May 1, 2022

Pastor: David Range

Miramar United Methodist Church

Order of Worship

May 1, 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 304 Easter People, Raise Your Voices+

1. Easter people, raise your voices, 
sounds of heaven in earth should ring.                                              
Christ has brought us heaven’s choices; 
heavenly music, let it ring. 
Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing.

2. Fear of death can no more stop us 
from our pressing here below.             
For our Lord empowered us 
to triumph over every foe.                                
Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.

3. Every day to us is Easter, 
with its resurrection song.                                
When in trouble move the faster 
to our God who rights the wrong.                                         
Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs. 

WORDS: William M. James, 1979 MUSIC: Henry T. Smart, 1867

PRAYER           
*PRAISE AND WORSHIP

In the Name of Jesus 
In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, we have the victory.
In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, Satan, will have to flee.
Who can tell what God can do? Who can tell of his love for you?
In the name of Jesus, Jesus, we have the victory.

I Love That Man From Galilee 
I love that man from Galilee
For He has done so very much for me
He has taken all my sins, placed the Holy Ghost within,
I love that man, that man from Galilee.

Love, Wonderful Love
Love wonderful love, the love of God to me.
Love wonderful love, so rich, so full, so free.
Wide, wide as the ocean deep, deep as the sea, 
High, high as the heavens above is His love to me.

He Is Here
He is here, Hallelujah! He is here, Amen!
He is here, Holy, Holy, I will bless His name again
He is here, listen closely, hear Him calling out your name
He is here, you can touch Him, you will never be the same.

Precious Lamb of Glory
Precious Lamb of glory, 
loves most wondrous story
heart of God’s redemption of man
Worship the lamb, glorify the Lamb
Worship the Lamb of glory

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Birthdays and Anniversaries

TODAY: Holy Communion. Please prepare the elements if you are sharing at home. 

TODAY: United Methodist Men meeting at 12:30 p.m. Special guest speaker on Men’s Health

 TODAY: Sunday School at 5:00 p.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.

TUESDAY: Farm Share truck unloading 2:00 p.m. Please come and help if you are able.
 
WEDNESDAY: Bible Study online at 7:00 p.m. Please contact Pastor David at miramarpastor@gmail.com for the link.
 
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: Services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. We celebrate Mother’s Day!

THURSDAY May 26 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in person Job & Education Fair at the Miramar Cultural Center. See flyer at end of bulletin.
 
Bold Justice date:
Justice Ministry Celebration Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. (Please see flyer at end of bulletin for an environmentally friendly offer)

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 John 21:1-14

CHILDREN’S TIME

Confirmation

MEMBERSHIP VOWS  May 1, 2022 

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. Through confirmation we renew the covenant declared at our baptism, acknowledge what God is doing for us, and affirm our commitment to Christ’s holy church.

Those making a confession of faith and being confirmed at 8:30 are Dnequa Hodge and Teju Adewumi, and at 11:00 Mekhi Thomas and Tennille Lewis, at a later date others will join. These persons before you have come forward to declare they are followers of Jesus Christ and to confess their faith and witness to God’s grace. They are ready to take on the responsibilities of full membership.   We ask them to respond to these questions as a testimony to their faith, and I ask you, members of the congregation, to pledge to help them in this task. 

The questions for those becoming full members today:

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, & 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.

Now of 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 in your care?  With God’s help we will.

We come now to lay hands on your shoulders as a sign of commendation:

Dnequa Hodge, Teju Adewumi, Mekhi Thomas, Tennille Lewis— the Holy Spirit work within you, that having been born through water and the Spirit, you may live as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Amen

You stand before us today having affirmed your faith in Christ.  We pray the Holy Spirit will continue to work within you, that having been born through water and the Spirit, you may live as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I ask you, as  members of Christ’s universal church, will you be loyal to Christ through The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries? I will

As members of this congregation will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?  I will.

Members of the household of faith, I commend these persons to your love and care. Do all in your power to increase their faith, confirm their hope, and perfect them in love.                                                                                                      
We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As  members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of the Miramar United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.   

The God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in Christ, establish you and strengthen you by the power of the Holy Spirit, that you may live in grace and peace. Amen

The Right Hand of Fellowship. 

