December 19, 2021

Pastor: David Range

We are back in the sanctuary and you are invited to join us!

The Twitter icon is back on the restored miramarumc.org website
We are sorry the YouTube video of the carol singing last Sunday night did not come across, but you can watch it now on Twitter.

We give God thanks for this opportunity to worship together in-person in our sanctuary as well as online. Please wear your mask and greet each with a wave, an elbow or fist bump. Please maintain social distance and sit at either end or the middle of the pew. In the pews we ask you to sit, in every other pew, spaced out as best you can. Seats are also available in the foyer and the fellowship hall if needed. Both have been set up with screens for the PowerPoint presentation and live video stream from the pulpit. We will continue to live stream the services on Twitter and YouTube for those who would like to continue to participate from home.

The offering will be received in the baskets at the three entry points of the sanctuary. No bulletins will be handed out, everything you need will be on the screens. No need to call or email ahead for a place to worship, you are invited to the sanctuary any time for in-person worship. Come as you are!

Remember there are two ways you can watch our services. One is on youtube.com by typing in the search bar: Miramar UMC and then you should see the service live streamed. If you subscribe to our service through youtube.com you can set up reminders for the day before or 15 minutes before, whatever you like.

The other way to “gather” in virtual worship is through the Twitter service available by going to our www.MiramarUMC.org website. Pass around the information so that others may join in worship by clicking on the Twitter bird icon on the home page. We will continue our 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services (except when we have a fifth Sunday of the month 10:00 a.m. service.) If you lose the service for a few seconds do not worry it will probably come back, but if it is longer than a few seconds you might try clicking the refresh button in your browser window.

Please email your prayer requests for uplifting on Sundays by sending them to miramarpastor@gmail.com. It is best if you send them by Saturday NOON if possible.

Our prayer meeting is online on Sundays at 7:30 p.m. and you may contact Marvia Aitken or Vinessa Edwards mamaness@bellsouth.net for the link.

This week, Monday through Thursday there will be someone in the church office from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. each day, and you may make an appointment to see the pastor at these or other times. Please remember to enter from the south entrance near the Pastor’s office. No other doors will be open for church business. The preschool is open but you should still come in by the south entrance because the north entrance from the parking lot must be dedicated for the little children of the preschool. Please let friends with preschool aged children know that they can enroll the children in our preschool.

WAYS to give:

1. Online giving is available through our website www.MiramarUMC.org. On the home page the ‘Donate’ icon (a hand with a dollar sign above it) is located at the top left corner and on the right under “Contact Us” you will see the same icon along with “Donate Online.” Click on either location for instructions. If you need help call the church office at 954-989-4711. Thanks to all who have signed up for this. The regular tithes and offerings of the church are a great source of blessing.

2. You can also mail a check to Miramar United Methodist Church. If you have your offering envelopes you will see that the address of the church is printed for mailing purposes and your offering can be mailed in this envelope when you apply a stamp. You may also use a regular envelope and address it to: MUMC, 2507 Utopia Drive, Miramar FL 33023.

Just put your check inside, mark which funds you would like to support, put a stamp on and let the United States Postal Service do the rest! Or bring it by after the Sunday services, someone will be in the church for one hour after the worship finishes as well as Mon-Thurs 1-5 pm. We trust God will keep us strong.

3. Also, we have the option of giving by text! Use 833-931-1791 to GivePlusText and when you text any amount, by putting that number in the message, you will be prompted to register, then fill out the details of your name, address and means of payment, and the contribution will go in! If you enter an email address you will get an immediate receipt. It is easy! If you have an Apple phone you may also get Vanco’s GivePlusMobile by downloading the app from the App Store. You may also look up YouTube videos to show how all this is done.

Thank you for your prayers! Grace and peace, Pastor David

Miramar United Methodist Church
i
n the heart of Miramar, a place for gathering, healing, and sending out friends, helping to create a sense of family to find new life in Christ
Part of the United Methodist family where we make disciples for the
Transformation of the world.

Celebrating 61 years!

December 19, 2021

Fourth Sunday in Advent

            8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services                 

CALL TO WORSHIP          

HYMN 211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 

1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

2 O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

3 O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

4 O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree, an ensign of thy people be;
Before thee rulers silent fall; all peoples on thy mercy call. 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

5 O come, thou Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home.
The captives from their prison free, and conquer death’s deep misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

6 O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

7 O come, Desire of nations bind all peoples in one heart and mind.
From dust thou brought us forth to life; deliver us from earthly strife.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

WORDS: 9th cent. Latin; trans. st. 1, 3, 5ab, 6cd, 7ab The Hymnal, 1940; st. 2, Henry Sloane Coffin, 1916 st. 4, 5cd, 6ab, 7cd, Laurence Hull Stookey, 1986 MUSIC: 15th cent. French; arr. and harm. by Thomas Helmore, 1854

PRAISE AND WORSHIP+

I Keep Falling In Love With Him
I keep falling in love with him
over and over and over and over again
I keep falling in love with him
over and over and over and over again
He gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by
Oh, what a love between my Lord and I
I keep falling in love with him
over and over and over and over again

Step by Step
O God, You are my God and I will ever praise You                                 
O God, You are my God and I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning      
and I will learn to walk in Your ways    
and step by step You’ll lead me    
and I will follow You all of my days

Here I Am to Worship
Light of the world you stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart…adore you
Hope of a life spent with you  
So here I am to worship 
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly you came to the earth you created
All for love’s sake became poor
So here I am to worship 
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

And I’ll never know how much it costs
To see my sin upon that cross
And I’ll never know how much it costs
To see my sin upon that cross
So here I am to worship 
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

His Name is Wonderful, Jesus My Lord
His name is wonderful, His name is wonderful, 
His name is wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
He is the mighty king, master of everything;
His name is wonderful, Jesus my Lord.
He’s the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages, 
Almighty God is he; 
bow down before him,
Love and adore him, 
His name is wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are glad you could join us in-person in the sanctuary or online. Please reach out to someone and greet them with the love of Christ. We ask that for greeting that you look into someone’s eyes, nod and say, “the peace of the Lord be with you” or some other greeting. Please keep touching to a minimum.  

