Worship for September 17, 2023

The video will stream live beginning a few minutes before 10:00 AM on Sunday, September 17, 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, September 17, 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, September 17, 2023
Sixteenth 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: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing                                 Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                                                                                                    Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 114)                                      Barbara Iwami

Leader:         When Israel went out from Egypt, escaping the harshness of slavery,
People:        Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel God’s dwelling place.

Leader:         Why does the sea flee? Why does the Jordan River turn back?
People:        Why do the mountains skip like rams and the hills like lambs?

Leader:         Tremble, O Earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of
                        Jacob,
People:        Who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.

All:                 Let us worship God!

* Hymn #547: Amazing Grace (v. 1-5)

* Invocation: (based on Psalm 103:1-13)                                      Barbara Iwami

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget what God has done: forgiven you, healed you, preserved you, loved you. God has satisfied you with good so that you are renewed like the eagle. Bless the LORD, O my soul, who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: No. 1 of the Trois Valses Op. 64                                       Mace Peng

Time with the Children

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12                                                                 Barbara Iwami

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

 Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.

 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,

‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall give praise to God.’

So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

 ‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talentswas brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sisterfrom your heart.’

Sermon: Awe-full Mercy                                                                       Rev. Eric S. Anderson

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer

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, Oh Dios (If I Have Been the Source of Pain, O God) (v. 1-4 English)

Call to Offering                                                                                        Barbara Iwami

We know mercy in the experience of forgiveness, and we also know mercy in being the recipient of aid. Let your gifts today also be mercy: mercy to those who do not hope for forgiveness, mercy to those who struggle to live. 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: Prelude on “St. Agnes”                                                      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                                                                                  Barbara Iwami

We present you these gifts, O God, in honor of your great love and mercy to us. Let your hand direct their use so that others may know and rejoice in your great love and mercy to them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

* Hymn #551: Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior (v. 1-4)

Please be seated

Announcements                                                                                     Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Great God of Glory                                                              Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able

We welcome you to worship this day. Church of the Holy Cross seeks to help its members, friends, and visitors follow the guidance of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, encouraging all people to love one another according to the teachings of Jesus. We live and teach the faith, speak good news, minister to people near and far, and work with other households of faith and helping agencies to improve our community and our world. Please call or write us to learn more and join in. To support our ministries financially, donate online here.

Permissions

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Robert J. Hughes
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Amazing Grace
Text by  John Newton, 1779
Tune AMAZING GRACE Columbia Harmony, 1829
Arr. by Edwin O. Excell, 1900
Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

No. 1 of the Trois Valses Op. 64
Frederic Chopin
Public Domain

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

Prelude on “St. Agnes”
Flor Peeters
Hymn tune by John Bacchus Dykes,
1866 @ 1960 by C F Peters Corporation,
New York Edition Peters 6195
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
Text by Fanny Crosby, 1868
Tune PASS ME NOT by William H. Doane, 1870
Public Domain

Great God of Glory
DavidPaxton
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Dates to Remember
Today, September 17th – Deacons Meeting after worship

Pastor                                                                   Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                                                          Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader                                                         Barbara Iwami
Choir Accompanist                                          Kanako Okita
Choir Director                                                   Doug Albertson
Organist                                                               Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director                                          Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations                                         Jane Kawazoe
Childcare Coordinator                                   Evonne Shioshita
Projected Imagery                                           Sue Smith
Web Master                                                        Ruth Niino-DuPonte  
Videographers                                                   Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith,
                                                                                                Eli Yamaki, Ruth Niino-DuPonte