From Shar B.
Hello friends and neighbors! With the help of friends, I am presenting a concert for Hope and Strength as we live through the very real challenges of loss or brokenness in this new year. Come join us on Sunday, February 16, at 3:00 p.m. at Olivet Evangelical Free Church in Fruitport. If you have, or are experiencing brokenness or loss, this time is for you – or your friend. Facetime Live is a possible option. More details later.
Posted in Announcements and Stuff
Sunday, February 2
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30
Gracious Words
Sunday, February 9
Psalm 138
Luke 5:1-11
Jesus Is Calling
February 16
Jermiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1
Luke 6:17-26
Blessing And Woes
February 23
Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Luke 6:27-38
Sharing God’s Grace
Posted in Upcoming Worship Schedule
Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, January 26, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Third Sunday After Epiphany
Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”This Is the Day” (2 times)…………….UMH 657
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: God’s glory is pouring forth from the heavens.
All: Earth below receives the good news with boundless joy.
Leader: The promise is sure and true, that Jesus has come to show us the best ways to serve God.
All: By serving and caring for others, we truly serve God.
Leader: Come, let us prepare ourselves for joyful service.
All: Lord, make us ready for great service in your name. AMEN.
*Gloria Patri……………………………UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Hymn
”How Great Thou Art”…………………….UMH 77
Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
Special Music……………………….Shar Boerema
Shalom Offering
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology………………………………….…UMH 95
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Blest Be the Tie That Binds”……………UMH 557
Sharing of the Word
Old Testament Reading
Nehemiah 8:1-10…………..………………………..….Page 379
*Gospel Reading
Luke 4:14-21……………………………….………….….Page 835
Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“Stand Boldly”
Prayer
*Hymn
”All Things Bright and Beautiful”…………UMH 147
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated
Pianist – Shar Boerema
Liturgist – David Grossman
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News
Posted in Weekly Service
Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, January 19, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Second Sunday After The Epiphany
Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nation”………UMH 569
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: How can we keep still today?
All: There is joy in this place!
Leader: God’s steadfast love extends to everyone.
All: God reaches out to us all in forgiveness and compassion.
Leader: Thanks be to God for all the wonderful blessings we have received.
All: Let us celebrate God’s joyful love for and with us! AMEN.
*Gloria Patri…………………………UMH 70
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
*A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada…..UMH 883
*Hymn
”Great Is Thy Faithfulness”…………………UMH 140
Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology……………………………………………..…UMH 95
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Are Ye Able”……………………..UMH 530
Sharing of the Word
Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 62:1-5………………..………………………………….Page 604
*Gospel Reading
John 2:1-11…………………………………………….….Page 863
Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“The Best Wine For Last”
Prayer
*Hymn
”Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”…………UMH 89
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated
Pianist – Cheryl Lohman
Liturgist – Ellen Zimmerman
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News
Posted in Weekly Service
Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, January 12, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Baptism of The Lord
Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”……….UMH 139
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 hear God’s voice.
All: It thunders through creation.
Leader: God’s voice is strong.
All: It shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
Leader: God is still speaking.
All: Calling out our names.
Leader: Listen for God.
All: God calls us beloved.
*Gloria Patri………………………UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Hymn
”Wade in the Water”…………………..TFWS 2107
Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology……………………………………UMH 95
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Standing on the Promises”……………UMH 374
Sharing of the Word
Old Testament Reading
Psalm 29……………………..……………………………….Page 438
The Epistle Reading
Acts 8:14-17……………………………………………..Page 892
*Gospel Reading
Luke 3:15-22…………………………………………..…Page 834
Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“Remember Your Baptism”
Reaffirming of our Baptismal Covenant……………..UMH 50
Prayer
Hymn
”When Jesus Came to Jordan”…………UMH 252
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated
Pianist – Cheryl Lohman
Liturgist – Art Grumm
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News
Posted in Weekly Service
Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, January 5, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Epiphany of The Lord
Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”There’s a Song in the Air”……………..UMH 249
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 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And, also with you.
Leader: See how the Savior brings them from the end of the earth,
All: All shall rejoice.
Leader: God turns our mornings into gladness,
All: And gives us joy for the coming year.
*Gloria Patri……………………………UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Hymn
”Angels from the Realms of Glory”…………….UMH 220
Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves
*Doxology……………………….…UMH 95
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”What Child Is This”………………..UMH 219
Sharing of the Word
Old Testament Readings
Isaiah 60:1-6……………………..……………………….….Page 602
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14……………………………………..Page 464
*Gospel Reading
Matthew 2:1-12……………………………….…Pages 783 & 784
Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“God’s Love For Us Cannot Be Measured”
Communion
Prayer
*Hymn
”What a Friend We Have in Jesus”………UMH 526
Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated
Pianist – Julie Ash
Liturgist – Ellen Zimmerman
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News
Posted in Weekly Service
Leaving the old behind and looking for what is ahead is what happens each year on or around New Year’s Day. For the Claybanks United Methodist Church, 2024 was again a blessed time for our church. We were able to meet with only one interruption in February and one in December prior to Christmas. We were blessed in worship when a number of our long-time friends assisted us in music as Suzanne was recovering from surgeries. Holy Week was a blessing even though the weather on Easter morning moved us inside for our Visit To The Empty Tomb. Our Women Of Faith Strawberry Social and our Outdoor Old Time Worship Service in August brought many of our friends and community to the Claybanks United Methodist Church once again. During the year we were blessed by a number of worship leaders including Jim Tanis as he moves into preaching retirement. Terri Cummins returned to us on a Sunday in August to lead our worship service and bless the marriage of Megan and Daniel French. David and Sandi Kersten blessed our World Communion Sunday with music and preaching. We were blessed as Susan Nagel, on Laity Sunday along with Richard Lindell and Janice Anderson, provided a narrative worship message.
We as a church were continually active and supportive of our traditional missions of Trinity Food Bank, Love In The Name Of Christ, Evangelical Youth Fellowship and new for us this year, St. Jude’s Hospital. We continue to have volunteers who assist at the store at Love In The Name Of Christ. Other mission projects included supporting mothers in the Step-Up program and the Pregnancy Center in Muskegon. During the holiday season this year, we sponsored a family with three children participating in Family Promise and one local family.
Our Adult Sunday School gathered together for a good part of the year and studied a number of books in the Bible, engaged in an Advent Study looking at women in the Bible and also famous and not so famous people of the Bible. Our movie nights focused on historical movies including “Chosen” that depicts the life of Jesus and his disciples.
A notable project completed by our Trustees was the replacement of the fluorescent lights in Fellowship Hall with LED bulbs. And as always, our spring outside cleanup and hot dog roast was a time for work and fellowship. The Trustees are planning to refresh the front outside plantings of our church.
So much that has continued to happen at Claybanks United Methodist Church in 2024 and will be the springboard for our church in 2025. On Ash Wednesday, we will be participating in a special service in Muskegon when Bishop Bard will be leading an area wide worship to begin Lent. A special imposition of ashes will also be offered that day at our church.
We will be looking for new and different opportunities to worship together, serve and support our church through worship, missions, and our church leadership in committees and with our Administrative Council. Our prayer is that our church family will continue to worship, to engage and be active using the gifts that God has given us to continue to bless and serve our church and our community.
Happy New Year!
Remember to: do no harm, do good and stay in love with God.
Pastor Gary Peterson
Posted in Pastor's Ponderings
Claybanks United Methodist Church 