Pastor: David Range
We are back in the sanctuary and you are invited to join us!
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 www.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 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 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
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.
Celebrating 61 years!
November 28, 2021
First Sunday in Advent
8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services
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+
Do Lord
Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me
Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me
Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me
Look away beyond the blue
I’ve got a home in gloryland that
outshines the sun
I’ve got a home in gloryland that
outshines the sun
I’ve got a home in gloryland that
outshines the sun
Look away beyond the blue
Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me
Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me
Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me
Look away beyond the blue
I took Jesus as my Savior, you take him too
I took Jesus as my Savior, you take him too
I took Jesus as my Savior, you take him too
Look away beyond the blue
Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me
Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me
Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me
Look away beyond the blue
The Battle Belongs to the Lord
In heavenly armor we enter the land
The battle belongs to the Lord
No weapon that’s fashioned against us will stand
The battle belongs to the Lord
And we sing glory, honor,
power and strength to the Lord
and we sing glory, honor,
power and strength to the Lord
When the power of darkness comes in like a flood
The battle belongs to the Lord
He’s raised up a standard, the pow’r of his blood
The battle belongs to the Lord
And we sing glory, honor,
power and strength to the Lord
and we sing glory, honor,
power and strength to the Lord
When your enemy presses in hard, do not fear
The battle belongs to the Lord
Take courage, my friend, your redemption is near
The battle belongs to the Lord
And we sing glory, honor,
power and strength to the Lord
and we sing glory, honor,
power and strength to the Lord
Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down
Come let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord, our God, our Maker.
Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord, our God, our Maker.
For He is our God,
and we are the people of His pasture
and the sheep of His hand
and the sheep of His hand
Sweet, Sweet Spirit
There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,
and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord;
there are sweet expressions on each face,
and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly Dove,
stay right here with us, filling us with your love;
and for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived
when we shall leave this place.
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
We are glad you could join us in-person in the sanctuary or online. Please reach out to someone and greet them with the love of Christ. We ask that for greeting that you look into someone’s eyes, nod and say, “the peace of the Lord be with you” or some other greeting. Please keep touching to a minimum.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Please continue to worship with us online or in person at 8:30 or 11:00 a.m. except for the 5th Sunday of the month or special occasions when we have just one service at 10:00 a.m. 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!
TODAY: Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. online with Marvia Aitken and friends. Please contact Marvia for the link at mailto:marviaaitken@hotmail.com
TODAY: Prayer meeting at 7:30 p.m.
THURSDAY: Food distribution starts between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. You are invited to bring packing boxes for volunteers to put food in.
NEXT SUNDAY please join in worship, in person or online, at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. If you are joining online, you are invited to prepare the elements for communion: bread, juice, wine, water, whatever it takes to be reminded of the Last Supper and our regular times of sharing communion.
NEXT SUNDAY United Methodist Men meet at 12:30 p.m. You are also invited to a Carol Singing service, sponsored by United Methodist Men at 6:00 p.m. Come suggest a carol and let’s sing to the glory of God!
Please support the Preschool Toy Drive, November 29 to December 9. Please bring new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls ages 2-11.
Bold Justice dates:
Research Kick-Off, Tuesday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m., and further research committees January 11, February 8, March 15.
Rally Tuesday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Nehemiah Action Monday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m., Justice Ministry Celebration Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.
For the Sharing of the Spirit, remain seated and wave, nod and smile at your neighbor.
RESPONSIVE READING 756 (Psalm 25:1-10)
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust,
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
Let none that wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are clothed with treachery.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore the Lord instructs sinners in the way,
and leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches them their way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and testimonies.
HYMN 70 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
Please stand for the gospel according to Luke 21: 28-38
CHILDREN’S TIME
BAPTISM (11:00 a.m.)
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.
Izzy Hendrix Anderson-Edwards Mickles has been brought for baptism by his parents, and family 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, 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 she may be guided to accept God’s grace for herself, and profess her 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 now before you, 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 Izzy Hendrix who receives it, to wash away her sin and clothe her in righteousness throughout her life, that, dying and being raised with Christ, Izzy Hendrix may share in his final victory.
Bless the home of Izzy Hendrix, give wisdom and affection to her parents, grant to them 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 for ever. Amen.
Izzy Hendrix, 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 sister 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 250 Once in Royal David's City+
1 Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
in a manger for His bed.
Mary, loving mother mild;
Jesus Christ, her little Child.
2 He came down to earth from Heaven
who is God and Lord of all
And His shelter was a stable
and His cradle was a stall.
With the poor, the scorned, the lowly
lived on earth our Savior holy.
3 Jesus is our childhood’s pattern;
day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
tears and smiles like us He knew;
And he feeleth for our sadness
and He shareth in our gladness.
4 And our eyes at last shall see Him,
through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
is our God in Heaven above;
And He leads His children on
to the place where He is gone.
5 Not in that poor lowly stable
with the oxen standing by
we shall see him, but in heaven,
set at God’s right hand on high.
There his children gather round,
bright like stars, with glory crowned
WORDS: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848 MUSIC: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849 #242496oc
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
Prayer of Dedication
One minute musical interlude while worshipers prepare their offering. Instructions for giving online, by check or text are in the intro section before 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.
TIME OF SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS
PRAYER HYMN 472 Near to the Heart of God +
1. There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God;
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us who wait before thee
near to the heart of God.
2. There is a place of comfort sweet,
near to the heart of God;
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God.
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us who wait before thee
near to the heart of God.
3. There is a place of full release,
near to the heart of God;
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God.
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us who wait before thee
near to the heart of God.
WORDS: Cleland B. McAfee, 1903. MUSIC: Cleland B. McAfee, 1903
PASTORAL PRAYER
Followed by 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: Stand Up and Lift Up Your Heads
HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 714 I Know Whom I Have Believed+
I know not why God's wondrous grace
to me he hath made known,
nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
redeemed me for his own.
But I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day.
2. I know not how this saving faith
to me he did impart,
nor how believing in his word
wrought peace within my heart.
But I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day.
3. I know not how the Spirit moves,
convincing us of sin,
revealing Jesus through the word,
creating faith in him.
But I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day.
4. I know not when my Lord may come,
at night or noonday fair,
nor if I walk the vale with him,
or meet him in the air.
But I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day.
WORDS: Daniel W. Whittle, 1883 MUSIC: James McGranahan, 1883
BENEDICTION
……………………………………………………………………
+All music under ccli #24249
