Pastor: David Range
February 4, 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
February 4, 2024 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services
Please see the end of the bulletin for some additional important information
CALL TO WORSHIP
*HYMN 128 He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought+
1. He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be, still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
2. Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
by waters still, o’er troubled sea, still ’tis his hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
3. Lord, I would place my hand in thine, nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see, since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
4. And when my task on earth is done,
when by thy grace the victory’s won,
e’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
WORDS: Paul Gerhardt, 1653; trans. by John Wesley, 1739 MUSIC: William H. Walter, 1894
*PRAISE AND WORSHIP
The Right Hand of God
1. The right hand of God is writing in our land
Writing with power and with love
Our conflicts and our fears, our triumphs and our tears
Are recorded by the right hand of God.
2. The right hand of God is pointing in our land
Pointing the way we must go
So clouded is the way, so easily we stray
But we’re guided by the right hand of God
3 The right hand of God is striking in our land,
striking out at envy, hate, and greed.
Our selfishness and lust,
our pride and deeds unjust,
are destroyed by the right hand of God.
4 The right hand of God is lifting in our land
Lifting the falling one by one
Each one is known by name, and lifted now from shame
By the lifting of the right hand of God
5 The right hand of God is healing in our land,
healing broken bodies, minds, and souls,
so wondrous is its touch
with love that means so much,
when we're healed by the right hand of God.
6 The right hand of God is planting in our land,
planting seeds of freedom, hope, and love.
In these many-peopled lands,
let his children all join hands,
and be one by the right hand of God.
Alive, Alive
Alive, alive, alive forevermore
My Jesus is alive, alive forevermore
Alive, alive, alive forevermore
My Jesus is alive
Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
My Jesus is alive forevermore
Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
My Jesus is alive
Lift Jesus Higher
Lift Jesus higher (higher higher)
A little higher (higher higher)
From this earth to eternity (eternity)
He said if I, be lifted up from the earth
I will draw all men unto 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: All are welcome to partake of a service of Holy Communion. If you are worshiping at home please prepare the elements of bread and juice.
TODAY: The United Methodist Men will meet after the 11:00 a.m. service.
TODAY: Church Prayer meeting at 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY: Creative Worship Team meeting at 7:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Bible Study online at 7:00 p.m.
THURSDAY: Choir at 7:00 p.m.
SATURDAY: Gardening Task Force work day at 9:00 a.m.,
Food distribution at 10:00 a.m., Confirmation class 4-5:30 p.m.
NEXT SUNDAY: Worship at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m., The United Women in Faith will have a soup and bake sale. Please support them.
BOLD Justice dates for 2024:
Rally, Tuesday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Nehemiah Action, Thursday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Celebration, Tuesday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY, March 4, CPR training with Chief Orlando Segarra from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Please sign up on the sheets at both doors.
If you would like to register to vote or receive a mail-in ballot please go to the table in the foyer. If you would like advice as to who to vote for our member Roland Abel is happy to discuss the choices with you so that you may make up your own mind on how you vote.
If you need to apply for a passport, see flyer at the end of the bulletin for some useful information
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 I Timothy 1:12-17
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence.
But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.
But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S TIME
*HYMN 521 I Want Jesus to Walk with Me+
1 I want Jesus to walk with me (walk with me).
I want Jesus to walk with me (walk with me).
All along my pilgrim journey,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me (walk with me).
2 In my trials, Lord, walk with me (walk with me).
In my trials, Lord, walk with me (walk with me).
When my heart is almost breaking,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me (walk with me).
3 When I’m troubled, Lord, walk with me (walk with me).
When I’m troubled, Lord, walk with me (walk with me).
When my head is bowed in sorrow,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me (walk with me).
WORDS: Afro-American spiritual MUSIC: Afro-American spiritual; adapt. by William Farley Smith, 1986
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 Good Samaritan Fund
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 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 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 704 Steal Away to Jesus+
Steal away, steal away; steal away to Jesus.
Steal away, steal away home. I ain't got long to stay here.
1 My Lord, He calls me, He calls me by the thunder;
The trumpet sounds within-a-my soul; I ain't got long to stay here.
Steal away, steal away; steal away to Jesus.
Steal away, steal away home. I ain't got long to stay here.
2 Green trees are bending, poor sinners stand a trembling;
The trumpet sounds within-a-my soul. I ain't got long to stay here.
Steal away, steal away; steal away to Jesus.
Steal away, steal away home. I ain't got long to stay here.
3 My Lord, He calls me, he calls me by the lightning;
The trumpet sounds within-a-my soul. I ain't got long to stay here.
Steal away, steal away; steal away to Jesus.
Steal away, steal away home. I ain't got long to stay here.
WORDS: Afro-American spiritual MUSIC: Afro-American spiritual; adapt. & arr. by William Farley Smith, 1986
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 Why Am I A United Methodist? Pastor David Range
HYMN OF PREPARATION 357 Just as I Am, Without One Plea
1. Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
2. Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
3. Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need in thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
5. Just as I am, thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
6. Just as I am, thy love unknown hath broken every barrier down;
now, to be thine, yea thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
HOLY COMMUNION
The Great Thanksgiving for Epiphany
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or you had formed the earth,
from everlasting to everlasting, you alone are God.
You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth.
You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.
When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.
You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God,
and spoke to us through your prophets.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ,
in whom you have revealed yourself, our light and our salvation.
You sent a star to guide wise men to where the Christ was born;
and in your signs and witnesses, in every age and through all the world,
you have led your people from far places to his light.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection
you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. Amen.
Hymns to be sung while Communion is being served.
Hymn 189 Fairest Lord Jesus+
1 Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.
4 Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine.
*Hymn 172 My Jesus, I Love Thee+
1 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
2 I love thee because thou hast first loved me,
and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
3 In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.
WORDS: Williams R. Featherstone, 1864 MUSIC: Adoniram J. Gordon, 1876
*Hymn 526 What A Friend We Have In Jesus+
1 What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!
3 Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee; thou will find a solace there.
Hymn 599 Break Thou the Bread of Life+
1 Break now the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page I seek you, Lord;
my spirit pants for thee, O Living Word!
2 Bless thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,
as thou didst bless the bread by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;
and I shall find my peace, my All in all.
WORDS: Mary A. Lathbury, 1877 MUSIC: William F. Sherwin, 1877
HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 378 Amazing Grace+
1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come
‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
4 The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
5 Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
6 When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we first begun.
WORDS: John Newton, 1779 MUSIC: 19th cent. USA melody; harm. by Edwin O. Excell, 1900
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. 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
