Category Archives: Pastor’s Ponderings

Claybanks United Methodist Church
December 29, 2019 10:30 a.m.
*Indicates to stand as you are able

Epiphany of the Lord Sunday

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song “Good Christians Friends, Rejoice” v.1 UMH#224

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:​ When an angel of the Lord appeared to Mary, Mary said yes, even in the midst of unknown.
All: ​When an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, Joseph said yes, even in the midst of uncertainty.
Leader: ​When we consider the origins of our Christian faith in the midst of mystery and glory, we say yes to God.
All: ​When we celebrate the birth of Christ, we proclaim God is with us, Emmanuel.
Leader:​ Come! Let us worship.

*Gloria Patri UMH #70

Opening Prayer

*Hymn “What Child Is This” v.3 UMH#219

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Children’s Time–
After prayers, sing the Children out – “Jesus Loves Me.” Children 5 and under are welcome to remain in worship or go to the nursery at this time. Shalom Sunday

The Offering of Our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology UMH #95

Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn Carol Sing Congregation’s Choice

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading: ​​Psalm 148 ​​page 508
*Gospel Reading: ​​​Matthew 1:18-25​ page 783

Message: Protecting Your Family Pastor Gary

Prayer

*Hymn “Joy to the World ” v. 1,2,4 UMH#246

Benediction

Calendar and Announcements

Sunday, December 29, 2019
Sunday School will resume in January
10:30 a.m. – Worship: Shalom Sunday

Sunday, January 5, 2020
Sunday School 9:30 Youth 9:45
10:30 a.m. – Worship: Communion Sunday

Email: glpeterson32@frontier.com
Office Telephone: 231-923-0573
Office email: ClaybanksUMC@gmail.com
Website: http://www.claybanksunitedmethodist.com

Pianist​​​:​ Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist: Darwin Parsons
Nursery: Doris Graham
Ministers:​ All People As We Live the Good News

Claybanks United Methodist Church
December 24, 2019 6:00 pm
*Indicates to stand as you are able

Christmas Eve

Prelude

*Carol: ​​​“Once in Royal David’s City”​ UHM#250
(We will stand during this carol and the last carol; all others please remain seated.)

Opening Prayer

First Lesson: ​​​​​​​John’s Prologue – Pastor Gary

Lighting of the Advent Candles

Carol:​​​​ “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful” ​ UMH#234

Second Lesson: ​​​​​​​​ John The Baptist

Carol: “Joy To The World” (verses 1 & 2) UMH#246

Third Lesson: ​​​​​​​​ Jesus Is Born

Carol: “Angels We Have Heard On High” UMH#238

Fourth Lesson: ​​​​​​​​ The Shepherds

Homily – ​​​​​​​​​ Pastor Gary

Carol: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” No. 236 (versus 1, 2, 3 & 6) UMH#236

Fifth Lesson: The Wise Men

Special Music: ​​​​​​​“What Child Is This”

Carol: “The First Noel” (versus 1, 2 & 3) UMH#245

A Christmas Prayer – Pastor Gary

Carol: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” UHM#240

Six Lesson: And Then…..

The Great Thanksgiving

After you have received communion please accept a candle from the ushers and form a circle around the sanctuary for the passing of the Christ Light.

Circle of Light Passing of the Christ Light: We will pass Christ’s Light while the congregation sings “Silent Night” (See insert to bulletin)

Benediction

Extinguishing of Candles

Following our singing of “Silent Night” please extinguish your candles safely and deposit them in the box provided as you exit the sanctuary. Please remain quiet as you leave the sanctuary until you gather among family and friends in the Fellowship Hall.

If you wish, you may place your Christmas offering in the offering plate found as you exit the sanctuary in the Fellowship Hall. Tonight special offering will go to support a family in need of heat this winter.

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

If you purchased a Poinsettia, you may pick it up after the service from the front of the Sanctuary

Claybanks United Methodist Church
December 22, 2019 10:30 a.m.
*Indicates to stand as you are able
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” v.1,2 UMH#240

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:​ When an angel of the Lord appeared to Mary, Mary said yes, even in the midst of unknown.
All: ​When an angel of the Lord appeared to joseph, Joseph aid yes, even in the midst of uncertainty.
Leader: ​When we consider the origins of our Christian faith in the midst of mystery and glory, we say yes to God.
All: ​When we celebrate the birth of Christ, we proclaim God is with us, Emmanuel.
Leader:​ Come! Let us worship.

*Gloria Patri UMH #70

Opening Prayer

*Hymn “While Shepherds Watched …..” v.1, 2, 5, & 6 UMH#236

The Lighting of the Advent Candles

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Children’s Time–
After prayers, sing the Children out – “Jesus Loves Me.” Children 5 and under are welcome to remain in worship or go to the nursery at this time.

