Category Archives: Pastor’s Ponderings

In the beginning of each new year, many people make New Year’s Resolutions. Resolutions can go from exceedingly slight changes that you want to make in your life to even major changes in how you conduct your life. Not all resolutions are kept. I have experienced that and I have spoken to many others who had the same experience, and some say because I could not discipline myself to keep my resolutions, I no longer make resolutions. I understand that, but let me suggest something to you that may help you with your resolutions by making a Covenant Resolution for your spiritual growth.

There are many churches within our United Methodist Denomination that have a Watch Night on New Year’s Eve. During the Watch Night Service, which is usually about three hours in length, they include readings from scripture, hymn singing and prayer. During the service there is a part that is called Covenant Renewal, and I would like to suggest to you that one of your resolutions for 2026 is a Covenant Renewal. For us as United Methodists, Covenant Renewals go back into even John Wesley’s preaching time when John would preach about the “Application of the Whole” which is considered the first real celebration of the Covenant Renewal within the Methodist movement. John preached that we need to have a rich and meaningful expression before God. This is a time of remarkable blessing and occasion for a variety of spiritual experiences in a time when we experience the manifestation of God’s grace; a time when God helps us with not backsliding and a time where we can commit ourselves to be more supportive of others on their spiritual journey. Overtime we as united Methodists have taken the Covenant Prayer of John Wesley and updated it in its language so that we might fully live out the Covenant that we are making with God through Jesus Christ and with the presence of the Holy Spirit.

I would suggest to you that if you are willing to make a Covenant with our Creator God and with the intent of fulfilling that Covenant throughout 2026, working with one or more of the Spiritual Disciplines, this can be your resolutions for 2026.

Begin by reciting the Covenant Prayer: O God, searcher of all our hearts, you have formed us as a people and claimed us as your own. As we come to acknowledge your sovereignty and grace, and to enter into a new covenant with you, remove any reluctance or falsehood within us. Let your Spirit impress your truth on our inmost being, and receive us in mercy, for the sake of our Mediator, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Spiritual Disciplines are those practices that are found in scripture that promotes spiritual growth within a follower of Jesus Christ. Spiritual Disciplines fall into two main categories: The first is abstinence or self-denial which includes solitude, silence, fasting, Sabbath, secrecy, and submission. The second category of disciplines is engagement and include bible reading, worship, prayer, soul friendship, personal reflection, and service. It is not practical to engage yourself in each of these disciplines with emphasis all the time. I would suggest that you select one from each of the two categories and strive to make them practices during a month’s period of time. After the first month and continuing monthly thereafter, select one discipline from each of the two categories and focus upon them for that month reviewing the previous month (s) as you build your spiritual practices.

There are other spiritual disciplines that I will be introducing to you in a few months’ time. Our goal is a goal that I quite often speak to when someone asks me the question: How can I become more spiritual or find myself closer to God? My answer is that we need to find ways (Practices) that can bring us into a closer contact with God.

It is my prayer that you will begin 2026 with this challenge of Covenant Renewal. I will be challenging myself with practicing these Spiritual Disciplines each month and as the year goes along, my plan is to introduce to you additional disciplines that we might continue our Covenant Renewal for all of 2026.

I pray that you will find that John Wesley’s Covenant Renewal enriches your spiritual walk with almighty God, blessed by Jesus and directed by the Holy Spirit.

Happy New Year!

Pastor Gary

My Pastor’s Pondering for December is a reprint (With a few changes for the Liturgical year C) of the pondering that I wrote for you in December of last year 2024. I had a number of positive responses from last year’s pondering and how it helped many focus on the Advent Season through the study of scripture. It is my prayer that you will visit these scriptures or revisit them so that we can truly center the focus of our Advent Season on the birth of our Lord and Savior during what can be a hectic season of the year.

Advent is a season observed by many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting in preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. During Advent, it is common for followers of Jesus Christ to read and reflect on specific Bible verses or passages that relate to the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, which are symbolized by the Advent Candles that we light each Sunday during Advent and on Christmas Eve.

