Daily Archives: November 28, 2025

November 30th Worship Service

Posted on November 28, 2025 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, November 30, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
First Sunday of Advent
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”There’s a Spirit in the Air”…….……UMH 192

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: We begin the journey that leads to Christmas.
All: Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Leader: This is a journey of peace.
All: Let us beat swords into plowshares.
Leader: This is a journey of hope.
All: Let us walk with God.

*Gloria Patri…………………………….UMH 70
*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
”The First Noel”……………………….UMH 245

Lighting the First Advent Candle
Reader:The prophet Isaiah calls………….neither shall they learn war
anymore (Isaiah 2:4)
All: Today, we choose to live in hope, believing that the time of God’s
reign has come and is coming among us.

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
Shalom Offering
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology……………………………..…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Star-Child”…………..……..TFWS 2095

Sharing of the Word
Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 2:1-5…………………………………Page 550
*Gospel Reading
Matthew 2:1-12…………………….…..Pages 783-784

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“The Wonder of a Star”

Prayer
*Hymn
“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”…………..UMH 240

Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist – Kelly White
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

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Posted in Weekly Service

Pastor’s Pondering

Posted on November 28, 2025 | Leave a comment

My Pastor’s Pondering for December is a reprint (With a few changes for the Liturgical year C) of the pondering that I wrote for you in December of last year 2024. I had a number of positive responses from last year’s pondering and how it helped many focus on the Advent Season through the study of scripture. It is my prayer that you will visit these scriptures or revisit them so that we can truly center the focus of our Advent Season on the birth of our Lord and Savior during what can be a hectic season of the year.

Advent is a season observed by many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting in preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. During Advent, it is common for followers of Jesus Christ to read and reflect on specific Bible verses or passages that relate to the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, which are symbolized by the Advent Candles that we light each Sunday during Advent and on Christmas Eve.

For your study during Advent, I would like to suggest these readings from scripture:

Sunday November 30^th – Isaiah 2:1-5 Hope
Sunday December 7^th – Isaiah 11:6-9 Peace
Sunday December 14^th – Isaiah 35:5-10-6 Joy
Sunday December 21^st – Luke 1:46–55 Love

Wednesday or Thursday December 24^thand 25^th, Christmas Eve and Christmas – Isaiah
9:6-7 Rejoicing

Scriptures to be read and meditated on during other days of Advent:

Isaiah 52:7-9
Genesis 3:8-15
Isaiah 40:1-5
Genesis 15:1-6
Deuteronomy 18:15-19
Psalms 89:1-4
Isaiah 11:1-10
Micah 5:2-3
Zachariah 6:12-13
Malachi 3:1-6
John 1:1-8
John 1:9-18
Mark 1:1-3
Luke 1: 5-13
Luke 1:14-17
Luke 1:18-25
Luke 1:39-45
Luke 1:46-56
Luke 1:57-66
Luke 1:67-80
Isaiah 7:10-13
Luke 1:26-35
Isaiah 9:2-7
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:1-20
Matthew 2:1-2
Luke 2:21-35

As you read scripture from you Bible each day might I suggest a quiet time and place, maybe a candle flickering. As you read each scripture look for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

May this Advent Season be a blessed time filled with the grace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Pastor Gary

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Posted in Pastor's Ponderings

Announcements and Stuff

Posted on November 28, 2025 | Leave a comment

United Women of Faith
Let’s talk Christmas for a minute, specifically poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary.

We’ll be taking orders for poinsettia plants, the same size as we usually get, in the color choices of red or jingle bell, which is red with white spots. Each plant will cost $16.00.

The plants will be delivered on December 20th and used to decorate the church on Sunday, December 21, Christmas Eve, and Sunday, December 28.

Our supplying florist needs our order earlier than typical, by December 8th. This means I will need any orders by December 7th. You can pay any time in December, but I need your order as soon as possible.

Please see Cinda to place your flower order.

Holiday Cookie Tins for Our Church Family
During our Fellowship Time on Sunday December 7^th, we will fill tins with cookies for those from our church who are not able to worship with us on a regular basis. We will then deliver cookies to them during the holiday season letting them know that they are continually in our prayers and hearts. Please bring enough cookies for about ten shut-ins and then we will have a cookie exchange among those who are with us on that Sunday. We suggest that maybe three dozen cookies will be needed to bless all.

Mission Projects For December
In the past, Claybanks United Methodist Church has assisted the Montague United Methodist Church with housing families in the Family Promise program. With a permanent home now in Muskegon we are reconnecting with Family Promise to sponsor a family for the holiday season. A special love offering will be taken up on Sunday, December 7th to support a family with gifts for the children and parents. We will also be assisting a local family who have been brought back together and are living in our community. Our assistance for them will come from our Shalom fund. Thanks to everyone, we were able to take many boxes of food prior to Thanksgiving to Trinity Food Bank, as well as an offering of over one hundred dollars so that they can purchase discounted food from Feeding America.