Category Archives: Pastor’s Ponderings

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

Claybanks United Methodist Church
 Sunday, August 10, 2025
 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                      
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”How Firm a Foundation”………………UMH 529
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: From the rising to the setting sun,
All: God summons us.
Leader: In the perfect beauty all around us,
All: God brightens our hearts.
Leader: When we worship with acts of love and mercy,
All: God is pleased to give us the kingdom.
Leader: Come! Let justice and righteousness be our worship.

*Gloria Patri…………………………..UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Hymn
”Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”……………..UMH 462

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

*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Have Thine Own Way, Lord”…………………UMH 382

Sharing of the Word
Old Testament Readings
Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23……..……………..Pages 451 & 452
*Gospel Reading
Luke 12:32-40…………………..…….…Page 847

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Trust in the Lord”
               
Prayer
*Hymn
”Give to the Winds Thy Fears”….……..UMH 129
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist –Edie Bogart
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

I had been working on a Pastor’s Pondering for a number of days and on Monday afternoon, I became aware of an incident that happened in Pentwater on Sunday, July 27^th, and felt that I should change my ponderings for this month of August.

As your Pastor, Administrative Council, and Trustees we hold the safety of our church congregation and our building at an extremely important level and have worked to put in place procedures that will keep all of our church family safe.

On Sunday morning, July 27^th, a community member in Pentwater had what has been determined as a mental disruption in their life. This individual had been observed early on Sunday morning at a number of places in the community wearing a mask and yelling profanities while moving about the Pentwater Community.

On Sunday morning, for many years, the Centenary United Methodist Church has blessed the Pentwater Community with a worship service on the Village Green welcoming all visitors and those from the community to worship.

During that worship service on the Village Green, this individual started yelling about the devil and threatening the congregation. 911 was called. This individual following the threats had slowly removed himself from the worship service and had been spoken to by ushers informing him that the pastor would be available following the worship service to speak with him. He left the area. He was later found by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Department and was taken into custody for observation. Of concern and priority is that we pray for the individual, his state of mind, and physical condition.

As always, security is a top priority when we gather together in community. Over the past few years, on an annual basis, our Trustees have looked at our Emergency Procedures and updated them when necessary. Our Emergency Procedures Manual is located in the Fellowship Hall on the table to the left side as you exit our sanctuary.

There are three items that I would like to make you aware of as we continue to gather for worship and other activities as a community in our church building.

1. On the bulletin board directly above the table where our Sunday Bulletins are placed, is the physical address location of our church (9197 56^th Avenue Montague, Michigan) should we need to place a 911 call.
2. A Safety Alert Monitor is located at the Audio-Visual Console in the rear of the church sanctuary. This safety device has a pull tab which is to be pulled to summon our county emergency responders should it be necessary. This device will alert our emergency providers that an incident has happened at the Claybanks United Methodist Church, and they will be dispatched immediately.
3. In the entryway is our Automated Emergency Defibrillator to be used if someone were to have a heart related incident. Should it be necessary to use our defibrillator, 911 should be called immediately.

With these procedures and others in place, we are working to protect our church family during an emergency situation. Given even the more recent events in our country, safety is always of concern when we gather together in community, workspace, and even in our own homes. Should you have concerns about safety, please bring them to our Trustees, Administrative Council, or to me as your pastor and we will look at your concerns and address them as an utmost importance by acting and praying for safety of all.

Live in Life and Peace,

Pastor Gary

Claybanks United Methodist Church
 Sunday, July 27, 2025
 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                      
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”………..UMH 133

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: Before we even knock,
All: Christ opens the doors and invites us in.
Leader: Before we even ask,
All: God knows our every need.
Leader: Come to see; Come to pray; Come to worship,
All: For the Spirit has called us here.