For your study during Advent, I would like to suggest these readings from scripture:

Sunday November 30^th – Isaiah 2:1-5   Hope                   
Sunday December 7^th – Isaiah 11:6-9   Peace
Sunday December 14^th – Isaiah 35:5-10-6 Joy 
Sunday December 21^st – Luke 1:46–55 Love

Wednesday or Thursday December 24^th and 25^th, Christmas Eve and Christmas – Isaiah
9:6-7 Rejoicing

Scriptures to be read and meditated on during other days of Advent:

Isaiah 52:7-9                                                       
Genesis 3:8-15                              
Isaiah 40:1-5
Genesis 15:1-6
Deuteronomy 18:15-19                                                                   
Psalms 89:1-4
Isaiah 11:1-10                                                       
Micah 5:2-3                                      
Zachariah 6:12-13
Malachi 3:1-6                                                        
John 1:1-8                                        
John 1:9-18
Mark 1:1-3                                                             
Luke 1: 5-13                                     
Luke 1:14-17
Luke 1:18-25                                                         
Luke 1:39-45                                    
Luke 1:46-56
Luke 1:57-66                                                       
Luke 1:67-80                                    
Isaiah 7:10-13
Luke 1:26-35                                                       
Isaiah 9:2-7                                       
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:1-20                                                         
Matthew 2:1-2                                  
Luke 2:21-35

As you read scripture from you Bible each day might I suggest a quiet time and place, maybe a candle flickering. As you read each scripture look for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

May this Advent Season be a blessed time filled with the grace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Pastor Gary

During the past few weeks, I have had to curtail my physical activities which has given me more opportunity for study, meditation, and prayer. During this time, I picked up a book that had been given to me more than 20 years ago, “A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People” written by Ruben Job and Norman Shawuck. One of the responsibilities that I am given by our denomination is to make sure that at least once a year I speak to you about the grace of giving.

From A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People

The grace of giving is often a tremendous stimulant to the life of faith. This is why the offering is correctly placed as part of the worship service.

In Isaiah 58 we read of a deeply religious people whose pious devotion counted for nothing because it was not matched with active caring for the poor and the oppressed. “Is not this the fast that I choose,” proclaims God, “To loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the things of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? (Isaiah 58: 6). Religious piety is bankrupt without justice. If you want your fasting to have true spiritual content, then you are to “Share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless and the poor into your house” says Isaiah in 58:7.”

It has been the practice of Claybanks United Methodist Church for many years, even prior to my arrival almost ten years ago, that we as a church family support many important giving needs. It was determined just a few weeks ago just prior to our church conference that 22% of our church budget is shared in financial giving either through our conference, our district, and local and national organizations that support the sharing of bread with the hungry and bringing those who lack shelter into protected homes. We recognize as a church family that we may not always have the possibility of physical contact in our immediate community so we reach out through many opportunities to support those who can share their bread and their shelter with those who have a yoke around their shoulders.

I share this not to pat each other on the back but to recognize we respond as those in the Old Testament and yes, as Jesus has commanded us in the Gospel readings, that we are all brothers and sisters in our need for each other. Much is written in the Gospels of Jesus commanding us to bring to our sisters and brothers grace as God has shared much grace with us. It is in love we respond through our sharing as we continue sharing God’s grace with the world around us.

May God continue to bless our giving in ways that we will always recognize that we are a family in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

My Pastor’s pondering for October is different than what I have traditionally written to you in our monthly Claybanks United Methodist Church Newsletter.

My heart continues to be heavy as the violence in our country comes to us each and every day in many different informational forms. During 2025 in the United States, we have averaged almost one mass shooting per day. We have seen violence in our streets, in our homes, in our schools, in our universities, in our public gatherings and most recently in a church in Michigan.

Violent acts against each other have occurred so often that, we as individuals and as a society, have begun to normalize the actions and the hate that we perpetuate in each other.

When violence is perpetrated on someone, our first response is that we will hold people and situations in our prayers and thoughts. I believe as a follower of Christ, this is the place we must start. As New Testament people, we find in scripture that Christ talks about love for our sisters and brothers second only for our love for God. So often in Jesus’s life when he was confronted by a situation of hurt, anger and even violence he began by addressing the actions of others with thought and prayer. Then Jesus would act, realizing that thoughts and prayers bring us to a point where we can determine how we will respond in love and grace to mediate what we as children of God have brought upon each other.

