Daily Archives: May 31, 2024

June 2nd Worship Service

Posted on May 31, 2024 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, June 2, 2024
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Second Sunday After Pentecost

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”..….UMH 400

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: This is the day that the Lord has made!
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Leader: This is the day of new beginnings!
All: This is a time for growing into new disciples for Jesus.
Leader: Come, let us prepare ourselves for worship.
All: Let us be prepared for service to God. AMEN.

*Gloria Patri………………………………………UMH 70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
”O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee”…………UMH 430

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology………………….………………………UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
“’Here I Am, Lord”.…………………UMH 593

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
1 Samuel 3:1-20………………………..….Page 215
*Gospel Reading
Mark 2:23-3:6…………..…………………………Page 814

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Do God’s Work on the Sabbath”

Communion

Prayer

*Hymn
“Break Thou the Bread of Life”………..UMH 599

*Benediction.

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist – Diana Hicks

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

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Pastor’s Ponderings

Posted on May 31, 2024 | Leave a comment

A few years ago, the Worship Design Team encouraged me, and it became a practice that on the third Sunday of each month, we as a congregation would recite an Affirmation of Faith. In our hymnal we can find ten Affirmations of Faith. The one we recognize most, the Apostles Creed Traditional version, has been a part of Christian prayers since almost the beginning of the Christian Church. From time to time, I find other Affirmations of Faith that are engaging as I reflect upon what I believe. Some of these affirmations are exceptionally beautiful and at times they may deviate slightly from what we find listed in our United Methodist Hymnal as affirmations. Because they are not included in our hymnal and affirmed by our United Methodist Denomination, I refrain from using them in our general worship setting, yet they can be expressions of much of what we believe. I believe on a regular basis that we need to affirm what we believe as followers of Jesus Christ, and so doing it in our corporate worship strives to strengthen our commitment as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Since a youthful age when I first began to work for the YMCA as a professional, I have had the blessed opportunity on a few occasions to hear William Barclay speak at different large gatherings of the YMCA. William Barkley at that time was a member of the World Board of the YMCA and was a noted theologian who published a number of books including the William Barclay Commentary which I have used regularly throughout my time as a pastor. William Barclay’s Commentaries have assisted me not only in studies to become a pastor, preparation for messages that I deliver on Sunday, and also as I prepare to lead Sunday School Bible studies.

William Barkley has an exceptionally good explanation of the Apostles Creed that I would like to share with you in my Pastors Ponderings this month.

The Apostles’ Creed

So much was this the case that the statement of beliefs became embedded in what we know as the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe… In Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary…” As it stands, the Apostles’ Creed is a fourth or fifth century summary of the Christian faith. They took its name from a legend passed down to us by Rufinus, an Early Christian Church leader and writer. Rufinus says that while the apostles were still alive, soon after the ascension of Jesus, “The Lord commanded them to journey to separate countries to preach the word of God.” When they were at the point of taking leave of each other, they first settled on a common form for their future preaching, so that they might not find themselves widely dispersed as they would be, delivering divergent messages to the people they were pursuing to believe in Christ. So, they all assembled in one spot and being filled with the Holy Spirit, drafted a short summary, each contributing to the clause he deemed fitting: “They decreed that it should be handed out as a standard teaching to converts.” This is most likely a legend; but this much is true, the substance of the Apostles’ Creed was in fact the Confession of Faith used by the early church as early as AD 150 and required of candidates for baptism.

The church still today uses the Apostles’ Creed and other Affirmations of Faith as statements to what we believe and we as United Methodists recite the creeds or parts of the creeds at various times, at baptisms, confirmations, on special church holy days and in special religious contexts.

I would encourage you to take the time during your study or meditation to look at the Apostles’ Creed and other Affirmations of Faith and meditate upon each of the statements contained within them. I will be doing the same and from time to time including the statements found within the affirmations as part of the messages that I deliver to you each Sunday morning. It would be my prayer and desire that by doing so we can strengthen our commitment to Jesus Christ to be disciples for him and the transformation of the world. Just as Jesus commanded his disciples in Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, “Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

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Posted in Pastor's Ponderings

Announcements and Stuff

Posted on May 31, 2024 | Leave a comment

Women of Faith News
Our church has such a willing and joyful group of women in the WOF committee! They all work together so well and fill in for me when I have memory lapses. For example, it was Carol who picked up our strawberries last year and not the person I mentioned!

So, we are working toward the Strawberry Social. The forms have been sent in to the Oceana County Health department and next month we will gather when the strawberries dictate to wash, hull, chop, and freeze the berries. We decided to process 8 flats.

After discussing other ways to conduct the Strawberry Social, such as self-serve or banquet style, it was voted that we continue to conduct it as we did in the past. So, we need servers: younger persons. Put on your running shoes and plan to have fun!

A request was presented by Janice Anderson that we collect birthday cards next Sunday for her to take to Edythe Brown to honor her special birthday since she has difficulties attending church gatherings. Boy was that request honored! There was a basket full of cards which Janice and a few others took to Edythe.

Men and women, start planning what you can make or contribute (produce goes fast) to the bake sale at our social. It is so popular that at times we run out of goodies.

Let’s have a great summer and God bless us all . Shalom, Edie

Father’s Day, June 16^th
As part of Father’s Day, we would like the men of the church to wear a favorite hat. If it has a special meaning, would you be prepared to share it with the congregation? In respect, you may remove it when entering the building if you so practice. When entering the sanctuary, we will remove our hats but keep them visible.

Women’s Adult & Teen Challenge
Sunday, June 30th we will welcome the Women’s Adult and Teen Challenge as they bring music and witness to our worship service. Following worship, we will share a potluck meal with our guests. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share. Beverage and table settings will be provided by the Worship Design Team. An Offering Basket will be available to you in Fellowship Hall where you can assist in support of Adult and Teen Challenge.

Hymn Sing (Planned or Emergency Fill)
We would like to know your favorite hymns. A new list will be compiled to be used in case of emergency fill-ins or in selecting hymns for our weekly worship. A clipboard is available in Fellowship Hall for you to list your favorite hymns. Please list the title, page number and your name.

Community
It was great that Claybanks UMC members could share the National Day of Prayer, May 2, 2024, with so many others from our community. Also, a number of our Claybanks Family attended the Mears Pancake Breakfast at Mears UMC on Memorial Day.

Trustees
Big thanks to all who came to our outdoor building and ground clean-up. Many hands made the work possible. And the hotdog roast was spectacular as always!