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 22, 2024. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship December 22, 2024
Fourth 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: Gesù Bambino Kayleen Yuda & Mace Peng
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Lighting of the Advent Candle of Love: Albano family
Family Member: Time and time again, the Scriptures celebrate the steadfast love of the Lord. Genesis praises God’s steadfast love for Abraham, and the first letter of John declares that God is love. In Christ, God’s love took form in new and precious ways, in baby’s cry and preacher’s word, in meals and healings, and upon a lonely cross.
All sing:
How strange that you should care for us
Creator of the spheres,
Enough to take on human form
And share our human years.
To know the joys of human life,
The taste of human tears.
TUNE: BROTHER JAMES’ AIR
Family Member: 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. Now we light the tender flame of God’s eternal Love. This candle glows for those who think they are alone. This candle glows for those who think that love is powerless. This candle glows for those who cringe before anger. This candle glows for those whom Jesus came to save.
Unison Prayer: God of Joseph, God of Mary, help us live in confidence of your eternal love. In that confidence, may we find courage now and always to forgive when others disappoint us. In that confidence, may we find openness to consider others’ needs. In that confidence, may we trust in others’ love, and meet new circumstances and new challenges empowered by your ever-present grace. Amen.
Hymn #105: Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear (v. 1-3)
Please be seated
Anthem: Light of the World Kanako Okita, piano
Ian McMillan, soloist
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: Micah 5:2-5 John Narruhn
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace.
If the Assyrians come into our land
and tread upon our soil,
we will raise against them seven shepherds
and eight installed as rulers.
Luke 1:46-55
And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’
Christmas Pageant: Where’s Joseph?
*Hymn #154: Go Tell It on the Mountain (v.1-3)
Please be seated
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 #124: Away in a Manger (v. 1-3)
Call to Offering John Narruhn
In that stable long ago, humanity was given a gift whose worth we still do not fully appreciate, and whose promise we have not yet experienced. Let us, as we may, express our thanks for God’s gift of grace in Jesus. 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: Good King Wenceslas Kayleen Yuda & Eli Yamaki
* 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 John Narruhn
O God of the manger, we bring you our gifts today in celebration of your great gift of Jesus. May people near and far learn more of your love through these gifts and our service. Amen.
* Hymn #125: Angels We Have Heard on High (v. 1-4)
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Joy to the World Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions:
Gesù Bambino
Pietro Alessandro Yon
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear
Text 15th cent. German carol
Paraphr. by Carol Birkland, 1993
© 1993 the Pilgrim Press
Tune JOSEPH LIEBER, JOSEPH MEIN 15th cent. German carol
Public Domain
Streamed by permission of the Pilgrim Press
Light of the World
Words and Music by Lauren Daigle,
Paul Mabury and Paul Duncan
Streamed by permission CCS License #13303
Where’s Joseph?
by Eric S. Anderson, 2024
© 2024 by Eric Anderson
Streamed by permission
Away in a Manger
Text Anonymous, 1885-1892
Tune AWAY IN A MANGER attrib. to James R. Murray, 1887
Public Domain
Good King Wenceslas
Tune from Piae Cantiones 1582
Alfred Music Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Angels We Have Heard on High
Text trad. French carol
Trans. pub. 1862 & 1916
Public Domain
Tune GLORIA trad. French carol
Public Domain
Joy to the World
Franklin Ritter
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Dates to Remember
Entire month of December – The Giving Tree: Donations of canned goods and toiletries for those in need is appreciated.
Today, 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
Please Send Pledge Cards
A reminder from the Every Member Canvass Committee, please send in your 2025 pledge cards if you have not done so. This will help us in planning for our year’s program. To date we have received 24 pledges for 58% of our goal. Thank you to all who have already sent in pledges.
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 Ian McMillan
Pianist Mace Peng
Pianist Eli Yamaki
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Eli Yamaki
Ruth Niino-DuPonte, Bob Smith
Chapel Decorations
Mahalo nui to the following people who donated our Poinsettias for the Christmas season. Please take your flowers home after the Christmas Eve service.
Nalyn Ang and Ming Peng Woody and Jean Kita
Eric Anderson Gloria and Ray Kobayashi
Cindy Debus Joyce Nakamoto
Janet Fujioka Tim Shintani
Barbara Iwami Moira Tanaka
Jane Kawazoe Jean Tanouye
Anna Kennedy Stefan and Jen Tanouye
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.