You may greet the new members with applause.                                                 

*HYMN 521 I Want Jesus to Walk with Me+

I want Jesus to walk with me. I want Jesus to walk with me
All along my pilgrim journey, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

2 In my trials, Lord, walk with me. In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
When my heart is almost breaking, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

3 When I’m troubled, Lord, walk with me. When I’m troubled Lord, walk with me.
When my head is bowed in sorrow, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

WORDS: Afro-American spiritual MUSIC: Afro-American spiritual; adapt. by William Farley Smith, 1986

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

TIME OF SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS
(please email miramarpastor@gmail.com)

PRAYER HYMN 348 Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling+

1 Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling, 
calling for you and for me; 
See, on the portals he's waiting and watching, 
Watching for you and for me. 
Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; 
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home! 

2 Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, 
pleading for you and for me? 
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, 
mercies for you and for me? 
Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; 
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home! 

3 Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me; 
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming, 
coming for you and for me. 
Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; 
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home! 

4 O for the wonderful love he has promised,  
promised for you and for me! 
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon, 
pardon for you and for me. 
Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; 
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!  

WORDS: Will L. Thompson, 1880 MUSIC: Will L. Thompson, 1880

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        Bigger Fish to Fry       Pastor David Range 

HYMN OF PREPARATION 617 I Come with Joy+

1 I come with joy to meet my Lord, forgiven, loved and free,
in awe and wonder to recall his life laid down for me,
his life laid down for me.

2 I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love in Christ's communion bread,
in Christ's communion bread.

3 As Christ breaks bread and bids us share, each proud division ends.
The love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends,
and strangers now are friends.

4 And thus with joy we meet our Lord. His presence, always near,
is in such friendship better known; we see and praise him here,
we see and praise him here.

5 Together met, together bound, we'll go our different ways,
and as his people in the world, we'll live and speak his praise,
we'll live and speak his praise.

WORDS: Brian Wren, 1968 MUSIC: The Southern Harmony 1835; harm. By Charles H. Webb, 1987

HOLY 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.

Blessed are you, our Alpha and our Omega,
whose strong and loving arms encompass the universe,
for with your eternal Word and Holy Spirit you are forever one God.
Through your Word you created all things and called them good,
and in you we live and move and have our being.
When we fell into sin, you did not desert us.
You made covenant with your people Israel
and spoke through prophets and teachers.
In Jesus Christ your Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.

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 Jesus Christ, who called you Abba, Father.
As a mother tenderly gathers her children,
you embraced a people as your own
and filled them with a longing for a peace that would last
and for a justice that would never fail.
In Jesus' suffering and death you took upon yourself our sin and death
and destroyed their power for ever.
You raised from the dead this same Jesus,
who now reigns with you in glory,
and poured upon us your Holy Spirit,
making us the people of your new covenant.

On the night before meeting with death, Jesus took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to the 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 Jesus took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to the 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,
that in the breaking of this bread and the drinking of this wine
we may know the presence of the living Christ
and be renewed as the body of Christ for the world,
redeemed by Christ's blood.

As the grain and grapes, once dispersed in the fields,
are now united on this table in bread and wine,
so may we and all your people be gathered from every time and place
into the unity of your eternal household
and feast at your table for ever.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Hymn 297 Beneath the Cross of Jesus

1. Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;                                    
a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

2. Upon the cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One who suffered there for me;                         
and from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess:
the wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

Hymn 504 The Old Rugged Cross

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross 
where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;        
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down;        
I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown

Hymn 298 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

Hymn 301 Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

1 Jesus, keep me near the cross; there a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream, flows from Calvary's mountain. 
In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find, rest beyond the river. 

2 Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star, sheds its beams around me.
In the cross, in the cross Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find ,rest beyond the river.

Hymn 328 Surely the Presence of the Lord

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place;
I can feel His mighty power and His grace.
I can hear the brush of angels’ wings,
I see glory on each face;
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

WORDS: Lanny Wolfe, 1977 MUSIC: Lanny Wolfe, 1977

Hymn 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!

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.

*HYMN OF SENDING FORTH 318 Christ is Alive

1. Christ is alive! Let Christians sing. 
The cross stands empty to the sky. 
Let streets and homes with praises ring. 
His love, in death, shall never die.

2. Christ is alive! No longer bound 
to distant years in Palestine,                                
he comes to claim the here and now, 
and dwell in every place and time.

3. Not throned afar, remotely high, 
untouched, unmoved by human pains, 
but daily, in the midst of life, 
our Savior in the Godhead reigns.

4. In every insult, rift, and war, 
where color, scorn, or wealth divide,                      
he suffers still, yet loves the more, 
and lives, though ever crucified. 

5. Christ is alive, and comes to bring 
good news to this and every age,     
till earth and all creation ring 
with joy, with justice, love, and praise.

WORDS: Brian Wren, 1968 MUSIC: Psalmodia, Evangelica, 1789

BENEDICTION
All music under ccli #24249

_________________________________

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