*Gloria Patri…………………………..UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Hymn.
”Seek Ye First”…………………………..UMH 405

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

*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart”………..UMH 500

Sharing of the Word
Epistle Reading
Colossians 2: 6-19……………..…..…Page 957
Gospel Reading
Luke 11: 1-13………………….…Page 472

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“The Lord’s Prayer”
               
Prayer
*Hymn
”Precious Lord, Take My Hand”.………..UMH 474
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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

Claybanks United Methodist Church
 Sunday, July 20, 2025
 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                      
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
”God of Grace and God of Glory”…………UMH 577

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: We come into God’s presence,
All: Like green olive trees in the house of God.
Leader: Like young saplings in the courtyard of the Lord.
All: We ripen in the light of God,
Leader: Like the fruit of God’s vineyard
All: Come! Let us worship.

*Gloria Patri…………………………..UMH 70
*The World Methodist Social Affirmation……….UMH 886
*Hymn
”Open My Eyes, That I May See”……………..UMH 454

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

*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Jesu, Jesu”……………………………..UMH 432

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Readings
Amos 7:7-17…………..……Page 748
Psalm 82………………………Page 472

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Do You Know Your Plum Line?
               
Prayer
*Hymn
”Take My Life, and Let It Be”..…….UMH 399
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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

Claybanks United Methodist Church
 Sunday, July 13, 2025
 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                      
Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
Adult and Teen Challenge

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”Morning Has Broken”……………..UMH 145

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: Beloved people of God, welcome to worship.
All: We come to worship and to praise.
Leader: With love for one another, we gather as neighbors.
All: With love for God, we gather as God’s community of love.

|The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology………………………………………………………………..…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee”…………….UMH 430

Sharing of the Word
Witness and Message by Adult and Teen Challenge

Prayer
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist –Pastor Gary Peterson
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Report on 2025 Michigan Annual Conference by Reba and Gary Peterson.

This year Reba Peterson expanded her participation as an equalization member to the Annual Conference because of health concerns and availability. Reba substituted for Konnie Grant, the Claybanks United Methodist Church Lay Representative to Annual Conference. This report is a composite of thoughts from Reba and Pastor Gary on the annual conference in Traverse City for 2025. This recently convened conference was again an amazing experience because you could see God working through people for the church. Over fourteen hundred lay and clergy were in attendance. Friday, May 29th was the first day of the conference and it began that morning with over three hundred volunteers assembling 45,000 meals to be distributed during this year by our United Methodist Committee On Relief. Our first session included a worship time together, and as always, what a joyous worship it is when so many United Methodists are able to praise God with music and song. Bishop Bard delivered our opening message, “Unfinished Business Growing Up And Into Christ,” which was the theme of this year’s Annual Conference.

Following a few organizational details, we as a conference took action to affirm four Constitutional Amendments that all Annual Conferences must vote on this year. These amendments come from the 2020/2024 General Conference and must be approved by 2/3 of the Annual Conferences. We as a conference affirmed and approved four pieces of legislation. Reorganization for the Central Conference (Which the United States is part of) was the first piece of legislation. Inclusiveness of the church and Racial Justice Amendments were approved that better clarify the intent of our constitution. The last piece of the Constitutional Amendments detailed the educational requirements for clergy which will allow clergy, while attending seminary, to select from a number of different paths in which to be ordained or licensed in the United Methodist Church.

We then moved on to approved legislation for our Michigan Annual Conference which included a number of authorizations to the budget that will allow our annual conference to meet our financial requirements in the future. We also deliberated and passed a number of other resolutions concerning Holy Land Excursions, encouraging boycotts of large corporations that do not include the right of dignity and human rights for all. We also passed legislation around the Mandatory Protection Policy and Ethics Training for Clergy. Our final important piece of legislation was to establish a budget and an equitable compensation schedule for clergy.

Each day at conference, either in the beginning or at the end of the day, we took time to be in worship together culminating in a worship service of ordination and licensing for clergy. We also recognized those from clergy, We also recognized those from clergy, staff and laity who were retiring after many distinguished years of service to the United Methodist Church and the Michigan Area Conference. During these worship times, we paused to remember clergy and laity who have passed away during the past year.

Our last one was to affirm that we would once again gather as the Michigan Area United Methodist Church in Traverse City in 2026 where we will continue to work as disciples growing up and into Christ.

Reba Peterson – Lay Representative

Gary Peterson – Pastor