Birthdays and Anniversaries 

Please continue to worship with us online or in person at 8:30 or 11:00 a.m. except for the 5th Sunday of the month or special occasions when we have just one service at 10:00 a.m. No need to call or email ahead for a place to worship. You are invited to the sanctuary any time for in-person worship. Come as you are!

TODAY: Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. online with Marvia Aitken and friends. Please contact Marvia for the link at mailto:marviaaitken@hotmail.com 

MONDAY: Our church brother George Brown passed on December 14. His funeral will be Monday, December 20 at Fred Hunter’s Funeral Home, 2401 University Drive, Davie. The viewing will be 10:30 to 11 a.m. when the funeral will begin. Burial will be at noon at Forest Lawn with a repast after at Forest Lawn. The church is invited to attend or to join online with the same Twitter feed that we use for Sunday morning services. Go to MiramarUMC.org and click on the Twitter bird icon. The service will also be possible to view on our website on Twitter at a later time if you cannot connect for the livestream.

THURSDAY: Food distribution starts between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. You are invited to bring packing boxes for volunteers to put food in.

FRIDAY December 24 Christmas Eve service at 7:30 p.m.

NEXT SUNDAY please join in worship, in person or online, at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. 

FRIDAY December 31 Watch Night service at 11:00 p.m. 

Bold Justice dates: 
Further research committees February 8, March 15.
Rally Tuesday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Nehemiah Action Monday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m., Justice Ministry Celebration Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the organization who helped us with delivering 600 meals on Thanksgiving, please look up BranchesFL.org.

The Mission Wreath order form is available at the end of the bulletin. Contributions this year go to BOLD Justice.  

Please make a contribution to the Staff Christmas Gift Fund for our music director, secretary and the custodian. Envelopes are available on the table at the back of the sanctuary. Or you can simply add it in your offering envelope and write how much you are giving to the staff.

For the Sharing of the Spirit, remain seated and wave, nod and smile at your neighbor.  

Please stand for the gospel according to Luke 1:39-45

CHILDREN’S TIME

HYMN 236 While Shepherds Watched Their Flock+

1 While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, 
The angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around, and glory shone around.

2 "Fear not!” said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind. 
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring to all of humankind, to all of humankind. 

3 "To you, in David's town, this day is born of David's line a Savior, who is Christ the Lord; 
and this shall be the sign: and this shall be the sign.

4 "The heavenly babe you there shall find to human view displayed, 
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid,
and in a manger laid”.

5 Thus spake the seraph and forthwith, appeared a shining throng 
of angels praising God on high, who thus addressed their song 
who thus addressed their song:

6 "All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace; 
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to earth begin and never cease,
begin and never cease!” 

WORDS: Nahum Tate, 1700 MUSIC: Harmonia Sacra, 1812; arr. from G. F. Handel, 1728

RECEPTION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS                              
Please place your offering in the baskets at the 3 doors leading into the sanctuary on your way in or out.

The Mission Offering today is for Women in Distress 
Next Sunday our Mission Offering goes to Apportionments 

Prayer of Dedication                                                                                                                                           

One minute musical interlude while worshipers prepare their offering. Instructions for giving online, by check or text are in the intro section before the Order of Service.

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, 
praise him all creatures here below, 
praise him above, ye heavenly hosts, 
praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.  

TIME OF SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS                            

PRAYER HYMN 218 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear+

1. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,            
from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold:    
"Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all-gracious King." 
The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.

2. Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains, they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

3. And ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low, 
who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,     
look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing.             
O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing!

4. For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old,                 
when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold         
when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,             
and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.

WORDS: Edmund H. Sears, 1849 MUSIC: Richard Storrs Willis, 1850        

PASTORAL PRAYER                                                              
Followed by THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; 
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven: 
Give us this day our daily bread; 
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us; 
And lead us not into temptation, 
But deliver us from evil: 
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,  
For ever and ever. Amen

HYMN 204 Emmanuel+

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,
His name is called Emmanuel,
God with us, revealed in us, 
His name is called Emmanuel.

WORDS: Bob McGee, 1976 MUSIC: Bob McGee, 1976

SERMON: Two Sons who Changed the World

HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 261 Lord of the Dance

1. I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,                   
and I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth.
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.                            
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

2. I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee, but they would not dance and they would not follow me;                       
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John; they came to me and the dance went on.
Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.                            
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

3. I danced on the Sabbath when I cured the lame, the holy people said it was a shame;                                           
they whipped and they stripped and they hung me high;
and they left me there on a cross to die.
Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.                            
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

4. I danced on a Friday and the sky turned black; 
it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back; they buried my body and they thought I’d gone, 
but I am the dance, and I still go on.
Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.                            And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

5. They cut me down and I leapt up high, 
I am the life, that’ll never, never die;                                                
I’ll live in you if you live in me; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.                            
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

WORDS: Sydney Carter, 1963 MUSIC: 19th cent. Shaker tune; adapt. by Sydney Carter, 1963; harm. by Gary Alan Smith, 1988

BENEDICTION

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+All music under ccli #24249