Pastor: David Range
November 27, 2022
Miramar United Methodist Church
Order of Worship First Sunday in Advent
November 27, 2022
8:30 & 11:00 a.m. services
Please see the end of the bulletin for some additional important information
CALL TO WORSHIP
Hymn 196 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus+
1. Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1744 MUSIC: Rowland H. Prichard, 1830; harm. from The English Hymnal, 1906
OPENING PRAYER
*PRAISE AND WORSHIP
Jesus, His Name is Wonderful
High as the heavens and bright as the sun
Matchless in power and second to none.
Above all the angels and sons of the earth
No one can fathom His marvelous worth.
Jesus, His name is wonderful, high and exalted, forever the same.
Jesus worthy of honor, there’s joy in His presence, and life in His name
2. His name is a fortress that never will fall
A tower of strength and a refuge for all
How firm a foundation our chief cornerstone
The rock of all ages is Jesus alone.
I’m Gonna Sing, Sing, Sing
I’m gonna sing, sing, sing I’m gonna shout, shout, shout
I’m gonna sing, I’m gonna shout, praise the Lord
When those gates are open wide, I’m gonna sit at Jesus’ side
I’m gonna sing…I’m gonna shout, Praise the Lord.
Come Into His Presence
Come into His presence with thanksgiving in your heart and give Him praise, and give Him praise.
Come into His presence with thanksgiving in your heart,
your voices raise, your voices raise.
Give glory and honor and power unto Him, Jesus, the name above all names.
In His Presence
In His presence, there is comfort. In His presence, there is peace.
When we seek the Father’s heart, we will find such bless’d assurance
In Your holy presence, Lord
In Your presence, there is comfort. In Your presence, there is peace.
When we seek to know Your heart we will find such blessed assurance
In Your holy presence, Lord
Give Thanks
Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son.
And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’, let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us;
and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’, let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us. Give thanks, give thanks…
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: New Members’ Session after each service.
TODAY: Church Prayer meeting at 7:30 p.m.
TUESDAY: Choir Practice at 7:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
THURSDAY: No Food Distribution this week.
THURSDAY: Choir Practice at 7:00 p.m.
NEXT SUNDAY: Second Sunday in Advent. Services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. with Communion: please prepare the elements if you are joining us online
NEXT SUNDAY: United Methodist Men meet at 12:30 p.m.
NEXT SUNDAY at 6:00 p.m. the United Men’s Ministry is sponsoring a Concert. Please talk to Hu Fulford or Roland Abel if you would like to be a part of this variety show. Let them know of your item(s) and we all look forward to a “joyful night out.”
SATURDAY December 10 the MUMC Youth Group and Children’s Club will have their ‘Happy Holidays Party’, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Join in the Christmas fun and bring donations of canned goods. See flyer at the end of the bulletin for more information.
The Pre School still has some spaces for 3 and 4-year-olds for this school year. Please drop in to see the Director Marleni, or call the preschool for an appointment at 954 981 9269.
The Church Council has made it optional to wear a mask in the sanctuary for worship. Please follow your conscience as you are led.
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 Luke 21:5-11 and 29-38
CHILDREN’S TIME
BAPTISM at 11:00
Brothers and Sisters in Christ; through the Sacrament of Baptism we are initiated into Christ’s holy Church. We are incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the Spirit. All this is God’s gift, offered to us without price.
Aramis John Paul LeClerc has been brought for baptism by his parents, family and godparents today. We ask them to respond to these questions as a testimony to their faith, and I ask the congregation to pledge to help them in their task.
To the family and godparents, I ask these questions:
On behalf of the whole Church, I ask you: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin? I do.
Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves? I do.
Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races? I do.
Will you nurture this child in Christ’s holy Church, that by your teaching and example he may be guided to accept God’s grace for himself, and profess his faith openly, and to lead a Christian life? I will.
Now to the congregation I ask:
Do you, as Christ’s body, the Church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ? We do.
Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include these persons and all the children in this church, in your care?
With God’s help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround these persons with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their service to others. We will pray for them, that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life.
Let us pray: Eternal Father: When nothing existed but chaos, you swept across the dark waters and brought forth light. In the days of Noah you saved those on the ark through water. After the flood you set in the clouds a rainbow. When you saw your people as slaves in Egypt, you led them to freedom through the sea. Their children you brought through the Jordan to the land which you promised.
In the fullness of time you sent Jesus, nurtured in the water of a womb. He was baptized by John and anointed by your Spirit. He called his disciples to share in the baptism of his death and resurrection and to make disciples of all nations.
Pour out your Holy Spirit, to bless this gift of water and this child who receives it, to wash away his sins and clothe him in righteousness throughout his live, that, dying and being raised with Christ, he may share in his final victory.
Bless the home of this child, give wisdom and affection to his parents, grant to the godparents understanding and guidance, and, most of all, build up the love which conquers all evil and instills the grace to lead a Christian life. We ask in Jesus’ name.
All praise to you, Eternal Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever. Amen.
Aramis John Paul, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Holy Spirit work within you, that being born through water and the Spirit, you may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Now it is our joy to welcome our new brother in Christ.
Through baptism you are incorporated by the Holy Spirit into God’s new creation and made to share in Christ’s royal priesthood. We are all one in Christ Jesus. With joy and thanksgiving, we welcome you as a member of the family of Christ.
*HYMN 206 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light+
1 I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
2 I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
3 I'm looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
WORDS: Kathleen Thomerson, 1966 MUSIC: Kathleen Thomerson, 1966
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 Good Samaritan Fund
As we draw near to the close of the year, please remember in your end of the year giving the church in your contributions so that we can not only pay all our bills and increase our mission but also so that we can reduce the time it will take to pay off our mortgage by contributing to the “mortgage principal reduction.” Thank you for your faithfulness.
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 368 My Hope Is Built+
1 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
3 His oath, his covenant, his blood
Supports me in the 'whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
4 When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found!
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
WORDS: Edward Mote, 1834 MUSIC: William B. Bradbury, 1863
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 Your redemption is drawing near Pastor David Range
*HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 702 Sing with All the Saints in Glory+
1 Sing with all the saints in glory, sing the resurrection song!
Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story, to the former days belong.
All around the clouds are breaking, soon the storms of time shall cease;
In God’s likeness we, awaking, know the everlasting peace.
2 O what glory, far exceeding all that eye has yet perceived!
Holiest hearts, for ages pleading, never that full joy conceived.
God has promised, Christ prepares it, There on high our welcome waits.
Every humble spirit shares it; Christ has passed th’eternal gates.
3 Life eternal! heaven rejoices: Jesus lives who once was dead.
Join we now the deathless voices; child of God, lift up your head!
Patriarchs from the distant ages, saints all longing for their heaven,
Prophets, psalmists, seers, and sages, all await the glory given.
4 Life eternal! O what wonders crowd on faith; what joy unknown,
When, amidst earth's closing thunders,
Saints shall stand before the throne!
O to enter that bright portal, see that glowing firmament;
Know, with thee, O God Immortal, “Jesus Christ whom thou has sent!”
WORDS: William J. Irons, 1873 MUSIC: Ludwig van Beethoven, 1824; arr. by Edward Hodges, 1864 set tune: Hymn to Joy
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, 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
