Category Archives: Announcements and Stuff

Church Annual Clean-up
Tuesday April 20^th from 4:00-7:00 pm (alternate date because of poor weather April 27^th)

Adult Sunday School
Following a short break the Adult Sunday School will resume for one Sunday in April, the five Sundays in May and concluding for the summer on June 6^th. 

Schedule: 9:30 – 10:15 in Fellowship Hall

April 11^th – Exploring how to better use our Bibles

May 2^nd – June 6^th Short Books of the New Testament to include Titus, Philemon, Books of John and possibly Jude.

Church Support
Claybanks UMC overall financial condition has improved now that we have returned to in-person worship. Through March we still lag slightly behind in year to date giving. Please review you monthly 2021 giving plan for support of Claybanks UMC operations and mission funding.

Pastor Gary and Reba will be in Colorado (Playing with grandchildren during their Spring Break) from April 15^th – 30^th. Should you need Pastoral care Pastor Anne Riegler (Pastor for Mears and Shelby UMC) will be available. Her cell number is 231-631-0573. Please coordinate through Edie Bogart when possible.

Thank You

Our family would like to thank everyone for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.  We are comforted knowing that Richard is in Heaven with his Lord and Savior

Lucille Nienhouse and family

Holy Week Worship Opportunities

Palm Sunday 
Claybanks UMC 10:30 am In-person
White Lake UMC 9:00am (Montague) in-person and online

The Praise Center (Whitehall) 11:00 am in-person and online
Mears UMC 9:15 am in-person and online
Shelby UMC 11:00 am in-person
Centenary UMC (Pentwater) 10:30 am limited in-person and online

Holy (Maundy) Thursday
Claybanks UMC – No Service
White Lake UMC – The Praise Center 7:00 pm
Mears and Shelby Combined Service at Shelby UMC 7:00 pm in-person
Centenary UMC (Pentwater) 6:00 pm limited in-person and on-line

Good Friday
Claybanks UMC 2:00 pm – in-person
White Lake UMC (Montague) 1:00 pm in-person
Mears UMC 1:00 pm in-person and online
Shelby UMC – 7:00 pm in-person
Centenary UMC (Pentwater) 7:00 pm limited in-person and online

Easter Sunday
Claybanks UMC 10:30 am in-person
White lake UMC 9:00 am (Montague) – in-person and online
The Praise Center (Whitehall) 11:00 am in-person and online
Mears UMC 9:15 am in-person and online
Shelby UMC – 11:00 am in-person
Centenary UMC (Pentwater) 10:30 am limited in-person and online

UMW meeting

Hello to all the women who are ready to fellowship after the difficult year we have had because of the pandemic. This third Thursday in March brought the UMW back together and what a large gathering! It was obvious we missed being together to conduct business but especially to fellowship in person even though our smiles were behind masks!

We established the officers for the new year, received the report on Easter flowers from Patsy, and talked about having the Strawberry Social return this year.

The Easter plants will be $12.50 this year and must be ordered really soon.

God is ever present with us, individually or collectively. All women are welcome to join us on the third Thursday of each month. Although we meet at one o’clock, any day working women that want to be part of UMW, please contact Edie Bogart to see if we can establish an additional way to include everyone.

Thank You
Our family would like to thank everyone for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.  We are comforted knowing that Richard is in Heaven with his Lord and Savior

Lucille Nienhouse and family

Adult Sunday School Returns – We have returned to active Sunday School for our adults. From now through Lent we will be meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. “The Passion Play” which we began last Lent before Covid-19 cause us to suspend our study together will be our focus this Lenten Season. Scripture readings are available for your participation in the Fellowship Hall.

Nominations – We have filled some of the openings for leadership that we have at Claybanks UMC. We are looking to fill a few slots still. We have openings in Nominations, Worship Team and Missions. If, you have interest or know someone, please talk to one of our Nomination Committee members or Pastor Gary. Those filling our vacant positions will be confirmed at the Administrative Council meeting in March.

Our Mission Committee – is looking to support the needs in our community and beyond. If you know of a need that we may be able to support, please bring it to one of our committee members or Pastor Gary.

UMW – will resume meeting this third Thursday of March (18th)

UMCOR Sunday – is March 14th – We will have a special offering on that Sunday. When we give to UMCOR Sunday we are underwriting UMCOR relief so that whenever a disaster strikes, like in the Texas freeze recently, UMCOR could respond immediately. They were there and assisting United Methodist Churches which opened their door for warming, shelter, meals, and water. This rapid response could not have happened so quickly if it were not for the support churches give on UMCOR Sunday.

Our Shut-Ins – Please remember our shut-ins with your cards, calls, and prayers: Olive Fordham, Room #18, 6827 Whitehall Rd., Whitehall, Mi 49461

SPRING IS COMING!!!

Hey folks!  It won’t be long before our congregation will be back together, and our regular duties will again be necessary.  One of those duties we have is the honor of working together on the annual church clean-up/hot dog roast.  Weather permitting, we have scheduled Tuesday, April 20^th (with an alternate date of April 27^th) around 4 PM as the day we will do this.  This is not only a chance to do some work for God by beautifying our church, but to also gather for some socializing and a hot dog roast around the campfire.  Please put the date on your calendar. The more people that come, the less work for all and the more fun we will have at the campfire. Hope to see you there!                          

