Online Worship for March 29, 2020

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for March 29th, 2020. Feel free to follow the service text by scrolling down, or you may download and print the service in PDF format from this link.

Online Worship, March 29, 2020

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Welcome                                                                               Rev. Eric Anderson

Call to Worship
The Apostle Paul warned the Church in Rome that to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. “You are not in the flesh,” he told them; “you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Take the Spirit of God into yourself in this time. The Spirit is not limited by place. The Spirit is not subject to the tyranny of the clock. In your space, and in your time, open yourself to the Holy Spirit, and let it bring you life and peace.

Opening Prayer
We come to you separate in body and together in prayer, O God. Give us your Holy Spirit within, and fill us with the life and peace you promise. Embrace us with your powerful and loving arms in the ways we cannot embrace in this time of keeping distance. In your love, O God, let us find the love of all our friends and family, dear ones and neighbors, as well as the stranger on the far side of the world. Fill us with your Spirit, and give us life, peace, and love. Amen.

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breathin you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”

Story and Meditation                                                         Rev. Eric Anderson

Prayer                                                                                   Rev. Eric Anderson

Offering Call and Dedication
We are not sending ushers through the neighborhoods of Hilo to collect your gifts this morning, or any morning. We invite you to send your offering to support the spiritual, emotional, and physical ministries of this church in this time. Please mail your gifts to us at Church of the Holy Cross, 440 West Lanikaula Street, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720.

And we pray: O God who knows us in the depths of our sorrows and distress; O God who knows us at the heights of our successes and celebrations, rejoice in the generosity of our hearts and souls today. Out of the depths, we give what we can. From the heights, we give what we can. You, O God, know us so well, and in your word we hope. Amen.

Music: He Leadeth Me – Joseph H. Gilmore                    Rev. Eric Anderson
                                                                             Doug Albertson

Benediction                                                                          Rev. Eric Anderson