Daily Archives: January 1, 2022

January 2 Service

Sunday, January 2, 2022
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Second Sunday After Christmas Day
*Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
Thy Word Is a Lamp(2 X)…..……….UMH  601

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, 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: Arise, shine! Your light has come.
All: Glory to God in the highest.
Leader: Darkness covers the earth.
All:  But God’s glory shines brightly.
Leader: Lift up your eyes. Look around.
All: The light of God’s love shines radiantly.
Leader: Arise, Shine! Your light has come!
All: Our hearts thrill and rejoice!

*Gloria Patri…………………..………..UMH  70

* Opening Prayer

*Hymn
When Morning Gilds the Skies”………………..UMH 185

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Children’s Time – After prayers, sing the children out to “Jesus Loves Me.”  Children under five are welcome to remain in worshipor go to the nursery.

The Offering of Our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology………………….….….UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
”Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”………..UMH 103

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Readings
Genesis 1:1-5……..…..….Page 1
Isaiah 60:1-6…..……….Page 602
Gospel Reading
John 1:1-9, 14……..…Page 862

Message by Edie Bogart
“Let There Be Light”

Prayer

*Hymn
”There’s a Song in the Air”…………UMH  249

Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Nursery – Liz Grossman
Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist  – Darwin Parsons
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Pastor’s Ponderings

Reba and I will be off for some special time in Colorado visiting our son Branden, our beautiful daughter-in-law Carisa, and our grandchildren Britta and Sebastian. We will be back with you for worship on Sunday January 9th. With Advent beginning a new church liturgical year and on January 1st, we begin the New Year of 2022. I am looking forward to some time and commitment to begin this new year. I am emphasizing the need to “Take A Moment” in 2022 to relax my mind and humble my heart and focus on Christ. I will allow God each morning to be the only Person on my mind while I read this prayer (broken into parts). I ask you to join me with this commitment as we begin 2022. When we give the time it takes to read articles, jokes, stories, emails, and Facebook etc., we should give the same respect to our prayer time. I plan to break this prayer into segments and meditate on just a small part each day during the beginning of the month of January. I invite you to join me in this prayerful practice.

The Great I Am, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I am blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me, and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said, or thought that was not pleasing to You. I ask now for Your forgiveness. AMEN.

O’ lord, please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. AMEN.

Father God, please broaden my mind that I can accept things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through Your eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my words and heart, my wrongdoing, and receive Your forgiveness. Amen.

Creator God, when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus’ example – to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It is the best response when I am pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I find only a little time to pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your work. AMEN.

Aba Father, continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and cannot find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who do not know You intimately. I pray for those who yet do not believe in You. I thank you for my belief and those who have guided and encouraged in the faith. AMEN.

Yahweh, I believe that You change people, and You change things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers and for each and every family member in their household. I pray for my church, my pastor, and our church leadership. I pray for peace, love, and joy in our world. I pray for the needs in our world. AMEN.

Father Almighty, I pray that we turn our problems and the problems of the world over to You. My we all know that there is no circumstance, problem, or situation greater than what You lay a hand on. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly. This I pray in Your Name, In the Name of Jesus The Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

May our prayer life be a blessing in 2022!

Pastor Gary

Announcements and Stuff

Memorial Fund Expenditures

Our memorial fund has been growing over the past few years thanks to the memorial donations received from our church families. The Trustees and Ad Council voted to use some of these funds for new cupboards to be installed in the office to help organize the room. These were installed the end of November and the room has been partially reorganized (more organization to come.) 

Thank you to the families of our departed loved ones. Your generosity has not gone unnoticed. Stop in and take-a-look at our new purchase.

Great Turn Out For The “Gatherings”
The Mission Team is very excited and appreciative for the support given as we prepare and serve noon meals on the first Saturday of each month for the White Lake Community. Many people have come to the first two Saturdays when we have offered a meal for everyone in the community. Many hands make the work fun and enjoyable. So, keep up the good work and volunteering. If you have not had an opportunity to participate and would like to, please contact Patsy Schneider or Lisa Butler for additional details and opportunities.

Adult Sunday School
We will begin Adult Sunday School on Sunday, January 9th at 9:30 am. Our study will be the Book of Acts. Luke, the writer of Acts, gives us a look at how God’s Grace began to flow out to the world through the lives of the Apostles following Christ’s Ascension into Heaven. We will be using a study developed by biblical scholar, Matthew Skinner. Please prepare for the first class by reading chapters 1-4. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to be a part of our study.

Your Prayers Are Needed
In January, at our Administrative Council meeting, we will be preparing a detailed 2022 budget. This process involves looking at our expected giving and other income sources. Based on our projections, we will then develop a plan for expenses that includes our support of mission outreach in our community. We ask for your prayers as we look to use our church income and other resources, through grace, in so many important ways.

Inclement Weather
Should we have weather that could make Sunday Worship or other activities less than ideal, in respect to safe travel, we will notify you by phone and email if we cancel worship or other activities of the church. A phone “Snow Call List” has been updated for 2022. A copy of the list is available for you to review in the Fellowship Hall. Please take a moment to see if you are included and that the contact information we have for you is up to date.

Thank You
Suzanne Bellrichard, Reba and Pastor Gary thank you for the Christmas gifts that we received from our Claybanks Family this past Christmas season. You bless us with your love, support, and prayers. May God’s grace continue to bless the Claybanks Church Family.

Upcoming Worship Schedule

January 2
Genesis 1:1-5, Isaiah 60:1-6
John 1:1-9, 14
Let There Be Light
Edie Bogart Leading Worship

January 9
Psalm 29
Luke 3:15-22
We Please God When We Baptize

January 16
Affirmation from Roman’s 8:35-39
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11
Changing Water Into Wine – If Only I Had The Gift

January 23
Nehemiah 8:1-10
Luke 4:14-21
Respecting The Scriptures

January 30, 2022
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30
We Have Lost Much Of The Love That Paul Believes In