Pastor: David Range
December 8, 2024
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
Advent II: Peace
December 8, 2024 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services
Please see the end of the bulletin for some additional important information
CALL TO WORSHIP
ADVENT II Candle Lighting: Lighting the advent candle: The LORD said this to the prophet Isaiah about the soon coming Messiah: His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! (Isaiah 9.7)
We light this candle of peace as a sign of our commitment to pursue the work of making peace in our hearts, our families, our communities, and throughout the earth until God’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven
HYMN 203 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed+
1. Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
to take away transgression, and rule in equity.
2. He comes with succor speedy to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned and dying, are precious in his sight.
3. He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;
love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth.
Before him on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,
and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.
4. To him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend;
his kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end.
The tide of time shall never his covenant remove;
his name shall stand forever; that name to us is love.
WORDS: James Montgomery, 1821 MUSIC: Gesangbuch der H. W. k. Hofkapelle, 1784, alt., adapt. and harm. by W. H. Monk, 1868
PRAYER
*PRAISE AND WORSHIP
Soon and Very Soon
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
Hallelujah………hallelujah
We’re going to see the King
No more cryin’ there we are going to see the King
No more cryin’ there we are going to see the King
No more cryin’ there we are going to see the King
Hallelujah…..hallelujah we’re going to see the King
No more dying there we are going to see the King
No more dying there we are going to see the King
No more dying there we are going to see the King
Hallelujah….hallelujah we’re going to see the King
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
Hallelujah………hallelujah
We’re going to see the King
I Want A Revival in my soul
I want a revival in my soul
I want a revival in my soul
I must apply to the blood of Jesus
To get a revival in my soul.
Send down the rain, send down the rain, send down the gospel rain
Send down the rain, send down the rain, send down the gospel rain
It’s coming down, down, down
It’s coming down,
And the glory of the Lord is coming down.
When the saints begin to pray,
And the Lord shall have His way,
And the glory of the Lord is coming down.
Wet, wet, wet. How you feel? Tell me how you feel?
Oh, it’s raining, all around me I can feel it, it’s a latter rain.
Rise on Jesus, please send more rain,
Until we are wet, until we are soaked in the latter rain.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Birthdays and Anniversaries
TONIGHT: The Christmas Concert, sponsored by the United Methodist Men takes place on at 6:00 p.m. followed by refreshments and in aid of the Memorial Day Picnic
MONDAY: Finance Committee 7:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Bible Study online with pastor David at 7:00 p.m. Please ask him for the zoom link to join.
THURSDAY: Choir practice 7:00 p.m.
FRIDAY: Preschool Children’s Concert at 9:00 a.m.
SATURDAY: Food Distribution 10:00 a.m.
NEXT SUNDAY: Joint 10:00 a.m. service for the Christmas Cantata: The First Noel: Celebrating the birthday of a King, followed by a New Members session just after the service.
The Mission Offering today is for Good Samaritan Fund
Next Sunday our Mission Offering goes to Apportionments
Looking ahead:
MONDAY: December 16, Admin/Church Council at 7:30 p.m.
TUESDAY: December 24 Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY: December 29 one Joint 10:00 a.m. service for the fifth Sunday of the month.
TUESDAY: December 31 Watch Night service at 11:00 p.m. when we ring in the New Year with prayer, proclamation, and song.
Please note, anyone who would like to join the affordable housing research meetings could attend December 10, a meeting from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Bridge 2 Affordable Housing Trust Fund, on December 10 at the UF Housing Dept. from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. On December 11 to go meet with an affordable housing developer 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., On December 12 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. with another affordable housing developer. If you would like to be a part, speak to your Team leader or Network member or Pastor David for more details.
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”.
SCRIPTURE: Zephaniah 3:14-20
Please stand for the Gospel of Luke 3:1-18
CHILDREN’S TIME (children’s medley at 11:00 a.m.)
*HYMN 217 Away in a Manger+
1 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
2 The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
3 Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
WORDS: Anon. MUSIC: James R. Murray, 1887
RECEPTION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Please pass the offering bags along each row at the direction of the ushers. Instructions for giving online, by check or text are in the section after the Order of Service.
The Mission Offering today is for Good Samaritan Fund
Next Sunday our Mission Offering goes to Apportionments
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
Sunday School children go out to their classes
HYMN 191 Jesus Loves Me This I Know+
1 Jesus loves me! this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
2 Jesus loves me, this I know, as he loved so long ago,
taking children on his knee, saying, "Let them come to me.“
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
3 Jesus loves me still today, walking with me on my way,
wanting as a friend to give, light and love to all who live.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
WORDS: St. 1 Anna B. Warner, 1860; Sts. 2-3 David Rutherford MacGuire MUSIC: William B. Bradbury, 1862
TIME OF SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS
(please email miramarpastor@gmail.com)
PRAYER HYMN 218 It Came Upon A 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
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 God takes delight in you, with gladness Pastor David Range
HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 168 At the Name of Jesus+
1 At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,
every tongue confess him King of glory now.
'Tis the Father's pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
2 Humbled for a season, to receive a name
from the lips of sinners unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious, when from death he passed.
3 Bore it up triumphant with its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures to the central height,
To the throne of God-head, to the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.
4 In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdue
all that is not holy, all that is not true.
Crown him as your Captain in temptation's hour:
let his will enfold you in its light and power.
WORDS: Caroline M. Noel, 1870 MUSIC: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1925
BENEDICTION
All music under ccli #24249
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We give God thanks for this opportunity to worship together in-person in our sanctuary as well as online. Wearing your mask is optional as the Covid virus, although still present, is no longer a healthcare emergency. Please continue to get your booster shots as they become available. We are always happy (and look forward) to have you join us in the sanctuary, but for those who would like to continue to participate from home, we will continue to live stream the services on X.com (formerly Twitter) and youtube.com.
To join us on youtube.com simply type Miramar UMC in the search bar 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 X.com (formerly known as 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 x.com 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 Error! Filename not specified. 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 for the link.
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
