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, February 23, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship February 23, 2025
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor
Rev. Dr. Diane Weible, Sabbatical Interim 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: Message of Love Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
Call to Worship: Nina Buchanan
Leader:Where do we find you, Holy One, and how do we follow? Find me at your table,
People: We’ll share your food
Leader: Find me in your resources,
People: We’ll share your riches
Leader: Find me in your power,
People: We’ll share your mercy
Leader: Find me in your pain,
People: We’ll share your forgiveness
Leader: Find me in your generosity,
People: We’ll share all, and expect nothing in return
* Hymn #84 (NCH): This Is the Day (vs. 1-3)
* Invocation Nina Buchanan
Holy One, you are deep within our world,
calling us to join you in creating
abundant life for all.
Open our hearts to recognize you
Free us to trust your call and follow;
Enable us to repent, and forgive,
and join in your work to make “all things new”.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: The Lord’s Prayer Marlise Ahuna
Time with the Children Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
Scripture: Genesis 45:3-11, 15 Nina Buchanan
Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.” And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
Luke 6:27-38
‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’
Sermon: Really, God? Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
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 #23: There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (vs. 1-2)
Call to Offering Nina Buchanan
Jesus reminds us that God works by a different economy. He tells us, “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.” Friends, by this, joy is given space to rise. May we discover it growing in us as we bring our gifts to God.
Offertory: Grant Us Thy Peace 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 Nina Buchanan
Generous God, thank you for pressing Your holy love into the lap of our lives. Bless these gifts we bring that they may be multiplied into a good larger than we can imagine. Also, bless us, that we might live our lives in gratitude, sharing freely without expectation of return. Through this way of Jesus, stretch our hearts, minds, and lives into channels of Your Holy grace. Amen.
* Hymn #576: For the Healing of the Nations (vs. 1, 2, 4)
Announcements Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
Benediction Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
Pastor: May you be blessed with the courage to interrupt revenge with love.
People: May you be strengthened with a gratitude that freely shares with others.
Pastor: May you discover again and again the merciful embrace of the Holy One.
People: And may the love of God, empower you to help change the world with forgiveness.
Pastor: Blessings on us all! Amen and Amen!
Postlude: Trumpet Air Kayleen Yuda
Permissions
Call to Worship and Prayer of Invocation reprinted from A Good Measure: Service Prayers for the Seventh Sunday of Epiphany, by the Rev. Susan A. Blain.
Call to Offering, Offering Prayer, and Benediction are from A Good Measure: Service Prayers for the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany Year C, by the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins, Conference Minister of the Heartland Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Message of Love
Louise E. Stairs
Tune: © Lorenz Publishing Company
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
This Is the Day
Les Garrett, 1967 (vs. 1)
Traditional, alt (vs. 2-3)
Tune: THIS IS THE DAY
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
The Lord’s Prayer
Public Domain
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
Frederick William Faber, 1854
Tune: IN BABILONE
Dutch Melody
Arr. Julius Rontgen
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Grant Us Thy Peace
Contributors: Franklin Ritter, Robert Schumann
Tune © 1984 Lorenz Publishing Company
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
For the Healing of the Nations
Fred Kaan, 1965
Tune: WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Henry Purcell, c. 1680
Arr. Ernest Hawkins, 1842
Text: © 1968 Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Trumpet Air
Henry Purcell
Arr. Lani Smith
Tune: © 1970 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Dates to Remember
February 1 to April 30, 2025 Pastor Eric’s Sabbatical Leave. The Rev. Dr. Diane Weible is our Interim Pastor.
February 23, 2025 Annual Congregational Meeting, 11:30 AM, Sanctuary, after Worship Service in person or via Zoom (see The Weekly Chime (sent on February 18) for the Zoom meeting link).
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
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
Sabbatical Interim Pastor Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
Moderator Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader Nina Buchanan
Chapel Decorations Theone Albano & Jill Suzuki
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Eli Yamaki,
Mace Peng, Bob Smith
