Kinderhook Reformed Church

EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, MARCH 27, 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 20:1-18 (pp. 768-9)

  Message                                                                          “Without a Shroud of Doubt . . . !”

  Offering and Prayer of Blessing

  Intercessory Prayer

*Closing Hymn and Benediction

10 A.M. CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP 

    Please Note: In accommodation of family Easter traditions,

 Coffee Hour Fellowship will not meet following today’s Worship Service.

Thanks to today’s ushers, Dave Ennis, Will Ferguson, Johnathan Pratt, Chuck Rothermel Thanks to today’s greeter(s):  Dawn Van Buren    Preschool nursery available downstairs.   

  Prelude                              Riposo; Pastorale, op. 156                           Josef Rheinberger   

  Welcome, Announcements, and God’s Greeting

Drawing Near to God

  Call to Worship  (Responsive)  Adapted from Psalm 68:32-35

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord,
       to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,

       who thunders with mighty voice. 
Proclaim the power of God, 
       whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens. 
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;

       the God of our salvation gives power and strength to his people. 

       Praise be to God! 

*Hymn #234                                                                                Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

  Morning Prayer  (Responsive)

On this morning of loud Hosannas, we repeat our Easter shouts of surprise and joy,

       Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

for news of your victory over the powers of death and evil is news so startling, so amazing, so different from the news that bombards us day by day. Beyond our comprehension, you startle us again and again with resurrection Life, bringing grace and hope and joy. You, in your risen power, are shaping all our days, and so we praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

       Amen and Amen.

Allowing God to Shape Us

  Call to Confession

Every glimpse of Christ's glory reminds us of the hope we have in him both now and for the future. It also reminds us of our own inadequacy and insufficiency. On this Easter morning let us go to God in prayer to confess our sin.

  Prayer of Confession  (Unison)

Almighty God, Creator of the heavens and earth, we confess that we do not always live in light of the message of hope and salvation, the promise of eternal life. We live in ways that make the here and now more important than the future. We live in ways that put ourselves and our own success first over the needs of others and the long-term needs of the world. Forgive us for our selfish ways, and call us into the path of Christ, who humbled himself and gave himself up for us on the cross, so that death might be no more, and that all can share in the joy of salvation and eternal life, through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

   Assurance of Pardon

Jesus spoke words that, no matter how many times we hear them, have more meaning than we can fully grasp: This is my body broken for you and my blood poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Let us receive his forgiveness and celebrate new life in Him. 

              Hallelujah, Amen.

Coming before God’s Open Word

  Blessing on the Word Proclaimed             

  Scripture                                                                                             John 20:1-18 (pp. 768-9)

  Message                                                                          “Without a Shroud of Doubt . . . !”

  Prayer of Thanks

Celebrating God

  Duet                          Deborah Spaulding, Soprano - Nancy Baker, Alto

     “There Is a Green Hill Far Away.”     arr. Mindy Meyers

  Offering/Offertory                       Offertory in A-flat, op. 50/3                       Arthur Foote

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

Holy God, we offer these gifts to be used to preach the truth of salvation and eternal life through the resurrected Christ, your Son, Jesus; to proclaim your promise of renewal of mind, body, and spirit; and to make known the blessings of your infinite love, reassurance, and peace to those who are in need.  Amen.   

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

*Hymn of Exultation #92                                                       Crown Him with Many Crowns

*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                                      Toccata (1889)                                         Théodore Dubois

~VALATIE ECUMENICAL FOOD PANTRY EASTER BASKETS~

       Easter Food Baskets will be given to families who use the Valatie Ecumenical Food Pantry and request one. In November, 135 families received Thanksgiving baskets, and we anticipate about the same number of families for Easter. The baskets include food for Easter dinner: ham, potatoes, yams, corn, green beans, pineapple, and brownies. The Pantry buys all food items for the baskets in bulk, and if you would like to help financially with these purchases, checks may be made payable to Kinderhook Reformed Church, with Easter Baskets on the memo line, and dropped in the offering plate.  If you prefer, you may make checks out directly to Valatie Ecumenical Food Pantry, Inc., with Easter Baskets on the memo line, and mail them to:  Jean Norton, 35 Harris Drive, Valatie, NY 12184. The Pantry thanks you in advance for any help you are able to give. All monies or food items left over after the Easter baskets are distributed will be put into the Pantry account or onto the Pantry shelves.

