Pastor: David Range
March 1, 2026
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 for March 1, 2026
8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Please see the end of the bulletin for some additional important information
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
Giver of life, we are reminded that Jesus invites us to live in abundance – abundance of grace, mercy, truth, justice, and love. Help us to see that to love your ways is to love you, and that to extend love to our neighbors is another way that we love you. Through song, prayer, meditation on your Word and holy communion, grant us grace that we might extend forgiveness and grace to all we encounter this coming week. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather as people guided by the promise of new life, a promise fulfilled by Christ, whose path we follow.
For this is the day that the Lord, has made—
we will rejoice and be glad in it!
*Opening Hymn 116 The God of Abraham Praise+
1 The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of Everlasting Days,
and God of Love;
Jehovah, great I AM!
by earth and heaven confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name
forever blest.
2 The great I AM has sworn;
I on this oath depend.
I shall, on eagle wings upborne,
to heaven ascend.
I shall behold God's face;
I shall God's power adore,
and sing the wonders of God's grace
forevermore.
3 The heavenly land I see,
with peace and plenty blest;
a land of sacred liberty,
and endless rest.
There milk and honey flow,
and oil and wine abound,
and trees of life forever grow
with mercy crowned.
4 The God who reigns on high
the great archangels sing,
and "Holy, holy, holy!" cry
"Almighty King!
Who was, and is, the same,
and evermore shall be:
Jehovah, Lord, the great I AM,
we worship thee!"
WORDS: From The Yigdal of Daniel ben Judah, ca. 1400; para. By Thomas Olivers, 1760; alt. MUSIC: Hebrew melody, Sacred Harmony, 1780; harm. from Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1875, alt.
PRAYER OF ADORATION AND CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Hear the good news: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might be dead to sin, and alive to all that is good.
By faith we believe your promise of forgiveness for all who repent of sin. We give ourselves in thankfulness to Christ our Savior, through whom we pray. Amen.
*PRAISE AND WORSHIP
The Right Hand of God (Sing once)
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 lifting in our land
Lifting the fallen one by one
Each one is known by name
And rescued now from shame
By the lifting of the right hand of God
We are Marching (Siyahamba) (Sing once)
We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, (marching, we are marching, marching), oh, we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, (marching, we are marching, marching), oh, we are marching in the light of God.
2. We are living in the love of God, we are living in the love of God.
We are living in the love of God, we are living in the love of God.
We are living, (living, we are living, living), oh, we are living in the love of God.
We are living, (living, we are living, living), oh, we are living in the love of God.
3. We are moving in the power of God, we are moving in the power of God.
We are moving in the power of God, we are moving in the power of God.
We are moving, (moving, we are moving, moving), oh, we are moving in the power of God.
We are moving, (moving, we are moving, moving), oh, we are moving in the power of God.
In Christ Alone (Sing twice)
In Christ alone…I place my trust
I find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory let it be said of me
My source of strength, my source of hope is Christ alone.
WELCOME: Visitors, you are invited to stand and introduce yourself or be introduced by a friend. Please receive the information card that the usher offers and when you have filled it in please return it to the usher.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
ANNOUNCEMENTS—CALL TO ACTION
TODAY: Worship Services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. with Holy Communion.
The United Methodist Men meet after the 11:00 a.m. service.
TONIGHT: Prayer meeting on Zoom at 7:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Fast-breaking service at 12 noon. All are invited to come to the sanctuary for a service of Holy Communion after a fast of your choice.
WEDNESDAY: Bible study on Zoom at 7:00 p.m.
THURSDAY: Food Distribution starting at 8:00 a.m.
Choir 7:00 p.m. Vinessa Edwards house meeting at 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY: Confirmation Class 4 - 5:30 p.m.
NEXT SUNDAY: Worship Services at 8:30 and 11:00. conducted by the United Women in Faith
Looking Ahead:
MONDAY March 9 Trustees meeting at 7:30
MONDAY March 23 Finance Committee at 7:00 p.m.
TUESDAY, March 24 Rally, at 7:30 p.m. at Plantation SDA, 400 NW 118 Ave. Plantation FL 3332
The Easter Egg Hunt will be coming up on Saturday, April 4, and Marvia Aitken is looking for donations of money so she can buy things to help the children have a good time. If you can help please see her.
FRIDAY, April 10, the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica will be performing at the Miramar Cultural Center. Please see flyer for ticket details
MONDAY, April 20 Nehemiah Action 7:30 p.m. at Blanche Ely High School, 1201 NW 6th Ave., Pompano Beach, 33060
May 9 is the Jamaica 5K Reggae Run at Miramar Regional Park, please see the flyer and talk to Allison Feurtado at 954-483-3792 for more info.
See Patrick Brown’s Indecent Proposal, Saturday May 9 at Everglades High School. Please see Allison Feurtado for tickets to this show or the next night in Coral Springs. See flyer for more information.
Summer Camp July 6 to 11. Please see Pastor David, Marvia Aitken or Judy Minott for more details.
