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 the celebration of Holy Communion. If you are worshiping from home, please prepare some bread and a beverage and have them ready for that portion of the service.
Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, November 3, 2024. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship November 3, 2024
Twenty-fourth 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: Air and Variation Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 146) Gloria Kobayashi
Leader: “Do not put your trust in princes,” warns the Psalmist, “in mortals in whom
there is no help.”
People: Even the wealthiest and most powerful is mortal, and a day comes when
their plans perish.
Leader: Happy are those whose help comes from the LORD our God.
People: God made heaven and earth, the seas and all that is in them.
Leader: God executes justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, and sets the
prisoners free.
People: The LORD will reign forever, God’s righteousness for all generations.
All: Let us worship God!
* Hymn #85: I Woke Up This Morning (v. 1-2)
* Invocation: (based on Psalm 119:1-8) Gloria Kobayashi
You have commanded us to follow your guidance carefully and diligently, O God. May we keep your commandments with faithfulness, compassion, and understanding. Though we know we will make errors, we trust in your forgiving grace. We worship you on this day and every day, O God. Hear us as we sing your praise! Amen.
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: You Say Len Miyazono, tenor
Kayleen Yuda, pianist
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18 Gloria Kobayashi
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there for about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons or her husband.
Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had had consideration for his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.’ Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, ‘No, we will return with you to your people.’ But Naomi said, ‘Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.’ Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
So she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said,
‘Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’
When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
Mark 12:28-34
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.
Sermon: Not Far Rev. Eric S. Anderson
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 Gloria Kobayashi
God has asked us for our love. God has further asked us to care for our neighbors – and made clear that when we care for them, we express our love for God. This is one opportunity among many this week to love neighbor, love God, and draw nearer to the reign of love. 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: Jesus Is All The World To Me 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 Gloria Kobayashi
Bring us to your realm, O God, the place and time and community of light and peace. Bring us to your realm, O God, through these gifts and the offering of our hearts. Bring us to your realm, O God, through the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.
* Hymn #11: Bring Many Names (v. 1-6)
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
* Hymn #314: Community of Christ (v. 1-4)
Please be seated
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Sing A New Song of Joy Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
Air and Variation
Ludwig van Beethoven
John Troutman
Tune: © 1981 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of the Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
I Woke Up This Morning
Text: African-American spiritual
Tune WOKE UP THIS MORNING, spiritual
Public Domain
You Say
by Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram,
and Paul Mabury, 2018
© 2018 Centricsongs (SESAC)
Admin. at Capitol CMG Publishing
Streamed by permission CCLI License #1595965
Bring Many Names
Text by Brian Wren, 1989
© 1989, 1994 by Hope Publishing Co.
Tune WESTCHASE by Carlton Young, 1989
© 1989 by Hope Publishing Co.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Jesus Is All The World to Me
Robert J Hughes
Will Lamartine Thompson
Tune: © 1978 Lorenz Publishing Company
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Community of Christ
Text by Shirley Erena Murray, 1985
© 1992 Hope Publishing Company
Tune LEONI, trad. Hebrew melody
Public Domain
Streamed by permission CCLI License #1595965
Sing A New Song of Joy
Robert S. Livingston, Jr.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Dates to Remember
Today, November 3—Communion
Saturday, November 9—Trustees meeting via zoom
Pastor Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader Gloria Kobayashi
Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita
Guest Soloist Len Miyazono
Choir Director Doug Albertson
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations Maryann Katayama
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.
