Worship for April 2, 2023: Palm Sunday

The video will stream live beginning a few minutes before 10:00 AM on Sunday, April 2, 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, April 2, 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.

This service includes celebration of Holy Communion. We suggest that those worshiping at home prepare some bread or another staple food, and some juice or other beverage, and have those nearby during that portion of the service.

Service of Worship, April 2, 2023
Sixth Sunday in Lent
Palm/Passion Sunday

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: The Holy City                                                                          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 118:1-2, 19-29)               Gloria Kobayashi

Leader: Give thanks to the LORD, for God is good, whose steadfast love endures forever!
People: God’s steadfast love endures forever!

Leader: Open to me the gates of the LORD, that I may enter through them and give thanks.
People: This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall make their way.

Leader: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
People: This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

All: This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!

* Hymn #216: All Glory, Laud, and Honor (v. 1-3)

*Invocation: (based on Isaiah 50:4-9)                                            Gloria Kobayashi

Christ came, O God, and taught us your ways. He sustained the weary with a word. He woke the hearts and minds of his followers so that they might learn. Help us, O God, to be such disciples. May we find our way to righteousness; may we set our hearts on faithfulness. We would not be strangers to your goodness, but make our way forward in peace. Amen.

Please be seated

Anthem: Born to Die for Me                                                                IYAA

Palm Sunday Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11                                        Gloria Kobayashi

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

 ‘Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
        and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

Time with the Children

Parade of the Palms #213: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna (v. 1-3)

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11                                                             Gloria Kobayashi

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
    he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.

 Therefore God also highly exalted him
    and gave him the name
    that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Sermon: Who is This?                                                                            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

Reception of New Member

Nina Buchanan (Reaffirmation of Faith)

Invitation

Questions of the Candidate

Sharing of the Covenant

All: We covenant one with another to seek and respond to the Word and the will of God. We agree to walk together in the ways of the Lord, made known and to be made known to us. We hold it to be the mission of the Church to witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ in the entire world, while worshiping God, and striving for truth, justice, and peace. As did those who came before us, we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead and empower us. We pray for the coming of the kingdom of God, and we look with faith toward the triumph of righteousness and eternal life.

Welcome

Pastor: Let us, the members of Church of the Holy Cross UCC, express our welcome and affirm our mutual ministry in Christ.

People: We welcome you with joy in the common life of this church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow together in God’s knowledge and love and be witnesses of our risen Savior.

Prayer                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Call to Offering                                                                                        Gloria Kobayashi

Jesus brought himself in all the vulnerability of his humanity. Jesus brought himself in all the power of his divinity. Jesus brought all of himself, and gave all of himself. Let us follow his example in our offering today. 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: The Palms                                                                             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                                                                                 Gloria Kobayashi

O Holy One who has given us everything, receive these gifts, we pray. We offer them in thanks for the overflowing love of Jesus. We offer them in commitment to your work in the world. We offer them so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, they may do accomplish greater things than we imagine. Amen.

* Hymn #332: As We Gather at Your Table (v. 1-2)

Please be seated

Sacrament of Holy Communion

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

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

Announcements                                                                                     Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Ride On in Triumph, O King                                            Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions

The Holy City
Stephen R. Adams
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Text by Theodulph of Orleans, 9^th cent.
Trans. John Mason Neale, 1854
Tune ST. THEODULPH by Melchior Teschner, 1615
Public Domain

Born to Die for Me
Public Domain

“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”
Text by Jennette Threlfall, 1873
Tune ELLACOMBE first pub. 1784
Public Domain

The Palms
Dorothy Wells, Jean Baptiste Faure
Tune: © 1978 Lorenz Publishing Company
a division of the Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

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

Ride On in Triumph, O King
Henry Balcombe
Tune: © 1993 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. By Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

                                                              Dates to Remember                    
Today, April 2 – Trustees Meeting after worship

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