April 20th Worship Service – Easter

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday April 20, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
 Easter Sunday

All Process into Sanctuary together following the Christ Easter Candle

Scripture Reading

Acts 10:34-43……………Page 895

Welcome and Announcements


*Praise Song

Crown Him with Many Crowns”……..UMH 327

Prelude

*Call To Worship 
Leader: We run to the tomb to be forever surprised.
All: Christ is risen!
Leader: Through our tears of sorrow and despair, we do not recognize Him.
All: Christ is risen!
Leader: Then He calls us by name.
All: Christ is risen!
Leader: We run into the world announcing, “We have seen the Lord!”
All: Christ is risen!

*Gloria Patri

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
Up from the Grave He Arose”…………..UMH 322

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns 

The Offering of Our Gifts and Ourselves 

*Doxology

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”.…………UMH 301

Sharing The Word 

Old Testament Reading

Psalm 118 1-2, 14-24………Page 492
*Gospel Reading

Luke 24:1-12 ……………….Page 860

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson

“The Tomb is Empty”

*Prayer 

*Hymn
He Lives”…………..………UMH 310

Benediction 

PostludePlease Be Seated

Pianist​​​​:  Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist: Reba Peterson

Ministers:  All People As We Live The Good News

April 18 Good Friday Service

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Friday April 18, 2025 – 2:00 p.m.
Good Friday

As you enter the sanctuary, please be respectful of the quietness of this time.

Prelude

Jesus And His Drowsy Disciples Gather In Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-46……………………………………Pages 808-809

Prayer

Jesus, Betrayed By Judas And Is Arrested
Mark 14:43-50………………………………………..Pages 827-828
Reflection

Response: Jesus, help us to know the beauty and truth of our relationships with neighbors, with creation, and ultimately with you.

Jesus Is Condemned By The Sanhedrin
Luke 22:66–71………………………………………..Pages 858-859

*Hymn……. “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”…… UMH 298

Jesus Is Denied By Peter
Matthew 26:69–75………………………………………….Page 809
Reflection
Response: Jesus, with your love in our hearts, we will be able to stand by those in our lives who suffer, and we will not abandon them.

Jesus Is Judged By Pilate Who Appeals To The Crowd
Mark 15:1-15…………………………………………..Pages 828-829
Reflection
Response: Lord Jesus, crucified and risen, have mercy on us. Help us walk in your steps.

Jesus Is Scourged And Crowned With Thorns
John 19:1–7…………………………………………………Page 881
Response: Jesus, when we encounter situations of people’s dignity being violated by violence, by bullying or discrimination, we will always think of you. Help us to do what we can to stand up for our brothers and sisters as we would for you.

Jesus Bears The Cross
John 19:6 & 15–17………………………………………….Page 881

Prayer

Jesus Is Helped By Simon the Cyrene To Carry The Cross
Mark 15:21………………………………………………….Page 829
Reflection


Response: Jesus, on your lacerated shoulders lies the weight of the shamefulness of our sin and pain. Help us remember that. With your help, we do have what it takes to soothe our neighbor’s pain and to help shoulder the burden they bear.

Jesus Is Crucified
Luke 23:33–38………………………………………..Pages 859-860

Special Music

Jesus Promises His Kingdom To The Good Thief
Luke 23:39-43……………………………………………..Page 860
Reflection

Response: Jesus, we are not sure that we can forgive the way that you do. But we know we must. Save us from our fear of letting go. Heal our hearts so that we can forgive those who have hurt each other.

Prayer

Jesus Speaks To His Mother And The Disciples
John 19:25–27……………………………………………….Page 882
Reflection

Prayer

Jesus Dies On The Cross
Luke 23:44–49……………………………………………….Page 860
Reflection

Silent Time

*Hymn….……. “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”………… UMH 286

Jesus Is Placed In The Tomb
Matthew 27:57–60………………………………………..….Page 811
Reflection

*Hymn………………… “Were You There”………..……… UMH 288

Prayer

Special Music

*Stand as you are able

Following our Good Friday Service, please exit the sanctuary in silence until you are in the Fellowship Hall.

April 13th Worship Service – Palm Sunday

*Call to Worship
Liturgist: When they had come……” The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.”
All: Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good. God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Liturgist: The disciples went……and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
(Church bell rings)
Reader 1
Reader 2
Reader 1 & 2
Hymn…”Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”(ver. 1)UMH 213
Reader 3
All Readers
(Church bell rings)
Reader 4
Lighting of Candle Stick
Reader 4: The crowds that……followed him were shouting:
All: Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven!
Reader 5
Lighting of the Altar Candles
Reader 5: With palm branches in hand……This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.
All: Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good. God’s steadfast love endures forever!
All Readers
Liturgist

*Praise Song
All Glory, Laud, and Honor”………UMH 280

*Gloria Patri…………………………………..UMH 70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”………………UMH 278

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology……………………………………UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”…………..UMH 277

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29……………………………Pages 492-493
*Gospel Reading

Luke 19:28-40…………………..……………………….….Page 854

Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“”A Super Star is Coming”

Prayer

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

Benediction

Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist – Edie Bogart

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

April 6th Worship Service

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.

