Category Archives: Announcements and Stuff

MISSIONS

Thank you all once again for a wonderful pot luck luncheon on June 14th, as we welcomed West Michigan Adult and Teen challenge!! I can’t speak enough about the generosity of this church as we also raised $267 above our set donation to this invaluable outreach program. GOD IS GOOD!

For July we will have a donation table in the fellowship hall to help fill the needs of The Ladder in Shelby. There will be literature and information about the items requested on the designated back table. They offer meals, Adult, Family, and Youth activities, along with fitness programs to the Oceana Community all in the hopes of sharing their Love for Jesus through this outreach facility. Please plan to have your donations completed by the last Sunday in July. Thank you again for all the love and support you offer to our friends in Christ.

2026 ANNUAL
CONFERENCE REPORT

Annual Conference was held in Traverse City again this year. I found it uplifting, educational, touching, spiritual, and exhausting. Following are a few of my “take-aways:”

• Theme this year was Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully, Lead Courageously.
  
  
• Bishop Bard’s opening worship service sermon “Confessions of an Accidental Methodist” invited us to explore growth in grace and love, which lies at the heart of the Wesleyan way of following Jesus. As usual, he did not disappoint and kept us laughing and crying along with every other emotion in between.
  
• The General Board of Global Ministries announced that the Michigan Conference led the denomination in giving in 2025, with gifts totaling $1,274,931 which supported nineteen missionaries and helped with feeding and migration ministries, disaster response, and multiethnic ministry.
  
  
• Because we need to balance ministry needs with current financial capacity, we approved a resolution which called for reducing the number of districts from seven to four, effective July 1, 2026. The current and proposed 2027 budgets will fund five superintendents, one for each district and a fifth conference superintendent will collaborate with and resource the four district superintendents. Our new District name will be Central Shores District.

• One year after approving the $215,000 Gardens of Hope campaign for ministry in Haiti it was reported that we were able to send $110,000. This money was used for such things as vocational courses, provided healthcare to three hundred patients, offered fifteen scholarships, held three clinics, and many other crucial uses. One hundred, fifty-one Michigan congregations out of 500+ congregations have participated. We voted to extend the campaign another year in hopes of reaching our goal because as Rob Nystrom stated, “loving boldly sometimes takes a little longer.” There will be two different bike rides to raise money for this campaign, if anyone is interested. They also are taking individual donations if you wish to contribute. (CUMC has sent $350 from our general fund for this mission this year.)

• Membership in the Michigan Conference is down 46% largely due to churches closing or disaffiliation.

• The clergy for the Michigan Conference have been involved in Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Education and Training for the past two years and will be continuing education and training in the future. It was well received by the Conference and decided that program would be made available to local church leadership and laity of the Michigan Conference.

• During the legislative sessions we voted on thirteen different resolutions. Some of them were a quick, unanimous vote while others took much discussion, but all was done politely and respectfully. I have copies of the resolutions if anyone would like to see them.

• The Finance Committee reported they were able to balance the budget for 2027 and it will remain the same as it was in 2026 – $8,032,538, which I find encouraging.

These are just a few things that made it into my notes from the conference. If you would like to watch a video or read any other reports given, please see me or Pastor Gary. We would be happy to share.

As in past years, I thank CUMC for sending me to our conference. I hope I have served you well in my voting and have represented our church in a way that honors your trust in me. I was proud to do so. As in years past, I

took part in the business of the UMC but I also grew personally.

Thank You!

Pastor Gary, Reba, and Konnie

MISSIONS
Sunday, June 14, we will be blessed to welcome West Michigan Adult and Teen Challenge once again for worship. Following worship, we will gather with them for a church potluck. Meat/drink will be provided. Please plan to bring your favorite dish to share. We will be presenting to them a gift from our mission budget. Should you like to give an additional gift, there will be designated envelopes in the pew that can be placed in our regular offering. I know they greatly appreciate you supporting God’s work in their lives. – Kelly

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
Our Adult Sunday School will meet on Sunday, May 3rd, 10th, and 17^th. We are currently looking at Stories of the Bible from a “Childs Perspective” using children’s bible books and music. All are welcome. You can come and go depending on your schedule.

