diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index b462915..3efc71b 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -397,11 +397,10 @@ async def update_clan_messages(guild: nextcord.Guild):
     Updates all clan messages to contents in MESSAGES_DIR.
     Does not to any git work. Is expected to be called after git is pulled.
 
-    for ever directory, sort the files by number then post
-    posting involves checking if there is a message for that particular file then editing it or creating a
-    new one. the message could be deleted, which would cause a new message to be sent and database updated.
+    for ever directory, sort the files by number then edits/sends the message.
 
     Channel fetching/management is handled by another function.
+    Message editing and sending is handled by another function.
 
     Args:
         guild (nextcord.Guild): Guild object that all channels and messages belong to.
@@ -426,27 +425,9 @@ async def update_clan_messages(guild: nextcord.Guild):
                 message_name = f"{dir_name}/{file_name}"
                 file_path = f"{dir_path}/{file_name}"
                 with open(file_path, "r", encoding="utf8") as reader:
-                    stmt = select(Messages.Id).where(Messages.Path == message_name)
-                    msg_id = session.scalar(stmt)
-                    if msg_id is None:
-                        # don't have a message for this file
-                        msg = await channel.send(reader.read(2000))
-                        new_message = Messages(Path=message_name, Id=msg.id)
-                        session.add(new_message)
-                        session.commit()
-                    else:
-                        try:
-                            msg: nextcord.Message = await channel.fetch_message(msg_id)
-                            await msg.edit(reader.read(2000))
-                        except nextcord.NotFound:
-                            msg = await channel.send(reader.read(2000))
-                            stmt = (
-                                update(Messages)
-                                .where(Messages.Path == message_name)
-                                .values(Id=msg.id)
-                            )
-                            session.execute(stmt)
-                            session.commit()
+                    await edit_clan_message(
+                        session, channel, message_name, reader.read(2000)
+                    )
 
 
 async def get_clan_message_channel(
@@ -508,3 +489,41 @@ async def get_clan_message_channel(
         session.execute(stmt)
         session.commit()
         return ret_channel
+
+
+async def edit_clan_message(
+    session: Session,
+    channel: nextcord.TextChannel,
+    message_name: str,
+    message_content: str,
+):
+    """
+    Obtains a message id from database. If no id, then need to send a new message and record the id.
+    If there is a message, then edit the message. If that message is not found in discord, then need to
+    send a new message and record the id in the database.
+
+    Args:
+        session (Session): Open connection to database.
+        channel (nextcord.TextChannel): Channel object that message belongs to.
+        message_name (str): Name of the message. Corresponds to the file that contains message content.
+        message_content (str): Content of the message to edit/send.
+    """
+    stmt = select(Messages.Id).where(Messages.Path == message_name)
+    msg_id = session.scalar(stmt)
+    if msg_id is None:
+        # don't have a message for this file
+        msg = await channel.send(message_content)
+        new_message = Messages(Path=message_name, Id=msg.id)
+        session.add(new_message)
+        session.commit()
+    else:
+        try:
+            msg: nextcord.Message = await channel.fetch_message(msg_id)
+            await msg.edit(message_content)
+        except nextcord.NotFound:
+            msg = await channel.send(message_content)
+            stmt = (
+                update(Messages).where(Messages.Path == message_name).values(Id=msg.id)
+            )
+            session.execute(stmt)
+            session.commit()