SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH

 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                                                                                             1 Timothy 2:1-7 (p. 839)

  Message                                                                                          “Not a Counterfeit Jesus”

  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, Greg Clause Jr, Jim Dunham, Keith Garwood, Gary Leggett

Thanks to today’s greeter(s), Tana Thompson

 Preschool nursery available downstairs.

Guest Organist, David Smith

  Prelude                       Andantino in C major from L’Organiste                       César Franck

  Welcome, Announcements, and God's Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship (Responsive) - Based on Psalm 150

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.

       Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,

       praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,

praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

       Oh, let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

*Hymn of Praise #53                                                                         Let All Things Now Living

  Morning Prayer

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession  From Isaiah 30:18

The God who knows us through and through, and loves us still, invites us to honestly confess our shortcomings

Prayer of Confession  (Unison) 

Lord God, forgive us when we go astray and refuse to return; when we live for unworthy ends and when we let worthy ends justify unworthy means; when we allow failure to leave us hopeless and let success make us arrogant; when we look for your kingdom in the wrong places, and when we fail to see it staring us in the face; and for all the rest known well to you, even if we hesitate to speak it, forgive us. Through Jesus Christ, we ask all this. Amen. 

  Words of Assurance  (Responsive)

The God who loves us into life hears our prayers, forgives our shortcomings, and urges us always to follow in the footsteps of his beloved Son, in whose image we are made. 

       Thanks be to God. Amen.

Coming before God’s Open Word

*Praise Song  (Insert - Sunday School children come forward as we sing.)        Step by Step  

  Children’s Message and Prayer of Blessing  (Unison)

Lord Jesus, draw each of these children face-to-face with you.  May they know your goodness, your love, and the glory of your divine presence in their lives; may they experience your power to renew and strengthen them; and may they be eager to share their knowledge of you with others.  Amen.

  Prayer of Blessing on the Word proclaimed                       

  Scripture                                                                                             1 Timothy 2:1-7 (p. 839)

  Message                                                                                          “Not a Counterfeit Jesus”

  Prayer of Thanks

Celebrating Godx

  Offering/Offertory            Non troppo lento in E major L’Organiste            César Franck

  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)

Heavenly Father, Creator of all good things, you have showered us faithfully with mercy, gifts, and blessings of love even when we have failed you. You are the rock of our spirit, and without you we are nothing. Look within us and receive the heartfelt thanksgiving we offer to you; and bless these outward gifts we now present for the work of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. Amen.

  Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Song of Praise #97                                                                                       He Is Lord                         

*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                       Prelude and fugue in F major, BWV 556                          J. S. Bach

~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.

~NEW OFFICE EQUIPMENT NEEDED~

The church office is in need of a new swivel office chair to replace the one that is broken.  Donations to cover the cost of purchasing a new chair would be greatly appreciated.  Checks may be made out to KRC with “Chair” in the memo.

HAPPY SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY!

Jane Deane (1^st), Donna Flansburg (5^th), Tana Thompson (6^th), Abigail Wood (6^th),

 Dawn Van Buren (20^th), Phil Sherman (23^rd), Bob Wildermuth (23^rd),

Nancy Baker (26^th), Chuck Rothermel (30^th) 

                 ~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.

~NOTE FROM KRC OUTREACH MINISTRY ON STOP HUNGER NOW DONATIONS~

From August 1 to September 30, the KRC Outreach Ministry will be collecting redeemable cans and bottles in the designated bins located both at the Kinderhook Transfer Station on 9-H and at the church.  Call Tana (518-495-3621) if you need assistance. All money received will benefit the Stop Hunger Now drive.

~AVAILABLE NOW ON THE BACK TABLE~

• Fall course offerings and registration information for The School for Christian Living and Serving, a ministry of the Mid-Hudson and Orange Classes

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 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 new 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 fundraising campaign and upcoming meal-packing event in October. 
• 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.
• 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 Suzy Nieman's cousin, John, his wife, Cheryl, and their 5-year-old son, Tyler, grieving the recent loss of their infant son and brother, Alexander – remember as well Alexander’s grandfather, Steve.
• those who, even after many years, still hurt from the void left by loved ones who have passed on from this world, especially Jim and Barbara Hatch. 
• all who have suffered and struggled with significant recent loss of any kind.
• reassurance, peace, and dignity for loved ones nearing the close of this life.     
• those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill, especially Nancy Stewart.
• Loren Speer, recuperating at home from an undiagnosed illness and unable to work.
• Patti Varga's Uncle Martin, who has been released from the hospital but has a long road ahead to recover from injuries received in his recent fall.  In addition to the fractured skull, he has a fractured jaw, has lost all hearing in his left ear, and has many weeks of healing and PT here before he is able to fly home to California.
• others awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Emese; Dave Ennis; Paul; 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; Laurie Maul.
• Mark, whose cancer has returned, and who is facing additional chemo treatments.
• others battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Angie, friend of Sara Hartman; 6-month-old grandson of Rick; Ann; Jill; Donna Scalera; Jay; Ron Dick; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler; Baby Szafran; TJ Vooris; Judy Alvarez; Leonard Blish; Carol, Elize Visser’s sister-in-law; Marlene.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Don and Phyllis Tymeson; Harry Sturgill; Donna and Jason; Amber; Martha; Laurie; 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 who are traveling.

• 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.
• Ted and Dawn Tuttle’s safe return home following their recent trip to Iowa.
• the good news that Patti Varga’s sister-in-law, Emese, has been released from the hospital.  Her MRSA infection is gone, and she continues to heal at home.  Please continue your prayers, which are much appreciated.
• the encouraging report that Stacey Baker is doing much better following a long recovery from a serious concussion; she is having fewer and fewer bad days, and is making good progress in her college studies.
• this good report from Dave Ennis: “Thank you for your prayers, cards and get well wishes after my recent knee surgery. I am currently receiving physical therapy several times a week to strengthen my new knee. Hope to be in church soon.  Blessings to all.”
• this encouraging news from Glenn and Cricket Warren:  “We would like to thank you for your prayers for Glenn's friend's six month old grandson.  He is still in the hospital but doing much better.”
• the good report that Virginia Rothermel is doing well. Ginny thanks the congregation for the cards and messages of encouragement she received, and she hopes to be back in church soon!
• 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.

~STEWARDSHIP REPORT~

Praise the Lord! Our weekly offering this past Sunday was $3,907 – well over half 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.

                                     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 – 758-9311      Greg Clause – 369-8472 

                               COMING EVENTS

Today, September 18 – 10 am, First Sunday of Children’s Sunday School      

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

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

     11:15 am  Adult Sunday School - main floor Conference Room          

               The class continues its study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.

Tues,  September 20

       7:00 pm  Youth Group meets

Thur, September 22

    9:00 am  Small Group Bible Study meets @KRC

  We invite you to join us as we select and begin a new Bible study.

    10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

Sun,   September 25   

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

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

     11:15 am  Adult Sunday School - main floor Conference Room          

               The class continues its study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.

Mon,  September 26

       6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Wed,  September 28

     3:00 – 6:30 pm  Brooks Bar-B-Q @ KRC to benefit Kinderhook Cemetery  

Sat.,   October 15

      1:00 pm  Stop Hunger Now food-packaging event. Kinderhook Town Hall,       

                  Church Street, Valatie (Formerly Martin H. Glynn School

                                   Servers Next Sunday, September 25, 2016

       Ushers: Greg Clause Jr, Jim Dunham, Keith Garwood, Gary Leggett

       Greeter(s): Susan Patterson