Category Archives: Announcements and Stuff

Konnie’s Report from the Annual Conference
When Pastor Gary asked me to submit a short article for the newsletter regarding the Annual Conference I attended – “just point out a couple things you enjoyed about the conference,” – I thought sure, no problem. However, I’m finding it difficult to narrow my thoughts down to just a couple.

First let me say thank you for allowing me to represent CUMC as an equalization member. I not only was able to see firsthand how things are handled at the conference level, but also was able to be part of a few awesome worship services. The speakers were phenomenal, and the praise music was very uplifting. There’s something special about being a part of 1500+ people all worshiping and singing praises to our Lord all together. I’d have to say that was my favorite part of the whole weekend.

On one evening there was a service to ordain seventeen new people. That also was an emotional service. There were young and old, women and men. Some were ordained as deacons, some as elders, and some as local pastors. There were many of us there, as well as their families, to watch these men and women give their lives to God.

I must also add that there was a lot of legislature topics to be covered. Some of them we did from home before the conference via Zoom. I know these kinds of things need to be dealt with, but I can’t say I’m a fan of that part.

There were a LOT of opinions given on many different subjects and then a vote was taken on each of them. The one positive thing I can say about the legislation is that barring one incident, everyone spoke to others with respect, whether agreeing or disagreeing with the motion.

Of course, I can’t end this without saying I had some very fun, helpful roommates that made me feel welcome and showed me around. Thank you, Pastor Gary, Reba, and Edie, for such a great few days and welcoming me to the United Methodist Annual Conference!

UMW News
Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries!   Yes we have lots and lots of strawberries now frozen and stored for the August Strawberry Social.

Do you remember the old adage “Many hands make light the work”?  Well, we really had a large group working on the washing, hulling, chopping, and freezing of the berries.  Even with all the workers, it took two hours to process two flats.   But the joy of working, talking, and laughing made the time go by fast!  Next month we will devote to the final organization of the social and bake sale.

Shalom, Edie 

Fresh Flowers
Keep bringing the fresh flowers from around your house. They have been looking so nice the past few Sundays in our Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall!

Thought and Humor
Having just celebrated a birthday and being just a few years from my 80^th, I found this not only amusing but true and how I will attempt to live the last years of my life. So, I am sharing it with you. Pastor Gary.

Question: At your years what sort of changes are you feeling at 80?

Reply:

After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, and my friends, I have now started loving myself.

I have realized that I am not “Atlas.” The world does not rest on my shoulders.

I have stopped bargaining with vegetables and fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me. But it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school needs.

I leave my server a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.

I stopped telling the elderly that they have already told that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane and revives their past.

I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.

I give compliments freely and generously. Compliments are the mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a complaint, never, never turn it down, just say “thank you.”

I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.

I have learned to live each day as if it is the last. After all it may be the last.

I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!

I have decided to share this for all my friends. Why do we have to wait to be 60 or 70 or 80, why can’t we practice this at any age and stage of life.

Sometimes I laugh so hard tears run down my legs!

UMW News
Our May meeting found us shivering in the fellowship hall.  I forgot Art said he would not turn up the thermostat, so I guess I’m to blame for the cold!! Nevertheless, the meeting was warm and friendly as we started the discussion of the August Strawberry Social.  A request for the temporary permit license from the Oceana Health Department will be submitted.

We move forward  –  life is good! And – Edie learned to make decent coffee to go with Mitzi’s cookies!

Summer to Fall Happenings

Friday, August 12^th –  Strawberry Social

Sunday, August 21^st – Outdoor Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Church Picnic with hamburgers, hotdogs and bring a dish to share. Our Message for the day will be “Do You Remember The Old Sabbath Ways?” so let’s dress in old time attire and fun clothes for a church picnic.

In the fall we will resume our Potluck and Movie Night for  anyone who would like to share a meal, company and good entertainment.

Fresh Flowers
For the summer and into the fall,  if you have flowers from around your house or garden, would you consider cutting a few of them and bringing them to worship to make our sanctuary look fresh and nice or place them in our fellowship hall? The more flowers we display, the prettier the sanctuary, so when we have more flowers from different members, which is great! Please feel free to take them home after our service and fellowship time.

Missions
What a great participation we have had these past few months at “The Gathering” as we live in fellowship, preparing and serving meals to the White Lake Community. This fall we plan to launch a new mission project much like a few years ago when we were able to dig wells and bring clean water to Nigeria. We will be announcing this new mission shortly so stay alert (Hint- it is a wheels mission).

