Worship for March 5, 2023

The video will stream live beginning a few minutes before10:00 AM on Sunday, March 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 is a Communion Sunday. Please prepare some bread (or other staple) and something to drink, 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, March 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, March 5, 2023
Second Sunday in Lent

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: They That Sow in Tears                                                      Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                                                                                                    Rev. Eric S. Anderson

*All who are able, please rise

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 121)                                      John Narruhn

Leader: I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?
People: My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Leader: God will not let your foot be moved; the One who keeps you will not slumber.
People: The One who keeps us neither slumbers nor sleeps.

Leader: The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade above your head.
People: May the LORD keep our going out and our coming in from this time on and forevermore.

All: Let us worship God.

* Hymn #24: The God of Abraham Praise (v. 1-4, English)

* Invocation: (based on Genesis 12:1-4)                                        John Narruhn

Long ago you summoned a family to leave their home and country and follow you to a new home and a new country. Over the centuries you have summoned many, many others to new understandings, to new commitments, and to new homes. Guide us in this time of worship, O God, as we seek our place of blessing, as we seek our role to bless your children. Amen.

Please be seated

Anthem: Umeoumeochun Kot                                                            IYAA members
                                                                                                                        Stuart Mori & Jason Rekis

Time with the Children

Scripture                                                                                                    John Narruhn

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

John 3:1-17
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “Youmust be born from above.” The windblows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet youdo not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Sermon: I’ve Got Questions                                                                 Rev. Eric S. Anderson

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

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

Call to Offering                                                                                        John Narruhn

Nicodemus came to Jesus seeking to question and to learn. We come to Jesus for many reasons: to learn, to grow, to meet a need, to find our hope fulfilled. Today let us come to Jesus and present a gift. 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: Contemplation                                                                     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                                                                                 John Narruhn
You who love us more than we can comprehend, receive these gifts as signs of our love for you. In your hands, may they grow to show our love to all the peoples of the world. Amen.

* Hymn #605: As Moses Raised the Serpent Up (v. 1-3)

Please be seated

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation
Words of Remembrance

In Lent we remember that Jesus
suggested new birth to an old teacher,
drank from the bucket of a lonely woman,
denied any connection of disability
with pity or shame,
wept for a friend and opened a grave.

We remember that Jesus
turned over tables in the Temple
and confess that some church tables
practices, plans and programs,
should be overturned,
until our house be one of prayer
and our table serve compassion
to those most vulnerable.

And we remember that at this table,
when Jesus Christ, sitting among those
whose feet he washed clean
for a Passover feast
of precious ancient tradition,
and anticipating betrayal and desertion,
pain and even death,

made a new Covenant
of blessed bread and poured wine
that has become a global table,
inviting us to share
both our brokenness and grace.

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

* Hymn #427: God Made from One Blood (v. 1-4)

Announcements                                                                                     Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Festive Trumpet                                                                  Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions
They That Sow in Tears
Contributors: Robert J. Hughs & William J. Gaither
Tune: © 1980 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

The God of Abraham Praise
Text by Moses Maimonides, 12^th cent.
Trans. Max Landsberg & Newton Mann, 1884
Tune LEONI, trad. Yigdal melody
Public Domain

Umeoumeochun Kot
by Stuart Mori
Used by permission of the composer

Contemplation
Contributors: Robert Schumann & Lani Smith
Lorenz Publishing Company
Contemplation

As Moses Raised the Serpent Up
Paraphrase of John 3:14-17
Versification The New Century Hymnal, 1993
© 1993 The Pilgrim Press
Tune MORNING SONG pub. 1812
Public Domain
Streamed by permission of The Pilgrim Press

Words of Remembrance by Maren Tirabassi
Used by permission of the author

God Made from One Blood
Text by Thomas H. Troeger, 1988
© 1991, Oxford University Press
Tune ST. DENIO, Welsh folk melody, pub. 1839
Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Festive Trumpet
Contributor: Edward H. Wetherill
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

                                                                 Dates to Remember                    
Today, March 5 – Trustees Meeting after worship service

                                                                  A Special Invitation
Aloha Holy Cross! You are invited to come out and sing an anthem with us during worship on Sunday, March 12th. Meet us in the lounge at 9am that morning to prepare our song.  We practice until about 9:40.  Then, when it’s our time in the worship service, we come forward to share our musical offering. Our songs are meaningful and not hard to learn. It’s especially good for heart and soul to join with others in singing together. We hope to see you there!

Pastor                                                                                  Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                                                                         Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader                                                                        John Narruhn        
Choir Accompanist                                                        Kanako Okita
Choir Director & Conductor                                     Doug Albertson
Organist                                                                             Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director                                                        Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations                                                       Irene Okada
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