Kinderhook Reformed Church

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, APRIL 17, 2016  

 KINDERHOOK REFORMED CHURCH - REV. RUDY VISSER, PASTOR

 “To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

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                                                                                                John 10:22-30 (p. 760)

  Message                                       “Prepackaged Answers vs. A Relationship with Jesus”

  Prayer of Thanks

  Moment for Missions – Alight Care Center, Hudson, NY

  Offering and Prayer of Blessing

  Intercessory Prayer

*Closing Hymn and Benediction

10 A.M.  CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP

  All are invited to enjoy fellowship and refreshments

downstairs in the Fellowship Room today following worship.

Thanks to today’s ushers, Bob Dreier, Phil Hurst, Dick Silvano, Andrew Welcome

 Thanks to today’s greeter(s), Deborah Spaulding.

Preschool nursery available downstairs.

  Prelude                        “Lord Jesus Christ, O highest Good”                           Johann Krebs

  Welcome, Announcements, and God’s Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship   (Responsive)  Based on John 1

Come, let us worship Christ the Creator,

       who, by his word alone, brought all things into being.

Come, let us extol Christ, the Son of Man,

       who became flesh, the very representation of God,

Come, let us receive Christ, our Brother

       who lived and performed miracles and wonders among us.

Come, let us praise Christ, the Light of Life,

        who is the true light, offering eternal life to all who trust in him.

Come, let us exalt Christ, the One and Only,

        who is full of grace and truth.

*Hymn of Praise #77                                                             Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession Based on Revelation 3:20

Christ our Lord says, “Here I am! I’m standing at the door of your heart and knocking. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and you and I will renew and strengthen our bond of friendship.”  In response to this invitation, let us confess the sins that have undermined our relationship with Jesus.  

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

Lord Jesus, we confess that we were dead in sin when you called us to life and led us into your light. Like Lazarus, we arose, but the grave clothes still bind us:  old habits and customs that we cannot throw off; old attitudes, prejudices, and doubts that are so much a part of our lives that we are helpless to live the new life you are calling us to enjoy.  Give us strength, our Lord and Savior, to break these bonds. Give us courage to receive you unconditionally into our lives and to build a deeper, ongoing, life-changing relationship with you.  Give us faith to believe that with your help we cannot fail. All this we ask, as you have directed us, in your name.  Amen.

  Assurance of Pardon  Based on 1 Timothy 1:15, 17

Here are words you may trust, words that merit full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to reconcile us to himself. To all who confess their shortcomings and resolve to lead a new life in him, he says, “Your sins are forgiven . . . Follow me.” Now to the one who rules all worlds, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.

—Coming before God’s Open Word

  Children’s Message and Prayer of Blessing (Unison)

Lord Jesus, may our children open their hearts to your call, and may they be filled with your eternal presence.  May they be your light in this world, testifying without shame to your truth, and attracting many to the good news of your gifts of salvation and eternal life.  Amen.

  Blessing on the Word Proclaimed             

  Scripture                                                                                                John 10:22-30 (p. 760)

  Message                                       “Prepackaged Answers vs. A Relationship with Jesus”

  Prayer of Thanks

Celebrating God

  Moment for Missions – Alight Care Center, Hudson, NY

  Offering/Offertory             “Jesus Christ, my sure Defense,” op. 135a            Max Reger                 

*Doxology (#809) and Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Yours, O Christ, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty. All that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours, and you rule over all.

Receive these offerings, an expression of our love and gratitude, and sanctify them for the purpose of leading many to a transforming faith in you.  Amen.

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

*Hymn of Affirmation #330                                     The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want

*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                              “Lord God, we all praise You”                              Johann Krebs

~ALIGHT CARE CENTER REPRESENTATIVES VISITING KRC TODAY~

       It is the goal each month of the Kinderhook Reformed Church Outreach Ministry to share the story of at least one of the missions the church helps to support.  Some months we will feature guests from a mission in the Worship hour.  Today, we welcome representatives of the Hudson Alight Care Center to our services.  The Alight Center’s mission is "to empower as many individuals as possible in the greater Columbia, Greene, and Dutchess County areas to make healthy life choices related to their sexuality and child bearing, consistent with a culture of life.  We do this by providing medical consultation and support services for pregnancy, pregnancy loss, post-abortion, and community education programs."  

       Directly following the 10 am service's coffee hour, you are encouraged to join us for a tour at the Alight Care Center located at 192 Fairview Ave., Hudson.  You'll be impressed by their program site! For more information about Alight, go to  www.alightpc.org.

~HAPPY APRIL BIRTHDAY!~

Deborah Spaulding (1^st), Annake Visser (6^th), Beth Anne Rippel (11^th),

Anne-Marie Zietsman (11^th), Angela Rivera (12^th), Bill Nieman (16^th),

Arnie March (17^th), Leo Dolan (18^th), Cydney Rippel (22^nd), Paul Zietsman (29^th)

~NEW BIBLE STUDY TO BEGIN – INVITATION FROM CHRISTIAN ED MINISTRY~

Now that we have completed the WarRoom Bible study, many of you expressed interest in going forward with another study.  There are now plans for a Thursday evening study at 7 pm and a Sunday morning study at 10 am.  (The 11:15 Sunday study group will restart their study of 1 Peter today.)  This coming week, The Thursday night Bible study group and the Sunday 10 am study group will start again for another short study, which will run for 4 to 6 weeks depending on the material selected. So that we can order the materials needed, a sign-up sheet is available on the back table today for those who are interested.  If you didn't join in for WarRoom, perhaps this next study will fit your schedule better!  The more the merrier, all are welcome.