Adult Bible Study
Adult Bible Study will be meeting each Sunday during May at 9:30 am. Our Current study is the Book of Nehemiah. Join us whenever you can!

Michigan Annual Conference
Michigan Annual Conference will be in session from Wednesday June 1^st through Saturday June 3^rd in Traverse City. This year Claybanks UMC will be represented by four of our church family. Edie Boggart as Lay Representative Member for Claybanks UMC, Konnie Grant and Reba Peterson as Lay Equalization Members and Gary Peterson as Clergy. They will be reporting to our church family concerning the work of the conference in June.

Special Thank You
Special thanks to all who helped lead and participate in our Lenten Journey here at Claybanks UMC beginning with Ash Wednesday and concluding on Easter Sunday. It has been our pray that as we worked our way through Lent, we as individual and a church have strengthened our relationship with God the Father, got to know Jesus more closely and we are to look for the fire of the Holy Spirit as we approach Pentecost Sunday in a few short weeks.

UMW News
Our April meeting was a time to reflect on the Easter morning experience.  We discussed the morning brunch and decided it was well received so we will continue with the same menu next year.  We also decided we would like to purchase a toaster (4 slice) and a can opener for the church (an electric one to benefit arthritic hands!).  We need to fire Edie Bogart as the coffee maker or have her lighten up on the amount of coffee grounds she uses.  George would probably not be available to come to make the coffee!

UMW Meets Again in March

Our March meeting on St. Patrick’s Day started with a wee bit of fun! Everyone was given a St. Paddy’s Day pin to wear and riddles in honor of the day were read. They were, of course, corny and there were happy groans at the answers. They were fun and appealed to the child in us!

Then, after a more serious yet light hearted devotional and prayer, we got down to the business of electing the officers for the new year. Not surprising, nothing has changed, and the same people agreed to serve. After the meeting was called to order by the new/old chair, the secretary and treasurer gave reports. We currently have $1,926.51 in our treasury.

The brunch between the Easter Sunrise Service and the 10:30 service was planned, and all the ladies are supplying what is needed. The only item we need help with is the fresh cut up fruit. There will be a signup sheet for volunteers to help with this.

It is wonderful to meet together once more, and our hope is that more women can join us. We serve our Lord with great joy (and a wee bit of fun!).

Adult Sunday School

The Adult Sunday School Class will return after Easter with a Biblical Study from the Old Testament, starting with the book of Nehemiah and adding our related Book(s) as time allows. Our spring classes will begin on Sunday, April 24^th, and continue through June 5^th.

Church Clean Up

The Trustees have set the date of Tuesday, April 19^th, (Alternate Tuesday, April 26^th if inclement weather) for our annual Church Clean-up. Please bring rakes and other outdoor work equipment to make our work productive. We are scheduled to start at 4:00 pm with a hot dog roast around a campfire following our work project. If you would prefer to work indoors, we do have some small projects for you. See you then for a great time of making our church beautiful and sharing great fellowship.

Holy Humor and Joy Sunday, April 24th

We encourage you to dress in unusual clothing that will bring smiles to other’s faces. Maybe wear a funny hat. If you have some humor that you can share, please speak with pastor Gary. We plan to share joy, laughter, smiles, and humor with all that attend our worship service.

UMW Meets Again in March

Our UMW will soon be together again! On March 17, St. Patrick’s Day at 1:00 p.m., we will once more gather at the church for a devotional, fellowship, planning and scheming. Since we once more gather, can Spring be far behind? Remember, all are welcome to our gathering. Let’s meet with joy and wear green! You might expect a green treat!

Mission Project For March

The Claybanks Mission Committee has selected a new participation project for the Claybanks United Methodist Church. Our support is a first for us and a little unusual but truly needed.

During the month of March, we are going to support the Humane Society and Animal Rescue of Muskegon County. They need a number of different items as they continue to care for God’s creatures. During the month of March, we will have a table set up in the Fellowship Hall where you can place your donations. Following our collection in March we will take the items donated to Humane Society and Animal Rescue of Muskegon County for their use. All the animals and staff will greatly appreciate your donations.

Items need for the animals:

Non-clumping cat litter
Dry and canned kitten food
Dry and canned cat food
Canned dog food
Small cat beds

Items needed for the care of the animals:

Paper towels
Bleach
Liquid laundry detergent
Liquid hand soap
Hand sanitizer
All-purpose cleaner

Heads Up!

