Pastor: David Range
March 20, 2022
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!
Order of Worship, Third Sunday in Lent, March 20, 2022
8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services
Please see the end of the bulletin for some additional important information
CALL TO WORSHIP
*HYMN 857 O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
1 O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace!
2 My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad the honors of thy name.
3 Jesus! the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears, 'tis life, and health, and peace.
4 He breaks the power of canceled sin, he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean; his blood availed for me.
5 He speaks, and listening to his voice, new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice, the humble poor believe.
6 Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your savior come, and leap, ye lame, for joy.
7 In Christ, your head, you then shall know, shall feel your sins forgiven;
anticipate your heaven below, and own that love is heaven.
WORDS: Charles Wesley, 1739 MUSIC: Carl G. Glaser; arr. by Lowell Mason, 1839
PRAYER
*PRAISE AND WORSHIP
I’m Gonna Walk the Streets of Glory
I’m gonna walk the streets of glory by and by
I’m gonna walk the streets of glory by and by
I’m gonna walk the streets of glory
I’m gonna sing redemption’s story
I’m gonna walk the streets of glory by and by
Old Time Religion
Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion,
Give me that old time religion, it’s good enough for me.
It was good for Paul and Silas, it was good for Paul and Silas,
It was good for Paul and Silas, it’s good enough for me.
Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion,
Give me that old time religion, it’s good enough for me.
It was good for the Hebrew children, it was good for the Hebrew children,
It was good for the Hebrew children, it’s good enough for me.
Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion,
Give me that old time religion, it’s good enough for me.
Makes me love everybody, makes me love everybody
Makes me love everybody, and it’s good enough for me.
Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion,
Give me that old time religion, it’s good enough for me.
Make Me a Servant
Make me a servant… humble and meek
Lord, let me lift up those who are weak
And may the prayer of my heart always be
Make me a servant….make me a servant
Make me a servant today
You Are My God
You are my God, you are my king, You are my master….my everything
You are my lord, that’s why I sing to you. Hall le lu jah, Hall le lu jah
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Birthdays and Anniversaries
TODAY: New Member Session after each service. Please speak with the pastor if you would like to join the church.
TODAY: Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. online with Marvia Aitken and friends. Please contact Marvia for the link at marviaaitken@hotmail.com.
TODAY: Church Prayer meeting at 7:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY: Fast-breaking service at 12:00 noon. Wednesday mornings during Lent we will have the fast-breaking services at 12:00 noon. On March 23, 30, April 6 and 13 you are invited to come to the sanctuary after fasting for as long or short a time as you like. We will share in a hymn, a prayer, a reading, a short message, and the breaking of bread in holy communion. The service should take no longer than 30 minutes. We strengthen each other in the community of the church in order to make the season of lent most impactful to our lives
Bible Study online at 7:00 p.m. Please contact Pastor David at miramarpastor@gmail.com for the link.
THURSDAY: NO Food distribution this week.
SATURDAY from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. all children are invited to the Easter Egg Hunt at Tree Tops Park, 3900 SW 100th Ave. Davie 33328. The congregation is invited to donate money to support this event.
SATURDAY: 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Confirmation class.
NEXT SUNDAY: 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services.
Bold Justice dates:
Nehemiah Action Monday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m., Charles Dodge Center, 601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines. If you need transport to the Charles Dodge Center, please let your Team Leader know.
Justice Ministry Celebration Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.
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”.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MOMENT
Responsive reading 788 (Psalm 63)
O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where no water is.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
My soul is feasted as with marrow and fat, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips, when I think of you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;
they shall be given over to the power of the sword, they shall be prey for jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear in God’s name shall glory; but the mouths of liars will be stopped.
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 13:1-9
CHILDREN’S TIME
*HYMN 362 Nothing but the Blood+
1 What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow that makes me bright as snow;
no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2 For my pardon this I see: nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea: nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow that makes me bright as snow;
no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.
3 Nothing can for sin atone: nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done: nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow that makes me bright as snow;
no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.
4 This is all my hope and peace: nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness: nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow that makes me bright as snow;
no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.
WORDS: Robert Lowry, 1876 MUSIC: Robert Lowry, 1876
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 BOLD Justice
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 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
(please mailto: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 a 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. and arr. by William Farley Smith, 1986
PASTORAL PRAYER and 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 Who wants a second chance? Pastor David Range
HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 530 Are Ye Able+
1 "Are ye able," said the Master, "to be crucified with me?"
"Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered, "to the death we follow thee."
Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine,
Remold them, make us, like thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.
2 Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes,
that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise?
Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine,
Remold them, make us, like thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.
3 Are ye able when the shadows close around you with the sod,
to believe that spirit triumphs, to commend your soul to God?
Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine,
Remold them, make us, like thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.
4 Are ye able? Still the Master whispers down eternity,
and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee.
Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine,
Remold them, make us, like thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.
WORDS: Earl Marlatt, 1926 MUSIC: Harry S. Mason, 1924
BENEDICTION
+All music under ccli #24249
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As we move toward our BOLD Justice Nehemiah on April 4 at 7:30 p.m. people have asked: what are the history and accomplishments of BOLD Justice? You are invited to share these successes and our challenges for the coming meeting.
Our beginning as a group was in September 2007 when 800 people from diverse backgrounds throughout Broward County gathered together to form BOLD Justice, to provide congregations with a tool to do effective justice ministry in Broward County. In 2008, BOLD Justice gathered 1500 people to take action on community problems at our first Nehemiah Action Assembly. Here are some of the issues that have been addressed by BOLD Justice since then:
Affordable Housing
• We got the County Commission to fund the construction of 2,322 affordable rental housing units across Broward County for families earning less than 80% of average median income.
• We got the County Commission to host a home loan modification event where 3,544 families received on the spot modifications to the home loans.
Drugs and Crime
• We got the state legislature to enact legislation allowing 4,000 non-violent offenders to attend locally based drug treatment rather than go to prison. It is estimated that this saved the state or Florida $92 million in prison costs.
Jobs and Unemployment
• We got Work Force One (Career Source Broward) to streamline the process for registering for unemployment helping thousands receive their unemployment benefits more quickly.
• We won the passage of the Workforce Investment Act, which will give Broward County residents first opportunity to work on Broward County contracts and provides incentives to businesses who hire people who are considered “hard to hire.” The county estimates this impacts $290 million worth of contracts a year.
Seniors
• We got the State Attorney’s Office to commit to take leadership in coordinating a multi-agency unit to conduct unannounced inspections of nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Broward County at least once a month.
• We got the “Generator Rule” passed that required all facilities to have generators. As of July 2019, 116 of these facilities did not have a permanent generator and/or the fuel to run it for the required amount of time.
• We got the State Agencies to commit to all facilities having the required generators and fuel for the 2020 hurricane season. As a result of the work we did, 106 additional nursing homes and assisted living facilities now have generators. More than 4,000 additional people are now protected from a long-term power outage.
This year, on April 4 at 7:30 p.m. we are advocating for change to take place with three issues:
~ Mental Health ~
The first current issue we are working on is getting Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for the mentally ill currently living on the streets. Broward country has to second largest homeless population in Florida. In 2021 this was 2,529 on our streets, an increase of 300 over the previous year. At least 611 of the total number have a mental health condition. Broward jail system has 1,600 people in it who are a part of the mental health caseload. At least some of them would have better services in another setting. It can cost up to $65,000 per person per year to have someone on the streets without permanent supportive housing. We think we can do better and our goal is a housing model that provides rental assistance and supportive services to people with mental health issues who have experienced long-term or repeated homelessness. Services include mental health treatment, physical health care, education, employment opportunities and peer coaching. It is proven that PSH reduces incarceration and hospitalizations among this population.
1.A large majority of PSH participants remain stably housed, ending their cycle of chronic homelessness
2.At a local PSH provider, it cost approximately $48.62 a day to house someone compared to $160 per night for incarcerations and anywhere between $350 to nearly $700/day for emergency room stays.
• At our 2021 Nehemiah Action in March Commissioner Dale Holness (proposal sponsor) , Commissioner Dr. Sharief (proposal co-sponsor), and Commissioner Furr committed to support funding to increase Permanent Supportive housing (PSH) by 65 units in this upcoming budget cycle.
• In September at a County Commission budget workshop the county approved $1,575,000 of additional funding to expand PSH. This expansion will produce at least an additional 40 units of PSH.
• In January 2022 the county put out a request for proposals in order to begin the process of opening these additional PSH units.
This is good news but we must continue to support the provision of Permanent Supportive Housing, this is why we need you at the Nehemiah Action on April 4 at 7:30 p.m.
