KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, OCTOBER 2, 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 17:5-10  (p. 741)

  Message                                            “In Relationship to God, We Are Always Servants.”

  Prayer of Thanks

  Sacrament of Communion

  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, Dawn Van Buren          Preschool nursery available downstairs.

Guest Organist, David Smith

 

  Prelude              Partiten I – III on “O God, Thou faithful God,” BWV 767          J.S. Bach                              

  Welcome, Announcements, and God's Greeting

 

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  From Psalm 68

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth!

       Sing praises to the Lord!

O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens, listen: God sends out a mighty voice.

       Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel,

       and whose power is in the skies.

Awesome is God! Awesome is God in the sanctuary!

       Awesome is the God of Israel! God gives power and strength to the people.       

       Blessed be God!

*Hymn of Praise #50                                                 Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above 

  Morning Prayer

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison) 

God of great love, we clearly remember the times when we have thought you to be less than loving. We recall with pain the dark times in our lives when we could not see your light; nor did we seek it. We remember with remorse the occasions when we did not recognize your gift of our abundant life. We confess that we have been quick to criticize and hasty to condemn. Forgive us for all that has come before and grant us grace to go forward in your forgiving love.

 

  Assurance of Pardon (Responsive)

My friends, listen to this good news: Our God is a God of love and mercy, who allows us always to begin again. By God's grace, we are forgiven to walk in newness of life. 

       Thanks be to God Amen.

 

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Children’s Blessing  (Unison)

All-powerful and merciful God, preserve these children from sin and its destructive evils.  Empower us, through your Holy Spirit, to raise them up to lead holy and virtuous lives of faithful, loving, and humble service to you and to others. Amen.

  Prayer of Blessing

  Scripture                                                                                                 Luke 17:5-10  (p. 741)

  Message                                            “In Relationship to God, We Are Always Servants.”

  Prayer of Thanks

Celebrating God

  Sacrament of Communion

                                       THE MEANING OF THE SACRAMENT

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we come to the table of our Lord in Remembrance, Communion, and Hope. 

We come to Remember that our Lord Jesus Christ was sent into the world so we might be saved through him.

We come to be in Communion with this same Christ who has promised to be with us always, even to the end of the world.

We come in Hope, believing that this bread and cup are a pledge and foretaste of the feast of love in the kingdom to come.

Since by his death, resurrection, and ascension Christ has obtained for us the life-giving Spirit who unites us all in one body,

so we receive this Supper in true love, mindful of the communion of saints.

THE INVITATION

This is the feast of the Lord’s Table, in which all who profess the Lordship of Christ in their lives are invited to share.  Come, for all things are now ready.

COMMUNION HYMN #768 (Verses 1, 2, 3)   I Come with Joy

                                                 THE COMMUNION PRAYER

Let us lift up our hearts and give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is holy and right to lift up our hearts and give God thanks and praise.

It is with joy that we give thanks to you in all times and places, Almighty and Everlasting God. You have shown the fullness of your love by sending to us Jesus Christ our Lord, made flesh for us, for our salvation, and for reconciliation with you.  For this precious gift of your Son, we worship and sing praise to you, O God:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky, and sea.

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

 

Most righteous God, we remember in this Supper the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of the whole world.  In the joy of his resurrection and expectation of his coming again, send your Holy Spirit upon us, that we may offer ourselves to you as holy and living sacrifices, and proclaim this mystery of the faith:

Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

As this grain and these grapes are gathered from many fields and hills into one loaf and one cup, to be to us the communion of the body and blood of Christ, grant also that your whole Church may be joined together in him, attain unity in the faith, and soon be gathered from the ends of the earth into your Kingdom. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! And now, as Christ taught us, we pray together:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

                                                                 THE COMMUNION

The Lord Jesus, the same night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me."

(Distribution of the bread)

The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.

 

After the same manner also, he took the cup when they had supped, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

(Distribution of the cup)

The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ.