Dave G. and Konnie G.

Thank You

Suzanne, Reba and I want to thank you for the gifts and cards we have received from you during this Holiday Season. May the joy we share with each other be a lasting greeting of love for all to appreciate and remember.

Pastor Gary

Scriptures on Hope

Fill in the Blanks! (self-correcting quiz!)

Job 13:15
Though he _ me, yet will I ___ in him: but I will maintain mine own ____ before him.

Proverbs24:20
For there shall be no reward to the ____ man; the candle of the ____ shall be put out.

Romans 8:24-25
For we are saved by ___: but hope that is not seen is not ___: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with _ wait for it.

1 Corinthians 15:19
If in this ___ only we have hope in ____, we are of all men most _____.

Hebrews 11:1
Now __ is the substance of things ____ for, the evidence of ____ not seen.

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the _______and Father of our Lord Jesus _____, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the _____ of Jesus Christ from the _.

1 Thessalonians 5:8
But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a ______, and the hope of salvation as a _.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
BY ROBERT FROST

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep

New Year’s Traditions and Celebrations

In many countries, New Year’s celebrations begin on the evening of December 31—New Year’s Eve—and continue into the early hours of January 1. Revelers often enjoy meals and snacks thought to bestow good luck for the coming year. In Spain and several other Spanish-speaking countries, people bolt down a dozen grapes-symbolizing their hopes for the months ahead-right before midnight. In many parts of the world, traditional New Year’s dishes feature legumes, which are thought to resemble coins and herald future financial success; examples include lentils in Italy and black-eyed peas in the southern United States. Because pigs represent progress and prosperity in some cultures, pork appears on the New Year’s Eve table in Cuba, Austria, Hungary, Portugal and other countries. Ring-shaped cakes and pastries, a sign that the year has come full circle, round out the feast in the Netherlands, Mexico, Greece and elsewhere. In Sweden and Norway, meanwhile, rice pudding with an almond hidden inside is served on New Year’s Eve; it is said that whoever finds the nut can expect 12 months of good fortune.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/new-years

Prayer To Begin The New Year

Lord, grant me a joyful heart and a holy sense of humor. Please give me the gift of faith to be renewed and shared with others each day. Teach me to live this moment only, looking neither to the past with regret, not to the future with apprehension. Let love be my aim and my life a prayer.

Covid 19 Update
The Claybanks United Methodist Church in order to keep our church family safe suspended the in-person meeting of worship and other church activities for December. Based on the continuing surge of Covid 19 infections in our community we will not be able to gather together until the alert level in our community is reduced. Your church leadership will continue to monitor and communicate with you the plans for our church family. Please keep each other in prayer. Continue to use whatever media you feel most comfortable with as you continue to stay in touch and support each other. Please also remember that your financial support is needed to continue meeting the financial obligations of the church that are ongoing.

UMW
The UMW would like to thank everyone who ordered from the RADA company during the month of October. From your orders, our ladies group made a profit of $178.00. We will try to make this an annual event. Thank You!!

Quotable Quotes

Use what talents you possess;
The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.
Henry Van Dyke

There is not surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved;
It is the finger of God on a man’s shoulder.
Charles Morgan

Do not worry about what people are thinking about you – for they are not thinking about you. They are wondering what you are thinking about them!
Anonymous

I regret often that I have spoken; never that I have been silent.
Syrun

Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.
Rev. Jesse Jackson

Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.
Will Rogers

Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change. And when we are right, make us easy to live with.
Rev. Peter Marshall

Adversity introduces a man to himself.
Anonymous

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.
Victor Hugo

When a man has quietly made up his mind that there is nothing he cannot endure, his fears leave him.
Grove Patterson

Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.
Whatley

Don’t tell me that worry doesn’t do any good. I know better. The things I worry about don’t happen!
The Watchman-Examiner

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt

The most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of success, but rather those days when out of dejection and despair you feel rise in you a challenge to life, and the promise of future accomplishments.
Gustave Flaubert

It is a glorious thing to know that your Father God makes no mistakes in directing or permitting that which crosses the path of your life. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter.
It is our glory to trust Him, no matter what.
Joni Eareckson Tada

Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
T.H. Thompson

A Gift for the Soul

Written by
Mother Teresa

People are often un-
reasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse
you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people
may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be
enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

Nomination Committee
We have opening for Church Leadership positions. If you would like to be considered or would like to nominate someone (please discuss with them prior to submitting that person’s name) contact Kathy Ohman, Konnie Grant, David Grossman, Edythe Brown, Brenen Twiss or Pastor.
Positions to be filled:
Financial Chair
Outreach and Missions Chair
Director of Christian Education
Worship Design Team Member

Community Food Drive
Claybanks UMC will be collecting food goods for the Trinity Lutheran Community Food Bank on the next few Sundays in November. On Sunday November 22 just prior to Thanksgiving we will celebrate and conclude our efforts with a Sunday Worship Message entitled “We Are A Food Bank”. Please bring your canned goods and non-perishable items to church through November 22nd. You will find containers in the fellowship hall in which to place you gifts. Thank you for your support of this community mission project.

