Monthly Archives: December 2023

Claybanks Methodist Church
Sunday, December 31, 2023
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
First Sunday After Christmas

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
”Angels We Have Heard on High”..…..UMH 238

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: With mighty mountains and crashing seas,
All: Praise the name of the Lord.
Leader: With rolling valleys and lush forests,
All: Praise the name of our God.
Leader: With tiny ants and majestic eagles,
All: Praise the name of the Holy One.
Leader: With beautiful children and wise elders,
All: Praise the name of Love.

*Gloria Patri………………………………….UMH  70

*Opening Prayer – All: God of the promise, on whom we rely for life and its meaning: We confess that we have sinned against you by abandoning hope, and by failing to accept your promises. Forgive us, we pray, and once more open our hearts in your mercy, our minds to your promise, our hands to our neighbor in need. In this season of hope, restore us to faith in your providing care and your guiding love. AMEN.

*Hymn
”What Child Is This”…………………….UMH 219

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Children’s Time: “Twice Owned Boat”

Shalom

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology………………………………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
”Away In a Manger”………………….…UMH  217

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Readings
Psalm 139:14-16…………………………….Page 503
Malachi 3:18……………………………..…Page 779
*Gospel Readings
1 John 5:1-12…….…………………………..…Page 866
Matthew 7:13-14…………………………..…Page 788
John 11:25-26……………………………..….Page 874

Message by Jim Tanis
“Getting Into the Game”

Prayer

*Hymn
”For All the Saints” (verses 1,2,3,5,6)………..UMH 711

Retirement Recognition of Jim Tanis
Congregation: We thank God for the community of the faithful in which the Word of God found response. Countless people have depended upon you for help. In the providence of God, you know that both suffering, and joy can be God’s way of teaching and healing.

Congregation: We thank God that you were given the vision to be faithful. The truth has not always been easy to deliver. We know something of the grace by which you lived, and we thank God for your vision.

Let us pray together: God of grace, you fill your servants with the vision. You empower your servants with your Spirit. We give thanks for the ministry of Jim and for the ways in which

you have ministered to us through Jim. Give Jim a sense of your abiding presence, that he may continue to love and serve you, and ever grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. AMEN.

*Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist  – David Naghtin

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Claybanks Methodist Church
Sunday, December 24, 2023
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Welcome and Announcements

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

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: Light the lamps, prepare the room, God is coming to us!
All: Make our hearts and spirits ready to receive God’s most gracious gift, God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Leader: Push the darkness away. The light is truly coming!
All: May God’s light shine on us, in us, and through us that God’s glory may be seen. AMEN.

*Gloria Patri……………………………………..UMH  70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
”O Little Town of Bethlehem”………………..UMH 230

Lighting of Advent Candles

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology…………………………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
”In the Bleak Midwinter”…………………UMH 221

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Ezekiel 34:23-27………………………………………Page 702
*Gospel Reading
John 20:19-21…………….……………………Page 883

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Names for the Messiah: Prince of Peace”

Prayer

*Hymn
”Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”……….UMH 224

*Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist  – Doris Graham

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Claybanks Methodist Church
Sunday, December 17, 2023
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
 Third Sunday in Advent
Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
”Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”…UMH 213

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: Love has come down to us this Advent Season.
All: Divine love which heals and transforms our lives.
Leader: With great joy, we receive that love and share it with others.
All: We open our hearts to all God’s children, the last, the least, and the lost, as well as those who feel privileged.
Leader: The Lord has done and continues to do wonderful things for us.
All: Praise be to God who loves us so much and who challenges us to be people of joy in this darkened world. AMEN.

*Gloria Patri……………………………………..UMH  70

*Prayer of Affirmation………………………UMH 882

*Hymn
”O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”……………….UMH 211

Lighting of Advent Candles

Congregation: We wait as people who experience hardship and pain, yet we are called to witness to the persistent joy that sustains our life as God’s people.

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology………………………………………..…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
”Bless His Holy Name”………………..TFWS 2015

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Readings
Isaiah 9:2-7……………………………………………….Page 555
Psalm 103:9-14……………………………………Page 482

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Names for the Messiah: Everlasting Father”

Prayer

*Hymn
”There’s a Spirit in the Air”…….…….UMH 192

*Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist  – Konnie Grant

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Claybanks Methodist Church
Sunday, December 10, 2023
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Second Sunday in Advent

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
”Blessed Be the God of Israel”……..…UMH 209

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: Let us hear what God will speak, for the Holy One speaks peace to the people, to the faithful, and to all who turn to God in their hearts.
All: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet. Righteous and peace will embrace.
Leader: Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
All: The Holy One will give what is good, and we will bring our praise and song.

*Gloria Patri………………………………..………UMH  70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
”O God Beyond All Praising”………………TFWS 2009

Lighting of Advent Candles

Congregation: We wait as people who yearn for peace that bears the fruit of community, equity, and flourishing for all.

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology………………….…………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
”Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”…….…UMH  196

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 9:2-7……………………………………………………….Page 555
Psalm Reading
Psalm 72:2-4 & 12-14…………………….……………Page 464
*Gospel Reading
Mark 1:21-28…….………………….………………..…Page 812

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Names for the Messiah: Mighty God”

Prayer

*Hymn
”Take Time to Be Holy”….…….…….UMH 395

*Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist  – Michelle Peterson

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Claybanks Methodist Church
Sunday, December 3, 2023
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
 First Sunday in Advent

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
”His Name is Wonderful”……….…UMH 174

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: Come, people of faith, come join your hearts in worship.
All: We hear the invitation and hunger to join in the feast.
Leader: God is faithful and calls us into the loving presence of Jesus, who is the Christ.
All: We come to join with those who watch, wait, and celebrate. AMEN.

*Gloria Patri……………………………………….UMH  70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
”Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies”…………UMH 173

Lighting of Advent Candle

Congregation: We wait as people surprised again and again by God who shakes us out of our complacency and wakes us up to the work of the kin-dom all around us.

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology………………….……………………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
”I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”………UMH  206

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 9:2-7…………………………………………………………………..Page 555
*Gospel Reading
Luke 2:1-7…….……………………….…………………..…Page 832

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Names for the Messiah: Wonderful Counselor”

Communion

Prayer

*Hymn
”Fairest Lord Jesus”…..…..….…….UMH 189

*Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist  – To be decided

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News