Claybanks United Methodist Church

Sunday August 4th – Hosea 11:1-11 / Luke 12:13-21
We Want Bigger, But What Do We Do With It?
Communion

August 11th – Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 / Luke 12:32-40
We Need To Be Ready

August 18th
Guest Message by Nancy Frye

August 25th – Psalm 7:1-6 / Luke 13:10-17
How do you see the Sabbath?

I am committed to the Keryx Ministry. Recently I had a conversation with our Mid-West District Superintendent. Our district superintendent Margie asked me why I was committed in my personal ministry to Keryx. It was an easy question for me to answer for I have thought about it numerous time during the past almost twenty years that I have been associated with Keryx. By being part of Keryx God has allowed me to use the gifts He gave me for what Jesus has commanded us to do in His name. Back in the mid-1990s Reba, Michelle and I were blessed to attend and participate in Walks to Emmaus as part of the United Methodist Church upper Room Ministries. The Cursillo Movement (of which Walk To Emmaus) is offered under a number of different names and associated with a number of denominations such as Via de Cristo, Tres Dias, Way of Christ, DeColores, Kairos, The Journey, Chrysalis Flights, and the Keryx which is a nondenominational Cursillo Movement specifically designed for those incarcerated in our prison systems.

These ministries are designed to renewing Christian Discipleship and strengthening local churches. Participants who desire a closer walk with our Lord are willing to commit not just 72 hours on the weekend but to take and use the spiritual gifts that God has given them in new ways to build up local church and Christianity as a whole. After participating in a Cursillo Moment you continue to develop a closer relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are moved by the power of the Holy Spirit to share the gifts which God has given to each of us with all those who seek a relationship with our Lord and Savior.
For many years Reba, Michelle and I serve in a number of capacities to assist in providing Cursillo experiences for many who have begun their walk to Emmaus. After a number of years working within the Emmaus community I was asked to be a part of Keryx by a close and strong Christian brother Ron who at times had been a strong mentor to me as I continued to walk closer and closer with our Lord. Ron had been active in the Emmaus community and continued his ministry as a leader within the Keryx ministry and encouraged me to begin participating in that ministry. Ron knew that I had a social work background and cared deeply about social justice in our community and expressed to me the desire of Keryx Ministries to assist chaplains within our correctional system by offer experiences to men and women who want to continue a deep relationship with God as Christian brothers and sisters in a system where spiritual forces make it very difficult for them to be disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world.

While our correctional system leaves much to be done in the rehabilitation of those incarcerated the work of chaplains and volunteers from outside the system walls can do much for those men and women who want to see a change in their life and are committed as Christians to follow Jesus Christ. Statistics have shown that those incarcerated who participate in Bible studies, attend worship and fellowship with other brothers and sisters as they meet for prayer and other activities that bring them closer to Jesus Christ return to prison at a much lower rate than the general population of our correctional systems today. I take the passage from Matthew 25 seriously where Jesus asked when did you give me water when I was thirsty and when did you visit me when I was sick and in prison. We as Christians must be willing to be in ministry with those who Jesus is very concerned about. Because the way the correctional system is set up today very few of us have an opportunity to have long-lasting effects on those that are incarcerated. So my Keryx ministry as a pastor and supported by you my congregation is important to me. It is my prayer that you will continue to support me in the future and allow me to continue to give when asked with my time and commitment to participate in Keryx weekends as your pastor.
I have seen what Christ has done in people’s lives and I know that Keryx has made a difference in so many men and women during their time of incarceration and in their lives after release. May we continue to visit the sick, welcome the stranger and be with those who are in prison.

Indicates to stand as you are able
Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song “Jesus, Name Above All Names” TFWS #2071

Prelude

*Processional
In this place, among these people,
God is worshipped, God is praised.
We have seen the signs and wonders;
the lost are found here, the dead are raised.
We are living the Gospel story;
lives are changed, and mountains moved.
Won’t you come and work among us?
You are welcomed, you are loved.

*Call to Worship

Leader: ​Sing praises to God, O faithful ones.
All: ​​Give thanks and proclaim God’s holy name.
Leader: ​Weeping or joyful, mourning or dancing,
All: ​​Come as you are, for all are welcome here.
Leader: ​Open your hearts to heal, to life restored.
All: ​​Let us worship God.

*Gloria Patri UMH #70

Opening Prayer

*Hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” UMH #382

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Children’s Time–
After prayers, sing the Children out – “Jesus Loves Me.” Children 5 and under are welcome to remain in worship or go to the nursery at this time.

