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, December 8, 2024. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship December 8, 2024
Second Sunday of Advent
Loyalty 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: Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabelle Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Introit: Come Into His Presence-The Snow Lay on the Ground Children’s Choir
Moment of Concern Barbara Iwami
Lighting of the Advent Candle of Peace Yamaki family
Family Member: Despite the well-known benefits of peace, our conflicts leap to violence all too often. In homes, on streets, in parks, and along the restless borders of the nations, we leave the path of peace to take the weary way of war. Christ Jesus called us to another road.
All Sing:
Let peace take wings and make its flight
To all ends of the earth
Let weeping cease and mourning end
As God’s reign proves its worth
In homes and lands and in our souls
When Jesus comes to birth.
TUNE: BROTHER JAMES’ AIR
Family Member: In the first candle of Advent, we declare our Hope. In the second candle of Advent, we raise our Hope for Peace. This candle glows for the oppressed. This candle glows for those in fear. This candle glows to pierce the shadows that cloud our vision. This candle glows for Peace.
Unison Prayer: Holy One, inspire Peace within us. Inspire Peace that flows from us. Inspire Peace that raises hearts, and quenches rage. Inspire Peace that overcomes the world. Amen.
* Hymn #121: Toda la Tierra (All Earth Is Waiting) (v. 1 Spanish, v. 1-4 English)
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: Kyrie Eleison Holy Cross Singers
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11 Anne Sadayasu
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was rulerof Galilee, and his brother Philip rulerof the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Sermon: What Really Matters 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
* Hymn #101: Comfort, Comfort O My People (v. 1-3)
Call to Offering Anne Sadayasu
Today we dedicate our gifts to God, both those we have brought today or sent this week, but those we intend to give in the year to come. We have thought. We have prayed. We have sought God’s will. We have decided, and so we ask God to bless our choices. 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: Blessed Jesu 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 Anne Sadayasu
Before you are the fulfillment of promises we have made to you for this year, O God, fulfillment in dollars and cents. Before you as well are the promises we make for the year ahead, promises again of dollars and cents, but also of the heart, the mind, and the will. Bless promise and fulfillment, we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
* Hymn #154: Go Tell It on the Mountain (v. 1-3)
Please be seated
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Noel, Nouvelet (Sing We A Glad Noel) Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabelle
Traditional French Carol
© 2011 Hal Leonard
Glory Sound, a division of Shawnee Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Come Into His Presence-The Snow Lay on the Ground
Traditional Irish Carol
© Hal Leonard Corporation
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Toda la Tierra (All Earth is Waiting)
Text by Alberto Taule, 1972
Trans. by Gertrude C. Suppe, 1987
Tune TAULE by Alberto Taule, 1972
© 1972 The Pastoral Musicians
Translation © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing
Harmonization © 1988 Skinner Chavez-Melo
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Kyrie Eleison
Text and music by David Huntsinger
© 2008 by Huntsinger Music (BMI)
Streamed by permission CCS License #13303
Comfort, Comfort O My People
Text by Johannes Olearius, 1671
Trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1863
Tune PSALM 42, first pub. 1551
Public Domain
Go Tell It on the Mountain
African-American spiritual
Public Domain
Noel, Nouvelet (Sing We A Glad Noel)
Dale Wood
French Carol
Sacred Music
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Dates to Remember
Today, December 8 — Council Meeting after worship
Today, December 8 — Loyalty Sunday
Tuesday, December 10, 7:00 pm – Prayer Service for Peace in Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon
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 Anne Sadayasu
Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita
Choir Director Doug Albertson
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Soloist Marlise Ahuna
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations Beverly Dodo
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.
