Pastor: David Range
December 31, 2023 Morning Service
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.
Order of Worship
December 31, 2023 Joint 10:00 a.m. service
for Fifth Sunday led by the Youth
Please see the end of the bulletin for some additional important information
CALL TO WORSHIP
*HYMN 236 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks+
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 you all of humankind, to you 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 swaddling 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
*PRAISE AND WORSHIP
In The Name of Jesus
In the Name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, we have the victory.
In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, demons will have to flee.
Who can tell what God can do? Who can tell of His love for you?
In the name of Jesus, Jesus, we have the victory.
I Love That Man From Galilee
I love that man from Galilee
For He has done so very much for me
He has taken all my sins, placed the Holy Ghost within,
I love that man, that man from Galilee.
How Great Is Our God
How great is our God, how great is his name
He’s the greatest God, forever the same
He rolled back the water from the mighty red sea,
He said I need you, won’t you trust in me.
Sanctuary
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Happy birthday to you, Jesus loves you it’s true,
May the Lord bless and keep you,
Happy birthday to you.
Happy Anniversary to you, happy Anniversary to you
Happy Anniversary dear friends, happy Anniversary to you
TONIGHT: Watch Night service will be at 11:00 p.m. so that as we conclude at midnight, we can rejoice together for the grace of God in what has been and be expect something good for what will be.
The Church Office will be closed Monday (New Year’s Day) and on Tuesday. It reopens Wednesday and Thursday
THURSDAY: Food Distribution at 8:00 a.m., Choir practice 7:00 p.m.
NEXT SUNDAY we will be celebrating our covenant with God for the New Year as we share in John Wesley’s service at the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. If you are worshiping online, please prepare the communion elements.
SATURDAY January 27 BOLD Justice Tree Giveaway.
The Mission Wreath ready for you to pay for a bulb to thank God for something good, to remember someone who has died, or to honor someone. Please fill out a form and add it to your envelope or other payment.
For Sharing of the Spirit, please wave at the YouTube camera and say, “the peace of the Lord be with you,” and then wave at your neighbor in the sanctuary and say, “and also with you”.
Please stand for the reading of the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-23
CHILDREN’S TIME
*HYMN AMEN+
Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen (congregation continues “amens”)
See the little baby (amen)
Lying in a manger (amen)
On Christmas morning. (amen, amen, amen)
See him in the temple (amen)
Talking with the elders; (amen)
How they marveled at his wisdom. (amen, amen, amen)
See him at the seaside (amen)
preaching to the people (amen)
healing all the sick ones. (amen, amen, amen)
See him in the garden (amen)
Praying to his Father (amen)
In deepest sorrow. (amen, amen, amen)
See Him on the cross (amen)
Bearing all our sins (amen)
In bitter agony (amen, amen, amen)
Yes, He died to save us (amen)
And He rose at Easter (amen)
Now He lives forever (amen, amen, amen)
Hallelujah! (amen)
Jesus is my Savior (amen)
And he lives forever (amen)
Amen, Amen, Amen.
WORDS: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848 MUSIC: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849
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 FLUMC Children’s Home
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 section after 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
(please email miramarpastor@gmail.com)
PRAYER HYMN 221 In the Bleak Midwinter+
1 In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
3 Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
4 What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
WORDS: Christina G. Rossetti, 1872 MUSIC: Gustav Holst, 1906
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION 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.
SERMON
HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 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
BENEDICTION
All music under ccli #24249
____________
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 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 church 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, Wednesday and 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 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
