Online Worship for October 24, 2021

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for October 24, 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 October 24, 2021
Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Observing Access Sunday

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Welcome                                                                                     Rev. Eric. S. Anderson

Prelude: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise—Dan Forrest, tune. St. Denio, arr. D. Wagner                      Kayleen Yuda

Call to Worship                                                                          Nalyn Ang

Leader: We gather in the name of our God.
All: The Disabled God, the God of Access, the God of Interdependence, the God whose Differences are Holy.

Leader:  How shall we worship this God?
All: With sound and with silence, with raised hands and with stillness, with words spoken and unspoken, with deep thought and the inner movements of our souls.

Leader: With every limit and ability of our bodies and minds, we will worship God.
All: Praise be to God.

Invocation: based on Psalm 126                                                 Nalyn Ang

Our lives, O God, are marked with heights and with valleys, times of joy and times of distress. As we climbed from the valleys of sorrow, we laughed and shouted for joy, praising your name at all times. Yet the good times did not last, and the hillsides descended into the shadows. Once more we seek your aid, your comfort, and your grace. We sow in tears; may we reap with joy. May we come home with songs of praise, carrying our harvest of peace. Amen.

Hymn: Just As I Am                                                                   Adapted and performed by Jacob Nault

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-9                                                         Nalyn Ang

For thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
    and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
    “Save, O Lord, your people,
    the remnant of Israel.”
 See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
    and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
    those with child and those in labor, together;
    a great company, they shall return here.
With weeping they shall come,
    and with consolationsI will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
    in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
    and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Mark 10:46-52
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Story/Sermon: Jesus is Calling You                                           Rev. Eric. S. Anderson

Pastoral Prayer                                                                          Rev. Eric. S. Anderson

Lord’s Prayer (Adapted for Access Sunday)

Our God who is disabled, holy are your differences. 
May your work of inclusion be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 
Grant us access in all the ways we need.  
And forgive us for excluding others, as we forgive those who exclude us. 
Keep us away from the temptation of believing we’re not enough,
and deliver us from the evils of ableism.
God, in you we find community, welcome, and belonging;
now and forever. Amen.

Instrumental Anthem: Piano sonata No.8 Op.13 2nd mvt.– Beethoven Kanako Okita

Call to Offering                                                                          Nalyn Ang
Jesus called Bartimaeus to ask what he wanted. Jesus calls us from time to time to ask what we want – but Jesus also asks things of us: to rejoice in God, to care lovingly for one another, and to share the gifts God gives us with God’s creatures near and far. Please send your offering through the mail in an envelope to 440 West Lanikaula Street, Hilo, Hawai’i, 96720, or give online at holycrosshilo.com/donate. Let us pray together:

Offertory Prayer
God of abundance, we believe that there is enough for all, so long as we share what we have. Bless our generosity with justice, access, and a community where all can bring their gifts to the table. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

Vocal Anthem: #495 Called as Partners in Christ’s Service        Eric Anderson
                                                                                                    Doug Albertson

Announcements                                                                         Rev. Eric. S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                 Rev. Eric. S. Anderson

Postlude: Rejoice, the Lord Is King—Mead-tune by John Darwall   Kayleen Yuda

Permissions:
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Contributors: Dan Forrest, Douglas Wagner
Tune: © 2020 Lorenz Corporation
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

The Call to Worship, Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer, and Offertory Prayer come from UCC Disabilities Ministries resources for Access Sunday 2021.
uccdm.org
Used and adapted by permission.

Just As I Am
Text by Charlotte Elliott, 1836
Adapted by Jacob Nault
Tune WOODWORTH by William B. Bradbury, 1849
Original text and tune Public Domain
Performed by Jacob Nault
Adaptations and performance used by permission through UCC Disabilities Ministries

Piano sonata No.8 Op.13 2nd mvt.—Beethoven
Public Domain

Called as Partners in Christ’s Service
Text: © 1981 Jane Parker Huber (admin. Westminster John Knox Press)
Tune: BEECHER by John Zundel, 1855
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Rejoice the Lord is King
Contributors: John Darwall, Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

                                                         Dates to Remember

Today, October 24—Ballots counted after worship
Sunday, October 31 – All Saints Day worship service                                                                  

Pastor                                                 Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                                          Woody Kita
Lay Reader                                         Nalyn Ang
Chapel Decorations                           Richard and Shirley Miyake
Choir Accompanist                            Kanako Okita
Choir Director                                   Doug Albertson
Organist                                             Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director                            Anna Kennedy
Childcare Coordinator                      Evonne Shioshita
Movement Leader                              Genie Phillips
Projected Imagery                             Sue Smith
Web Master                                       Ruth Niino-DuPonte  
Videographers                                    Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith

This week at the Church of the Holy Cross

• Bible Study with Pastor Eric: Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m. via Zoom.
• Pickleball: Mondays, 12 noon, Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m., Wednesdays, 2:00 p.m., Thursdays, 8:30 a.m., Saturdays 12:00 p.m., Sundays 1:30 p.m. Building of Faith—limited to 10 attendees
• Online Song – Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. online.
• Community Concert – 2^nd and 4th Fridays, 6:00 p.m. online.