PRAISE and THANKSGIVING after COMMUNION  (Unison)

It is proper and right that we should exalt you, bless you, praise you, give thanks to you, and adore you in all places of your dominion; for you are God, incomprehensible, from everlasting, and changeless – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  You called us into being from nothingness, and when we had fallen away from you, you raised us up again, brought us back, and endowed us with your kingdom which is to come.  For these things we offer to you a ministry of thanks, praise, and service, which you are pleased to accept even though myriads of angels and archangels wait before you, calling aloud, singing the triumphant song, “Holy Lord, Hosanna in the highest! Heaven and earth are full of your glory!”  Amen and amen.

 

  Offering/Offertory    Partiten IV on “O God, Thou faithful God,” BWV 767     J.S. Bach

  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.x

 

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Gracious God and Master, with this offering we worship you and give our whole selves in service to you. Grant us your wisdom to use it effectively for your kingdom and your glory.  Multiply its reach and influence, and may it bring great blessing to many. Amen.

  Pastoral Prayer

*Hymn of Devotion #710                                                  We Are Called to Be God’s People

*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            Partita IX on “O God, Thou faithful God,” BWV 767          J.S. Bach                             

 

 

 

 

 

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.  $3561 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.  

 

THIS COMING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, at 6:30 pm, Kinderhook Reformed Church is hosting a FREE educational, solution-focused, 1-hour panel discussion highlighting the many agencies, services, self-help, and advocacy groups available in Columbia County addressing substance use issues and mental health. Panelists include representatives from Twin County Recovery Services, Inc, Columbia County Mental Health Center, Nar-Anon, Young People in Recovery, the Chatham Police Cares 4 U program, and Ichabod Crane School District. Attendees will learn how to recognize symptoms, where to get help, and how to get involved in fighting substance use and the opiate epidemic in particular.  There will be an opportunity for questions, answers, and comments.

 

~PLANT AND BAKE SALE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 8 AM – NOON~

KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH will hold a plant and bake sale from 8 a.m. to noon THIS COMING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8.  All proceeds from the plant sale will go to benefit the KRC Youth Group's 2017 REACH mission trip.  All proceeds from the bake sale will go to benefit the October 15 Stop Hunger Now meal-packing event.

YOUR SUPPORT OF THESE FUNDRAISERS, AND THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS THEY WILL ASSIST, IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.  

 

~STOP HUNGER NOW FOOD-PACKAGING EVENT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15~

Stop Hunger Now packages and ships food and life-saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable people, and works to end global hunger in our lifetime.  Established in 1998, over 500,000 volunteers have been engaged to package meals, and over 225 million meals have been provided in 74 countries.  This year, 45 million meals will be packaged, and over $9 million in donated health supplies will be shipped.  A STOP HUNGER NOW FOOD-PACKAGING EVENT IS AN IMMENSELY REWARDING EXPERIENCE OF EASY, HANDS-ON WORK, FUN, AND FELLOWSHIP THAT YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS!  A group of 40 to 50 volunteers (any age) can package over 10,000 meals in just two hours.  Our local packaging event will take place beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 15, at the Kinderhook Town Hall (formerly Martin H. Glynn school) on Church Street in Valatie, during which we hope to pack 20 – 30 thousand meals.  Plan to lend a helping hand to this extraordinary ministry. Volunteer unloaders are needed at noon, and volunteer packers are needed from 1 – 3 pm.  A signup sheet is available on the back table to give us a general idea of the number participating from KRC.  Official registration can be done online, and a link to Stop Hunger Now for doing this can be found on our website, kinderhookreformedchurch.net.  Official registration can also be done at the Town Hall the day of the event.  Donations may be made online as well using the KRC website link, or directly through the church by check with “Stop Hunger” in the memo line.  A donation of 29¢ buys one meal, $29 one hundred meals, $290 one thousand meals.  Your co-workers might be willing to offer $29, or a business might be interested in making a $290 donation.

 

X X~NOTE OF THANKS AND WELCOME FROM CONSISTORY~

 

Consistory and the KRC Family would like to praise God and thank Liz Carroll for her much-appreciated services as KRC Office Assistant over the past several years.  We offer our prayer support to Liz, and wish her the very best as she continues in her new position with Kinderhook Bank. In addition, we are very pleased to welcome Courtney Wood, who has been appointed as Liz’s replacement and is off to an excellent start in her new position. We are also happy to announce that Greg Clause Jr. has been appointed as KRC Sexton, and is likewise doing a fine job with his new duties.  Please keep all of the KRC staff members in your prayers as they carry out to their various ministries.

