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 15, 2024. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship December 15, 2024
Third Sunday of Advent
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: In the Bleak Mid-Winter Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Lighting of the Advent Candle of Peace Roach family
Leader: It took an angel’s visit, and a visit to her cousin, to awaken Mary to the wondrous love who was coming into her world. The words of the prophets were vague; the signs of the times were grim. A Savior’s birth was hoped-for but unlooked-for – until the words of Gabriel and Elizabeth unlocked the heart of Mary, and her joy poured forth.
All sing:
Christ be our joy; O let your birth
Awake our songs of praise!
Beyond all expectation come
To resurrect our days
Into a holy mystery
We’ll celebrate always.
TUNE: BROTHER JAMES’ AIR
Leader: In the first candle of Advent, we declare our Hope. In the second candle of Advent, we declare our commitment to Peace. In the third candle of Advent, we proclaim our Joy, arising when we least expect it. This candle glows for those who mourn. This candle glows for those who hunger. This candle glows for those deprived of health. This candle glows for Joy to the world. Let us pray with Mary in Mary’s song:
*Hymn #119: My Soul Gives Glory to My God (v. 1-5)
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Kanako Okita
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7 Barbara Iwami
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’
And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Sermon: Gentleness 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 #115: The Baptist Shouts on Jordan’s Shore (v. 1-3, 6)
Call to Offering: Barbara Iwami
In our baptisms we were given into the care, guidance, and grace of God. In that grace, we are invited to share grace ourselves. This is one of those ways: contributing toward God’s worship, God’s will, and God’s ways expressed in the Church of Jesus Christ. 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: The Quiet Carol 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 Barbara Iwami
Gracious God, you who respond to repentance with forgiveness, respond to these gifts, we pray, with thanksgiving. We have sought to follow your guidance and your ways, and though we may not always succeed, we pray that our efforts may be blessed with your expanding love and your ever-widening smile. Amen.
* Hymn #146: Nu Oli (v. 1 Hwn, v. 1 Eng, v. 2-3 Hwn)
Please be seated
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: The Advent Chorale Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
© Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
My Soul Gives Glory to My God
Text by Miriam Therese Winter, 1987
© 1987, Medical Mission Sisters
Tune MORNING SONG from Kentucky Harmony, 1816
Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Johann Sebastian Bach
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
The Baptist Shouts on Jordan’s Shore
Text by Charles Coffin, 1736
Trans. The New Century Hymnal, 1993
Tune WINCHESTER NEW, first pub. 1690
Used by permission of the Pilgrim Press
The Quiet Carol
Ellen Jane Lorenz
© 1982 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Nu Oli
Text by Fanny Crosby, 1873
Trans. by Laiana, 1880s
Tune NU OLI by Robert Lowry, 1873
Public Domain
The Advent Chorale
Felix Mendelssohn
J.N. Porter
Tune: © 1966 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Dates to Remember
Today, December 15 — Deacons Meeting after worship
Entire month of December – The Giving Tree: Donations of canned goods and toiletries for those in need is appreciated
Friday, December 20, 6:00 p.m. – Community Concert, sanctuary or online
Saturday, December 21, 4:00 p.m. – Messiah Sing, sanctuary
Sunday, December 22, 10:00 a.m. – Christmas Pageant, sanctuary or online
Tuesday, December 24, 7:00 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols, sanctuary
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 Barbara Iwami
Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita
Choir Director Doug Albertson
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Soloist Marlise Ahuna
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations Jean & Woody Kita
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.
