Worship for May 18, 2025

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, May 18, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship May 18, 2025
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Mental Health Sunday
Sunday School Recognition Sunday

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 148)                                      Ming Peng

Leader:   Praise the LORD from the earth and from the depths of the seas!
People:  Praise the LORD, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind!

Leader:   Mountains and hills, fruit trees and forest trees, creatures of the forest and
                  pasture,
People:  People of all ages, all tongues, all locations: Praise the LORD of hosts!

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #17: To You, O God, All Creatures Sing (v. 1-4)

* Invocation: (based on Revelation 21:1-6)          Ming Peng

Gracious God, we yearn for a new heaven and a new earth, a holy city in which you dwell among us in ways that we cannot mistake, in ways that we will not resist. Wipe the tears from our eyes, set need and pain aside. Make all things new. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD  

Anthem: Who Are the People of Spirit        Eric Anderson

Time with the Children          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Recognition of Teachers and Students   Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 Ming Peng

Now the apostles and the believerswho were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.” And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’

John 13:31-35 When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Sermon: Welcome          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Call to Offering                Ming Peng

Simon Peter brought the gift of the Good News to people he did not believe could receive it. By God’s grace, they could. We bring our gifts not knowing how they will change the world around us. By God’s grace, this offering will make the world a better place. 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: Ayre                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         Ming Peng

God of the open door and the open heart, freely accept the gifts of your people. By them may we invite, welcome, and include all the people you call to be with us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

* Hymn #181: You Are Salt for the Earth, O People (v. 1-4)

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions

Dialogue
Louis N. Clerambault
Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

To You, O God, All Creatures Sing
Text by St. Francis of Assisi, 1225
Adapt. by Miriam Therese Winter, 1993
© 1993 Medical Mission Sisters
Streamed by permission of the Medical Mission Sisters
Tune LASST UNS ERFREUEN first published 1623
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Who Are the People of Spirit
Eric Anderson
Streamed by permission of the author

Rigaudon
Andre Campra
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Important Dates

Sunday, May 25^th— Honoring Our Graduates

Bible Study – Tuesdays, 3 p.m. via Zoom–The meeting link will be in the Weekly Chime;  Wednesdays, 5 p.m. in Pastor’s Study.

Wednesdays, 12 noon –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com 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
Moderator             Stefan Tanouye
Vice Moderator Lorraine Davis
Lay Reader            Ming Peng
Chapel Decorations    Ann Kanahele
Organist / Pianist     Kayleen Yuda   
Hand Bell Director        Anna Kennedy   
Projected Imagery        Sue Smith
Live Stream Director         Ruth Niino-DuPonte. Bob Smith 
Videographers    Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith, Eli Yamaki,
            Mace Peng, Cindy Debus
Sound Engineer Ben Yamaki
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.