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.
Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, August 25, 2024. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship August 25, 2024
Fourteenth 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: Hymn of Praise Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
* Call to Worship: (based on 1 Kings 8:22-30) Stefan Tanouye
Leader: When they dedicated the Temple, Solomon stood and prayed:
People: “Will God dwell upon the earth?”
Leader: Even heaven cannot contain God, let alone anything built by human hands.
People: We will bring our prayers to this place, but more so to the heart of God.
Leader: We pray that God hears our prayers in the highest heaven.
People: We pray that God hears our prayers: hears, welcomes, and forgives.
All: Let us worship God!
* Hymn #68: God Is Truly with Us (v. 1-3)
* Invocation: (based on Psalm 84) Stefan Tanouye
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! There the small birds nest; there the people sing in harmony. Happy are those who live in your house, whose strength is in you, whose hearts are highways to your grace. Give us your love and your peace in this time of worship, that we may walk in righteousness all the days of our lives. Amen.
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: Simple Song Kanako Okita, piano
Tom Mirenda, tenor
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: Psalm 34:15-22 Stefan Tanouye
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord rescues them from them all.
He keeps all their bones;
not one of them will be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, are strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Sermon: Unarmored 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
Reception of New Members
Geoffrey Braun (Affirmation of Faith)
Peter J. Braun (Reaffirmation of Faith)
Froilan C. Queja (Letter of Transfer)
Rosalind V. Queja (Letter of Transfer)
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 Rev. Eric S. Anderson
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
* Hymn #494: We Who Would Valiant Be (v. 1-3)
Call to Offering Stefan Tanouye
Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God are the spiritual resources of the Christian faith. From these virtues we make our offerings in thanks for God’s grace and in concert with God’s purposes. 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: Recitative for Flute 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 Stefan Tanouye
You know the truth of our hearts and lives, O God. You know what we do to be Christ’s faithful followers. Accept these gifts, we pray, as one more effort to take up the discipleship to which you call us, and bless them to the increase of your realm. Amen.
* Hymn #55: Rejoice, You Pure in Heart (v. 1-5)
You may be seated
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: God of Our Fathers Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
Hymn of Praise
James Denton
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
God Is Truly with Us
Text by Gerhard Tersteegen, 1729
Trans. by Frederick W. Foster
Tune WUNDERBARER KONIG by Joachim Neander, 1680
Public Domain
Simple Song
Leonard Bernstein
CCS License #13303
We Who Would Valiant Be
Text by John Bunyan, 1684
Tune ST. DUNSTAN’S by D. Winfred Douglas, 1917
Public Domain
Recitative for Flute
David Paxton
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Let Us with a Joyful Mind
Text by John Milton, 1624
Tune INNOCENTS, 1850
Public Domain
God of Our Fathers
Robert J. Hughes
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Dates to Remember
Today, August 25 – J’s Mini Mart
Pastor Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader Stefan Tanouye
Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita
Choir Director Doug Albertson
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Guest tenor Tom Mirenda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations Laura Ota
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.