The Offering of Our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology UMH #95

Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn “My Country Tis of Thee” UMH# 697

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading: ​​2 Kings 5:1-14 page 293
*Gospel Reading: ​​ ​Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 page 844

Message: Stomp Off Your Feet Pastor Gary

Words of Assurance

The Great Thanksgiving

Prayer

*Hymn “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” UMH#664

Benediction

Calendar and Announcements

Sunday, July 7, 2019
10:30 a.m. – Worship: Communion

Sunday July 14, 2019
10:30 a.m. – Worship:

Tuesday July 16, 2019
Worship Design Team 5:30 p.m.
Trustees 6:30 P.m.
Ad Council 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 18, 2019
United Methodist Women 1:00 p.m.

Sunday July 21, 2019
10:30 a.m. – Worship:

Email: glpeterson32@frontier.com
Office Telephone: 231-923-0573
Office email: ClaybanksUMC@gmail.com
Website: pwww.claybanksunitedmethodist.com

Pianist​​​​ – Suzanne Bouchard
Liturgist – Edith
Nursery – Carol Adams
Ministers​ – All People As We Live the Good New

A while back I came across an article written by Martin Goldsmith (A Psychotherapist) he listed ten things to improve your life. I believe these ten things are important but I will add my comments and also add three more Wesleyan points to the secular approach created by Martin Goldsmith.

1. Give up lying. The truth always comes out, and any ill-gotten gain will disappear. People you have tried to hurt are living better lives, and the act you lie about probably did not make a darn bit of difference in their lives. As Wesleyans we believe that we are not to gossip and by lying about someone we are gossiping.

2. Love is the one of the most valuable things worth holding onto. Many things can get in our way like greed, temptation, aging and illness. But love will make you whole, and nothing else will in the same way. As Christians we are to love one another, we find this over and over again in Scripture.

3. Release negative memories and thoughts. Tell yourself out loud that you do not want to think about this anymore. Sometimes just hear your thoughts spoken aloud can make a huge difference. I learned in a Psychology class years ago have always embraced the concept that it has been okay and very therapeutic to speak to yourself out loud and have a private conversation with oneself.

4. Give yourself a break. Being overly hard on yourself when you have made a mistake just makes matters worse, because the mistake then takes over your thoughts for a while. Life is a learning process. We are to forgive others and when we say that it also means scripturally that we are to forgive ourselves just as God has forgiven us.

5. Know that if you your basic necessities are covered, money can never be the most important thing. If making more money is your main drive, you will hurt yourself and others in the long game. And you will miss out on a lot of life. Jesus in Scripture talked about our desire for money more than any other topic and one of his best quotes was, “Does God not take care of the birds of the air, then he will take care of you too”.

6. Recognize that if you enjoy conflict there’s something unhealed inside of you. No matter how you expression your dislike for something by being passive aggressive or bullying it’s toxic for you as well. As Wesleyans we believe we are to do no harm.

7. Find one thing in the day to look forward to. Any amount of pleasure will do; you cannot live a life with zero happiness. Taking all things for granted will give you no excitement in life. As Christians we are to live with joy and hope and today does count as part of eternity.

8. Take at least one day off a week. By doing so do not bring home your work or the office with you. Pace yourself and just be. Allow yourself some time to be with yourself and when you are comfortable with that add God to the equation may that day be Sunday!

9. Listen to some music every day. Technology in our modern-day world allows much access to music, poetry or meditation. Find a favorite song and a favorite hymn and ask “Alexa” to play it for you. This will lower your stress and you will be taking care of yourself. God in Genesis commanded us to take care of the world he created and this includes oneself.

10. Make time for yourself to relax for a number of minutes each day. Start with ten minutes and then add minutes as you become more and more comfortable with meditation or reading Scripture or studying a devotion. Pause after the study and reflect on how the thoughts of the day can be a part of your life not just for that day but in the many days to come. A little time of quiet and relaxing can make a huge difference in our lives.

As Wesleyans and your pastor I encourage you to look at these ten items with contemplation using our “Three Simple Rules” that John Wesley has taught us.

11. Do no harm.

12. Do good.

13. Stay in love with God.

If we take these three simple rules of John Wesley and apply them each day in our lives as they relate to the ten previous ideas given to us by Mr. Goldsmith on how to improve our lives we as Christians can make a large difference not only in our own lives but the lives of our family, our friends, our church, our associates and the world.

Blessings

Pastor Gary.