The Offering of Our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology UMH #95

Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn “O Come, All Ye Faithful” v. 1, 3 UMH#234

Sharing of the Word

First Reading: ​​​Romans 1:1-7​​page 913
*Gospel Reading: ​​​Matthew 1:18-25​page 783

Message: Mary Becomes Engaged to Joseph Pastor Gary

Prayer

*Hymn “Angels from Realms of Glory ” v. 1-4 UMH#220

Benediction

Calendar and Announcements

Sunday, December 22, 2019
9:30 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship: Fourth Sunday of Advent

Tuesday, December 24, 2019
6:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Sunday, December 29, 2019
9:30 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship: Shalom Sunday

Email: glpeterson32@frontier.com
Office Telephone: 231-923-0573
Office email: ClaybanksUMC@gmail.com

Website: http://www.claybanksunitedmethodist.com
Pianist​​:​​ ​ Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist:
Nursery: Joyce Twiss
Ministers​: All People As We Live the Good News

Claybanks United Methodist Church
December 8, 2019 10:30 a.m.
*Indicates to stand as you are able
Second Sunday of Advent

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song “Spirit Song” v.1 UMH#347

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: ​TBD
All: ​​
Leader: ​
All: ​​
Leader: ​
All: ​

*Gloria Patri UMH #70

Opening Prayer

*Hymn “Come, Thou Almighty King” v. 1-4 UMH #61

The Lighting of the Advent Candle

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Children’s Time–
After prayers, sing the Children out – “Jesus Loves Me.” Children 5 and under are welcome to remain in worship or go to the nursery at this time.

The Offering of Our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology UMH #95

Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” v. 1, 2,4 UMH#211

Sharing of the Word

First Reading: ​​​Isaiah 11:1-10​​ page 558
*Gospel Reading: ​​​Matthew 3:1-12​ page 784

Message: Bearing Good Fruit Pastor Gary

Prayer

*Hymn “I Come with Joy” v. 1,5 UMH#617

Benediction

Calendar and Announcements

Sunday, December 8, 2019
9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Youth Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship: 2nd Sunday in Advent
2:30 p.m. Caroling at the SKLD nursing home

Sunday, December 15, 2019
9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Youth Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship: 3rd Sunday in Advent

Thursday, December 19, 2019
7:00 p.m. – Worship: Blue Christmas

Tuesday, Decemeber 24, 2019
6:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Email: glpeterson32@frontier.com
Office Telephone: 231-923-0573
Office email: ClaybanksUMC@gmail.com
Website: http://www.claybanksunitedmethodist.com

Pianist​​: Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist: Mechelle Schneider
Nursery: June Freeman
Ministers​: All People As We Live the Good News

We need your help!

A few years ago Claybanks United Methodist Church was blessed by the Munson family when they donated a home and property to our church. Two years ago the church sold the property and received a substantial amount of revenue from it. The church Administrative Council along with the recommendation of the Finance Committee invested the proceeds from the sale of the property in two ways. The first use was to make donations to Child Evangelism Fellowship which the Munson family was committed to supporting financially over the years. We also used some of the proceeds from the sale to buy second well in Nigeria. The rest of the proceeds from the sale were invested in the United Methodist Foundation Fund for Methodist Churches. Over the past two years we have seen a significant return on our investment from the fund. When the church council decided to invest these funds it was with the intent of taking a portion of the investments earned and to use by making investments in our community through gifts and grants to organizations that work to improve life and lives in our community.

We have come to a position now where we would like to have your input as to where we might invest in our community through grants and donations. We would like you to tell us as to where you might suggest we could place some of this investment income. To date we have investigated two possibilities and are looking to meet other needs in our community. Our two possibilities thus far are supporting families in crisis through Love In The Name Of Christ and supporting children and families in need through referrals from the Montague Public School. Our administrative Council believes that these are two important needs in our community yet we are hopeful that you as individuals and a congregation know of other important mission projects within our community.

We would ask you to refer possibilities to any of our Administrative Council Representatives. The more information, details and contacts that you can provide us will very much help us in our process of determining needs and responding to them. Should the financial growth that we have seen over the past two years continue we believe that we will be in a position to continue to look at and assist in a number of areas in our community. The Claybanks United Methodist Church has been blessed and we are committed to be a blessing to others.
May you, our church and our community have a blessed Christmas Season.

Pastor Gary

Potpourri

By the time you read this newsletter article, Reba and I will be leaving for extended spiritual retreat and vacation. We will be gone for approximately three weeks. The first part of our trip is going to take us to the Ark Encounter and to the Creation Museum. We will then continue to Panama Beach to spend a week with my sister Mary and brother-in-law Tom. Following that week, we will be moving down to just south of Tampa to a the spiritual retreat center “Beside Still Waters” where we will spend approximately one week in a clergy retreat setting. I plan is to do some extensive reading and some preparation for 2020 Scripture and Message topics that I will be present to you. My plan is before the close of 2019 to be able to develop a message from the Creation Story in Genesis. The message or messages will also include Noah and his family and their life in the Ark. Thank you for allowing me to take three Sundays to accomplish all this. The first Sunday I am gone on November 3rd Edie Bogart will be leading our worship at Claybanks UMC. On November 10th Dion Stumpo will be leading our worship service. On Sunday, November 17th Shar Boerema will be presenting a musical Season of Thanksgiving worship service with you.