~St. LUKE’S FREE DINNER MINISTRY~

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church family, Valatie, together with other area churches, continue the tradition of preparing and serving free dinners once a month in the St. Luke’s Fellowship Hall. KRC will be providing and serving the free dinner offered this coming Tuesday, March 29, and it is anticipated that up to 150 people will be attending.  A sign-up sheet is now on the back table for volunteers who are willing to participate in this ministry.

~CAPITAL CITY RESCUE MISSION “HEARTS OF HOPE” LUNCHEON~

Ladies! Please join us for our 5th Annual Hearts of Hope Luncheon. The event will once again be held at the picturesque Shaker Ridge Country Club and is a "women helping women" fundraiser to benefit our women's ministries. There will be a testimony from recent graduate, Margarita, a fabulous lunch, and some door prizes! Don't delay...register below!

DATE: Friday, April 8 or Saturday, April 9       TIME: 12pm - 2:30pm

LOCATION: Shaker Ridge Country Club, Loudonville 

 If using GPS: 802 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211

TICKETS: $24.00/ea           REGISTER: Online at www.capitalcityrescuemission.com

                                                      or call 462-0421

~CONCERTS IN THE VILLAGE CONTINUES SIXTH SEASON APRIL 10~

19^TH CENTURY MASTERPIECES BY MENDELSSOHN, BRAHMS AND WAGNER

       Concerts in the Village (CITV) continues its sixth season at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, with major works of Mendelssohn, Brahms and Wagner. The concert will be held at Kinderhook Reformed Church. Led by David Smith, Artistic Director and Conductor, this program will be CITV’s 18^th concert. Over 70 musicians will be performing, including the Broad Street Chorale, the Broad Street Orchestra, soprano Amanda Boyd, tenor Jon Morrell, and mezzo-soprano Vicki Smith. Former Metropolitan Opera singer Marjorie Elinor Dix will be CITV’s guest artist.

       The concert includes Richard Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, the richly romantic Alto Rhapsody & Schicksalslied of Johannes Brahms, and Felix Mendelssohn’s monumental settings of Psalms 95 and 42. Says David Smith, who will be conducting this concert, “These are all emotionally charged works, almost operatic in their force.”

       CITV’s guest soloist for the Alto Rhapsody will be Marjorie Elinor Dix. A local resident, Ms. Dix has performed at the Metropolitan Opera and other opera houses throughout the United States and abroad. She has also appeared with major orchestras and chamber ensembles, including the Houston Symphony, the American Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera Chamber Ensemble with James Levine.

       A contribution of $20 includes an on-site reception immediately following.

This event is made possible (in part) with public funds the New York State Council on the Arts. Generous funding has also been received from the Hudson River Bank and Trust Company Foundation, Stewart’s Holiday Match program, and from many individual and business supporters.

