KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, OCTOBER 23, 2016

REV. RUDY VISSER, PASTOR

“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                                                                                                  Luke 18:9-14 (p. 742)

  Message                                                                     “To Find the Image of God in Others”

  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), The LaTorre Family. 

  Preschool nursery available downstairs.

  Prelude                                    Spirit of the Living God  #297

        “Spirit of the living God, make us one in love – humble, caring, selfless, sharing.”

  Welcome, Announcements, and God's Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  – From Psalm 8
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory in the heavens.

PEOPLE:   When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels 

and crowned them with glory and honor.

PEOPLE:   You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:
MEN:   all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild,
WOMEN:   the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

All:   Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

*Hymn of Praise #5                                                                        Come, Thou Almighty King

  Morning Prayer

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession  Hebrews12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us . . . and pray together, X

  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.

[Silent Prayer]

    Assurance of Pardon  (Responsive)

Brother and sister in Christ, take comfort in the words of 1Tim 1:15 and receive His pardon; “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

       Thanks be to God Amen.

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Children’s Sermon and Prayer of Blessing  (Unison)

Holy Spirit, enter into these children, each one a temple of God, so they may bear all the good fruit of your presence in their lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Reveal to them their spiritual gifts, and how to use them in humble ministry to others.

  Scripture                                                                                                  Luke 18:9-14 (p. 742)

  Message                                                                     “To Find the Image of God in Others”

  Prayer of Thanks

Celebrating God

  Offering/Offertory                             Not I But Christ

“Not I, but Christ – no self-important bearing.

Not I but Christ, be seen, be known be heard.”

  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)

Caring God, we humble ourselves today by returning the bounty you first shared with us back to your care.  Without pretension or self-righteousness, we resolve to be slow to judge and ready to provide aid.  We strive to increase our commitment to being thoughtful, generous people.     Help us to be unassuming in our service but bold in our witness.  We pray in the name of the one who served you here on Earth, Jesus the Living Christ.  Amen.                             David S Bell

  Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn of Devotion #558                                                        Love Divine All Loves Excelling

*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       “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

~KRC 2017 BUDGET PLANNING WORKSHIP~

Stewardship Ministry will hold a 2017 budget-planning workshop at 7: 00 pm this coming Thursday, October 27, at the church.  All are welcome to attend!

       At 4:00 p.m. this coming Saturday, October 29^, 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.

~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.

          10/5 - Duncan and Cahill, the prime contractor, brought in two lifts (80’ and 120’)

10/6 - The Bee Shepherds killed bees, primarily in two areas of the wood trim just under the bell level.

10/7 - Tim Falsen, foreman for Duncan & Cahill, removed some of the bad wood trim                 and measured and took pictures of other trim that needs replacement so that new   trim sections can be made.    

10/10 - AJS Masonry began work on the masonry on the  east side  in  the area of  the

clock.  Duncan and Cahill traded out the 80' lift for a 2nd 120' lift.  However, they have not been able to get to the weathervane. They are about 6' too short with the 120' lifts.  Savage Metal Restoration, who will remove and restore the weathervane, is held off until they can get to the weathervane.

10/11 - AJS Masonry worked on the other three sides in the clock area.

          10/14, 10/17 - Fredette Painting repainted on the clock faces and numbers.

          10/10 - 10/13 AJS Masonry worked on the clock area and chimney.

Duncan & Cahill will be bringing in a 150' lift to reach the upper work on the tower, including removal and resetting of the weathervane. They will continue with the two 120' lifts for the next week or two and then swap them out for the 150' lift.

While the 120' lifts are here, the new cross will be set on the front of the roof and the new finials placed on the turrets in the next week or two (exact schedule for this work to be determined).

Since there is less time to determine for certainty that the existing weathervane can be restored, Suzy Neiman checked with Cape Cod Weathervane Company to determine if the larger new weathervane we were considering is still available.   It is available if needed.

~STEWARDSHIP REPORT~

     Our weekly offering this past Sunday was $1,750 – well below our weekly need of $3,000. 

     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.

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; and Craig Wood, family, and friends grieving the sudden loss of Craig’s wife.
• 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.     
• Jeff Peter, recovering in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center following a double lung transplant earlier this week.  Jeff appears to be doing well, but please pray for a full recovery without complications for him, and for peace, reassurance, and strength for his family as they assist Jeff in his recovery.
• Mike Smith, nephew of Jane Dean, who suffered a heart attack last Sunday evening and is improving and recuperating at home following hospitalization at St. Peter's this past week.  Please pray for God's peace, healing, and a full recovery for Mike.
• Loren Speer, dealing with disabling medication-adjustment issues.
• 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; 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 again at St. Peter’s and not doing well after a day at home this past week.
• 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; Vince Beaudoin; the alarming epidemic of  heroin addicts.
• those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill, especially Nancy Stewart and Rick Scalera.
• those traveling.
• residence-bound KRC family, Murray Leonardson; Joan Van Alstyne; George Clowe.

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

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.
• 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.

Regular updates are needed on the progress or condition of all individuals on our prayer and praise lists.  Please forward this information, as well as new requests, to krc@fairpoint.net or call 859-4158.

PULPIT FLOWERS

                                   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