I have recently found that yes, I will watch the news about what is happening in our Community, our country and our world, but I will no longer let what is happening repeat and repeat itself in front of me from the many forms of news. I have decided once I have been informed adequately, I will remove myself from social media and news channels for an appropriate period of time. In place of continued absorption of the news I am going to read scripture, pray and then begin to take action by writing and phoning those who have some power and authority and who have considerable influence in changing who we are as children of God, sisters and brothers, and citizens of our country.

During the month of October, I am going to pause and lift those who have been affected by the violence that is around us and pray this prayer written by Rick Warren, the author of “Forty Days of Purpose,” that was so influential for many a few years ago.

A Prayer for Healing

God Creator,

My heart is broken for the people who are hurting right now. For those who are grieving, for those who are afraid, for those who are angry, for those who are discouraged, and for those who are depressed.

We know that this is not the world that you planned. This is not the world that you want it to be. We have made such a mess of what you have created.

We have lived self-centered lives. We have fought with each other instead of fighting for each other. And we believe the worst about each other instead of believing the best about each other. Most of all, we have forgotten you.

Help us to remember that it was your decision and plan to create such diversity. You intentionally made us different in so many ways. Help us to

realize that to reject anyone you have created is to reject you, the Creator. And it is to doubt your wisdom.

Help us to be color-blessed, not colorblind. Help us to enjoy the differences that we are. And now, when we are all so distraught and upset, help us to repent in this crisis, and not react in this crisis.

Fill us with humanity and civility towards each other. And help us to overcome evil with good. And most of all, Lord, help us to look to you for the courage, strength, and wisdom to stop this madness.

Father, I ask you to comfort every broken heart, heal every grieving heart, calm every angry heart, and give your peace to every fearful heart.

We need a spiritual revival in our nation, Lord. We need it in the world. May you turn this breakdown into a breakthrough for our world. And I humbly ask you to bless everyone who is turning to you right now. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Each day after I pray this prayer, I will open up my Bible and search for not just comfort but guidance from scripture. I will leave with you a few scriptures here, sharing them in this writing beginning with Psalms 30: 2 “Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.”

Jeremiah 33:6                                        Psalm 103:2-3

Deuteronomy 32:39                             Isaiah 58:8

Exodus 15:26                                         Isaiah 38:16

Psalm 107:19-20                                   Mark 5:34

Matthew 10:1                                        Psalm 6:2

Proverbs 16:24                                      Psalm 34:18

John 14:27                                              Isaiah 33:2

Matthew 9:35                                        Proverbs 17:22

James 5:14                                              Psalm 146:8

Isaiah 41:10                                            Revelation 21:4

2 Kings 25:5                                            Jeremiah 17:14

Luke 6:19                                                 Isaiah 57:18-19                      

Matthew 11:28                                      Jeremiah 30:17                                  

Isaiah 40:29                                            Psalm 147:3 

Live In Peace and Love,

Pastor Gary                

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, October 5, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
World Communion Sunday
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”Christ for the World We Sing”……………UMH 568

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: The Holy Spirit rekindles God’s purpose and grace for our lives.
All: Grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.
Leader: Christ Jesus, our Savior, abolished death and brought life and immortality to light.
All: This is good news, not just for us, but for the world.
Leader: Let us worship in thanksgiving and praise.

*Gloria Patri………………………..UMH 70
*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
”Break Thou the Bread of Life”………………..UMH 599
Celebrating World Communion Sunday

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology………………………………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service”…..UMH 581

Sharing of the Word

Epistle Reading
2 Timothy 1:1-14…………….…………….….Page 966
*Gospel Reading
Luke 17:5-10…………………………..……Page 852

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Sharing the Good News”         

Communion
Prayer
*Hymn
”There Is a Balm in Gilead”…………….UMH 375
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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

Genesis 1: 14 “And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years.”

During our old-time worship service a few weeks ago, my message to you was a comparison to the Old Farmers 2025 Almanac and biblical references to weather and how much they are similar. One of the points I made was the changing of the four seasons every year. In our lives there are many references to changing seasons from early childhood to young adults to mature adults and, yes, to our senior years, each change having its own time and season.

Galatians 4:10 “You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years.”