The Mission Offering today is for Good Samaritan Fund
Next Sunday our Mission Offering goes to Apportionments
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 LESSON: Romans 4.13, 18, 20-25, NLT
CHILDREN’S TIME: Getting Stronger Every Day
Prayer: Dear God, we praise you today and ask you to make our faith stronger. Help me to live the way you want me to live, in your strength; with faith, hope and love. Amen.
WOMEN’S MOMENT
8.30: Jeanie Grossman
11:00: Shara Carter-Hopkins
*HYMN Christ Beside Me+
1. Christ beside me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me King of my heart;
Christ within me, Christ below me,
Christ above me never to part.
2. Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me shield in strife;
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising light of my life.
3. Christ beside me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me King of my heart;
Christ within me, Christ below me,
Christ above me never to part.
RECEPTION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Please pass the offering bags along each row at the direction of the ushers. See below for other, very convenient ways to give.
WAYS TO GIVE
1. Click the ‘Donate’ icon on http://www.miramarumc.org
And follow the prompts
2. Text 833-931-1791. And follow the prompts
3. You may also donate with cash or check to MUMC
4. Donate by using Zelle to mirumeth@gmail.com
5. Use our QR code
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
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.
TIME OF SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS
(please email miramarpastor@gmail.com)
PRAYER HYMN 698 God of the Ages+
1 God of the ages, whose almighty hand
leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
our grateful songs before thy throne arise.
2 Thy love divine hath led us in the past;
in this free land with thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay,
thy Word our law, thy paths our chosen way.
3 From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
be thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
thy true religion in our hearts increase;
thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
4 Refresh thy people on their toilsome way;
lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.
WORDS: Daniel C. Roberts, 1876 MUSIC: George W. Warren, 1894
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.
Please stand for the reading of the Gospel according to John 3:14-17
SERMON From Resistance to Persistence Rev. Dr. CJ Walter
INVITATION
Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.
HYMN OF PREPARATION 452 My Faith Looks Up to Thee
1 My faith looks up to thee,
thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day
be wholly thine!
2 May thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire!
As thou hast died for me,
O may my love to thee
pure, warm, and changeless be, a living fire!
3 While life's dark maze I tread,
and griefs around me spread,
be thou my guide;
bid darkness turn to day,
wipe sorrow's tears away,
nor let me ever stray
from thee aside.
4 When ends life's transient dream,
when death's cold, sullen stream
shall o'er me roll;
blest Savior, then, in love,
fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above,
a ransomed soul!
THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION
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, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
You brought all things into being and called them good. From the dust of the earth you formed us into your image and breathed into us the breath of life.
When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.
When rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights, you bore up the ark on the waters, saved Noah and his family, and made covenant with every living creature on earth.
When you led your people to Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights, you gave us your commandments and made us your covenant people.
When your people forsook your covenant, your prophet Elijah fasted for forty days and forty nights; and on your holy mountain, he heard your still small voice.
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. When you gave him to save us from our sin, your Spirit led him into the wilderness, where he fasted forty days and forty nights to prepare for his ministry.
When he suffered and died on a cross for our sin, you raised him to life, presented him alive to the apostles during forty days, and exalted him at your right hand.
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.
Now, when we your people prepare for the yearly feast of Easter, you lead us to repentance for sin and the cleansing of our hearts, that during these forty days of Lent we may be gifted and graced to reaffirm the covenant you made with us through Christ.
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 online, 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.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, 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.
DURING COMMUNION ELEMENT PARTAKING
Amazing Grace
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.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.
Just as I Am
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.
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.
Spirit Song
O let the Son of God enfold you
with his Spirit and his love.
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.
O let him have the things that hold you,
and his Spirit like a dove
will descend upon your life and make you whole.
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
O come and sing this song with gladness
as your hearts are filled with joy.
Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name.
O give him all your tears and sadness;
give him all your years of pain,
and you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name.
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
I Surrender All
All to Jesus I surrender,
all to him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust him,
in his presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all,
all to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender, make me,
Savior, wholly thine;
let me feel the Holy Spirit,
truly know that thou art mine.
I surrender all, I surrender all,
all to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
Something Beautiful
Something beautiful, something good;
all my confusion he understood;
all I had to offer him was brokenness and strife,
but he made something beautiful of my life.
Something beautiful, something good;
all my confusion he understood;
all I had to offer him was brokenness and strife,
but he made something beautiful of my life.
Fairest Lord Jesus
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.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine.
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home.
Under the shadow of thy throne,
still may we dwell secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
Nearer, My God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
Morning Has Broken
Morning has broken like the first morning;
blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!
Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!
HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 707 Hymn of Promise+
In the bulb, there is a flower,
In the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise:
Butterflies will soon be free
In the cold and snow of winter
There’s a spring that waits to be
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.
There’s a song in every silence,
Seeking word and melody
There’s a dawn in every darkness,
Bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
What it holds, a mystery
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.
3 In our end is our beginning;
In our time, infinity
In our doubt there is believing;
In our life, eternity
In our death, a resurrection;
At the last, a victory
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.
WORDS: Natalie Sleeth, 1986 MUSIC: Natalie Sleeth, 1986
SENDING FORTH WITH BLESSING (please raise hands heavenward)
All music under ccli #24249
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 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.
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
