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, March 16, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship March 16, 2025
Second Sunday in Lent
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: The Penitent Heart Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
* Call to Worship: Anne Sadayasu
Leader: The call of the Holy One has brought us together.
People: We have been called to pray and to praise.
Leader: We are called to worship and to holy wonder.
People: May the light of Love burn brightly in us.
Leader: May it transfigure and transform our hearts and minds.
People: May it become a beacon of hope for others.
* Hymn # #18: Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer (vs. 1-3)
* Invocation Anne Sadayasu
God of mountaintops and valleys and everywhere in between, we thank you for meeting us where we are. We thank you also for leading us to this place of prayer and renewal. Enlighten our minds, radiate our hearts, and ready us for Your alive Word of Love. Let it shine in and through us, lighting a path of grace, hope, and joy. May the same transfiguring power, shown forth in Jesus Christ, also shine in us for the good of the world. Amen.
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: Make Me A Channel of Your Peace Nina Buchanan, soloist
Kayleen Yuda, pianist
Time with the Children Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
Scripture: Psalm 27 Anne Sadayasu
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devourme,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Luke 9:28-36
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Luke 9:37-43a
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God
Sermon: Out of the Cloud Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
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 #183: Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain (vs. 1-3)
Call to Offering Anne Sadayasu
The Lord is our light and salvation, we have no one to fear. From that place of abundant grace and light we come before God with deep gratitude. And in that spirit, we come forward with our gifts of open hearts, asking that they be blessed and used to spread light and love to all the corners of the world.
Offertory: Father, We Praise Thee 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 Anne Sadayasu
O Spirit of Life, shine on us again and again that we may become the blessing you intend. Keep awakening us to Your holy mystery and Your sacred call. Bless these gifts we bring so that Your energy of love may be shared with others and offer the light of a new beginning. By this, and more than we can name, continue to transfigure us and the world. Amen.
* Hymn #182: We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding (vs. 1-3)
Announcements Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
Benediction Rev. Dr. Diane Weible
May the Holy radiance of transfiguration continually light the wick of your life.
May it be a light that bears joy and hope and love.
May the voice of Jesus enter not only your ears but also your heart.
And may that voice shape your voice for the good of the world.
Blessings on you all! Amen and Amen.
Postlude: Praise Him! Praise Him! Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions:
Worship elements from On the Mountain to Pray: Service Prayers for Transfiguration Sunday Year C was written by the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins, Conference Minister of the Heartland Conference of the United Church of Christ.
The Penitent Heart
Franklin Ritter
Tune: © 1991 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer
William Williams, 1745
Vs.. 1, transl. Peter Williams, 1771
Vs. 2-3, transl. William Williams, 1772
Tune: CWM RHONDDA
John Hughes, 1907
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Make Me A Channel of Your Peace
Sebastian Temple
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain
Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1991
Tune: SILVER SPRING
Carl F. Schalk, 1991
Alternate tune: IRBY
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Father We Praise Thee
Benton Price
Tune: © 1968 Lorenz Publishing Company
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding
Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1988
Text © 1988, Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Robert Hughes
© Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of
The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Special Announcement
Easter lily sign up for Easter Sunday chapel decorations is located in the breezeway and are available for $12.99 per plant. Please issue checks to Cynthia Debus; last day to order is Sunday, March 23rd.
Important Dates
Today, March 16 – Council Meeting after worship in the lounge
Mondays, 11:30 a.m. –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth 808-938-3858 to sign up.
Wednesdays, 5-6:30 p.m. – Lenten Conversation Series in the Meeting Room (please see PDF file near the top of this page for more details).
Wednesdays, 12 noon –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth 808-938-3858 to sign up.
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 Anne Sadayasu
Chapel Decorations Cynthia Debus
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Hymn Leader Chandra Oshima
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Eli Yamaki,
Mace Peng, Bob Smith
Sunday School Teacher Gloria Kobayashi
Sunday School Aide Johanna Narruhn
Church Office Manager Pearl Momi Lyman
