Pastor: David Range
October 1, 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
October 1, 2023
8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services
Please see the end of the bulletin for some additional important information
CALL TO WORSHIP
Gathering Prayer for World Communion Sunday: God, as we gather in this sacred community of faith, we remember that our congregation is but one of the many parts of your eternal and universal church.
Though we come from different backgrounds, we are all part of the body of Christ. Make us ever mindful and understanding of the suffering of our members, jubilant in their joys and knowledgeable of their condition.
We pray for our continued ministry with our brothers and sisters around the world. May we see ourselves one day as you see us. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
Leader: Behold the city above all nations!
People: We remember Jerusalem,
Leader: When we are far from home.
People: We remember Jerusalem,
Leader: When the world refuses to hear us.
People: We remember Jerusalem,
Leader: When the door is closed to us.
People: We remember Jerusalem,
Leader: When we ignore the cries of our brothers and sisters.
People: We remember Jerusalem,
Leader: When our children are in need.
People: We remember Jerusalem.
People: As we come today, on World Communion Sunday, to partake of the meal Jesus gave us, we need to examine ourselves as we as God what have we done, what have I done, that has harmed my neighbor. Then we need to ask God to forgive us, for me, and help me not to repeat that again. Silent prayer …
Let us sing to the God who loves us all:
Hymn 133 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms+
1. What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
2 O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
3. What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
WORDS: Elisha A. Hoffman, 1887 MUSIC: Anthony J. Showalter, 1887
OPENING PRAYER
*PRAISE AND WORSHIP
I will sing of the mercy of the Lord
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing, I will sing,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness,
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness to all generations,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.
Be Still for the Presence of the Lord
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the holy One, is here;
Come bow before him now with reverence and fear
In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the holy One, is here.
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
He burns with holy fire, with splendor he is crowned:
How awesome is the sight, our radiant king of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place:
He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace -
No work too hard for him. In faith receive from him.
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.
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.
In Moments Like These
In moments like these I sing out a song
I sing out a love song to Jesus
In moments like these I lift up my hands
I lift up my hands to the Lord
Singing I love You, Lord
Singing I love You, Lord
Singing I love You, Lord
I love You
In moments like these I sing out a song
I sing out a love song to Jesus
In moments like these I lift up my hands
I lift up my hands to the Lord
Singing I love You, Lord
Singing I love You, Lord
Singing I love You, Lord
I love You
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: Pastors David and CJ are away at a family wedding in Virginia. We welcome Pastor Diane Gutierrez, who has served many churches in our district and is currently serving as a retired pastor in the Plantation UMC.
TODAY: No meeting of the United Methodist Men so that they can attend the Celebration of Installation of Rev. Dr. Simon Osunlana, our new District Superintendent at the Hollywood Hills UMC, 400 N. 35th Ave, Hollywood 33021. Those who wish to be a part of the mass choir should come to practice at 2:30. If you are unable to attend, but would like to see the Installation Service online, please go to these links on October 1 https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodHillsUMC or https://www.youtube.com/@hollywoodhillsunitedmethodist/streams
TODAY: Church Prayer meeting at 7:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Bible Study at 7:00 p.m. on Pastor’s Zoom link, please write him for the link at miramarpastor@gmail.com
THURSDAY: Choir at 7:00 p.m.
FRIDAY: All men in the church are invited to practice for the concert to be held on Oct.15 by coming to this night’s practice at 7:00 p.m.
NEXT SUNDAY: Worship Services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. with a soup sale for Pastor Appreciation Sunday after each service. Our Charge Conference will be in Hollywood Hills UMC at 3:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, October 15 please support the Bake and Soup Sale after each service, for Pastor Appreciation Sunday.
SUNDAY October 15 the Men’s Group invites you to a “Men’s Concert” so all men, women, boys and girls please plan to come for a fun gospel event. We are inviting men’s groups from other churches to join us to put on this concert. (All men in the church are invited to practice in the sanctuary on Fridays September 22 and October 6 at 7:00 p.m.)
