Worship for February 5, 2023

The video will stream live beginning at 10:00 AM on Sunday, February 5, 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.

This service will include celebration of Holy Communion. While worshiping at home, prepare some bread or other staple food and some grape juice or other beverage and have them nearby for that portion of the service.

Welcome to Church of the Holy Cross’s live stream of its worship service for Sunday, February 5, 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, February 5, 2023
Fifth 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.

Prelude: Fantasia                                                                                    Michael Springer

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                                                                                                    Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 112:1-10)                               Gloria Kobayashi

Leader: Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who delight in the commandments of God.
People: Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Leader: Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
People: They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright: gracious, merciful and righteous.

Leader: How do we come to this time of worship? Are we those who delight in the commandments of God?
People: We come as those who strive, and sometimes fail, and sometimes shine. From our imperfections we raise our thanks and praise.

All: Let us worship God!

Invocation: (based on 1 Corinthians 2:1-16)                               Gloria Kobayashi

We aspire to lofty wisdom, O God, but we cannot claim to have attained it. More often we speak our faith in weakness, fear, and trembling. Let our efforts be blessed as you reveal the wisdom of Christ that echoes our weakness, the display of your love which is beyond all human imagination. In worship today may we learn from the mind of Christ, and fill our souls with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

* Hymn #181: You Are Salt for the Earth, O People (v. 1-4)

Time with the Children

Anthem: I’ve Just Seen Jesus                                                               Michael Springer

Scripture                                                                                                    Gloria Kobayashi

Isaiah 58:1-12
Shout out, do not hold back!
    Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
Announce to my people their rebellion,
    to the house of Jacob their sins.
Yet day after day they seek me
    and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness
    and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments,
    they delight to draw near to God.
‘Why do we fast, but you do not see?
    Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?’
Look, you serve your own interest on your fast-day,
    and oppress all your workers.
Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
    and to strike with a wicked fist.
Such fasting as you do today
    will not make your voice heard on high.
Is such the fast that I choose,
    a day to humble oneself?
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
    and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

 Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of injustice,
    to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
    and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
    and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicatorshall go before you,
    the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

If you remove the yoke from among you,
    the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you continually,
    and satisfy your needs in parched places,
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters never fail.
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
    the restorer of streets to live in.

Matthew 5:13-20

‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot.
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Sermon: Not 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

Call to Offering                                                                                        Gloria Kobayashi

We balance the cares, concerns, and needs of many people in our lives: neighbors, family, and our selves. Today’s gifts help us serve those touched by the ministries of this church. Some are present – some are on the far side of the world. Let us bring our support in our offerings. 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: Have Thine Own Way, Lord                                        Michael Springer

* 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                                                                                   Gloria Kobayashi

We dedicate these gifts to your purposes, O God, to the dream of beloved community and to respond to the real needs that surround us in our struggling communities. May your wisdom and righteousness guide these offerings to the service of your people. Amen.

* Hymn #332: As We Gather at Your Table (v. 1-3)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving

*Hymn #573: Lead On Eternal Sovereign (v. 1-3)

Announcements                                                                                     Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Festival Postlude                                                                 Michael Springer

*Please stand if you are able.

Permissions

Fantasia—Johan Pachelbel
Public Domain

You Are Salt for the Earth, O People
Text by Marty Haugen, 1986
Tune BRING FORTH by Marty Haugen, 1986
© 1986, GIA Publications, Inc.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

I’ve Just Seen Jesus
Contributor: Fred Bock
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Have Thine Own Way, Lord
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

As We Gather at Your Table
Text by Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1989
© 1989 Hope Publishing Company
Tune BEACH SPRING from The Sacred Harp, 1844
Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Lead On Eternal Sovereign
Text by Ernest W. Shurtleff, 1887
Tune LANCASHIRE by Henry T. Smart, 1836
Public Domain

Festival Postlude–Domenico Zipoli
Public Domain

Dates to Remember
Today, February 5 – Communion
Today, February 5 – Trustees 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                                                                        Gloria Kobayashi 
Choir Accompanist                                                        Kanako Okita
Choir Director & Conductor                                     Doug Albertson
Organist                                                                             Kayleen Yuda
Guest Organist Michael Springer
Hand Bell Director                                                        Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations                                                       Gloria Kobayashi
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