~ Care For Creation ~
The Problem
Broward County is getting hotter, which is leading to people being hospitalized and an increase in energy bills in order to cool homes
Research
The Temperature in Broward County has been steadily rising. One of the effects of the increased temperature is that Broward County is having more and more days with the heat index over 90 degrees or even in the triple digits. The increases in heat are having two devastating effects on the lives of people living here. 1) Increased risk of heat related health problems and 2) increased cost of cooling homes.
Tree Canopy
Tree Canopy is one of the most effective ways to reduce the heat in a community. Tree Canopy shade reduces the heat by 3-7 degrees. This temperature difference can save people’s lives by providing cool areas for rest. And tree canopy in your yard can reduce your air conditioning costs by up to 30%
Broward County set a goal to get the county to 40% tree canopy coverage, but since 2010 there has been virtually no progress made on this goal.
No matter what the solution, Broward County must begin to take heat mitigation seriously. Please attend the Nehemiah Action on April 4 at 7:30 to speak loud and clear to decision makers that they must take this problem more seriously and come up with solutions that meet the challenge.
~ Criminal Justice ~
The Problem:
• Broward County arrests too many kids and adults for minor offenses. These minor arrests follow people for the rest of their lives making it difficult to find jobs, get housing, enter college, and serve in the military.
• Many of these arrests are the result of unpaid fines and fees – essentially leading to the criminalization of poverty.
Background
• Florida’s incarceration rate is 23% higher than the national average. If Florida were its own country, we would arrest more people than any other country in the world.
• Florida currently spends $2.3 billion annually on corrections
Juvenile Civil Citation
• Florida’s Civil Citation program (FL Statute 985) diverts juveniles from an arrest record toward a community based diversion program. Offered initially for first time misdemeanors (non-serious offenses), this program allows juveniles to make restitution to victims and complete interventions to change their behavior without obtaining a criminal record.
• The counties with the best juvenile civil citation programs get nearly all eligible children into civil citation programs: Pinellas: 98%, Miami-Dade: 93%, Polk County 85%
• At the 2021 Nehemiah Action, BOLD Justice pushed the State Attorney to start a second screening in order to catch all eligible children.
• That screening went into effect in August of 2021, and now Broward County has 87% of eligible children getting civil citation. Your participation in the past has made a difference in how young people are being treated so that they are less likely to offend again. This is a major victory that would not have been possible if not for BOLD Justice.
Domestic Disturbances
• The one area of juvenile civil citations that continues to be a problem is around domestic disturbances
• Broward County does not allow domestic disturbances to be included in civil citation despite the state saying they are eligible.
• The State Attorney says that he needs to be able to remove children from the home so that things can cool down, and in order to do that he has to arrest people.
• But Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Miami-Dade all remove the children without arresting them.
• Broward County can do the same! We need your presence to encourage the State Attorney to make this change.
Adult Civil Citation
• Broward County passed a local Adult Civil Citation ordinance in October 2018.
• In 2019 Broward County arrested 41,000 adults for minor offenses, but in the last year Broward only issued 87 adult civil citations.
• This is compared to Pinellas County and Hillsborough County who both issued more than 1,500 adult civil citations.
• These arrests are for minor things… like driving without a license, unpaid fees and fines, having small amounts of marijuana, littering, trespassing, etc. These are problems.
• But sending people to jail doesn’t put people in a better position to pay their fines. Instead it traumatizes the family and puts families into greater poverty.
The Solution
• At our 2021 Nehemiah Action the State Attorney committed to implement a second screening for adults similar to the one he implemented for juveniles
• As of now, he has not started that implementation.
• We need the second screening in order to ensure our loved ones are not locked out of this important program.
• Additionally, it is essential that the civil citation program be expanded to include misdemeanor driving offenses (like driving on an expired tag, driving on a suspended license for failure to pay a fine or fee)
• We need to end the criminalization of poverty.
At Nehemiah Action
• State Attorney Harold Pryor has been invited to attend the Nehemiah Action
• We will be looking for him to take leadership on expanding the civil citation program for both juveniles and adults.
This is the third reason that we need you at the Nehemiah Action on April 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Charles Dodge Center, 601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines, 33025!
Speak to Pastor David Range for more details or to be put in touch with our Team Leaders: Donna Simms, Roland Abel, Joyce Hemmans, Ina McNeil, Vinessa Edwards or Grace Lee. Each of them are knowledgeable about these issues and how you can become involved in BOLD Justice in order to make a difference for many people in Broward County.
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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 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
