Accept Christ as Their Savior:

"Dear Jesus, I confess that I'm a sinner, and not right with you. I repent and ask forgiveness.  I believe that you died on the cross to take my punishment and to pay the price for my sins.  I believe that you rose from death to give me new life. Wash me clean from all sin, shame, and guilt, and come into my heart as my Lord and Savior.  In your name I pray.  Amen.

Hymn of Response #649                                               We Give Thee but Thine Own

Celebrating God

  Offering/Offertory

    PLEASE NOTE:  BASKETS ON THE BACK TABLE FOR COLLECTION OF DISASTER RELIEF DONATIONS.

*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)

Dear Lord, our God, in your presence our strength is renewed and our spirts set free. In your wisdom, we discover our place in useful service to you. In fellowship together, we find ways to share your good news with others. As we enjoy your blessings, help us to give from our abundance with glad and generous hearts. Amen. 

  Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn of Exhortation #710                                             We are Called to Be God’s People

*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   

COME CELEBRATE THE 500^TH ANNIVESARY OF THE REFORMATION!

After returning from a trip to Wittenberg Church and Eastern Europe,

The Rev. Dr. Eric Titus will speak to us of this momentous anniversary.

When: Monday October 30 at 7 p.m.

Where: Wallkill Reformed Church, 45 Bridge Street, Wallkill, NY 12589

Cost: FREE, with complimentary refreshments. 

Please RSVP with number attending from your church.

Call (518) 537-4221, text (518) 965-7538, or email <albizu@gtel.net>.

~NOTE OF THANKS~

Friends of Kinderhook,

       Your generosity is changing lives.  Thank you for making a difference in the lives of those affected by the hurricanes.  Your gifts have helped us send immediate supplies to those in need as we prepare our long-term relief response.  Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ. 

                 Amanda Bruehl, Regional Coordinator of Development, RCA

HAPPY OCTOBER BIRTHDAY!

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), Barbara Vosburgh (28^th), Derick LaTorre (29^th)

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, Derek DeJager 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 wellbeing and lives for the peace & liberty we enjoy.
• all those of KRC's family and friends who volunteer their time, talent, and energy so generously and so selflessly to the various ministries and programs of our church, and who often do this quietly 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.

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; Sunday School; 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 S. Korea.
• victims world-wide suffering natural and other hardships and tragedies: economic instability; poverty, hunger, and poor health; political oppression, unrest, terrorism, war, displacement.
• those suffering loss of loved ones, livelihoods, and property, as well as life-threatening hardships due to recent earthquakes and hurricanes in Mexico, Puerto Rico and adjacent islands, Texas, and Florida. Pray especially for families and friends grieving those who have died in the recent California wildfires, as well as for those recovering from personal injury and loss of homes and businesses.
• Families and friends grieving those who died in the recent Las Vegas mass shooting, as well as for those recovering from injury.  Pray also that God will provide wisdom for our government leaders facing the responsibility of reducing the number and severity of such attacks.
• 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
• Lauren Mitchell, great niece of Kay Haber, who has been quite sick for two months with a constant migraine headache and other symptoms for which doctors have been unable to find the cause. Lauren’s mother, who is travelling to see her in Idaho, will accompany her to a specialist in Seattle.  Pray for a quick diagnosis, God's healing and comfort, and for a speedy recovery for Lauren.
• Christine, suffering extreme pain due to the final stages of multiple myeloma.  She is in immediate need of at-home care during the day, and prayers are also asked for provision of that special person who can step in and provide the care that is needed.
• others awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Michelle Martino; Lesley Haywood; Emese, Patti Varga's sister-in-law; Ruth Edge; Merrill Johnson; Barbara Vosburgh; Virginia Rothermel; Art Gross; Harriet Stockhoff; Jean Skipper; Floyd Haber; Paul Varga
• Donna Scalera, that she will maintain strength as she undergoes continued treatments for cancer, and pray as well for positive outcomes.
• others battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Michael, brother of Mary Jane Haywood; Connie Witkowski; Michael; Don Morse; Jill; J.B; Jen; Bill, Janet Smith's brother; Ronny; Ron Dick; Donna Scalera; Carol Nel; Jeff Peter; Mark; Ann; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: our students, from grade school to college, as they prepare to meet challenges of higher levels of education in this new school year, career choices, and job searches; Suzy and Bill Nieman as they settle into their new home in New Hampshire; Greg Clause Jr.; Stacey Baker; Libby Little-Saxton, working with Afghan refugees – Libby’s latest newsletter is available for pick-up on the back table of the sanctuary; the epidemic of addiction to life-threatening drugs.
• residence-bound KRC family, George Clowe, and those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill.

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

Patrice Lyons – ’17  Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . .    758-8400  patricelyons50@gmail.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 – 852-7172

                       KRC  Sexton                  KRC Cemetery Supervisor        

           Steven Green – 505-4918        Greg Clause – 369-8472

COMING EVENTS

Today, October 22

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

       9:45 am  Bible study, Book of Genesis, resumes, main floor Conference Room

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

Mon,  October 23

     6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Tues,  October 24

      7:00 pm  KRC Youth Group meets

Thur, October 26

       9:00 am  Small Group Bible study @KRC.

             Group will begin a new study: Grace, by Max Lucado – Please join us!

      10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @KRC

       7:00 pm  Bible study, 1 and 2 Peter, KRC main floor Conference Room

Sat,   October  28  Reformed Church @Muitzeskill Annual Turkey Dinner

Sun,  October  29

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

       9:45 am  Bible study, Book of Genesis, resumes, main floor Conference Room

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

     11:15 am  Pastoral Appreciation and Pastor Rudy’s Birthday Celebration

KRC Fellowship Hall

Sun,  November 19       

     10:00 am  Combined Worship Service and Congregational Meeting

Sun,  November 26       

     10:00 am  Combined Worship Service

Servers Next Sunday, October 29

Ushers:  Jim Baker, Merrill Johnson, Wayne Van Allen

Greeter(s):  Jeannie and Stacey Hurst