                                                           Blessings, Patti Varga & the Christian Ed Ministry 

~“WEE CARE” BABY SHOWER MAY 1^ST~

Wee Care, a ministry of Kinderhook Reformed Church which provides baby items to mothers in need for their newborn, is sponsoring a baby shower May 1^st following the 10 a.m. worship service.  We will enjoy a light luncheon and a game with prizes, and please bring a wrapped gift – onesies and sleepers, sizes 0 – 3 and 3 -6, are needed.

~2016 CLASSIS ASSESSMENT~

General Synod:     $53.71   (Up $1.98 from 2015)

Albany Synod:       $29.00   (Unchanged from 2015)

C.  G.   Classis:        $  6.22   (Down $1.07  from 2015

          2016 TOTAL PER MEMBER:        $88.93

                          (Up $0.91 from 2014)

~WEEKLY STEWARDSHIP UPDATE~

Although our weekly offerings have not been consistent in reaching the $3000 needed to cover our regular operating expenses, praise God that year-to date income and expense totals are currently in an acceptable balance   As we know from past experience, shortfalls in regular contributions lead quickly to a budget deficit, and regular contributors are reminded once again to “double up” on their giving if they miss a Sunday. Stewardship Ministry urges that everyone give prayerful consideration to how they might adjust their giving to help keep income at a level that will meet daily operating expenses. 

Total income to date: $45,449             Total expenses to date: $45,450

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

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. 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 is called to take up her ministerial duties as full-time pastor to the Muitzeskill and Stuyvesant Reformed Churches beginning May 1.
• KRC ministries, programs & projects and those planning & administering them: KRC’s Consistory, especially new members, Tana Thompson and Chip Wood; KRC’s administrative ministries; KRC’s Youth Group; KRC’s small group ministries; Bible studies; Community Prayer Group; 1st Friday, and other outreach programs. 
• 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.
• 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: Paul Varga, family, and friends grieving the death of Paul’s sister, Lexi Varga; Will and Jayne Ferguson, family, and friends grieving the recent death of Will’s brother, Darryl.
• those who, even after many years, still hurt from the void left by loved ones who have passed on from this world. 
• 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 as she manages the needs of her aging parents in Ogdensburg, NY.
• God's blessing on the new Bible studies starting up this coming week following completion of "WarRoom": 7 pm Thursday and 10 am next Sunday; and remember also the Adult Sunday School Class as they restart their study of 1 Peter.
• Steve Shpur, recovering in the hospital following successful surgery this past week.
• Ron Dick, who has had a relapse following recent cancer surgery.
• others battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Donna Scalera;  Steve; Dorothy Wheeler; 6-month-old Baby Szafran; TJ Vooris; Judy Alvarez; Leonard Blish; Carol, Elize Visser’s sister-in-law; Marlene.
• others awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; or chronically ill: Elizabeth Clinton; Sug Hawver; Linda, friend of Erika Johnson; Gary Silvano; Stacey Baker; Maggie Brower; Cathryn Rhodes, mother of Donna Rhodes; Sug Hawver; Sissy Mahoney; Vicky, cousin of Susan Lamont; Donald Smith, father of Janet Smith Van Allen; Tom Carroll, son-in-law of Barbara Gross; Art Gross; Harriet Stockhoff; Ruth Edge; Merrill Johnson; Jean Skipper; John Bowen; Floyd Haber; Alan Dick; Paul Varga; Liz Carroll; Laurie Maul.
• Darcie and team and families for traveling mercies, health, and their special event.
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: Donna and Jason; Amber, granddaughter of Erika and Merrill Johnson; Don and Phyllis Tymeson; Harry Sturgill; the alarming wave of new, young heroin addicts; those facing the challenges of a higher level of education or seeking a career; Cliff Laraway; Greg L and friend, Joshua; Vince Beaudoin; Libby Little.
• God's protection and safety for those traveling, especially Paul Varga, flying from Texas to be with his bereaved family.
• residence-bound members, Murray Leonardson and Joan Van Alstyne.

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.
• 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.
• this encouraging update from Sug Hawver: “I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and concern for me during my surgery and now my recovery, and also for the cards and phone calls - all is greatly appreciated. Hope it won't be too long and I will be back to Sunday worship. Peace to all, Sug Hawver.”
• the healthy birth recently of Baby Nina Grace, granddaughter of Libby Little.  Praise and thank God along with Libby that all is well with mother, Kate, and new little Nina.
• the happy news that Sara Schubert has a granddaughter due to arrive May 29 to son, Josh Schubert, and his wife, Helen.
• the happy news from Arnie and Claudia March that they have a grandson who is due to arrive in May. 
• The good news that Greg Clause Jr. has made sufficient gains in his addiction recovery to be released from in-patient rehab to the home of his grandparents, Paul and Joan, to continue his progress.  Please remember to pray for Greg as he attends out-patient treatment and counseling, and pray that his family will be able to provide a strong and successful support system for him.
• all His provisions for 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.

                                        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

                         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                 Liz Carroll – 758-6034

                                    Cemetery Supervisor         KRC Sexton

                                          Greg Clause                 Mike Deegan

COMING EVENTS

Today, April 17 

       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 resumes its study of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude.

Mon, April 18

       6:30 pm  Consistory meets

Tues,  April 19

       7:00 pm  Youth Group meets

Thur, April 21

     9:00 am  Small Group Bible Study meets @KRC

     10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

       7:00 pm  New Bible study begins

Sun,   April 24     

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

     10:00 am  Worship Service and Sunday School

                      New Bible study begins

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

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

Mon, April 25

       6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Sun,   May 1     

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

     10:00 am  Worship Service and Sunday School

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

                      Wee Care baby shower/ luncheon, KRC Fellowship Room

                              Servers Next Sunday, April 24, 2016

       Ushers: Bob Dreier, Phil Hurst, Dick Silvano, Andrew Welcome