Claybanks United Methodist Church

August 9th Worship Service

Posted on August 7, 2026 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, August 9, 2026
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
* Indicates to stand as you are able

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.

Welcome and Announcements

Worship and Praise

*Praise Song
”O God Who Shaped Creation”…………UMH 443

*Call to Worship
One: Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness;”
All: So, God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; .
One: and God blessed them,
ALL: As those who bear the likeness and blessing of God, as mortals charged with holy purpose, let us worship the One who summons us to life.
One: and fills our lives with good things!

*Gloria Patri…………………………………..UMH 70

*Opening Prayer – In Unison – Creator God, you sit at the Potter’s Wheel and continue to fashion beautiful things. Open us to your ongoing re-shaping of our lives and help us believe that we are capable of change. Calm our hearts and animate our spirits, in Jesus’ Holy name we pray, Amen

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
Prayers for Healing
The Lord’s Prayer

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology………………………………………..…UMH 95
*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
”Have Thine Own Way, Lord”……………UMH 382

Sharing of the Word

Prayer of Illumination: In Unison – Holy and merciful God, we have come to hear your word. Help us to bear it. Break down in us all that resists your will and plant in us a willingness to turn, for we would live; we would be your disciples. By your Spirit, come to us, now, in ancient texts, in everyday visions, in the need of our neighbor; we pray in the name of Jesus, our light. Amen

Old Testament Reading
Jeremiah 18:1-6……..…………….…Page 629
*Gospel Reading
Luke 14:25-27…………….……..……Page 850

Message by Pastor Terri Cummins
“We Were Made for This”

*Closing Hymn
”Make Me a Captive, Lord”………..UMH 421
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Words of Reflection – God’s creative activity is described as an ongoing active force for good. Rather than fashioning us of something that could not change, the biblical metaphor is that we are fashioned of clay, a malleable substance that can be reshaped again and again. When life requires change of us, let us embrace our ability to roll with it, for we were made for this!
Step One for Change: believe we are created for change

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist – Ellen Zimmerman
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

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Posted in Weekly Service

August 2nd Worship Service

Posted on July 31, 2026 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, August 2, 2026
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Worship and Praise

*Praise Song
”Love Devine, All Loves Excelling”……….UMH 384

*Call to Worship
One: We are children of God, learning to walk.
All: Day by day, we are learning to be the church.
One: God is a loving parent, teaching us to walk.
ALL: God loves us, leads us, and feeds us.
*Gloria Patri……………………………….UMH 70

*Opening Prayer – In Unison (Led by Pastor)
Holy One, you see us for just who we are, and yet you love us with aparent’s love. In your enduring love for us, we see both our guilt and our acquittal. Gracious God, continue to guide us and teach us to walk in your ways. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
Prayers for Healing
The Lord’s Prayer

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology…………………………………..…UMH 95
*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
”Lord, I Want to Be a Christian”…………UMH 402

Sharing of the Word

Prayer of Illumination: In Unison – God, we trust that you have our best interests at heart. As we hear the reading of your Word, remind us that we have been raised with Christ, and inspire us to seek the things that are above, through the power of your Holy Spirit, Amen.

Old Testament Reading
Proverbs 3:6……………………..…….…Page 510
Epistle Reading
Colossians 3:1-4………………………….Page 957
*Gospel Reading
John 15:5…………………..…..….……Page 878

Message by Pastor Terri Cummins
“Priorities”

Holy Communion
*Closing Hymn
”Spirit Song”…………….UMH 347
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Words of Reflection – Where is God in your life? First, last, somewhere in the middle. Or is He at the very core of everything that you think, do and are?

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist – Kathy Fourman
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

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Posted in Weekly Service

Pastor’s Ponderings

Posted on July 31, 2026 | Leave a comment

by Pastor Terri Cummins

“Faith and Fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose!”

I recently attended an online training titled “Dare to Dream.” The facilitator asked us to really look at our church with honest eyes and then do some visioning. Where do you see strengths in your church, where do you see cracks and failures? Then she asked us to do some visioning….. Where/how can we build on our strengths and repair the cracks? And then, she asked us to do something unique. She said, “Imagine that you do this whole vision thing, and it takes off and it’s a raging success. And then, imagine that you’re standing in the future looking back – Look at how you partnered with God before your dream. Describe the growth in your partnership with God. What amplified your partnership? What will you see?

This made me realize something. As I did my visioning…as I looked at where we are (as much as I know at this early stage of my re-ministry with Claybanks), I realized that I was seeing where I wanted us to be….and where YOU have been telling me you would like to be. Most of you have indicated that you are content where we are, except you would like to have a few more folks who are willing and able to do some of the work of the church. Some of you have indicated that you miss the children and would like to see a few families with children worshiping here. But the majority of you are content and happy with the status quo.

So, when I attended this training and worked along with the others, and especially during the time of visioning….I struggled. How can we fulfill Jesus’s instruction and call if we just continue our status quo? Shouldn’t we be doing more to reach up and out? And then, when I tried to answer her question of how we partnered with God….I realized that my dream for Claybanks and your dreams for Claybanks may not necessarily be where God would like us to be. He has blessed us with lots of gifts and strengths that we aren’t fully using. We have dreams….but they’re not big enough…..they’re not Jesus sized dreams!

Does that scare you? It does me! Jesus seized dreams!!!! I love our little family church. I love how we interact with and care for each other. I even love the status quo. But I believe that Jesus wants us to do more! I believe that He wants us to open up to “possibilities” and He wants us to reach out to others with purpose and vision! He wants us to share ourselves and our love of Him!

