Online Worship for April 12, 2020: Easter Sunday

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for April 12th, 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 for Easter, April 12, 2020

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude: Hallelujah from Messiah by George Frideric Handel, arranged by Louis Kohler
                                                                                Kanako Okita

Welcome                                                                                 Rev. Eric Anderson

Call to Worship based on Psalm 118
Give thanks to the LORD! God is good. God’s steadfast love endures forever. Those threatened by Jesus, those with wealth and greed and power, those who feared that truth would erode the foundations of their rule, found all their efforts to silence the Anointed One confounded. Threats could not still his mouth. Arrest could not deny his truth. Death, even death on a cross, could not end his life. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. Look and wonder: Christ has risen!

Opening Prayer                                                                 Rev. Eric Anderson       

All: They put him to death, O God, but you raised him on the third day. We hear the testimony of those witnesses as it echoes down the centuries and we marvel. We marvel at Jesus’ courage. We marvel at the Holy Spirit’s power. We marvel at your overwhelming love. Fill our hearts with this wonder once more today, O God. Fill our hearts to overflowing with the life of Jesus. Fill our hearts with compassion for all your people and all your creation as we worship you in joy this day. Amen.

Scripture: John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to lookinto the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Song: “Call My Name”—Eric Anderson  Eric Anderson &
                                                                                                Doug Albertson

Sermon: You’ve Got to Do What You’ve Got to Do         Rev. Eric S. 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: May your heart be filled today with the praise of your people, O God. May you rejoice in the rejoicing of the Christian family. You triumphed over death in the life of Jesus Christ, O God. Help us triumph over fear and separation as we open ourselves to give. Bless these offerings of heart, soul, and treasure, in the name of the Risen Christ. Amen.

Music: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today – Charles Wesley       Eric Anderson &
                                                                                                Doug Albertson

Benediction                                                                             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

God bless you today and always!