Worship for June 11, 2023

The video will stream live beginning a few minutes before 10:00 AM on Sunday, June 11, 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, June 11, 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, June 11, 2023
Second Sunday after Pentecost

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                                                                                                   

*Please rise if you are able

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 33:1-12)                              Gloria Kobayashi

Leader: Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous. Praise befits those who follow God.
People: Praise the LORD on instruments with strings, with melodies of devotion.

Leader: Sing to God a new song with skill and with zeal,
People: For the word of the LORD brings blessing. All God’s work is done in faithfulness.

Leader: God loves righteousness and justice among the peoples;
People: The Earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

All: Let us worship God!

* Hymn #25: O God, Our Help in Ages Past (v. 1-4)

* Invocation: (based on Psalm 50:7-15)                                        Gloria Kobayashi

We come to you at this time, O God, when all time is yours. We come to you in this place, O God, when all places are yours. We come to you with thoughts and gifts and praise, O God, when all imagination and creation and glory is yours. Deliver us on the day of trouble, and hear our prayers of glory now and always. Amen.

Please be seated

Anthem: Psalm 96                                                                                  Holy Cross Singers

Time with the Children

Scripture: Hosea 5:15-6:6                                                                   Gloria Kobayashi

I will return again to my place
    until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face.
    In their distress they will beg my favor:

 ‘Come, let us return to the Lord;
    for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;
    he has struck down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
    on the third day he will raise us up,
    that we may live before him.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
    his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.’

 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
    What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
    like the dew that goes away early.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
    I have killed them by the words of my mouth,
    and my judgment goes forth as the light.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagoguecame in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

Sermon: Steadfast Love, Not Sacrifice                                             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

* Hymn #545: There Was Jesus by the Water (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering                                                                                        Gloria Kobayashi
From the prophets, from the apostles, and from Jesus we know that God cares far more about the things we do in life – the steadfast love we give to God and to our fellow creatures – than about gifts and offerings. Nevertheless we ask for your generosity today, so that our united gifts may display the steadfast love of God. 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

Receive these gifts, O God, and bless their use to your purposes. May your steadfast love be visible in all the acts of the Church of Jesus Christ, to the glory of your name. Amen.

* Hymn #496: Ekolu Mea Nui (v. 1-2)

Please be seated

Announcements                                                                                     Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Festival Postlude                                                                 Michael Springer

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions
Fantasia
Public Domain

O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Text by Isaac Watts, 1719
Tune ST. ANNE by William Croft, 1708
Public Domain

Psalm 96
Dave & Jean Perry
Streamed by permission CCLI License #1595965

There Was Jesus by the Water
Text by Gracia Grindal, 1983
© 1993 Selah Publishing Company
Tune TALITHA CUMI by Rusty Edwards, 1983
© 1983, Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Have Thine Own Way, Lord
Arranged by Diane Bish
© Copyright 1993 Tarzana Music Company
(administered worldwide by Fred Bock Publishing Group)
All rights reserved
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Ekolu Mea Nui
Text by Robert Nawahine
Tune NAWAHINE by Robert Nawahine
Streamed by permission of the Hawai’i Conference UCC

Festival Postlude
Domenico Zipoli
Public Domain

Dates to Remember
Today, June 11 – Council Meeting after worship

Pastor                                                                                  Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                                                                         Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader                                                                        Gloria Kobayashi
Choir Accompanist                                                        Kanako Okita
Choir Director                                                                 Doug Albertson
Organist                                                                             Kayleen Yuda
Guest Organist                                                                 Michael Springer
Hand Bell Director                                                        Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations                                                       Jennie Kondo
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