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.
• 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: family and friends grieving the death this past Thursday of Howard Gleason, brother of Rita Laffety.  Calling hours are from 12 noon – 2 pm Monday, with funeral service immediately following at Bond Funeral Home; those grieving the death of Rodney Gage, former member of KRC; father Sean McLaughlin, family, and Grade 6 classmates of 12-year-old Connor McLaughlin. Connor died when he was struck by a falling boulder while hiking recently at Roaring Brook Falls in the Adirondacks.
• 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.
• God's blessing on the Bible studies, "War Room," which focus, among other topics, on the power of prayer.  Study #4 in the series will be presented this coming Tuesday at 7 pm, again on Thursday at 7 pm, and next Sunday at 10 and 11:30 am.
• reassurance, peace, and dignity for loved ones nearing the close of this life.     
• those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill
• those battling or recovering from cancer or in hospice care: Donna Scalera; Ron Dick; Steve; Dorothy Wheeler; Darryl Ferguson; 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: Vickie Metzger; Ann Powell; April Grimes; Gary Silvano; Rev. Ed Van Kampen;  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; Harriet Stockhoff; Ruth Edge; Merrill Johnson; Jean Skipper; Steve Shpur; John Bowen; Floyd Haber; Art Gross; Alan Dick; Paul Varga; Liz Carroll; Laurie Maul
• those facing challenges, stressful circumstances, and difficult decisions: 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: John Dean and Leo Dolan as they travel home from the South.
• residence-bound members, Murray Leonardson and Joan Van Alstyne.

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.
• 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 blessing of the beautiful and very moving Maundy Thursday Communion Worship Service shared here this past week among the Stuyvesant, Muitzeskill, and Kinderhook Reformed Church families. 
• the encouraging report that the stage 4 ovarian cancer of Cathy, friend of Dawn Tuttle, is in remission. Please continue your prayers for permanent healing for Cathy.
• 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. 
• 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.

~HAPPY MARCH BIRTHDAY!~

Maureen Mooney (5^th), Stan Bertram (12^th), Nancy Call (14^th),

Greg Clause (19^th), Emily Wood (20^th), Beth Ennis (30^th),

 Paul Zietsman (31^st).

~BARE ROOTS TREE SALE~

The Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District is now holding its Annual Bare Root Tree Sale.  Orders may be mailed in or delivered to the District’s office prepaid, and must be received in the office by April 1.  Order forms and additional Information on the sale details are available on the back table for your convenience.

                                                       COMING EVENTS

Today, Easter Sunday,  March 27

      6:30 am  Easter Sunrise Service, 250 Sharptown Road, Stuyvesant

               Breakfast to follow, Stuyvesant Reformed Church fellowship hall.

      8:30 am  Early Worship Service

    10:00 am  Worship Service (Note: Children’s Sunday School is in recess today.)

      Please  Note:  Sunday WAR ROOM Bible Studies are in recess until April 3.     

 Mon, March  28

       6:30 pm  Outreach Ministry meets

Tues, March 29

       5:00 – 7:00 pm  KRC family cooks/serves free community supper,

                                  St. Luke’s Lutheran Church

       7:00 pm  WAR ROOM Bible Study #4 @KRC 

Wed,  March 30 

       7:00 pm  Youth Group meets

Thur, March 31

      9:00 am  Small Group Bible Study meets @KRC

     10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

       7:00 pm  WAR ROOM Bible Study #4 @KRC

Fri,    April  1

       6:00 pm  First Friday free community outreach dinner

Sun,  April   3

       8:30 am  Early Communion Worship Service

     10:00 am  Communion Worship Service and Sunday School

                      WAR ROOM Bible Study #4 @KRC 

     11:30 am  WAR ROOM Bible Study #4 @KRC 

Tues,  April  5

       7:00 pm  WAR ROOM Bible Study #5 @KRC 

Wed,  April  6 

       7:00 pm  Youth Group meets

Thur, April  7

  9:00 am  Small Group Bible Study meets @KRC

     10:00 am  Community Prayer Group @ KRC

       7:00 pm  WAR ROOM Bible Study #5 @KRC 

Sun, April  10 

       8:30 am  Early Worship Service

     10:00 am  Worship Service and Sunday School

                      WAR ROOM Bible Study #5 @KRC 

     11:30 am  WAR ROOM Bible Study #5 @KRC 

       3:00 pm  CITV Concert - Mendelssohn, Brahms and Wagner

Tues, April 12

       7:00 pm  Youth Group meets

Servers Next Sunday, April 3, 2016

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

       Greeter(s):