Monthly Archives: December 2025

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, December 28, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
 First Sunday After Christmas
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”O Little Town of Bethlehem”…..…….UMH 230

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: Praise the God of mercy and love.
All: Praise God with angels in the highest heavens.
Leader: Praise Christ, who came as a child.
All: Praise Christ with all God’s children, young and old alike.
Leader: Praise the Holy Spirit, who calls us here.
All: Praise the Spirit from the depths of our souls.

*Gloria Patri…………………………………UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Hymn
”What Child Is This”……………………..UMH 219

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
Shalom Offering
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology…………………………………………UMH 95
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”…..…….…..UMH 229

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Psalm 148……………..……………………..…Page 508
*Gospel Reading
Matthew 2:13-23……..…………….….…..Page 784

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Welcoming Foreigners Into Our Land”               

Prayer
*Hymn
”Go, Tell It on the Mountain”……………UMH 251
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist – Art Grumm
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, December 21, 2025
 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Fourth Sunday of Advent
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”…………UMH 211

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 the 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
*The Apostles’ Creed, Ecumenical Version………………..UMH 882
*Hymn
”Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”……….UMH 213

Lighting the Fourth Advent Candle
Reader: Today we come face to face…………………God calls Mary and Joseph to faithfulness despite the fear of disgrace.
All: With Mary and Joseph, we choose to wait, watch, and listen for the way of love instead of responding in fear to the world’s judgement.

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 7:10-16………………..………….Page 554
First Gospel Reading
Luke 1:46-55……………..….……………..Page 832
(Because there are two Gospel Readings, we will stand only for the second reading as we are able.)
*Second Gospel Reading
Matthew 1:18-25…………………….Page 783

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“The Wonder of Promise”              

Prayer
*Hymn
”Blessed Be the God of Israel”…………..UMH 209
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, December 14, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Third Sunday of Advent
* Indicates to stand as you are able

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

*Gloria Patri…………………………..UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Hymn
”Away in a Manger”………………………UMH 217

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Lighting the Third Advent Candle
Reader: In the midst of our waiting………………the truth of God’s salvation.
All:  We choose to believe that the day is coming when, “The ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

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
Isaiah 61:1-4. 8-11………………………..………….Pages 603-604
*Gospel Reading
Luke 2:1-16…………….…………………….………..Pages 832-833

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

Prayer
*Hymn
”Love Came Down at Christmas”…………UMH 242

Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, December 7, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Second 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.

Lighting then Second Advent Candle
Reader: Advent reminds us that we are….and a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6) 
All: Today, we choose to live the story of peace, believing that      peace comes when we seek the flourishing of all God’s creation

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”                

Holy Communion
Prayer
*Hymn
”Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”…………..UMH 240
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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