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, January 5, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
This service includes the celebration of Holy Communion. If you will be worshiping from home, please prepare and have ready some bread or other staple food and grape juice or another beverage for that portion of the service.
Service of Worship January 5, 2025
Second Sunday after Christmas Day
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: Shepherd’s Song Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
* Call to Worship (based on Psalm 147:12-20) Stefan Tanouye
Leader: The word of the LORD runs swiftly across the surface of the Earth.
People: The snow settles like wool, the frost glistens in the sun.
Leader: Upon the mountain who can stand in the cold?
People: But then the word of the LORD runs swiftly again to melt the frozen ice.
Leader: The winds blow, and the waters flow.
People: May we live in the delight and in the ways of the LORD!
All: Let us worship God!
* Hymn #153: Who Would Think That What Was Needed (v. 1-3)
* Invocation (based on Psalm 119:1-8) Stefan Tanouye
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 IYAA
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Stefan Tanouye
For thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel.’
See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
those with child and those in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.’
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
and they shall never languish again.
Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,
says the Lord.
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Sermon: Mystery 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
Call to Offering Stefan Tanouye
Much of faith remains a mystery, however long and hard we look into the Scriptures or into our souls. God’s generosity, however, shines clearly across the centuries, and God’s call to our own giving does as well. 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: Arioso 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 Stefan Tanouye
Accept these gifts, O God, you who give us everything. Accept them, bless them, and may they serve your purposes here in the world. Amen.
* Hymn #329: Jesus, the Joy of Loving Hearts (v. 1-3)
Please be seated
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
* Hymn #160: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Jesus, the Light of the World) (v. 1-4)
Please be seated
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Jubilate Deo Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
Shepherd’s Song
James Mansfield
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Who Would Think That What Was Needed
Text by John Bell & Graham Meade, 1990
Tune SCARLET RIBBONS trad. English melody
Arr. by John Bell & others, 1990
Words & arr. © 1990 Wild Goose Publications/Iona Community
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Arioso
J S Bach
Arr. John Troutman
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Jesus, the Joy of Loving Hearts
Text attrib. to Bernard of Clairvaux, c. 1150
Transl. by Ray Palmer, 1858
Tune HESPERUS by Henry W. Baker, 1854
Public Domain
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Jesus, the Light of the World)
Text by Charles Wesley, 1739
Adapt. by George D. Elderkin, 1890
Tune ELDERKIN by George D. Elderkin, 1890
Public Domain
Jubilate Deo
G F Handel
Arr. George Blake
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Dates to Remember
Today—January 5: Trustees Meeting After Worship
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 27 pledges for 64% of our goal. Thank you to all who have already sent in pledges.
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 Stefan Tanouye
Organist Kayleen Yuda
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 Lillian Tanouye, Eric Tanouye,
Heather & Alan Tanouye, Kyle &
Robin Nakayama, in memory of
Patricia Kazoku 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.