 

 

 

Capital City Rescue Mission Silent Auction and Banquet

Tuesday, October 18, or Wednesday, October 19

       KRC has traditionally been well-represented at this inspiring event, where you will hear how your volunteer efforts, prayers, and generous support make a difference in the lives of people who are hungry, street-weary, and hopeless.

       CCRM Banquet tickets may  be purchased through the church. Choose the evening you would like to attend, and see or call Paul Clause, 859-4158. Your reservation and ticket payment will be made for you, and you can reimburse KRC $25 per ticket reserved by dropping your designated check made out to KRC into the offering plate at any time. RESERVATIONS SHOULD BE MADE NO LATER THAN NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, and TICKETS WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU BY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16.  CCRM banquet organizers will arrange for those attending from KRC to be seated together at 1 or 2 tables, depending on the number of reservations we make.  Reservations may also be made by calling Susan Jones, 462-0421.  Let Sue know if you wish to sit with the KRC group.

 

REFORMED CHURCH OF SCHODACK TO HOLD ANNUAL TURKEY DINNER

 

 

X~STEWARDSHIP REPORT~

Praise the Lord! Our weekly offering this past Sunday was $2,642 – short of our weekly need of $3,000.  Many thanks to those who have recently made substantial gifts toward bringing our income more closely 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.

 

 

 

 

January 22, 1945 – April 17, 2016

“Well gone, good and faithful servant! . . .”

Matthew 25:15

      The Angel Tree Program, founded by ex-convict, Mary Kay Beard, has been part of Prison Fellowship's work for 35 years.  This ministry has delivered over 10 million gifts to children of imprisoned parents, and brought the Gospel and love of Christ, as well as reconciliation, to countless homes during the Christmas season.

       Mary Kay was a safe-cracker, a bank robber, and one of America’s Most Wanted.  Arrested in June, 1972, she quickly collected 11 federal indictments and 35 charges against her. But her 180-year sentence turned into a six-year sentence, during which time she asked God to change her hardened heart.  And that's exactly what happened. Through her experience in prison, Mary Kay gained a deep appreciation for the estrangement and brokenness prisoners suffer from being separated from their families.  When a parent is sentenced to prison, he or she is not the only one being

punished. The children suffer too, and it

is especially tough for them at Christmas time.  Mary Kay also saw how a simple act of giving and receiving a gift can renew hope and bring change to the lives of those on both sides of the bars. That's why she founded Angel Tree, and why she considered it perhaps the greatest way God used her after he first changed her heart in prison. Mary once said, "I am both awed and humbled to have been a part of something so enormously effective.  Being there at the beginning, I consider it one of the highest privileges of my life." For Mary, Angel Tree was an awe-inspiring testimony to prisoners and their families of the Gospel: "The very first Christmas gift," she reminds us, "was a child.” 

       Although Mary Kay is now in the presence of her Savior, we continue her legacy of loving prisoners’ children and bringing a little Christmas joy into their lives.  For those desperate for forgiveness and those desperate for a parent's love, the simple opportunity to give or receive a gift at Christmas not only breaks down the barriers which isolate family members in prison from those outside, but makes the story of a God, who loves us no matter what, come powerfully to life.

      Gift needs for Angel Tree’s children of prisoners will be displayed on angel cut-outs on a Christmas tree in KRC’s main entrance in November.  Each angel will contain very specific age, size, and gift-request information for a particular child to assist donors as they gift-shop.  Please consider taking an angel when the tree goes up. 

 

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR

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.

EMAIL, WEBSITE,  AND FAX INFORMATION 

Email Address – krc@fairpoint.net

Website Address – kinderhookreformedchurch.com

Rev. Rudy is available at his church office

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings.

Please call ahead for an appointment.

Evenings are set aside for meetings, visitations, and counseling.

For immediate assistance at any time, call 859-4158.

Church Phone   758-6401                Church Fax   758-6402