Announcements and Stuff

Posted on November 28, 2025 | Leave a comment

United Women of Faith
Let’s talk Christmas for a minute, specifically poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary.

We’ll be taking orders for poinsettia plants, the same size as we usually get, in the color choices of red or jingle bell, which is red with white spots. Each plant will cost $16.00.

The plants will be delivered on December 20th and used to decorate the church on Sunday, December 21, Christmas Eve, and Sunday, December 28.

Our supplying florist needs our order earlier than typical, by December 8th. This means I will need any orders by December 7th. You can pay any time in December, but I need your order as soon as possible.

Please see Cinda to place your flower order.

Holiday Cookie Tins for Our Church Family
During our Fellowship Time on Sunday December 7th, we will fill tins with cookies for those from our church who are not able to worship with us on a regular basis. We will then deliver cookies to them during the holiday season letting them know that they are continually in our prayers and hearts. Please bring enough cookies for about ten shut-ins and then we will have a cookie exchange among those who are with us on that Sunday. We suggest that maybe three dozen cookies will be needed to bless all.

Mission Projects For December
In the past, Claybanks United Methodist Church has assisted the Montague United Methodist Church with housing families in the Family Promise program. With a permanent home now in Muskegon we are reconnecting with Family Promise to sponsor a family for the holiday season. A special love offering will be taken up on Sunday, December 7th to support a family with gifts for the children and parents. We will also be assisting a local family who have been brought back together and are living in our community. Our assistance for them will come from our Shalom fund. Thanks to everyone, we were able to take many boxes of food prior to Thanksgiving to Trinity Food Bank, as well as an offering of over one hundred dollars so that they can purchase discounted food from Feeding America.

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Posted in Announcements and Stuff

Upcoming Worship Schedule

Posted on November 28, 2025 | Leave a comment

DECEMBER SCRIPTURE AND MESSAGE

Sunday, December 7
Second Sunday of Advent
2 Samuel 7:8-16
Luke 1:26-33
The Wonder of a Name

Sunday, December 14
Third Sunday of Advent
Isiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Luke 2:1-16
The Wonder of a Manger

Sunday, December 21
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Luke 1:46-55, Matthew 1:18-25
The Wonder of a Promise

Wednesday, December 24
Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service – 6:00 pm
Where Is the Child?

Sunday, December 28
First Sunday After Christmas
Psalm 148
Matthew 2:13-23
Welcoming Foreigners into Our Land

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Posted in Upcoming Worship Schedule

November 23rd Worship Service

Posted on November 21, 2025 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, November 23, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Christ The King Sunday
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”O Worship the King”……….……UMH  73

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: Blessed be the Holy One,
All: Who looks upon us with love and mercy.
Leader: Blessed be the Holy One,
All: Who sends us a Savior to rescue us from despair.
Leader: Blessed be the Holy One and God’s beloved Child,
All: Who rules in a realm of forgiveness and peace.
Leader: Blessed be the Holy One,
All: Who is worthy of our worship.

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

*Hymn
”Come, Christians, Join to Sing”……………..UMH 158

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

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
”Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies”………UMH 173

Sharing of the Word
Epistle Reading
Colossians 1:11-20…………….…………….…Page 956
*Gospel Reading
Luke 23:33-43…………….……………..Pages 859-860

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“The Reign of Christ”          

Prayer
*Hymn
”Jesus Shall Reign”.…………………..UMH 157

Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

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

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Posted in Weekly Service

November 16th Worship Service

Posted on November 14, 2025 | Leave a comment

Claybanks United Methodist Church
Sunday, November 16, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.                                       
Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost
* Indicates to stand as you are able

Welcome and Announcements
*Praise Song
”My Hope Is Built”………….……UMH 368

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, whose anger has turned away.
All: We will trust and not be afraid.
Leader: The Lord is our strength and our song.
All: God comforts us in our time of need.
Leader: Draw water from the wellspring of eternal life.
All: Surely God is our salvation.
Leader: Sing to the Lord.
All: God has done glorious things.
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord.
All: We will call on God’s holy name.

*Gloria Patri………………………………..UMH 70
*The Apostles’ Creed, Traditional Version……………….UMH 881

*Hymn
”Are Ye Able”…………………………UMH 530

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns
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
Genesis 1:24-27…………………….…Page 001
*Gospel Reading
Luke 19:1-10……………………….….Page 854

Message by Pastor Gary Peterson
“Finding Myself in God”              

Prayer
*Hymn
”I Am Thine, O Lord”.…………………UMH 419

Benediction
Postlude – Please be seated

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard
Liturgist –Roger Carlson
Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

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Posted in Weekly Service

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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Posted in Weekly Service

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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Posted in Weekly Service

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