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.

Service of Worship November 24, 2024
Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Reign of Christ Sunday

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: Prayer of Thanksgiving                         Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                                Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 93)                      Nina Buchanan

Leader:         The LORD rules, robed in majesty.
People:        The LORD has established the world and will not be moved.

Leader:         God’s throne is established from of old, from everlasting.
People:        The roaring seas proclaim the glory of the LORD.

Leader:         Yet more majestic than the thunder of mighty waters is our God.
People:        Greater than the waves of the sea is the majesty of the LORD.

All:     Let us worship God!

* Hymn #301: Crown with Your Richest Crowns (v. 1-5)

* Invocation: (based on Revelation 1:4-8)                                  Nina Buchanan
                                                                                                                                   
 You are the one who was and who is and who is to be, O God. Grant us grace and peace as we gather to praise you. Glory and dominion forever and ever to you and to Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, who loves us and has freed us from sin. We gaze to the future where every eye will see and every tongue will proclaim the one who is the first and the last, the mighty One, you, our God. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: O Divine Redeemer                           Kayleen Yuda, pianist
                                                                                  Marlise Ahuna, soloist

Time with the Children                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Reflection: Why I Give to the Church                                             Stefan Tanouye

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:1-7                                              Nina Buchanan
Now these are the last words of David:

The oracle of David, son of Jesse,
    the oracle of the man whom God exalted,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
    the favorite of the Strong One of Israel:

 The spirit of the Lord speaks through me,
    his word is upon my tongue.
The God of Israel has spoken,
    the Rock of Israel has said to me:
One who rules over people justly,
    ruling in the fear of God,
is like the light of morning,
    like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,
    gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.

 Is not my house like this with God?
    For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
    ordered in all things and secure.
Will he not cause to prosper
    all my help and my desire?
But the godless areall like thorns that are thrown away;
    for they cannot be picked up with the hand;
to touch them one uses an iron bar
    or the shaft of a spear.
    And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot.


John 18:33-37
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’

Sermon: Light or Thorns?                                         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 #304: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering                                          Nina Buchanan

There are many kinds of gifts we can bring to the service of God: insight, vision, physical prowess, a comforting presence. Let us now bring a portion of the money we have earned or saved, for this, too, is a gift with which can honor God. 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: Morning                                  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                                           Nina Buchanan

Accept these gifts, O God, a portion of our lives of service to you and to your people. Accept them and bless them so that all the world may know your goodness and your grace. Amen.

* Hymn #303: Rejoice, Give Thanks and Sing (v. 1-4)

Please be seated

Announcements                                                  Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                        Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: How Majestic Is Your Name                                     Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions

Prayer of Thanksgiving
William Stickles
© 1950 Ethel Smith
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

O Divine Redeemer
Charles F. Gounod
Tune: © 1963 Lorenz Publishing Company
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Text by Edward Peronnet, 1779, & John Rippon, 1787
Tune CORONATION by Oliver Holden, 1793
Public Domain

Morning
William Stickles
© 1950 Ethel Smith Music Co.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Rejoice, Give Thanks and Sing
Text by Charles Wesley, 1746
Tune DARWALL’S 148th by John Darwall, 1770
Public Domain

How Majestic Is Your Name
Michael W. Smith
Peggy Bettcher
© 1981 arr © 2001
Meadowgreen Music
Streamed by permission CCS License #13303

Dates to Remember

Today, November 24— J’s Mini Mart
Today, November 24 – ONA meeting 11:30 in the Lounge

                             This week at the Church of the Holy Cross

  • Bible Study with Pastor Eric:

Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m. via Zoom
Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m. -Pastor’s study

  • One Song: Wednesdays 11:00 a.m. online
  • Hand Bell Choir Practice: Fridays, 10:00 a.m. in the Meeting Room
  • Community Sing: 2nd Fridays, 6:00 pm in sanctuary

Other Faith Groups that meet at Church of the Holy Cross

  • The United Church of Christ, Pohnpei – Sanctuary, 12 noon
    Rev. Bensis Henry
  • Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa – Sanctuary, 2:00 p.m.
    Rev. Sitau Ofoia, Jr.
  • The Bedesta Church – Sanctuary, 4 p.m.
    Rev.  Edmes Edwin

Pastor                                                                                  Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                                                                        
Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader                                                                        Nina Buchanan
Choir Accompanist                                                       
Kanako Okita
Choir Director                                                                 Doug Albertson
Organist                                                                             Kayleen Yuda
Soloist                                                                                  Marlise Ahuna
Hand Bell Director                                                        Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations                                                       Connie Yoshiyama
Projected Imagery                                                        Sue Smith
Web Master                                                                      Ruth Niino-DuPonte  
Videographers                                                                Eric Tanouye, Eli Yamaki
                                                                            Ruth Niino-DuPonte, Bob Smith

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