Category Archives: Announcements and Stuff

Thank You

Dear Claybanks Friends,

I wanted to thank you all so much for your support with the Oceana Shores Clean-Up Day.  The day consisted of a great sense of community.  We had 4 dumpsters at the park and one trailer.  These were pretty much filled by 11:00.  We ended up calling and getting 2 more dumpsters.  Folks were lined up with items waiting.

People from the park brought to the cook out hamburgers, chips and pop to add to the meal.  It was a wonderful group effort.  Folks from the community pitched in cooking, cleaning and visiting.  It was a fun day filled with building relationships and cleaning up.

Without your support this day would not have been possible.  Special thanks to all who made cookies, sat at a dumpster, helped with the cook-out and so much more.

Yours in Christ
Kathy Ohman

Pancake Breakfast

Thank you all for your generous donations to support our kids to go to camp.  The pancake breakfast was a huge success again, raising $514 this year.  Camp has been such a wonderful experience allowing the kids to engage in Christian fellowship and grow in the Lord.  They too appreciate all of your support.  😊

Teen Challenge

$476 was collected and donated to Teen Challenge while they were visiting recently.  Thank you to everyone for digging deep in your pockets for this very worthy cause.  A letter of appreciation from them is on our bulletin board.  

Nigerian Well Project

We’re getting there, folks.  Our balance as of May 20th is $4,301.  That means we only have $1,199 left to raisebefore we will be giving many, many Nigerian people safe, nearby water for drinking.  We still have items for sale on the table, we’re still collecting pop cans, we still have a book sale going on, we will continue having monthly luncheons until we reach our goal, and of course, you can always donate money by marking it and placing it in the collection plate.  Keep up the good work!

Up Coming Fundraising Events

Now until September 30th
**POP Can Drive
**Used Book Sale
**Various items on table for sale
June 10 – Salad Bar Luncheon
July 15th – Ice Cream Sundae Bar
August – 76th Annual Strawberry Social (Sponsored by UMW)

Nursery Schedule

6/3 – Liz Grossman
6/10 -Edith Bogart
6/17 – Carol Adams
6/24 – Kathy Ohman

Rothbury Clean-up Day
Volunteers are needed for the food table and to oversee a dumpster – what this means is that you would just welcome, visit and be “Encouragers”. I would like 2 volunteers per dumpster if possible.

Please bring your lawn chairs to be comfortable.

The Oceana Shores Trailer Park is located at 88th Ave and Meadow Lane in Rothbury,

Any questions please call Kathy Ohman
231-730-5310 or email me at Ohmank@mapsk12.org if you can volunteer for any of these times.

Time frames are:
9:00-11:30
11:30-2:00
2:00-4:00

Food table volunteer times
11:15-1:15

Nursery Schedule
5/6 – Carol Adams
5/13 – Kathy Ohman
5/20 – Joyce Twiss
5/27 – Doris Graham

Adult Sunday School Bible Study
Pastor Gary is continuing to lead an Adult Sunday School Bible Study that will be ending on May 20th. We are looking at the book of Hebrews with special emphasis on how it affirms so much of the Old and New Testament. Class runs from 9:30 – 10:15 am. Our class is an open class so if you are not able to make a class you are indeed welcome to join/rejoin at any time.

Nigerian Well Project Update
To date we have collected $2,841.85. We’re a little over half way but have slowed down considerably. If we’re going to make our deadline, we’ll need to pick up the pace a bit. We will continue to have more fund raisers for this project so be watching for them as we add them to the Upcoming Events. Something different is being planned for each month through September as well as a few continuing projects. Of course, you can always make a donation at any time by marking it as “Nigerian Well Project” and placing it in the collection plate. We hope to have 100% of the total needed and be able to purchase the well by November 1st.

Up Coming Fundraising Events
• Now until September 30th
o Pop can Drive
o Used book sale
o Various items on table for sale
• May 20th – Grilled Hot Dog and Hamburger Luncheon
• June 10th – Salad Bar Luncheon
• July – Ice Cream Sundae Bar
• August – 76th Annual Strawberry Social (Sponsored by UMW)

UMW News
The UMW women are off to a good start and ready to help the congregation any way we can. We started our meeting with a devotion presented by Mary Brumm followed by prayer. Doris took roll and read the minutes of the last meeting and then Elaine gave the treasurers report.

After deciding there was no old business to contend with, we moved on to new business. We discussed the possibility of our group supplying sandwiches and chips after the Teen Challenge Sunday on April 29th or should we have a potluck lunch; the potluck won!

Everyone is delighted over the prospect of new table coverings and we will happily embark on the selection after the pews are recovered so we can co-ordinate the color.

The pancake breakfast will remain next Sunday as we fund raise for our youth campers.

