November 9th Worship Service

Posted on November 7, 2025 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
 Sunday, November 9, 2025
 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”Trust and Obey”………..………UMH 467

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: Praise the Lord our God.
All: Praise God’s Holy Name.
Leader: Proclaim Christ’s greatness in the sanctuary.
All: Sing of Christ’s mighty deeds among the people.
Leader: Extol the Spirit’s protection from the storm.
All: Proclaim the Spirit’s grace and mercy.
Leader: Praise the Lord our God.
All: Praise God’s Holy Name.

*Gloria Patri………………………………..UMH 70
*Opening Prayer
*Hymn
”Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”……………UMH 301

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology………………………………………….…UMH 95
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”O How I Love Jesus”………………UMH 170

Sharing of the Word
Epistle Reading
Colossians 3:1-2, 14-17……………………………Pages 957 & 958
*Gospel Reading
John 21:1-19…………….…………………………….….….Page 883

Message by Tom Lohman
“How Do You Get Out of Prison?”            

Prayer
*Hymn
”Just as I Am, Without One Plea”.…………UMH 357

Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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

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November 2nd Worship Service

Posted on October 31, 2025 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, November 2, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost
All Saints Sunday
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”Thy Word Is a Lamp”……….……UMH 601
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: Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song.
All: Rejoice and be glad, for the Lord reigns.
Leader: Praise God with dance.
All: Praise God with songs of adoration.
Leader: Where God lifts up the lowly and casts down the mighty.
All: Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song.

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

*Hymn
”O Jesus, I Have Promised”………………UMH 396
Honoring Our Saints

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology……………………………………..…UMH 95
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast”……..UMH 616

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Psalm 119:137-144…………….……….Page 496
*Gospel Reading
Luke 19:1-10…………….………….….Page 854

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
 “Would You Climb a Sycamore Tree to See Jesus?”          

Communion
Prayer
*Hymn
”Have Thine Own Way, Lord”.…………..UMH 382

Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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

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Pastor’s Ponderings

Posted on October 31, 2025 | Leave a comment

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.

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Posted in Pastor's Ponderings

Announcements and Stuff

Posted on October 31, 2025 | Leave a comment

Mission
November is “Food for Trinity Food Bank Holiday Giving Time”

There is a table in the Fellowship Hall where you can place food items that will be taken to Trinity Food Bank just prior to Thanksgiving. If you so choose, there is an Offering container on the table in which you can place your monetary gift.

In December, we will be supporting a family being housed with Family Promise. Our efforts will be to see that all members of the family receive a Christmas Gift for the Holiday Season. Additional information will be shared as we approach the Christmas Holiday.

United Women of Faith
Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly, Fa La La La La La La La La! (Bet you were thinking of counting the La’s!)

Yes, we are approaching, rapidly, the season of love, snow, and Jesus’s birthday.

So, at the WOF meeting in October, we settled on donations to the organizations we support and gave the “green light” to Cinda to send the checks.

After that, we realized it was time to set the date for our church decorating and pizza party. Once again it will be at noon on November 28th, the day after Thanksgiving.

We are “calling all men and women” to join the decorating party! We will eat well and enjoy this fellowship time to make the church festive to celebrate the Christ child’s birth.

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Upcoming Worship Schedule

Posted on October 31, 2025 | Leave a comment

NOVEMBER SCRIPTURE AND MESSAGE

Sunday, November 2
All Saints Sunday
Psalm 119:137-144
Luke 19:1-10
Would You climb A Sycamore Tree to See Jesus?

Sunday, November 9
Guest Message brought to us by Tom Lohman
Colossians 3:1.2,14-17
John 21:1-19
How Do You Get Out of Prison

Sunday, November 16
1st of a five-part series: The Art of Living
Genesis 1:24-27
Luke 19:1-10
Finding Myself in God.

Sunday, November 23
Revelation 21:1-7
John 15:1-11
God Wants More for Us Than We Can Ever Imagine

Sunday, November 30
1st Sunday in Advent
Experiencing Deep Connection
2 Corinthians 13:4
Matthew 11:28-30
Luke 11:33-36

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Posted in Upcoming Worship Schedule

October 26th Worship Service

Posted on October 24, 2025 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, October 26, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”…….UMH 103

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: Rejoice in the Lord and be glad.
All: God is our hope and our salvation.
Leader: The Lord blesses the earth with rain.
All: God crowns the year with bounty.
Leader: The Lord makes old men dream dreams.
All: God makes young girls see visions.
Leader: Rejoice in the Lord and be glad.
All: God is our hope and our salvation.
Leader: Come Let us worship the God of all.

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

*Hymn
”Near to the Heart of God”………………..UMH 472
Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

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

*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn
”Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose”…….UMH 153

Sharing of the Word

*Old Testament Reading
Joel 2:23-32……………………….………….Page 741
Epistle Reading
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18…………………..……..Page 968
*Gospel Reading
Luke 18:9-14…………….………….….….Page 853

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
  “Humility Yet Confident”          

Prayer
*Hymn
”There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”.……..UMH 121

Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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

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Posted in Weekly Service

October 19th Worship

Posted on October 17, 2025 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, October 19, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Laity Sunday
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”….UMH 344

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: Oh, How I love your will, dear Lord. I meditate on your wisdom all day long.
All: Your teachings make me wiser each day. Your instruction helps me become my truest self.
Leader: How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
All: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light that shines on my path.

*Gloria Patri…………………………………..UMH 70
*Affirmation of Faith – The Nicene Creed……………..…UMH 880
*Hymn
”Freely, Freely”……………………….UMH 389

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
Special Music “Take Me to Higher Ground” – Quartet: Jim Oslund, Susan DeYoung, Janice Anderson, Richard Lindell

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

Sharing of the Word

*Gospel Reading
Mark 1:1-20…………………………..….….Page 812
*Hymn
”Jesus Calls Us”…………..…….UMH 398

Message by Art & Bev Grumm
    “Let’s Go Fishing”        

Prayer
*Hymn
”I Love to Tell the Story”………………UMH 156

Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgists –Janice Anderson & Richard Lindell
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

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Posted in Weekly Service