MISSIONS
Our mission emphasis for May is the Step-Up Program in Muskegon. On Sunday, May 3^rd we will have a Chili Dinner following worship hosted by the Mission Committee. On Sunday, June 14^th we will be blessed by having Adult and Teen Challenge with us once again for worship. Following worship, we will gather with them for a church Potluck, and will be presenting to them a gift from our Mission Budget. Should you like to give an additional gift to them, there will be designated envelopes in the pew that can be placed in our regular offering.

TRUSTEES
The Trustees very much appreciated the large turn out from the Claybanks Family on Thursday, April 23^rd for our “Annual Outdoor Clean-up and Hotdog Roast.” Many hands made the work lighter and the fellowship around the fire was warm and toasty on a beautiful evening.

The Trustees are currently evaluating the appropriate replacement to our sanctuary sound board that decided to “Give up” on us Sunday, April 19^th. They produced a temporary fix for us so that we will have a sound system during our worship times.

SPECIAL  SPIRITUAL ART PRESENTATION
Carol Royalty has arranged for Alan VanDuinen to bring and present his artwork using horseshoe nails and other craft materials. Alan will be with us on Sunday, May 17^th during our coffee hour. Among his pieces is a depiction of the Fourteen Stations of The Cross. Plan to stay, see, and listen to Alan as he shares his spiritual gifts with us through his unique art.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
We will resume Adult Sunday School on Sunday, April 19th for five weeks with Biblical Stories of the Bible as seen through our children’s eyes. The format we used last fall is coming back by popular demand. We will use Children’s Bible Story Books to present some of the well-known and some lesser-known stories presented to us in Scripture. This is a fun experience and a way to learn in more detail the stories in the Bible as seen through the ears and eyes of young people. We can be young again!

MISSIONS
Many boxes of baby needs were delivered to the Trinity Baby Pantry during Holy Week. The items were well received and will be used to support families with very young children. Our missional work for babies is a needed response in our community.

TRUSTEES/SPRING CLEAN-UP
The Trustees have designated Thursday, April 23^rd as Spring Clean-up. We will start at 4:00 pm with a Hot Dog Cook-Out following our work session. Thursday, April 30^th is our back-up should the weather get in the way. Please bring rakes, shovels and other outdoor tools for the work planned. Additional details for the work party will be shared during announcement on Sunday, April 19^th.

UMCOR SUNDAY
Sunday, March 15th is United Methodists Council on Relief Sunday. The Claybanks United Methodist Church has supported UMCOR for many of its eighty plus years providing relief for those in need. During 2025, 137 worldwide Humanitarian Crises were addressed by UMCOR. Records show 454,163 lives were directly touched through the aid provided by UMCOR. 153 grants for disaster response and recovery were given in 2025. Included in these grants were eighteen for global migration, six for environmental relief, and ten for agricultural initiatives.

On UMCOR Sunday, the donations we give go to support the administration of UMCOR. By supporting UMCOR Sunday giving, when special requests for disasters and crises relief happens, all 100% of the funds given go directly to relief. In 2025, special giving totaled $32.96 million. The total funds raised went directly to humanitarian crises.

There will be special giving envelopes in the pews for UMCOR Sunday. Please prayerfully consider supporting them March 15th.

Holy Week
Holy Week begins on Sunday, March 29^th, when we will celebrate Palm Sunday during our worship service. Holy Thursday, April 2^nd, we are invited to worship with the White Lake United Methodist Church in the evening. The Claybanks United  Methodist Church will have a Good Friday service at 2:00 in the afternoon. Easter celebration will begin with a visit to the empty tomb inside in the fellowship hall at 9:30 am. Following our visit, we will have an Easter breakfast provided for us by the Claybanks Women of Faith. At 10:30 am we will all enter the sanctuary together for our Easter worship celebration.