Once more, we extend an invitation to all women to join our happy, ambitious group willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Never be afraid to try something new.
​Remember, amateurs built the ark.
​Professionals built ​the Titanic
Anonymous

Adult Sunday School Bible Study

Pastor Gary will be leading an Adult Sunday School Bible Study starting Sunday April 15th and continuing for five weeks ending on May 13th. We will be looking at the book of Hebrew with special emphasis on how it affirms so much of the Old and New Testament. Class will run from 9:30 – 10:15 am.

Holy Week Schedule

Thursday, March 29, 2018
6:30 pm – Holy Thursday Service at Whitehall Campus of Montague UMC
Friday, March 30, 2018
2:00 pm – Good Friday Service at CUMC
Sunday, April 1, 2018 – Easter Sunday
9:30 am – Early Gathering
9:45 am – Breakfast Served
10:30 am – Easter Celebration

CLAYBANKS CAMP COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES THE EVENT
WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR:
Please plan to join us after the worship service SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2018 for the FAMOUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST FUND RAISER. We are raising funds to sponsor kids in our church family to go to SUMMER CAMP. It’s a very worthy endeavor to allow the kids a chance to learn more about fellowship and fun in JESUS. We thank you for your generous support!! 😊

Nigerian Well Project Update

To date we have earned $2,653.25, close to half the money for the well. We will continue to have more fund-raisers for this project so be watching for them as we add them to the Upcoming Events. Something different is being planned for each month through September as well as a few continuing projects. At that time, we hope to have 100% of the total needed and be able to purchase the well by November 1st.

Up Coming Fundraising Events
• The month of March – Used Book Sale
• Now until September 30–Pop can Drive
• April 15th–Pancake Breakfast (fundraiser to help send our youth to camp)
• May 20th – Grilled Hot Dog and Hamburger Luncheon
• June 10th – Salad Bar Luncheon
• July – Ice Cream Sundae Bar

Pop Can Drive

As another way to collect for our Nigerian Well Project, we will be collecting returnable pop cans. We have set a container by the “Well” table in the fellowship hall. We also have a large box in the back classroom for larger donations. What an easy way to donate to a worthy cause without using your cash! PLUS, just think, you don’t have to remember to take them to the store yourself! 😊 (We ask, please, that you rinse all cans so the church doesn’t get too stinky!)

Church Cleanup

It’s that time of year again when we gather together to clean-up the yard at the church. We will be meeting on April 19th at approx. 4:00 pm. The silver lining to this is, as usual, there will be a hot dog roast afterward. So, mark your calendars, get rested up and join us. You will want to bring your yard-working tools and your own hotdogs, etc.

Nursery Schedule

4/1 – Kathy Ohman
4/8 – Joyce Twiss
4/15 – Doris Graham
4/22 – Liz Grossman
4/29 – Edith Bogart

Ad Council Notes

It has been agreed that our church needs a better means of communication between the Ad Council and the congregation. For that reason, we will begin printing the highlights of the meetings in the newsletters.

March Ad Council Meeting
• Gary has signed up some folks to be a part of the training program “Active Shooter Prevention”. This will be sometime in May.
• Family Promise has been going well. We will continue to provide and serve a meal to the homeless 4 times per year.
• 8 youth are signed up for camp. The registration fee for all 8 have been paid. Kathy was able to get $800 in scholarships and $200 in rebates to help with this.
• There will be a Bible study starting April 15-May 20 on Hebrews.
• It was agreed to purchase a gas grill for the church. It will be used for our May hot dog/hamburger luncheon and be available for other events as well.
• The purchase of a 24 ft. extension ladder for church use was requested by the Trustees and was granted.

Glorious Morning

Over the hillside, the sunrise is coming. Gentle and warm
It wakes up the day.
Reflecting His light for Jesus has risen. Heaven and earth now join in the praise! Those who have seen Him now are believers,
And we who now by believing have seen. Lifting our voices in one mighty chorus, Jesus is Lord and Savior and King
Glorious morning Jesus is risen!
No tomb could hold Him,
No stone could seal.
Glorious morning, the world has a Savior! He is alive and His truth is revealed.

Eternity’s war fought through the ages Comes to an end at Calvary’s cross
And the tomb now is empty
Light shatters the darkness
Night that seemed endless gives way to the dawn
Oh! Glorious morning Jesus is risen!
No tomb could hold Him.
No stone could seal.
Glorious morning the world has a Savior! He is alive and His truth is revealed. Glorious morning Jesus is risen!

No tomb could hold Him
No stone could seal
Glorious morning the world has a Savior! He is alive and His truth is revealed. Glorious morning!!

Submitted by June Freeman

Was It a Morning Like This.

Was it a morning like this?
When the Son still hid from Jerusalem
And Mary rose from her bed
To tend to the Lord she thought was dead

Was it a morning like this?
When Mary walked down from Jerusalem
And two angels stood at the tomb
Bearers of news she would hear soon

Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?

Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound, “He is risen!”
Over and over in a never-ending round
“He is risen, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

Was it a morning like this?
When Peter and John ran from Jerusalem
And as they raced towards the tomb
Beneath their feet was there a tune?

Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?
Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound, “He is risen!”
Over and over in a never-ending round
“He is risen, hallelujah, hallelujah!”

Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound, “He is risen!”

Was it a morning like this?
When my Lord looked out on Jerusalem.
He is risen!
Hallelujah, hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Submitted by June Freeman

Find the Perfect Summer Camp for Your Child
It’s that time of year to start thinking about and registering for summer camp. There are scholarships available to kids and for first time campers. These camps are available to 2nd grade and up. Most of the camps are a week long. For the younger children there are mini camps as well. You can also register for family camp.

If you are planning on going or know of anyone who would benefit from the camping experience, please get with me ASAP! If we register early enough there are more scholarships available to use. There are not scholarships available for family camp.

This is a great experience for our kids. Our very own Kyra is on the cover of the flyers and brochures!!!

Kathy Ohman
231-730-5310

Please Note:
Due to a scheduling conflict, the Trustee’s and Ad Council Meetings will be held on March 20th at 6:30 and 7:00 PM respectively, rather than on the second Tuesday of the month (March 13.)

Lenten Schedule
Pastor Gary will be leading a Lenten Sunday School Study. Classes will be held on March 4th, 11th, and 18th. We will be looking at a series presentation developed by Max Lucado called, “He Chose The Nails”. During this study we will be exploring some of the gifts that Christ provided to us at his crucifixion. Class will be held from 9:30 am to 10:15 am. All are welcome on any or all of the Sundays.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on March 25th as our young people begin our worship with the traditional procession of Palms.

Holy Thursday, March 29th, we will be joining Montague United Methodist at the Whitehall Campus at 6:30 PM for Holy Thursday Service as we remember that Jesus instituted the first Lord’s Supper with His disciples.

On Good Friday, March 30th, we will gather at Claybanks United Methodist at 2:00 pm to remember Jesus‘ Passion.

Easter Sunday, April 1st, will begin for us at 9:30 am as we gather at the empty tomb. Following our joyous celebration with “Christ is risen! Alleluia!,” we will move into the Fellowship Hall for a light breakfast. (A sign-up sheet for food donations will be on the back table in the fellowship hall soon). At 10:30 am we will process together into the sanctuary for our Easter Celebration Service.
Easter Flower Sale
As in years past, we will be decorating the altar with flowers. Patsy is collecting all the information and will share it all soon. Watch your weekly bulletins for more information.

Update on the Nigerian Well Project
The well project is coming along nicely. To date we have raised approx. $1850 of the $5500 needed to sponsor a well in Nigeria. Thank you to all who have donated items to be sold or auctioned. We will continue with our monthly luncheons and would also like more donated items. There are envelopes in the back of each pew if you would simply like to make a donation and put it in the collection plate (please make sure it’s marked for the Nigerian Well Project.) Please keep the project in your hearts and prayers as we continue to strive toward our goal. We may be considered a small church, but we’re a mighty church! Thank you everyone!! Keep up the good work!!!!

Used Book Sale
Spring is almost here and we’re sure many of you have read a really good book this winter. As another way to raise money for the Nigerian Well Project, during the month of March the Missions Committee would like to have a used book sale. We’re asking everyone to please dust off your used books and bring them in to the church to be sold and read by others (please use discretion as to appropriateness.) We will set up an area in the fellowship hall to display and sell them. Browse through them as your leisure and find a good read for next fall. Any questions may be directed to June Martin – 231-750-5226.

Up Coming Fundraising Events
• March 18th – An Irish Soup Luncheon
• The month of March – Used Book Sale
• April 15th – Pancake Breakfast (fundraiser to help our kids get to camp)
• May 20th – Grilled Hot Dog and Hamburger Luncheon
• June 10th – Salad Bar Luncheon

Nursery Schedule
3/4 – Doris Graham
3/11 – Liz Grossman
3/18 – Edith Bogart
3/25 – Carol Adams

Lenten Schedule
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday February 14th. Claybanks United Methodist will observe the beginning of Lent with an Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 pm. The service will include the imposition of Ashes.

During the Lenten Season pastor Gary will lead two special Lenten programs on Sunday during Sunday School hour. These classes, “Disciplines of Lent” will be starting at 9:30 am and ending at 10:15 am. These classes will be held on Sunday March 4th and Sunday March 18th.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on March 25th as our young people begin our worship with the traditional procession of Palms.

Holy Thursday, March 29th, we will be joining Montague United Methodist at their church in the evening for Holy Thursday Service as we remember that Jesus instituted the first Lord’s Supper with His disciples.

