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Service of Worship January 12, 2025
Baptism of the Lord

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: The Master Hath Come                                     Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                                                 Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Psalm 29)                                           Jennifer Tanouye

Leader:         The heavenly beings sing of the glory and strength of the LORD.
People:        The voice of the LORD thunders over the roar of the mighty waters.

Leader:         The voice of the LORD is full of majesty,
People:        So that the land itself skips like a calf.

Leader:         May the LORD give strength the people!
People:        May the people of the LORD receive blessings of peace!

All:     Let us worship God!

* Hymn #167: Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering (v. 1-3)

* Invocation (based on Isaiah 43:1-7)                                             Jennifer Tanouye

O God, you have called us by name. You have summoned us for redemption and grace. We rejoice that you have gathered us from the corners of the world, that you have brought us through the struggles, that you have preserved us from the dangers. We will not fear, for you are with us. We will rejoice in your name, and sing of your glory. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Water and Spirit                                                  Eric Anderson

Time with the Children

Scripture: Acts 8:14-17                                                       Jennifer Tanouye
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
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 withthe 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.’

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

Sermon: Children of the Spirit                                                 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 #169: What Ruler Wades through Murky Streams (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                                                                  Jennifer Tanouye

The Holy Spirit’s presence summons us to our particular work in the world and gives us skills to fulfill our calling. The Holy Spirit also gathers us together, bringing different gifts and resources, to further the work of the Church together. One of the ways we do that is through our offerings. 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: Fughetta                                                  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                                                       Jennifer Tanouye

O Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence with us. Gift-giver, accept what we offer today, and may our gathered offerings further your purposes for us, for our church, and for the world. Amen.

* Hymn #82: Go, My Children, with My Blessing (v. 1-2)

Please be seated

Announcements                                                          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                  Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: March of the Kings                                                  Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions

The Master Hath Come
Lani Smith
Tune: © 1984 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering
Text by Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1990
© 1990 Hope Publishing Company
Tune RENDEZ A DIEU by Louis Bourgeois, first pub. 1551
Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Water and Spirit
Text and Music by Eric Anderson
© 2025 by Eric Anderson
Streamed by permission of the author

What Ruler Wades through Murky Streams
Text by Thomas H. Troeger, 1984
© 1984, rev. 1993, Oxford University Press
Tune WATER OF BAPTISM by David Hurd, 1994
© 1994 The Pilgrim Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Fughetta
Gottlied Muffat
Concordia Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Go, My Children, with My Blessing
Text by Jaroslav Vajda, 1983, 1990
© 1983, 1990 Jaroslav Vajda
Tune AR HYD Y NOS trad. Welsh melody
Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

March of the Kings
Carl Simone
Tune: © 1984 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Dates to Remember
Today—January 12: Council 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 28 pledges for 68% 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                                                                        Jennifer 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

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