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.
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.
Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, May 4, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship May 4, 2025
Third Sunday of Easter
Pacific Islander and Asian American Sunday
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.
Among fans, May the fourth is known as Star Wars Day. The service may include a few references to “May the force be with you.”
Prelude: Meditation on Let Us Break Bread Together Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 30) Cindy Debus
Leader: O God, you have lifted us up.
People: So empires of this galaxy will not enjoy our defeat.
Leader: In our most desperate hour we cried to you:
People: “Help us, O God! You are our only hope!”
Leader: Hearing our cries for help, you healed us;
People: Bringing us from Chaos, you restored our lives.
Leader: May we be as Jedi trained to feel emotions, understand them, and let them go.
People: For your anger, O God, lasts but a moment, while your graciousness lasts
a lifetime.
Leader: Weeping lingers for a night,
People: But joy comes with the morning.
Leader: With Hula from Hawai’i, Siva from Samoa,
People: Our spirits dance like Ewoks on Endor.
Leader: You have transformed our lives from mourning to joy.
People: May we give thanks, and praise God for ever and ever.
All: Let us worship God!
* Hymn #223: What Wondrous Love Is This (v. 1-3)
*Invocation: (the Divine Reminder from Konkokyo Church tradition in Japan; Kami is the most common Japanese name for God) Cindy Debus
Tenchi Kane No Kami – Divine Parent of the Universe –
Ikigami Konko Daijin – Divine Mediator –
Pray sincerely,
With all your heart.
Be one with Kami.
Kami’s blessings begin within
Hearts grateful and caring,
In harmony and joy.
Look to Kami always,
Now and forever,
On this very day, pray.
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem IYAA
Time with the Children
Scripture: Acts 9:1-20 Cindy Debus
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a visiona man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’
John 21:15-17
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.
Sermon: Instrument 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 Cindy Debus
In the community of the Chosen One, we do not tax our members. We look to our communal origins in which sharing possessions and resources was a core practice reflecting unity, generosity, and a belief in communal living. Believers sold their possessions and distributed the proceeds to those in need. In that tradition, let us now gather our offerings toward bringing balance to the universe, seeking care for all creatures of the Creator. 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: Meditation 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 Cindy Debus
E ke Akua o ka lani, O God of heaven, with joy, we witness the miracles that you continue to perform through the power of your Holy Spirit. As the Risen Christ calls us to feed his lambs and tend his sheep, may we be a faithful congregation sent to feed people who are hungry and show kindness to those in need. Use our tithes and gifts in miraculous ways for the sake of Master Jesus. Amen.
* Hymn #337: Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether (v. 1-3)
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
* Hymn #473: Blessed Assurance (v. 1-3)
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Elizabethan Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
The Call to Worship, Call to Offering, and Offertory Prayer were written by the Rev. Mitchell Young for PAAM Sunday. Michelle Kuruma of the Konkokyo Church of San Francisco provided the Invocation. Provided by PAAM; used by permission.
Meditation on Let Us Break Bread Together
John S. Dixon
Tune: © 2022 Lorenz Corporation
(admin. by Music Services)
All Rights Reserved.
ASCAP Text: © 2022 Lorenz Corporation
(admin. by Music Services)
All Rights Reserved.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
What Wondrous Love is This
Text by Joachim Neander, 1680
First published in Mercer’s Cluster, 1836
Tune WONDROUS LOVE in Southern Harmony, 1843
Harmony The New Century Hymnal, 1993
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Meditation
Richard A. Williamson
Tune: © 2023 Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
All Rights Reserved.
ASCAP Text: © 2023 Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
All Rights Reserved.
ASCAP
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether
Text by Percy Dearmer, 1925
© 1925 by Oxford University Press
Tune UNION SEMINARY by Harold Friedell, 1957
© 1957, 1985 by Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Blessed Assurance
Text by Fanny Crosby, 1873
Tune ASSURANCE by Phoebe P. Knapp, 1873
Public Domain
Elizabethan
Craig A. Penfield
Tune: © 2024 Lorenz Corporation
(Administered by Music Services)
All Rights Reserved. ASCAP
Text: © 2024 Lorenz Corporation
(Administered by Music Services)
All Rights Reserved. ASCAP
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Important Dates
Today—May 4, 2025 – Trustees Meeting after worship services
Mondays, 11:30 a.m. –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth (rnduponte07@gmail.com) to sign up.
Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m. Bible Study in person and via Zoom in the Pastor’s Study.
Wednesdays, 12 noon –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth (rnduponte07@gmail.com) to sign up.
Save the Date! Saturday, May 17th— Help is needed for our Service Day work from 8:30 to noon. We will be working primarily on cleaning the louvers and general dusting and tidying up in the sanctuary. If time permits, we will work on weeding around the campus. All ages are welcomed as there is an assortment of jobs to be done. Please join us in helping to beautify and maintain our campus!
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 Cindy Debus
Chapel Decorations Amy Shiroma, In Memory of Millie Uchima
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith, Eli Yamaki,
Mace Peng
Sunday School Teacher Gloria Kobayashi
Sunday School Aide Johanna Narruhn
Church Office Manager Pearl Momi Lyman
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.