In a year, we have four seasons, we move from winter to spring to summer to fall and then return to winter. The church has a very distinctive four seasons in its life too. With this writing we are moving from summer into the fall season. Our church fall season begins with a secular holiday, Labor Day, followed by the return of some worshipers from the summer life. During the summertime, we do much traveling, visiting, and having others visit us, and the consistency of being in church is somewhat interrupted at times. When we move into fall, we celebrate the return of those we may not have seen for a while and renew friendships and make new friendships. For most churches, the fall is also the beginning of the educational season with the beginning of Sunday School, and for junior high and high school youth in many churches it is the start of confirmation class that will take them into a spring confirmation.

For Claybanks UMC, the fall is the beginning of Adult Sunday School and the return of Movie Night with potluck dinners. We will offer Movie Nights in October and November. Fall is also a time for much planning and organization as we prepare for our Annual Church Charge Conference.

For Claybanks UMC, the winter season begins the following Sunday after Thanksgiving, with the beginning of Advent which takes us through Christmas and New Years. The winter season can be difficult because of weather, and for some, getting to church is a little more of a struggle and even at times during harsh weather, we will have to cancel worship services and other activities for the safety of our church family. Shorter days during the winter season means less travel because darkness comes early, and because we have a senior congregation, we reduce the number of activities that we offer after the sun has set and darkness has come over our community.

As we begin to leave the winter season, we experience the beginning of Lent and a time where we prepare to engage ourselves more as followers of Jesus Christ, leading up to Holy Week and Easter Sunday. For the Christian Church, this is considered the beginning of the spring season of the church.

We, at Claybanks, mark the spring season with our annual outdoor cleanup. Spring brings the return of movie nights because the days are now longer, and we feel more comfortable driving in the evening before it gets dark.

Matthew 24: 32 “From the fig tree learn its season: as soon as its branches become tender and put forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.”

For us as United Methodists, and myself as a pastor, summer is marked by our Michigan Conference gathering in Traverse City during the first week of June, traditionally. In the beginning of summer, we welcome back those we have not seen for some time who are returning to the lake and the Claybanks area. Summer can be a busy time for us with our Strawberry Social, our annual Old Time Worship Service and church picnic. All of this is done working around the vacations and travel of our church community.

I believe that the changing of seasons not just for our weather but for our church is an integral part of what God wants for us as we journey on our spiritual walk with the Lord. Each time a season changes we have an opportunity to renew our direction and commitment which helps us refocus on our spiritual life.
With the changes from summer to fall now in our midst I would encourage you to look at your spiritual journey. Maybe it is time to do a little more in scripture reading, devotions, volunteer service, becoming a liturgist for worship, or stepping out in new areas to serve the church and our church family. It is a time when we can recommit ourselves to growth spiritually and with the power of the Holy Spirit move into new possibilities in life, in service, and in a deeper and extended walk with Jesus.

Claybanks United Methodist Church
 Sunday, August 17, 2025
 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Outdoor Old Time Worship
Church Family Picnic

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude
A Call to Holy Silence
*Call to Worship and Praise
Minister: O come, let us sing unto the Lord……For with Him is the fountain of life, and in Him shall we see light.
Leader: O Lord, open Thou our lips. 
All: And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
Leader: Praise ye the Lord.
All: The Lord’s name be praised.

*Call to Prayer

*Hymn
”Bringing in the Sheaves”………………. (insert)

Invocation
Prayer of Confession
Words of Assurance and Promises of Pardon

Affirmation of Faith
The Minister: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the one true church, Apostolic and Universal, whose Holy Faith let us now reverently and sincerely declare:

The Minister and People: We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power and love, whose mercy is overall. His works, and whose will is ever directed to His children’s good.

We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift of the Father’s unfailing grace, the ground of our hope and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death.

We believe in the Holy Spirit as the Divine Presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ and find strength and help in time of need.

We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the Kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen.

*Hymn
”It is Well with My Soul”……….….…” (insert)
Collection
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

Doxology
Offertory Sentences
*Hymn
”Let the Lower Lights Be Burning”..………. (insert)

The Lesson From Holy Scripture

Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 5:1-7
New Testament Reading
Luke 12:49-56

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“The Farmer’s Almanac”

Prayer
*Hymn
”All Things Bright and Beautiful”……….(insert)
Meal Grace
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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