I promise you, I don’t plan to try to change everything tomorrow, and I won’t try to run away with our church. Lol. But, I will continue my prayers over this. I will, in the coming months, share with you all some of the instructions I received at this training. I hope you will hear it and pray about it too. We need to figure this out together. But we also need to….together….think, pray, vision, work…toward a Jesus sized commitment and path forward. I’m excited! I’m terrified! I’m committed. We can DO this!

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Posted in Pastor's Ponderings

Announcements and Shout Outs

Posted on July 31, 2026 | Leave a comment

MISSIONS

The Ladder – We will continue collecting for the Ladder in Shelby through the end of August. Please see the table set up in the fellowship hall for the list of needed items . The website is: info@theladdercommunity.com
if you would like to see all the wonderful programs this vital mission has to offer their community. Thank You for your support.

Step Up
Transforming Lives / Empowering Change / Housing Young Adults

2026 ANNUAL PICNIC – September 12
12:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
FOOD BEGINS AT NOON

Join us for food, cake, and fellowship as we celebrate 10 years since opening our first house!

Mullally Park Pavillion
11850 Horton Rd.
Muskegon, MI 49445

Church Calendar
There is a church calendar up on the bulletin board. If you have a meeting or an event coming up, please be sure that you put it on that calendar so that everyone (especially your newpastor) is aware. I’ll be checking that calendar every Sunday, so please be sure to update it. I need to know what days the church is in use for funeral scheduling, etc. Thank you for understanding.

Communication Update
I have put some of my business cards with my communication contact info on the table in the fellowship hall. Please take one. My preferred ‘non-emergency’ contact is via email, and I check my email often throughout the day. However, if you have an emergency, please call (or text)! Also, Pastor Gary left me some contact information for many of you, but I am finding that some of it is outdated. I am putting a sheet on the table for you to put YOUR current communication/contact info on. Please take a moment to fill it out so that I can contact you as needed.

UPCOMING: Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study
Our Adult Bible Study returns on Sunday, September 13, at 9:30. We will be studying a book by Adam Hamilton titled: Simon Peter, the Flawed but Faithful Disciple. “He was not rich or educated, but was familiar with hard work. He was quick-tempered and impetuous but possessed a passion that would change the world. He left everything to follow his teacher yet struggled with doubt and fear.” There will be a sign-up sheet on the table soon. If you are planning to attend, please sign up so that we can order enough books. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Terri.

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Posted in Announcements and Stuff

Upcoming Worship Schedule

Posted on July 31, 2026 | Leave a comment

AUGUST
SCRIPTURE & MESSAGE

Sunday, August 2
Communion Sunday
Colossians 3:1-4, John 15:5 Priorities

Sunday, August 9
Jeremiah 18:1-6
Re-Shaped Series – We Were Made for This!

Sunday, August 16
Mark 1:1-15
Re-Shaped Series – Inside Out
Sunday, August 23
John 12:20-26
Re-Shaped Series – Everything Changes

Sunday, August 30
Matthew 14:11-31a
Re-Shaped Series – Be En-Couraged

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Posted in Upcoming Worship Schedule

July 26th Worship Service

Posted on July 24, 2026 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, July 26, 2026
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”……….UMH 381

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: The God who speaks comfort to us calls us here.
ALL: The God who addresses us with tenderness meets us here.
Leader: The God who guides us with gentleness cares for us here.
ALL: We come to prepare a way for the Lord.
Leader: We come to ready ourselves for the transformation of our lives.
ALL: For the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all people will see it.

*Gloria Patri……………………………..UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Opening Hymn
”How Like a Gentle Spirit”…………..UMH 115

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
Prayers for Healing
The Lord’s Prayer
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology…………………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn…..”God the Spirit, Guide and Guardian”……UMH 648

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 40:11……………………….…Page 582
*Gospel Reading
John 10:14…………………………Page 872

Message by Pastor Terri Cummins
“The Quality of His Love”

*Closing Hymn
…….…”God Be with You till We Meet Again”………UMH 672
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Words of Reflection – Jesus talked a lot about the tender care of a shepherd for his own sheep. John 10:14 tells us that Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.” Jesus knows us….and oh how He loves us! Do we know Him? Let’s talk about it.

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist – Konnie Grant
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

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Posted in Weekly Service

July 19th Worship Service

Posted on July 17, 2026 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, July 19, 2026
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”I Love to Tell the Story”…………….UMH 156

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: I will bless the Lord at all times;
ALL: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Leader: My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
ALL: Let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

*Gloria Patri……………………….UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Opening Hymn
”Since Jesus Came into My Heart”……TFWS 2140

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
Prayers for Healing
The Lord’s Prayer
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology………………………………..…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Just a Closer Walk with Thee”……………..TFWS 2158

Sharing of the Word

Epistle Reading
Colossians 4:6…………….…………Page 958
*Gospel Readings
Mark 4:34…………………….……..Page 816
Matthew 28:19-20……………….….Page 812

Message by Pastor Terri Cummins
“Don’t You Love a Good Story?”

*Closing Hymn
”The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve”………….TFWS 2241
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Words of Reflection – Jesus had a gift for storytelling. His parables leave us thinking and soul searching. They are memorable and they are persuasive. Is there anyone who does not love the vision of a father running to welcome his wayward son? And what about all the wonderful messages of love and forgiveness that one vision evokes. It’s still true today…… No matter how far you have gone, no matter how awful your life is, you can always come home. Our arms are open…..and we have room for you.

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist – Roger Carlson
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good New