Thank you for joining us for this live stream (or recording, as the case may be) of Sunday worship. May it bless you! You may need to click “Play” to launch the stream, which will be live just before 10:00 AM.
Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, March 10, 2024. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship, March 10, 2024
Fourth 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: Think on Me Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
* Please stand and join me in the Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22)
Carolyn Lum-Bellem
Leader: Give thanks to the LORD, whose steadfast love endures forever!
People: We give thanks to the LORD, who has rescued us from the troubles of our lives.
Leader: Come from the lands in the east and west, in the north and south.
People: Cry to the LORD in your trouble, and find comfort for your distress.
Leader: Let us thank God for steadfast love and extravagant gifts to all of humankind.
People: We offer our sacrifices of thanksgiving; we sing God’s deeds with songs of joy!
All: Let us worship God!
* Hymn #223: What Wondrous Love Is This (v. 1-3)
* Invocation (based on Ephesians 2:1-10) Carolyn Lum-Bellem
We have known what it is to be far from you, O God, to be uncertain whether you would hear our prayers. You are richer in mercy than our fears describe, and in raising Christ you have raised our hopes and our faith. Create us and recreate us in Christ to do good things in the world, O God, to fulfill the lives you appointed for us in the depths of time. Amen.
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: Saints Bound for Heaven Holy Cross Singers
Time with the Children
Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9 Carolyn Lum-Bellem
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.’ Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.’ So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
John 3:14-21
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. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’
Sermon: Peculiar 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 #605: As Moses Raised the Serpent Up (v. 1-3)
Call to Offering Carolyn Lum-Bellem
When we turn to the world around us, it is filled with God’s gifts. When we look within our spirit, it is also filled with God’s gifts. May our offerings today help to fill the bodies, the minds, and the spirits of others who yearn for wholeness. 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: Presence Divine 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 Carolyn Lum-Bellem
Your self-giving is beyond our understanding, our imagination, and our imitation, O God. Nevertheless we dare to present these gifts to you, and to present ourselves as living gifts each day of our lives, in the hopes of your loving embrace. Amen.
* Hymn #222: My Song is Love Unknown (v. 1-5)
Please be seated
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Postludium Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
Think on Me
Lady John Scott
Tune: © 1948 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
What Wondrous Love Is This
Text by Joachim Neander, 1680
First published in Mercer’s Cluster, 1836
Tune WONDROUS LOVE in Southern Harmony, 1843
Harmony The New Century Hymnal, 1993
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Saints Bound for Heaven
Arr. by Peter Paul Olejar
Published by Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)
A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
As Moses Raised the Serpent Up
Text versification by The New Century Hymnal, 1993
Tune MORNING SONG, from Sixteen Tune Settings, 1812
Harm. by C. Winfred Douglas, 1940
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Presence Divine
Lani Smith
Tune: © 1980 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
Admin. by Music Services
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
My Song is Love Unknown
Text by Samuel Crossman, 1644
Tune RHOSYMEDRE by John D. Edwards, 1840
Public Domain
PostludiumDonald Lee Moore
Tune: © 1980 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Dates to Remember
Today: March 10—Council Meeting after worship
Pastor Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader Carolyn Lum-Bellem
Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita
Choir Director Doug Albertson
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations Carolyn Lum-Bellem
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Eli Yamaki
Ruth Niino-DuPonte, Bob Smith
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. To support our ministries, please visit our Donate Page.
