Online Worship for December 12, 2021

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live streaming worship service for December 12, 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 December 12, 2021
Third Sunday of Advent

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Welcome                                                                                                    Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Prelude: The Coventry Carol (Traditional) arr. Innes               Kayleen Yuda

Lay Reader in church:                                                                         Jennifer Tanouye
We have a circle of greens in this room,
a circle of greens and of candles.
As we make our way through these next four weeks
to the joyous day of Christmas,
we mark the Sundays with steadily growing light.

Roach Family at home:
We light this third candle for joy.
We light it for the joy of the promises you have made.
We light it for the joy of your promises fulfilled.
We light it for the joy of anticipation.
We light it for the joy of what we have not even dreamed.

[Light the three candles]

Lay Reader in church:                                                                         Jennifer Tanouye
We choose joy because the world is better blessed than we have known.

All sing:
Now with our sister Mary we rejoice!
As one we raise our praise with heart and voice,
For you, O God, have scattered the proud
And raised the humble ‘till they sing aloud.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Tune: VENI EMMANUEL

Roach Family at home:

Let us pray together:

Move in our hearts, O God, that we may be aware of you
and so that our hearts may rejoice.
Move in our lives, O God, that our deeds might move others
to rejoice. Move in our world, O God,
as you did in Christ, to make everyone rejoice. Amen.

Hymn #125: Angels We Have Heard on High                               Eric Anderson
                                                                                                                        Doug Albertson
                                                                                                                      Movement led by Genie Phillips

Scripture                                                                                                    Jennifer Tanouye

Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord Godis my strength and my might;
    he has become my salvation.

 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:

Give thanks to the Lord,
    call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
    proclaim that his name is exalted.

 Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
    let this be knownin all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royalZion,
    for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you withthe Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Story/Sermon: Those Exhortations                                                 Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Special Music #127: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming                  Eric Anderson
                                                                                                                        Doug Albertson
                                                                                                                      Movement led by Genie Phillips

Pastoral Prayer                                                                                       Rev. Eric S. Anderson

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

Instrumental Anthem: Sonata No.50 3rd mvt. Hob.XVI:37 – Haydn                                                          Kanako Okita

Call to Offering                                                                                        Jennifer Tanouye

What do you hear God calling you to do? Is it active? Is it reflective? Is it to raise someone up? Is it to refresh yourself with the waters of joy? In this moment, ask whether God is calling you to give, and if so, give as your soul directs. 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

Holy One, you speak uniquely to each one of your unique creations. We respond according to our understanding of your word. Bless us now as we give in response to your summons. Amen.

Vocal Anthem: Gesu Bambino—Yon, Martens                            Marlise Ahuna

Announcements                                                                                     Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Postlude for Christmas –Tune: Czech Carol—C Simone
                                                                                                                        Kayleen Yuda

Permissions

The Coventry Carol
© 1979 Hope Publishing Company
Contributors: John Innes
Tune: © 1979 Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Angels We Have Heard on High
Text: Traditional French Carol
Trans. 1862 and 1916
Tune: GLORIA, Traditional
Public Domain

Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Text: German, 15 century
Trans. Theodore Baker, 1894
Tune: ES IST EIN’ ROS, 1599
Public Domain

Sonata No.50 3rd mvt. Hob.XVI:37 – Haydn
Public Domain

Gesu Bambino—Yon, Martens
Contributors: Frederick Martens, Pietro Yon
Tune: Public Domain Text: Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Postlude for Christmas
Contributors: Carl Simone
© 1967 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

                                                           Dates to Remember
Today, December 12 – Council meeting after worship

Today, December 12, 3:00 pm – Premiere of “Do Not Be Afraid,” the 2021 Sunday School Christmas Pageant

Pastor                                                          Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                                                 Woody Kita
Lay Reader                                                Jennifer Tanouye
Chapel Decorations                              Jean Kita
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

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