Online Worship for June 21, 2020

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for June 21st, 2020. Feel free to follow the service text by scrolling down, or you may download and print the service in PDF format below.

Online Worship, June 21, 2020
Third Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Welcome                                                                                 Rev. Eric Anderson

Prelude: Le Tombeau de Couperin—Maurice Ravel             Kanako Okita

Call to Worship based on Matthew 10:24-39                           Eric Tanouye
When Jesus sent his followers out to preach and teach and heal, he knew they would face stresses and opposition and danger. He urged them not to fear. The birds, he said, are known and treasured by their Creator. So too are each and every human being: “And even the hairs of your head are all counted,” he told them. As we encounter the risks of this world, we do so knowing that we are embraced by God in life and in death. As we declare God’s love, we are held in God’s love. In that embrace, let us come to God in worship.

Opening Prayer based on Psalm 86:1-10                          Eric Tanouye
Leader: Let us pray:
All: Preserve my life, O God, for we are devoted to you. We trust in you. You are our God. We seek the grace for which we cry all day long. When we hear your voice, we are glad; when we perceive your grace, you lift up our souls. For you, O God, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Hear us in our worship; hear us in our prayer; hear us in our sorrow; hear us in our praise, for you alone are God. Amen.

Hymn: #451 Be Now My Vision

Be now my vision, O God of my heart;
nothing surpasses the love you impart
You my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, your presence my light.

Be now my wisdom, and be my true word;
ever within me, my soul is assured;
Mother and Father, you are both to me,
now and forever your child I will be.

Riches I need not, nor life’s empty praise,
you, my inheritance, now and always;
You and you only are first in my heart,
great God, my treasure, may we never part.

Sovereign of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Irish text c. 8th century transl. Mary E. Byrne, 1905. Traditional Irish melody.

Scripture: Romans 6:1b-11
What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Story and Meditation: Does Sin Die?                              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.

Please pray with me:
What can we give to you, O God, that is not already yours? The ground beneath us you created. The furthest galaxy is your handiwork. Even our lives have their genesis in you. Made in your image, however, we too are makers. From our earnest labors we extend these gifts to you. From our grateful souls we offer as well our hearts. Amen.

Music: God of Grace and God of Glory – by Harry Emerson Fosdick & John Hughes        
                                                                                                Eric Anderson
                                                                                                Doug Albertson

Benediction:                                                                            Rev. Eric Anderson