*Gloria Patri……………………………..UMH 70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
Fairest Lord Jesus”……………………….UMH 189

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology
……………………………………..…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”…….UMH 298

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 43:16-21…………………………………………………….….Page 586
Epistle Reading
Psalm 126…………………………….……………….…Page 499
*Gospel Reading

John 12:1-8…………………………………………….….Page 874

Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“”How We Can Twist Scripture”

Communion

Prayer

*Hymn
When We All Get to Heaven”………….UMH 701

Postlude – Please be seated

Benediction

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist – Art Grumm

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

March 30th Worship Service

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”………UMH 384

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 together today, remembering God’s faithfulness in times of trial.
All: God is with us, through every storm and every season.
Leader: In the wilderness, God provided manna from heaven, feeding and sustaining God’s people.
All: We are nourished by God’s grace, given through the hands of others.
Leader: When a disaster strikes, we remember that we are not alone.
All: Through UMCOR and all who serve, God’s love and healing reaches those who are hurting and broken.
Leader: Just as God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, God continues to provide for those rebuilding after the devastation of a disaster.
All: We are God’s people, and we are called to join in the work of restoration, bringing hope and healing.
Leader: As the Israelites transitioned from the wilderness to abundance, we too transition from crisis to recovery, trusting that God’s provision will sustain us.
All: We trust in God’s faithfulness, and we will walk alongside those affected by disaster, offering comfort and support, just as Christ has shown us.
Leader: Let us respond to God’s call to serve those in need, offering our time, our talents, and our resources.
All: AMEN.

*Gloria Patri………………………………UMH  70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
Give to the Winds Thy Fears”…………..UMH 129

Recognizing UMCOR Sunday

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Shalom Offering

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology………………………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
He Touched Me”…………………….UMH 367

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Joshua 5:9-12…………………………………….Page 171
Epistle Reading
2Corinthians 5:16-21………….………Page 940
*Gospel Reading

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32……………………………………….Page 850

Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“A Convincing Argument”

Prayer

*Hymn
How Can We Name a Love”…………….UMH 111

Postlude –
Please be seated

Benediction

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist – Ellen Zimmerman

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Pastor’s Ponderings

During this time in Lent, I have been encouraging you to take extra time in your devotional life. During Lent I have expanded my devotional time and I thought it might be good to share a devotion that I read and meditated upon recently that talks about the journey we have begun during Lent. It comes from a devotional called “Forty Daily Prayers” and I want to share about devotion with you because I think it speaks to what the journey has been like so far for me in Lent. It has helped me recognize where I am and where our spiritual journey can take us as we approach Holy Week and the celebration of Easter Sunday.

The Spiritual Journey
Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory be to the Master, now and forever! Yes! 2 Peter 3:18 (From The Message).

The journey toward spiritual maturity lasts a lifetime: as Christians, we can and should continue to grow in love and knowledge of our Savior as long as we live. When we cease to grow, either emotionally or spiritually, we do ourselves and our loved ones a profound disservice. But, if we study God’s word, if we obey His commands, and if we live in the center of His will, we will not be a “stagnant” believer; we will, instead, be growing followers of Jesus Christ and that is exactly what God wants for our lives.

Some of life’s most important lessons are painful to learn. During times of heartbreak and hardship, God stands ready to protect us. As Psalm 147 promises, “He heals the broken hearted and bandages their wounds.” In God’s own time and according to God’s grand plan, God will heal us if we invite him into our hearts.

Spiritual growth need not take place only in times of adversity. We should seek to grow in our relationship with the Lord through every season of our lives and a wonderful time to start or reconnect is during Lent. It is through the happy times and yes, the challenging times, through times of celebration and times of pain that if we are committed in our devotional time, in meditation and in prayer we continue to grow as we step out on our spiritual journey.

It is in those quiet moments of devotion, reflection, and prayer when we open our hearts to God, the one who makes us keeps remaking us. God through the power of the Holy Spirit gives us direction, perspective, wisdom, and courage. And of course, the appropriate moment to accept those spiritual gifts is always the present time.

I would like you to think upon a special quote that goes along with this meditation: “There is wonderful freedom and joy in coming to recognize that the fun is in the becoming” says Gloria Gaither.

From Colossians 1:9, “For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we have not stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

Let us pray: Dear Lord, the Bible tells me that you are at work in my life, continue to help me grow and to mature in my faith. Be with me on my journey this Lenten Season. Show me your wisdom, Father, and let me live according to Your will and Your Word. Amen.

Pastor Gary

Announcements and Stuff

United Women of Faith
March 20th Meeting

The UWF will be taking orders for flowers to decorate our sanctuary for Easter.  Watch for order forms in the bulletins or talk with Cinda for details.

On Easter morning, there will be a continental breakfast following the early (out of doors) portion of the service.  We need people to sign up to help fill our fruit bowl for breakfast. There’s a sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall.  Please bring your donations in, ready to go, washed, cut up, etc.

Please come to our next UWF meeting on April 17 at 1:00 p.m.