While I am gone should you need pastoral care Mike Riegler from White Lake United Methodist Church and his wife Anne from Mears/Shelby United Methodist Church will be available to you. I would ask that when possible please co-ordinate the needed pastoral care through Edie Bogart. Edie will stay in contact Mike and will keep me informed.

Just recently Bishop Bard through the Communications Office of the Michigan Conference issued a warning to our Michigan churches concerning email scams that have targeted United Methodist congregations across the US and even more specifically in Michigan. These scams are fraudulent emails very much like other scams where you are asked using a pastor’s name, the conference or bishop requesting that you send gift cards for a specific need. These persons are trying to impersonate and defraud our church members by catching us off guard and responding to the request for immediate need. Please note that any request from our bishop, conference, me as your pastor or the church will be made directly to you in person, during times of worship, when we gather in community and never by emails or phone calls that you cannot be verify. Please be suspicious and be careful that someone may be trying to impersonate our bishop, a clergy person or others from our congregation in leadership positions. Always investigate and by contacting us directly.

Numerous times as your pastor I have been questioned about different religious programming that we receive through television and other kinds of media communication. While I am not one that watches a lot of religious programming, a clergy friend of mine from Pentwater, Father Sam Morrison put together a list of some interesting programs that I will be tuning into during the next couple of months. There are some from his list that I do know of, have appreciated and I would recommend to you. They are “Turning Point” found Monday through Friday at 7 AM and Saturday afternoons at 4 PM. Others are “Driving Through History” Thursday evenings at 9:30 PM and Saturday afternoons at 2 PM and “Hour Of Power Worship” from the Shepherds Grove Church in Garden Grove California. This worship experience is inspirational in worship, music, interviews and messages. If you like Southern Gospel music the “Bill and Gloria Gaither Time” is enjoyable and you will find it on Saturday evenings at 6 PM. These I would recommend to, you and you can find them on the Trinity Broadcast Network. I will be looking at some of the other programs as we look for opportunities that we will find to be good religious viewing in the upcoming months. I will share what I consider good possibilities for us in the following months.

Our Mission’s Committee and we as a church are looking for new possibilities in which we can be involved in serving our community. We are continuing to look for new ways in which to serve many of God’s children. If you know, have come across or believe there is a need that would be good for us as a church community to respond to would you please talk to June Freeman (Chair of Outreach, Missions and Campus Ministry) or any of the other current Mission Committee members. They are: Reba Peterson, Edythe Brown, Carol Royalty, Kelly White, and Patsy Schneider.

Please place on your calendar our Church Charge Conference which will be held on Tuesday, December 3rd at 7 PM here at Claybanks United Methodist Church. It is a very important time for us as a congregation to be in community and to share what has happened during 2019. We will also be sharing as a church community our plans for 2020.

Pastor Gary

Claybanks United Methodist Church
October 13, 2019 10:30 a.m.
*Indicates to stand as you are able
Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song “God Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens” v.1 UMH #150

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:​ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you people!
All: ​With shouts of joy we celebrate the good news of God’s love.
Leader: ​Open your hearts to the warmth of God’s redeeming love.
All: ​​God has poured such wonders into our lives!
Leader: ​Come, let us worship God with hearts and souls and voices!
All: ​Let our praise ring to the rafters and ascend to the heavens! AMEN.

*Gloria Patri UMH #70

Opening Prayer ​​

*Hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” v. 1-4 UMH #89

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Children’s Time–
After prayers, sing the Children out – “Jesus Loves Me.” Children 5 and under are welcome to remain in worship or go to the nursery at this time.

The Offering of Our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology UMH #95

Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v.1-3 UMH#140

Sharing The Word

First Reading: ​​2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 ​ pages 967, 968
*Gospel Reading: ​​Luke 18:1-8 page 853

Message: Persistence is the Key Pastor Gary

Prayer

*Hymn “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” v.1-3 UMH#295

Benediction

Calendar and Announcements
Sunday October 13, 2019
9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Youth Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship:

Sunday October 20, 2019
9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Youth Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship:

Email: glpeterson32@frontier.com
Office Telephone 231-923-0573
Office email ClaybanksUMC@gmail.com
Website http://www.claybanksunitedmethodist.com

Pianist​​​​ ​ Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist Konnie Grant
Nursery Joyce Twiss
Ministers​ All People As We Live the Good News