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 around 9:50 AM.
This service includes celebration of Holy Communion, so please prepare some juice or other beverage and bread or other staple food and have it nearby for that portion of the service.
Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, April 7, 2024. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship, April 7, 2024
Second Sunday of Easter
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: Prelude Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 133) Lorraine Davis
Leader: How very good and pleasant it is when families live in unity!
People: How very good and pleasant it is when neighbors live in unity!
Leader: It is like precious oil on the skin which releases the tensions of the day.
People: It is like precious oil on the skin whose perfume soothes the soul.
Leader: It is like the dew that falls upon the mountains, quickening the seeds in the soil.
People: The LORD has ordained blessing, life forevermore.
All: Surrounded by love, let us worship God!
* Hymn #242: The Strife is O’er (v. 1-4)
* Invocation: (based on Acts 4:32-35) Lorraine Davis
Make us into one heart and soul, O God. Make us into a community that others recognize as yours, your Body of Christ. May we give our voices to speak of your glory and love so deeply expressed in Jesus’ resurrection. May we share with one another the necessities of life and the wonders of compassion. Receive our worship today, O God, as from one heart and soul. Amen.
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: Met Mi Mwurino (What is Good) IYAA
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: 1 John 1:1-2:2 Lorraine Davis
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
But Thomas (who was called the Twin) one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believethat Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Sermon: There’s Always One Who Misses Something 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 Lorraine Davis
We don’t like it when others question the things we give, when they want to see or touch what we have promised, as Thomas demanded of his friends. Let us not be discouraged by what others fear about our sincerity. Let us show them how we give. 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: Fughetta 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 Lorraine Davis
Accept these gifts, O God, offered from the little that we know, and the little that we understand. Accept these gifts and guide them to build up the reign of your love. Amen.
* Hymn #337: Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether (v. 1-3)
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
* Hymn #301: Crown with Your Richest Crowns (v. 1-3, 5)
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Postlude in D Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
Prelude
Johann Sebastian Bach
Public Domain
The Strife Is O’er
Latin Text ca. 1695
Trans. by Francis Pott, 1861
Tune VICTORY by Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina, 1591
Arr. by William H. Monk, 1861
Public Domain
Met Me Mwurino (What is Good)
Text by Stuart Mori
Tune by Yoster & Gina Shirai
Used by permission
Fughetta
J Pachebel
Concordia Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether
Text by Percy Dearmer, 1925
© 1925 by Oxford University Press
Tune UNION SEMINARY by Harold Friedell, 1957
© 1957, 1985 by Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Crown with Your Richest Crowns
Text by Matthew Bridges & Geoffrey Thring, 1874
Tune DIADEMATA by George J. Elvey, 1868
Public Domain
Postlude in D
Johan Rinck
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Dates to Remember
Today: April 7— Trustees Meeting after worship
Pastor Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader Lorraine Davis
Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita
Choir Director Doug Albertson
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations Janet Fujioka
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.
