February 12, 2023

Pastor: David Range

February 12, 2023

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
February 12, 2023 
8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services

Please see the end of the bulletin for some additional important information

CALL TO WORSHIP    

Hymn 400 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

1 Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.

2 Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I'm come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood.

3 O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
here's my heart, O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above. 

WORDS: Robert Robinson, 1758 MUSIC: Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music, Part Second, 1813

OPENING PRAYER  

*PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Closer Than A Brother
Closer than a brother my Jesus is to me
He’s my dearest friend in everything I need
He’s my rock, my shield and hiding place
Closer than a brother Jesus is to me        

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
He is worthy to be praised and adored;
So we lift up holy hands in one accord,
Singing “Blessed be the name, blessed be the name, 
blessed be the name of the Lord”

As the Deer Pants
1 As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after You, 
You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship You.

You alone are my strength my shield, to You alone may my spirit yield, 
You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship You.

2 I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy, 
You alone are the real joy-giver, and the apple of my eye.

You alone are my strength my shield, to You alone may my spirit yield, 
You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship You.

3 You're my friend and You are my Brother, even though You are a King, 
I love You more than any other, so much more than anything.  

You alone are my strength my shield, to You alone may my spirit yield, 
You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship You.

O How He Loves You and Me
O how he loves you and me!  O how he loves you and me!
He gave his life, what more can he give?
O how he loves you—O how he loves me—O how he loves you and me.

Jesus to Calvary did go, His love for sinners to show.                                     
What he did there brought hope from despair.
O how he loves you-O how he loves me-O how he loves you and me.

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

TODAY: United Women in Faith Drive-thru Soup and Valentine Bake Sale after each service.

TODAY: Church Prayer meeting at 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY: Farm Share truck unloading at 9:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY: Bible study online 7:00 p.m.

THURSDAY: Food Distribution starts at 8:00 a.m.

THURSDAY: Choir 7:00 p.m. United Women in Faith at 7:00 p.m.

NEXT SUNDAY: Services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. 

TUESDAY, February 21 there will be a Pre-Ash Wednesday Gospel Spectacular in the Miramar Cultural Center, from 6 to 10 p.m. These events and more can be found on the City of Miramar web page. Please take part as you are able.

NEXT SUNDAY: Services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. 

Funeral Arrangement for Dulchie Yates, who passed away January 26: 
Visitation Friday, February 24 at Fred Hunter’s Funeral home, 6301 Taft Street, Hollywood, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Viewing in our church, Saturday, February 25 at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral at 11:00 a.m. Burial, and then Repast at Fred Hunters, Taft Street.

Saturday, March 4, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the Southeast District Training event will be held at Christ Church United Methodist, 4845 NE 25th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, 33308. The Theme: Eliminating Racism Through Change: Being the Body of Christ. As the most diverse district in the conference, the South East District joins the Florida Conference on a journey toward becoming fully anti-racist. Our faithful future depends on eliminating racism in all its forms and creating a sense of belonging as we work together to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world. This event will help us to learn, listen, heal and act as faithful leaders in our churches and communities. All clergy, local church committee and ministry leaders, anti-racism task force members, and all those seeking to nurture and grow the beloved community are encouraged to attend. Coffee, registration, and fellowship begins at 8:00 a.m. with the worship service starting at 8:30. At 10:15 we have breakout sessions followed by lunch. At 12:50 there will be prayer and anointing and 1:00 p.m. will be the close.  Please see Pastor David, or Beth in the church office, if you would like the link to register online.

BOLD Justice dates for your calendars: 
Rally Tuesday March 7 at 7:30 p.m. 
Nehemiah Action Thursday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. 
Celebration Tuesday May 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Please see the end of the bulletin for information about the MiraMarvels Early Childhood Academy that is available to young residents of the city of Miramar.

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 gospel according to Matthew 5:21-26

CHILDREN’S TIME 

*HYMN 601 Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet+ 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.                            
When I feel afraid and think I’ve lost my way
Still you’re there right beside me.
And nothing will I fear as long as you are near.
Please be near me to the end.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Now I will not forget your love for me, and yet                                                   
my heart forever is wandering.
Jesus, be my guide and hold me to your side,
and I will love you to the end.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.                            

WORDS: Amy Grant, 1984 MUSIC: Michael W. Smith 1984; arr. by Keith Phillips

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 Women in Distress

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

Sunday School children go out to their classes 

“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, 
red or yellow, black or white, they are precious in his sight, 
Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

TIME OF SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS
(please email miramarpastor@gmail.com)

PRAYER HYMN 358 Dear Lord and Father of Mankind+

1 Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways;
reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise.

2 In simple trust like theirs who heard beside the Syrian sea
the gracious calling of the Lord, let us, like them, without a word
rise up and follow thee.

3 O sabbath rest by Galilee, O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee the silence of eternity,
interpreted by love!

4 Drop thy still dews of quietness, till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.

5 Breathe through the heats of our desire thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire, O still, small voice of calm!

WORDS: John Greenleaf Whittier, 1872 MUSIC: Frederick C. Maker, 1887

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.

SPECIAL MUSIC

SERMON                    Seeking the best for each other               Pastor David Range

HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 438 Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go+

1 Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go, my daily labor to pursue;
thee, only thee, resolved to know in all I think or speak or do.

2. The task thy wisdom hath assigned, O let me cheerfully fulfill;
in all my works thy presence find, and prove thy good and perfect will.

3. Thee may I set at my right hand, whose eyes mine in-most substance see,
and labor on at thy command, and offer all my works to thee.
 

4. For thee delightfully employ what e'er thy bounteous grace hath given;
and run my course with even joy, and closely walk with thee to heaven.

WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1749 MUSIC: John Hatton, 1793

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, 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 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