MONDAY October 16 the United Women in Faith are sponsoring the Annual Breast Cancer Awareness meeting at 7:00 p.m.
TUESDAY, October 17 the BOLD Justice Community Problems Assembly meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Greater Antioch Baptist Church, 420 8 Ave., Pompano Beach, 33060. All network members are expected to attend. We will have a bus leaving our church parking lot at 6:30 p.m. to take us on this road trip together as we vote for a new issue to address.
SATURDAY, October 21, Dinner Sale from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. sponsored by the Pastor Appreciation Committee.
SUNDAY October 29, one joint 10:00 a.m. service for Pastor Appreciation Sunday with the new District Superintendent, the Rev. Dr. Simon Osunlana preaching.
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: Philippians 2:1-13
CHILDREN’S TIME
*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
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 367 He Touched Me+
1. Shackled by a heavy burden,
neath a load of guilt and shame,
then the hand of Jesus touched me,
and now I am no longer the same.
He touched me, O he touched me,
and O the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened, and now I know,
he touched me and made me whole.
2. Since I met this blessed Savior,
since he cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise him;
I’ll shout it while eternity rolls.
He touched me, O he touched me,
and O the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened, and now I know,
he touched me and made me whole.
WORDS: William J. Gaither, 1963 MUSIC: William J. Gaither, 1963
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 “Unity in a world of struggle!” Pastor Diane Gutierrez
HYMN OF PREPARATION 369 Blessed Assurance+
1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchased of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above,
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
3 Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
WORDS: Fanny J. Crosby, 1873 MUSIC: Phoebe P. Knapp, 1873
COMMUNION
The Great Thanksgiving for World Communion Sunday
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,
Lord God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. You created for yourself a world filled with diversity and blessed by your breath of life. Rainbow colors bloom in spring, summer breezes bring garden delight, and now as Autumn comes our way we see the work of your paintbrush upon every face and tree.
In mercy, while we still held to the chains of our winter, of pride, self-righteousness, and historic egos you loved us steadfastly and delivered us as babes to reflect the beauty and diversity of your grace, to bring us into a community of love, hope, and peace.
And so, with all your people on earth in every place where two or more are gathered in your name and all the company of heaven who have gone before us 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. Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
and to announce that the time had come
when you would save your people.
He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. 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. He prayed that we might be one as he is one with you, Father and he asked that we might be known by the love we have for one another.
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.
Renew our communion with your Church throughout the world,
and strengthen it in every nation and among every people
to witness faithfully in your name.
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 Father, now and forever. Amen.
As we take the bread and juice today, O God, help us to remember all Christians who will take part in this meal together. Help us to give thanks for all who are in the body of Christ together.
Bless this bread and juice and make it be the body and blood of Christ that we may be the hands and feet of Christ as we go forth from this place today. AMEN
As you receive these gifts from God hear these words:
Take eat and give thanks for the broken body of Jesus;
Drink and be blessed by the blood that was shed for our forgiveness of sins.
Hymns to be sung while Communion is being served
*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.
WORDS: Joseph M. Scriven, ca. 1855 MUSIC: Charles C. Converse, 1868
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 363 And Can It Be That I Should Gain+
1 And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood!
Died He for me? who caused His pain!
For me? who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2 'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
3 He left His Father's throne above,
(So free, so infinite His grace!),
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me.
4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
5 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1739 MUSIC: Thomas Campbell, 1835
BENEDICTION
God, as we leave this sanctuary, encourage and remind us to go into the world. Guide us to advance the mission of your holy church and to tend to the needs of our brothers and sisters. Help us to care for Christ’s body and to nurture the needs of all of God’s children. Amen.
+All music under ccli #24249
How do children learn to worship?
1. By being taught that they have a place in the community of the church.
2. By seeing, hearing, feeling, even smelling, the sanctuary as a place of welcome and worship.
3. By being around other children in the worship service.
4. By watching how adults sing, pray, and make offerings.
5. By sharing in prayers, communion, and worship with adults.
6. By being given ways to watch for God’s presence in their own lives, and encouraged to share where they notice God.
_____________
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
