December 26, 2021

Pastor: David Range

December 26, 2021

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 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.comby 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
in 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 26, 2021

First Sunday after Christmas
8:30 & 11:00 a.m. services 
                  

CALL TO WORSHIP     

*HYMN 224 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

1 Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
News, news! Jesus Christ was born today!
Ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today,
Christ is born today!

2 Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss:
News, news! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven's door,
and ye are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this,
Christ was born for this!
 
3 Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave:
News, news! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save,
Christ was born to save! 

WORDS: 14th cent. Latin; trans. By John Mason Neale, 1855 MUSIC: German melody; harm. By Gary Alan Smith, 1988

OPENING PRAYER

PRAISE AND WORSHIP+

I’m Gonna Sing
I’m gonna sing when the spirit says sing
I’m gonna sing when the spirit says sing
I’m gonna sing when the spirit says sing
and obey the spirit of the Lord
 
I’m gonna pray when the spirit says pray
I’m gonna pray when the spirit says pray
I’m gonna pray when the pirit says pray
and obey the spirit of the Lord
 
I’m gonna moan when the spirit says moan
I’m gonna moan when the spirit says moan
I’m gonna moan when the spirit says moan
and obey the spirit of the Lord
 
I’m gonna shout when the spirit says shout
I’m gonna shout when the spirit says shout
I’m gonna shout when the spirit says shout
and obey the spirit of the Lord

I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me   
I'm so glad, Jesus lifted me, 
I'm so glad, Jesus lifted me, 
I'm so glad, Jesus lifted me, 
Singing glory, hallelujah, Jesus lifted me.
 
Satan had me bound, but Jesus lifted me, 
Satan had me bound, but Jesus lifted me, 
Satan had me bound, but Jesus lifted me,
Singing glory, hallelujah, Jesus lifted me.
 
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me, 
when I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me, 
when I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me,
Singing glory, hallelujah, Jesus lifted me.

We Worship and Adore You
We worship and adore You, 
bowing down before You,
Songs of praises singing, 
Hallelujahs ringing!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, 
Hallelujah, Amen!
 

He is King 
He is King, He is King,
He will draw all nations to Him, He is King.
And the time shall be
When the world shall sing
That Jesus Christ is King.

WELCOME AND 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: Church Prayer meeting 
at 7:30 p.m.
 
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 31 Watch Night service 
at 11:00 p.m. 
 
NEXT SUNDAY 
please join in worship, in person or online, at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. We will celebrate the Wesley Covenant Service. If you are joining online, you are invited to prepare the elements for communion: bread, juice, wine, water, whatever it takes to be reminded of the Last Supper and our regular times of sharing communion.
 
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
 
Please make a contribution to the Staff Christmas Gift Fund f
or 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 Matthew 2:1-12
 
CHILDREN’S TIME
 
HYMN 229 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly+

1. Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;
oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the babe is Lord of all.     
Swift are winging, angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is Lord of all.
 
2. Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping 
vigil till the morning new 
saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.                                             
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you.

WORDS: Polish carol; trans. by Edith M. G. Reed, 1925 MUSIC: Polish carol; arr. by Edith M. G. Reed, 1926; harm. by Austin C. Lovelace, 1964

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 Apportionments
Next Sunday our Mission Offering goes to Good Samaritan Fund

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 237 Sing We Now of Christmas+

1 Sing we now of Christmas, Noel, sing we here!
Hear our grateful praises to the babe so dear.
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!

 
2 Angels called to shepherds, "Leave your flocks at rest,
journey forth to Bethlehem, find the child blest." 
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!

3 In Bethlehem they found him; Joseph and Mary mild,
seated by the manger, watching the holy child. 
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!
 

4 From the eastern country came the kings afar,
bearing gifts to Bethlehem, guided by a star. 
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!

 
5 Gold and myrrh they took there, gifts of greatest price;
there was never a stable so like paradise. 
Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!

WORDS: Trad. French carol; harm. by Martin Shaw, 1928        

PASTORAL PRAYER AND 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: What gift will we give?

HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 251 Go, Tell It on the Mountain+

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

 
1 While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens there shown a holy light. 
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

 
2. The shepherds feared and trembled, when lo! above the earth,
rang out the angel chorus that hailed the Savior’s birth.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

 
3. Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

WORDS: Afro-American spiritual; adapt. by John W. Work, Jr., 1907 MUSIC: Afro-American spiritual; adapt. by William Farley Smith, 1986

BENEDICTION……………………………………………………………………
+All music under ccli #24249