Adult Sunday School
Sunday, March 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, we will gather and join other United Methodist churches in Michigan to learn from the  book “Knowing who we are: The Westland Way of Grace.” The program will include readings, video presentations, and discussion on what we believe, what we do, and why. The program will offer us a clear picture of our Wesleyan way of following Jesus, focusing on core values like God’s full grace for everyone, real life transformation, how your faith leads to positive, visual changes in your life, your community, and the world. The materials were developed by Lacey Warner, a professor at Duke University divinity school. Everyone is invited to participate. We will have the coffee ready each Sunday and occasionally doughnut holes! See you at 9:30 am beginning Sunday, March 8th. Reading handouts are available prior to the beginning of our classes located on the materials table in the fellowship hall.

Missions for March and April
In the fellowship hall, you will find a table for the Trinity Lutheran baby pantry. On the table are handouts that detail some of the needs that the pantry has identified for us as donations. We will continue to have updates through March and April and as the table becomes full, we will deliver our donations to the Trinity baby pantry.

We are looking for suggestions for mission work in our community that we can assist in beginning in May and running through the summer. If you have ideas, please pass them on to the missions and outreach team.

United Women of Faith
Ladies of the church, WOF, we will have our first meeting of the year on the third Thursday in March. Can spring be far behind? Yea!!

Mission For February/March
We are asking for baby Items to donate to Trinity Lutheran Baby Pantry (TLBP) for the months of February and March. Most needed items are diapers, wipes, and formula. Any baby items are welcome. If not new, items should be in good condition. Please place donations on the north table of the fellowship hall. We will have updated needs as we move through our donation time. Thank you for all you do to support our community.

Please find below Facebook information to share with anyone in need of items for the TLBP.

Link: www.tlcnewera.org

Adult Sunday School
Sunday, March 8, 15, 22, and 29, we will gather and join other Methodist Churches in Michigan to learn from the book “Knowing Who We Are – The Wesleyan Way of Grace”. The program will include readings, video presentations, and discussions on what we believe, what we do, and why. The program will offer us a clearer picture of our Wesleyan way of following Jesus, focusing on core values like God’s full grace for everyone, real life transformation, how your faith leads to positive, visual changes in your life, your community, and the world. The materials were developed by Laceye Warner, a professor at Duke University Divinity School. Everyone is invited to participate. We will have the coffee ready each Sunday and occasionally donut holes! See you at 9:30 a.m. beginning Sunday, March 8^th.

Adult Sunday School Break
Because of the difficulties that winter weather brings us, we will not be meeting for Sunday school during January and February. The plan is to resume Sunday School following the Peterson’s vacation in February with our first class back on Sunday, March 8^th. We will resume with a Lenten Study. Study details will be available in mid-February.,

Mission Notes
We have received a thank you from Trinity Food Bank thanking us for our monthly financial gift and a special thank you for our food gifts during the holiday time. They noted that our financial gift for the year allows them to obtain 15 000 pounds of food from Feeding America. Our special donations for the Baby Pantry were also very needed. Our special offering of $168.00, taken in December to go to Family Promise to assist a family to purchase Christmas presents for the children, was a special and unexpected gift that greatly blessed a family. We received $202.00 from our Christmas Eve Candlelight Offering. We are looking to assist in a special need in our community with these monies. Should you see or know of a need, please contact one of our Mission Committee Members or Pastor Gary.

Claybanks UMC Mission support from our General Fund in 2025 included gifts to Love In The Name of Christ, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Richard Lindell Mission trip to Peru, Adult and Teen Challenge, St. Judes Children’s Hospital and Muskegon Step Up Program.

From the Treasurer
I will soon be starting to fill out the individual giving forms that get sent out each January. If you choose not to receive this information of your church donations from 2025, please let me know.

Thank you.