Worship for January 15, 2023

The video will stream live beginning at 10:00 AM on Sunday, January 15, 2023. You may need to click Play to launch the stream. You can also watch the recorded video at this same place at any time afterward.

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live stream of its worship service for Sunday, January 15, 2023. Feel free to follow the service text by scrolling down. You are welcome to attend worship in person or to participate via live stream or recorded video.

Service of Worship, January 15, 2023
Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Please note that audio and video of this service are being live streamed on the Internet and will be recorded. The right rear section of the sanctuary will not be captured by any cameras. Please be aware that in other sections you may be visible at times.

Welcome                                                                                                    Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Prelude: A Song of Peace                                                                      Kayleen Yuda

Call to Worship: (based on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9)                        Barbara Iwami

Leader: Welcome, church. Grace to you and peace from God and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
People: We raise our thanks to God for the grace given us in Christ.

Leader: In every way you have been enriched in Christ,
People: In speech and knowledge of every kind,

Leader: as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened within you
People: and our spiritual gifts renewed among us.

Leader: God will strengthen you until the glorious day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: God is faithful, and we delight to worship God in the fellowship of Christ.

All: Let us worship God!

Invocation: (based on Isaiah 49:1-7)                                              Barbara Iwami

To what have you called us in our lives, O God? To what have you called us in this place, at this time? To what have you called us on this day? You told Isaiah it was too light a thing for him to raise up the people of a single exiled land, a task we would consider far beyond our power. If you desire us to be a light to the nations, be with us in this time of worship, and strengthen our abilities, our confidence, and our courage to be your servants: to bring your salvation to all the corners of the Earth. Amen.

* Hymn #167: Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering (v. 1-3)

Time with the Children

Instrumental Anthem: The Birch Tree                                          Kanako Okita

Scripture                                                                                                    Barbara Iwami

Psalm 40:1-11
I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the Lord.

 Happy are those who make
    the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us;
    none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
    they would be more than can be counted.

 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
    but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt-offering and sin-offering
    you have not required.
Then I said, ‘Here I am;
    in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do your will, O my God;
    your law is within my heart.’

 I have told the glad news of deliverance
    in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
    as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    from the great congregation.

 Do not, O Lord, withhold
    your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness
    keep me safe for ever.

John 1:29-42
The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simonto Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).

Sermon: Lamb of God                                                                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Pastoral Prayer                                                                                       Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Please stand and 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

*Hymn #169: What Ruler Wades through Murky Streams (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering

Jesus gave of himself in ways that constantly surprise us. His ways summon us to consider our ways: how can we follow Christ more faithfully and fully? One of those ways is before us in this moment: to give. Whether you share your gift here in the church today, through a gift online, or via an envelope in the mail, let the offering now be received.

Offertory: Recitative for Flute                                                            Kayleen Yuda

*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost – Amen

*Please stand and join me in the Offertory Prayer               Barbara Iwami

Christ, you offered all of yourself. Accept this portion of our lives presented here, and may our hearts and souls and bodies echo the commitment of these gifts, to offer ourselves in love. Amen.

*Hymn #164: Arise, Your Light Is Come (v. 1-4)

Announcements                                                                                     Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Hymn of Praise                                                                     Kayleen Yuda

*Please stand if you are able.

Permissions

A Song of Peace
Contributor: Wihla Hutson
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of the Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering
Text by Carl P. Daw, Jr.
© 1990 by Hope Publishing Company
Tune RENDEZ A DIEU by Louis Bourgeois, 1551
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

The Birch Tree — Sibelius
Public Domain

What Ruler Wades through Murky Streams
Text by Thomas H. Troeger, 1984
© 1986 by Oxford University Press
Tune WATER OF BAPTISM by David Hurd, 1994
© 1994 by the Pilgrim Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Recitative for Flute
Contributor: David Paxton
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Arise, Your Light Is Come
Text by Ruth Duck, 1973
© 1992 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc.
Tune FESTAL SONG by William Walter, 1872
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Hymn of Praise
Contributor: James Denton
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company
a division of The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Dates to Remember
Today, January 15 – Deacons Meeting after worship

Pastor                                                                                                          Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                                                                                                 Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader                                                                                                Barbara Iwami                                                                                                           
Choir Accompanist                                                                                Kanako Okita
Choir Director & Conductor                                                             Doug Albertson
Organist                                                                                                     Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director                                                                                Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations                                                                               Joyce Nakamoto
Childcare Coordinator                                                                        Evonne Shioshita
Movement Leader                                                                                 Genie Phillips
Projected Imagery                                                                                Sue Smith
Web Master                                                                                              Ruth Niino-DuPonte  
Videographers                                                                                        Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith, Eli   
                                                                                                                        Yamaki, Ruth Niino-DuPonte