Worship for January 29, 2023

The video will stream live beginning at 10:00 AM on Sunday, January 29, 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 29, 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 29, 2023
Fourth 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: Under His Wings                                                                    Kayleen Yuda

Call to Worship: (based on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31)                   Cindy Debus

Leader: We find salvation in a crucified savior.
People: How foolish it seems to much of the world, yet in the cross we see the power of God.

Leader: Where is the one who is wise? Where is the debater of this age?
People: Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Leader: God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom; God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
People: Christ became for us the wisdom from God, the righteousness and holiness and redemption.

All: Let us worship God!

Invocation: (based on Psalm 15)                                                      Cindy Debus

Who may abide in your tent, O God? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Is it only those who have done right, whose behavior is blameless, who speak only truth from their hearts? Is there no room for those who stumble, who fall, who grieve your heart? Forgive us for the ways we have pained you, O God, and receive the praise we offer from hearts reassured and redeemed. Amen.

* Hymn #436: God of Grace and God of Glory (v. 1-3, 5)

Time with the Children

Anthem: We Are Called                                                                         Doug Albertson
                                                                                                                        Eric Anderson

Scripture                                                                                                    Cindy Debus

Micah 6:1-8
Hear what the Lord says:
    Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
    and let the hills hear your voice.
Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,
    and you enduring foundations of the earth;
for the Lord has a controversy with his people,
    and he will contend with Israel.

 ‘O my people, what have I done to you?
    In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
    and redeemed you from the house of slavery;
and I sent before you Moses,
    Aaron, and Miriam.
O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
    what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
    that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.’

 ‘With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings,
    with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Sermon: It Sounds So Simple                                                              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 #455: I Am Yours, O Lord (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering                                                                                        Cindy Debus

We fulfill the summons of God when we act well in the world, by blessing those around us. We offer these gifts today not to obscure our failings or to purchase forgiveness, but to bless those around us with the love we have been given. 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: Holy Spirit, Truth Devine                                                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

*Offertory Prayer                                                                                   Cindy Debus

Accept our gifts, O God, which come from imperfect people, struggling to do well. Accept our gifts and inspire us to justice, love, and humble faith. Accept our gifts and make us blessings to those around us, today and every day. Amen.

* Hymn #539: Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant? (v. 1-6)

Announcements                                                                                     Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Rejoice and Be Glad                                                            Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions
Under His Wings
Contributor: Edward Broughton
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

God of Grace and God of Glory
Text by Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930
Tune CWM RHONDDA by John Hughes, 1907
Public Domain

We Are Called
Text by David Haas, 1988
Tune COME, LIVE IN THE LIGHT by David Haas, 1988
© 1988, GIA Publications, Inc.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

I Am Yours, O Lord
Text by Fanny Crosby, 1874
Tune I AM YOURS by William H. Doane, 1874
Public Domain

Holy Spirit, Truth Devine
David H Hegarty, Louis Gottschalk
© Lorenz Publishing Company
A division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant?
Text by Richard Gillard, 1977
Tune THE SERVANT SONG by Richard Gillard, 1977
© 1977, Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing
(Admin by CapitalCMGPublishing.com)
Streamed by permission CCLI License # 1595965

Rejoice and Be GladContributor: David Paxton
© 1986 Lorenz Publishing Company
A division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Dates to Remember
Today, January 29 – Stewardship & Missions Meeting after worship
Sunday, February 12 – CHC singers rehearsal, 9 a.m. in the Lounge

Pastor                                                                                  Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                                                                         Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader                                                                        Cindy Debus          
Choir Accompanist                                                        Kanako Okita
Choir Director & Conductor                                     Doug Albertson
Organist                                                                             Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director                                                        Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations                                                       Ruth & Sachi Ohata
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