UMW

Wow! Nary a cobweb anywhere! And dust, gone. Windows sparkle on the inside. This is all compliments of the UMW because following our October meeting, we ladies cleaned! Thank you UMW!

At the meeting, we hung the picture of the painting of the Lord’s last supper on the west wall of the main church entry. We talked about having Art’s beautiful sculpture of the Last Supper placed on the wall where the clock now is outside the office door and putting the clock on the wall by the “Pass thru” window by the kitchen. It should be the only thing on that wall and the pictures on the table beneath removed and placed elsewhere. Of course this is only with the approval of the artist, Art.

We planned to meet in November to decorate for Christmas, but that date is not fitting because it is before Thanksgiving. There is a short space of time between Thanksgiving and the first Sunday of advent which is the last Sunday of November. Let’s meet Thursday, December 3rd. Cinda and I will make sure the advent wreath and candles are in place for the 1st Sunday of Advent.

On a good note, we have permission from Gary to enjoy our usual pizza party the day we decorate!

Edie B.

Nursery Schedule

Nov. 1 – Carol Adams
Nov. 8 – Cheryl Gaultney
Nov. 15 – June Freeman
Nov. 22 – Kathy Ohman
Nov. 29 – Joyce Twiss

IF I HAD KNOWN
By Mary C. Davies
If I had known what trouble you were bearing;
What griefs were in the silence of your face;
I would have been more gentle, and more caring,
And tried to give you gladness for a space.
I would have brought more warmth into the place,
If I had known.
If I had known what thoughts despairing drew you;
(Why do we never try to understand?)
I would have lent a little friendship to you,
And slipped my hand within your hand,
And made your stay more pleasant in the land,
If I had known.

VETERAN’S Day
NOVEMBER 11

Thought for today:
by Sydney Sweeney

Dear Veterans,
Those of us who have not served
will never fully understand
the sacrifices you’ve made
both in times of peace and of war.

We will never fully understand
what you were required to do
or how you were able to do it.

We will never fully understand
the depth of your scars.

But what we can offer you is this:

We see you.

We recognize your humanity.
And we send you love
that is gentle, patient, and healing.
With blessings and gratitude,
we ask that you remember you are loved.
Thank you.

Claybanks Updates
We have an FM Radio Transmitter for those who would like to be a part of worship yet do not feel quite ready to move into the building. Within 100 yards our church, worship will be able to be received on your car FM Radio at 103.9. During these uncertain times, your Claybanks UM Church is striving to meet as many needs as possible for our friends and family.

On October 18th Claybanks UMC will celebrate Laity Sunday by using our great laity leadership to conduct our worship service. We have needs in these areas for worship on that Sunday: Those willing to give a short 3-5-minute witness of how God has been active in their life. Person(s) willing to lead us in prayer during our prayer time in worship. Please contact Pastor Gary if you are willing to serve. Assistance is available in performing these needs for our worship from Pastor Gary.

All Saints Day will be recognized on Sunday November 1st. If you have a memory of someone and would like their name read during worship, please forward their name to Pastor Gary.

On Sunday November 22nd we will be looking at Matthew 25:31-46 and our Message will be “We Are A Food Bank”. To recognize the giving season of Thanksgiving and Advent we will be collecting food and financial donations for our local food bank programs. During the preceding weeks you are encourages to bring non-perishable food items to be placed in our food collection or you may mark your special giving donation with “Food Bank” and place them in our donation plate as you enter the sanctuary.

During 2020 Claybanks UMC has designated Love, In The Name Of Christ (Love, INC)as our “Special Mission”. There are a number of needs that Love, INC. has requested assistance with as they have moved into new Headquarters across the street from their Mission Store. If you are willing and available to assist, you can access a list of some of their needs by visiting their website and clicking on “New Office Project” tab. Some listed are material needs and others are work project needs.

Adult Bible Study will resume on October 18th meeting in Fellowship Hall at 9:30 am. We will pick up where we left off back in March with – lesson number 8 Sound Teaching For Faithfull Living in The New Testament Study of Disciple Fast Track. Starting on Sunday November 22nd we will begin an Advent Series that will take us through Advent.

Cleaning of the Church – we would like to begin in October a sharing of the cleaning duties for the upkeep of the church. You will find a sign–up sheet in the entryway just prior to entering the sanctuary. Jobs have been divided up so that many can be involved with small projects:

Sanctuary
Fellowship Hall
Bathroom/office area
Kitchen and Pantry
Northside classrooms
Southside classrooms and hall
Please pray and fully consider where you can be of assistance.

United Methodist Women
The UMW held a short meeting the third Thursday in September.  We discussed how to contribute to laity Sunday which is coming up soon.  Pastor Gary will be helping us with this!  We would like to present the bibles to our graduates on that Sunday. We will meet again in October even if there is little to discuss but we will always do a prayer or two and have a devotional message which often is of a humorous vein!
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RADA CUTLERY SALE
Please have your order for Rada in by Wednesday, October 28th!!