On Good Friday, March 30th, we will gather at Claybanks United Methodist at 2:00 pm to remember Jesus‘ Passion.

Easter Sunday, April 1st, will begin for us at 9:30 am as we gather at the empty tomb. Following our joyous celebration with, “Christ is risen! Alleluia!” we will move into the Fellowship Hall for a light breakfast. At 10:30 am we will process together into the sanctuary for our Easter Celebration Service.

Thank You!!
Thank you, Claybanks United Methodist Church for allowing Reba and me to take an extended time away to visit our children and grandchildren in Colorado during this recent holiday season. You blessed us with time there and the financial gift we received from the congregation, which made our trip so joyous.
Bless you!
Reba and Pastor Gary

Thank you to Luanne Nienhouse for all the hard work she puts in on the Claybanks UMC website. She updates it weekly with the newest bulletin, monthly with the newest newsletter, and keeps it running smoothly and ad-free, which in turn, makes our church “look good” to the public eye. Those of you with a computer should check it out – http://www.claybanksunitedmethodist.com.
Thanks, Luanne, you make us proud!

Nursery Schedule
2/4 – Edith Bogart
2/11 – Carol Adams
2/18 – Kathy Ohman
2/25 – Joyce Twiss

Conference Offices have moved
The Grand Rapids District and WMC Offices have moved. Please note the new address below. Phone numbers and email addresses remain unchanged.
Grand Rapids District Office
207 Fulton St. E, Suite 6
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Email: grdistrict@wmcumc.org
Voicemail: 616-459-4503 Ext. 1211

Reminder: Please bring in your old palms from Palm Sunday last year so they can be burned to make ashes for Ash Wednesday. We will be having a burning ceremony on February 11th. Thank You!

An Invitation for all: Based on an inspiring true story, the movie, ALL SAINTS, follows a small-town Tennessee preacher who attempts to save his struggling church. God directs this man of God to risk, trust, and step out of the church’s four walls to bring healing and salvation. Join us at West Golden Wesleyan Church on Friday, February 9 from 6:30-8:30 for the movie followed by a time of prayer asking the Lord to stretch His Church to heed his call and grow His Kingdom. Questions? Contact Sue Beckman at 259-0004 or westgoldenwesleyan@gmail.com.

Special Advent Offerings, Programs and Worship

This Advent Season we will have opportunities to bring the Holiday Season into our hearts and to others in very significant ways.

First, we will have two evenings for Advent study. We will be using an Advent Study program developed by James Moore “Christmas Gifts That Won’t Break”. We will meet at 5:30 pm on Monday December 4th and again on Monday December 11th. We will be gathering together starting with a Potluck and then having devotions, scripture readings, video presentations, and discussion. “Christmas Gifts That Won’t Break” will open up to us some very unique and blessed ways to view our Christmas Celebration and this very special season.

Second, returning for us this year on Sunday Evening December 17th, at 5:00 pm will be our gathering for a Blue Christmas Service where we will begin to learn to celebrate the season without those very special people who are in our hearts and who have been in our lives and now are no longer here physically with us.

Third, during the Advent Season, our four Advent Sunday Worship Services will be formed around a series of messages entitled “The Wonders of Christmas” where we will explore and experience the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus The Christ Child in many blessings.
Fourth, On Christmas Eve we will meet Sunday morning for our regular worship service and then will meet again that night at 6:00 pm for a candlelight service of song, prayer and worship to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Fifth, we’re getting a group together to sing Christmas carols and serve snacks over at Heartland Healthcare in Whitehall on December 10th at 2:00 pm. Please come join in the fun and help to take some holiday cheer to the shut-ins.

Thank you to All!

The Missions Committee would like to thank the congregation for so willingly supporting the outreach projects we’ve put before you – donating/serving a meal for Family Promise four times this year; collecting cleaning supplies for Love, INC; supported Teen Challenge and UMCOR; and donating to the Shalom offering every month for our local families in need. The overwhelming amount of food collected for the food bank was truly a blessing. It was delivered to Lebanon Lutheran Church in Whitehall and was received with many thanks. Good job fellow CUMC congregants. God has blessed us in many ways and you’re, in turn, blessing others. Keep up the good work!

Snow/Bad Weather Church Cancellation Policy

Being out in the country in Michigan means you never know what the weather is going to be from one minute to the next. At times, it is necessary, for the safety of our congregants, to cancel a Sunday service. It has always been our policy to call each member to notify them of this, so stick by your phone on those crazy, snowy Sunday mornings or you may be the only person at CUMC that day.

Nursery Schedule

12/3 –  Liz Grossman
12/10 – Karen Anderson
12/17 – Edith Bogart
12/24 – Carol Adams
12/31 – Kathy Ohman