Worship for February 12, 2023

The video will stream live beginning a few minutes before10:00 AM on Sunday, February 12, 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, February 12, 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 12, 2023
Sixth 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: Prelude in E Flat                                                                    Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                                                                                                    Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Call to Worship: (based on Deuteronomy 30:15-20)               Nalyn Ang

Leader: God has told us what are the ways of life, and what are the ways of death.
People: God has asked us to choose, and to choose the ways of life.

Leader: God has given us guidance that we can follow.
People: In God’s commandments we find the ways to fulfillment, hope, and joy.

Leader: What say you, people? Who will you follow?
People: We will love and obey and hold fast to the LORD, and revel in the life we gain in God’s love.

All: Let us worship God!

Invocation: (based on Psalm 119:1-8)                                           Nalyn Ang

May we be happy before you, O God, happy as people who have kept their word to you. May we walk in your ways, keep your decrees, and do no wrong. Then we shall not hang our heads in shame. Today we praise you with upright hearts. Bless us with your presence as we worship you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

* Hymn (Insert): Be Thou My Valentine (v. 1-4)

Time with the Children

Anthem: Pass It On                                                                                 Holy Cross Singers

Scripture                                                                                                    Nalyn Ang

1 Corinthians 3:1-9
And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, ‘I belong to Paul’, and another, ‘I belong to Apollos’, are you not merely human?

 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Matthew 5:21-37
 ‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insulta brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hellof fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sisterhas something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to courtwith him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

 ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

 ‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

 ‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Sermon: Milk                                                                                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

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.

* Hymn #544: Si Fui Motivo de Dolor, O Dios (v. 1 Spanish, v. 1-3 English)

Call to Offering                                                                                        Nalyn Ang
Newborns need nourishment, and so there is milk. As we grow, we continue to need nourishment, and there is milk for the mind and the soul as well as the body. By our gifts this morning we can help bring precious nourishment to those who need it, near and far. 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: Chorale                                                                                   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                                                                                  Nalyn Ang
Wherever we are on our life’s journey, O God, we may find ourselves in need of… milk. Sometimes we need that most basic of sustenance for the body or the mind or the spirit. Accept these gifts, we pray, that more of those who need your milk may find it through us. Amen.

* Hymn #487: Surely No One Can Be Safer (v. 1-4)

Announcements                                                                                     Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Postlude in D                                                                        Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions

Prelude in E Flat
Contributor: Alexandre Guilmant
© Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin.by Music Service)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Be Thou My Valentine
Text by Maren Tirabassi
Tune SLANE, trad. Irish melody
Used by permission of the author

Pass It On
Contributor: Kurt Kaiser
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Si Fui Motivo de Dolor
Text by Sara M. de Hall, trans. Janet W. May, 1992
Tune CAMACUA by Pablo D. Sosa
© 1988, GIA Publications, Inc.
Trans. © 1992, The Pilgrim Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Chorale—arr. Richard Keys Biggs
Carl Fischer, Inc.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Surely No One Can Be Safer
Text by Lina Sandell, 1855, trans. New Century Hymnal, 1994
Tune TRYGGARE KAN INGEN VARA, Swedish folk melody
Public Domain
Used by permission of The Pilgrim Press

Postlude in D—C Armstrong Biggs
Oxford University Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Dates to Remember
Today, February 12 – Council Meeting after worship

Pastor                                                                                  Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                                                                         Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader                                                                        Nalyn Ang   
Choir Accompanist                                                        Kanako Okita
Choir Director & Conductor                                     Doug Albertson
Organist                                                                             Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director                                                        Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations                                                       Else Ushijima
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