Online Worship for January 3, 2021

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for January 3, 2021. Feel free to follow the service text by scrolling down, or you may download and print the service in PDF format below.

Online Worship, January 3, 2021
Second Sunday After Christmas

Guest Pastor Rev. Jihey Esther Roach

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Welcome                                                                                 Rev. Jihey Esther Roach

Prelude: Hark the Herald/Angels from the Realms Arr. Whitworth
                                                                                  Kayleen Yuda

Call to Worship                                                                       Woody Kita

Sing praise to God, who gathers us here.
From the ends of the Earth, we come.
Give our God glory and strength!
With a word of promise, a spring of water, a loaf of bread and a cup of wine,
God turns our mourning into dancing, our sorrow into joy.

Invocation:                                                                              Woody Kita  Unison

God of grace and majesty, we thank you for choosing to walk among your people in all the circumstances of our lives. We pray that we would always be aware of your presence among us. May we walk as angels in the places we live, striving to live in the way of Jesus. We extend out gratitude for being able to come before you this day to offer our worship, to seek your presence, and to be restored to do great things among your people. For this and every day of life, we give you thanks and praise. In the name of the Christ, we pray. Amen.

Hymn: O Little Town of Bethlehem (from A Very UCC Christmas)

Scripture:                                Jeremiah 31:7-14                                                   Lay reader                                                                                               

Story/Sermon:                  Promise of Homecoming                      Rev. Jihey Esther Roach

Pastoral Prayer:                                                                        Rev. Jihey Esther Roach

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  The Spruce Op. 75 No. 5 by Jean Sibelius    Kanako Okita

Call to Offering:  Woody Kita

God, you call us to give as we have received in this Christmas Season. As you have shared your Child with us, help us to share our blessing with those in need.  

Please send your gifts through the mail to 440 West Lanikaula Street, Hilo, Hawai’i 96720, or give online at holycrosshilo.com/donate. 

Offertory Prayer:                    Unison                                               Woody Kita

God of Vision,
Take these offerings of our gifts
and turn them into vision;
vision of all people fed,
vision of all people safe,
vision of all people in your presence,
vision of all people healed. Amen.

Anthem:  Jesus, Jesus, What a Wonderful Child              IMMV Band

Celebration of Holy Communion

Rev. Jihey Esther Roach

Invitation to Communion

Prayer of Consecration

Words of Remembering

Sharing of the Elements 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We have been fed, Holy One, by your presence. We have been led, Eternal One, by your light. We thank you for your word of promise which was fulfilled by your bread of life and cup of celebration. May we bask in this glow now and forevermore.  Amen.

Announcements   Rev. Jihey Esther Roach

Benediction                                                                             Rev. Jihey Esther Roach

Postlude: Blessed O Emmanuel – Bach arr. Thompson
                                                                                 Kayleen Yuda

O Little Town of Bethlehem performed by Drew Brown
Jesus, Jesus, What a Wonderful Child performed by IMMV Band
Recorded for A Very UCC Christmas; used by permission.