Easter flowers will again be available to order this year. The cost of flowers has increased to $15.00 each. You may order your choice of:

Easter Lilies
Hyacinths
Tulips

Order forms will be available sometime during the month of March and will be announced and included in the bulletins.

Adult Sunday School For Lent

Beginning on Sunday March 6^th and continuing through Palm Sunday the Adult Sunday School will gather to really learn how to pray, “The Lord’s Prayer” We will be using a series developed by Adam Hamilton where Adam explores each of the rich lines in the prayer and their meaning in the Bible, illuminating what we ask of God and what we ask of ourselves. Adam will teach us how to use The Lord’s Prayer as a pattern for our own pray life. All are invited and encourage to join our Lenten Study for a single class or the whole series. Please contact Pastor Gary so that materials for the class can be reserved for you.

Devotionals for Lent

Special Lenten devotionals will be available on the resource table in the Fellowship Hall for you or someone you can bless with a devotional to enrich their Lenten study. Please bless others and yourself during the Lent by spending more time with God!

Thank you!
I missed getting this included in the January Newsletter. In December many of you brought Christmas cookies to church and we placed them in Holiday Tins to be taken by volunteers and myself to our church family that are unable to make it to worship and other activities of the church on a regular basis. I cannot tell you how much your gifts of love were appreciated by those we visited. By your simple gift of cookies, those we visited experienced your care and love in a beautiful way. On behalf of all that were visited, THANK YOU!

Pastor Gary.

Job Opening 
The Step Up Program (a mission we have supported over the years) is in need of a supervisor for their Young Men’s Home. It is a position that requires about twenty hours a week with housing and meals included. Should you know of someone that might be interested in such employment please have them contact Pastor Gary for more details and contact information.

Special Worship Music on Sunday, February 20th
Megan Schihl and her brother Luke will be bringing some special music to our worship service on Sunday, February 20th. Plan to be with us and experience the worship energy that Megan and Luke will bring to our worship time. They will be with us following worship during our coffee and snack time when we will have time to share together. It has been a while since Megan has been with us and she and Luke have been sharing their music all around Mid-Michigan for the past few years.

Memorial Fund Expenditures

Our memorial fund has been growing over the past few years thanks to the memorial donations received from our church families. The Trustees and Ad Council voted to use some of these funds for new cupboards to be installed in the office to help organize the room. These were installed the end of November and the room has been partially reorganized (more organization to come.) 

Thank you to the families of our departed loved ones. Your generosity has not gone unnoticed. Stop in and take-a-look at our new purchase.

Great Turn Out For The “Gatherings”
The Mission Team is very excited and appreciative for the support given as we prepare and serve noon meals on the first Saturday of each month for the White Lake Community. Many people have come to the first two Saturdays when we have offered a meal for everyone in the community. Many hands make the work fun and enjoyable. So, keep up the good work and volunteering. If you have not had an opportunity to participate and would like to, please contact Patsy Schneider or Lisa Butler for additional details and opportunities.

Adult Sunday School
We will begin Adult Sunday School on Sunday, January 9th at 9:30 am. Our study will be the Book of Acts. Luke, the writer of Acts, gives us a look at how God’s Grace began to flow out to the world through the lives of the Apostles following Christ’s Ascension into Heaven. We will be using a study developed by biblical scholar, Matthew Skinner. Please prepare for the first class by reading chapters 1-4. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to be a part of our study.

Your Prayers Are Needed
In January, at our Administrative Council meeting, we will be preparing a detailed 2022 budget. This process involves looking at our expected giving and other income sources. Based on our projections, we will then develop a plan for expenses that includes our support of mission outreach in our community. We ask for your prayers as we look to use our church income and other resources, through grace, in so many important ways.

Inclement Weather
Should we have weather that could make Sunday Worship or other activities less than ideal, in respect to safe travel, we will notify you by phone and email if we cancel worship or other activities of the church. A phone “Snow Call List” has been updated for 2022. A copy of the list is available for you to review in the Fellowship Hall. Please take a moment to see if you are included and that the contact information we have for you is up to date.

Thank You
Suzanne Bellrichard, Reba and Pastor Gary thank you for the Christmas gifts that we received from our Claybanks Family this past Christmas season. You bless us with your love, support, and prayers. May God’s grace continue to bless the Claybanks Church Family.