Online Worship for June 14, 2020

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for June 14th, 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, June 14, 2020
Second Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Welcome                                                                                 Rev. Eric Anderson

Prelude: Op. 12-1Arietta from Lyric Pieces – Edvard Grieg        
Kanako Okita

Call to Worship based on Matthew 9:35-10:15                    Eric Tanouye
Jesus came to a harassed and helpless people, unprotected from the schemes and coercion of the selfish and powerful. Seeing that they needed more messengers than just himself, he appointed first twelve, than more people, to bring healing and hope to the people. “Proclaim the good news,” he told them, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Today we are scattered. Today we are a people feeling nearly as helpless and harassed as the residents of Galilee. Illness and violence have struck our neighbors in this land. Hope and healing seem far away. We are the heirs of the twelve disciples. We are the followers of the followers, and to us Jesus says, “Proclaim the good news: the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Bring health and hope and healing and grace to those about you in this separated time – and now, let our hearts be joined in worship.

Opening Prayer based on Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
Leader: Let us pray:
All: We love you, O God, because we know that you have heard our voices. You have heard our pleas. Your ear is turned toward us, so we will call upon you as long as we live. We have lifted the cup of salvation in your presence. We have made our promises before you and all the people of the world. We have heard the echo of your tears at the passing of your faithful ones. Receive our gathered praise, O God, from all the places where we raise it. We will praise your name in the presence of the people, from the living rooms and kitchens of our homes, and in the silent depths of our souls. Praise the LORD! Amen.

Hymn: #24 Yigdal Elohim Chai (The God of Abraham Praise)

Yigdal elohim chai v’yish- ta-bach,
nim-nza v’ein eit el m’-tzi-u-to
E-chad v’ein ya-chid k’-yi-chu-do,
ne-lam v’-game ein sof l’ achu-du-to.

The God of Abraham praise, all praises to God’s name,
who was and is and is to be, fore’er the same!
The one eternal God, before what now appears;
the First, the Last: beyond all thought through timeless years!

God’s spirit freely flows, high surging where it will;
God spoke of old in prophet’s word; that word speaks still.
Established is God’s law, and changeless it shall stand,
deep written on the human heart, in every land.

God has eternal life implanted in the soul;
God’s love shall be our strength and stay, while ages roll.
All praise the living God! Extol that hallowed name,
who was, and is, and ever shall be still the same!

The God of Sarah praise, all praises to God’s name,
who was and is and is to be, fore’er the same!
The one eternal God, before what now appears;
the First, the Last: beyond all thought through timeless years!

by Moses Maimonides, 12 century
Versification attributed to Daniel ben Judah, c. 1400
Translated by Max Landsberg and Newton Mann, 1884

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”

The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Now Sarah said, “God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Story and Meditation: Laughter                                   Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Prayer:                                                                                    Rev. Eric Anderson

Offering Call and Dedication                                                 Eric Tanouye
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.

Please pray with me:
You gave them promises, O God. You delivered those promises more than once. Abraham and Sarah clung to them as hope, sometimes tightly, sometimes with the tips of their fingers. You have given us promises, O God. You have delivered these promises more than once. We cling to them in hope, sometimes with certainty, and sometimes with the tips of our fingers. So here, O God, are some of our promises to you fulfilled. Receive them, O God, with open hands, and may they overflow within your heart. Amen.

Music: Standing on the Promises — Russell Kelso Carter           
Eric Anderson & Doug Albertson

Benediction:                                                                             Rev. Eric S. Anderson