Online Worship for December 27, 2020

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for December 27, 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, December 27, 2020
First Sunday After Christmas

Guest Pastor Rev. Jonathan Roach, PhD

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Welcome                                                                                 Rev. Jonathan Roach, PhD

Prelude: What Child Is This—Rasley (English Tune, Greensleeves)
                                                                                  Kayleen Yuda

Call to Worship:                                                                       Bob Smith

One: Jesus, our Lord, came into an indifferent world where few people noticed his arrival.
All: Mary and Joseph noticed!

One: And the Word became flesh and lived among us but very few listened to the Word.
All: The Shepherds heard and listened!

One: Those who walked in darkness and seen a great light but most of them change their direction.
All: The Magi did and they traveled far!

One: Jesus the Christ was born in Bethlehem, Prince of Peace, Mighty Counselor, the Messiah! But few gave thanks.
All: Simeon, with tears in his eyes did, the ancient Prophet Anna did, and I do…I do!

Invocation: Bob Smith  Unison

All: Saving God-Child, the Prophet Anna and the righteous Simeon sang your praises with tears and smiles. They had waited so long to look into your eyes and in your eyes, they saw the promise of a better tomorrow, a future with hope. Like them, we have been listening for rumors of hope, reasons to get out of bed, waiting for redemption in these dark and difficult days…weeks…months… Twenty-twenty was not the year that many of us hope for last January. This was not the Christmas that many of us had dreamed about in our planning and preparation months ago. But God-Child, in your eyes we see the promise of hope, peace, love, and joy. In your eyes, we see the promise for tomorrow. And so with that promise held in our hearts, we pray in the name of Jesus, Babe of Bethlehem, and dedicate ourselves to the work of proclaiming Christmas this day and all the days ahead. Amen!

Hymn: Away in a Manger (pre-recorded from A Very UCC Christmas)

Scripture:                                                                                Gospel of Luke 2:1-40                                                                                                   

Story/Sermon                                                                         Rev. Jonathan Roach, PhD

“Christmas Take Two: St. Nicholas Come Again”

Pastoral Prayer:                                                                      Rev. Jonathan Roach, PhD

Prayers in Silence

Pastoral Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Please join me in 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Anthem or other music: Some Children See Him                              Mace Peng

Call to Offering:  Bob Smith

One: As the Earth brings forth its shoots, as seeds in the garden burst out of the ground, so too are we called to burst out and give our gifts. Ushers will not be knocking at your doors today, but we ask that you take time to give thanks and send your gifts for the Christ-Child to Church of the Holy Cross so that the gardens of God’s ministries here can bloom and thrive. Please send them via mail to 440 West Lanikaula Street, Hilo, Hawai’i, 96720, or over the Internet at holycrosshilo.com/donate.       

Offertory Prayer:  Unison  Bob Smith

All: O little God-Child, whom angels worship, we thank you for the gifts that are given this week and dedicated these gifts that they may bring hope and light to the darkest corners of the world. Amen!

Anthem:  Go Tell It on the Mountain (from A Very UCC Christmas)

Announcements                                                                      Rev. Jonathan Roach, PhD

Benediction                                                                             Rev. Jonathan Roach, PhD

Postlude: Joy to the World—arr. Ritter (tune Antioch by Handel)
                                                                                                               Kayleen Yuda

Away in a Manger performed by La Muna and Antonio Moreno
Go Tell It On the Mountain performed by M.a.G.I.C., the Marquand Gospel & Inspirational Choir at Yale Divinity School
Recorded for A Very UCC Christmas; used by permission.