Worship for June 29, 2025

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, June 29, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude: I Love to Tell the Story        Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                                                    Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Leader:   When Elijah’s ministry drew to its end, he tried to tell his friend to stay
                  behind.
People:  His friend stayed by his side, to show his love and devotion.

Leader:   Elijah asked if there was anything he wanted.
People:  He asked for a double portion of the spirit that had guided his friend.

Leader:   In the wonders of whirlwind and fire, something became clear:
People:  God’s Spirit had been poured out upon them both.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #586: Come to Tend God’s Garden (v. 1-3)

Time with the Children                       Rev Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Galatians 5:1, 13-25          Stefan Tanouye
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy,drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Luke 9:51-62
 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

Sermon: No Fire                                      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 #580: O Kou Aloha No (The Queen’s Prayer) (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering                                        Stefan Tanouye

The fruits of the Spirit are easy to see, if not easy to do. One of them is generosity, sharing what we have so that others may thrive. Let us live the by the Spirit. Let us give to our God. 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: Offertory on Azmon          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                                 Stefan Tanouye

You have summoned us to give by your Holy Spirit, O God, and so we have presented these offerings. Accept them, we pray, so that your love and grace flow more freely in the world through them and through us. Amen.

Benediction                                              Rev Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Procession for Praise         Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

Dream of Peace
by Eric Anderson. (c) 2022
by Eric Anderson
Streamed by permission.

Offertory On Azmon
Carl Botthelf Glaser
Edward Broughtton
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

God the Omnipotent!
Text v. 1-2 by Henry F Chorley, 1842
Text v. 3-4 by John Ellerton, 1870
Public Domain
Tune RUSSIAN HYMN by Alexis F Lvov, 1833
Public Domain

Procession for Praise
George Blake
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

IMPORTANT DATES

Sunday, June 29—Sabbatical presentation with Pastor Eric, after worship, includes potluck. Everyone is invited.

Tuesday, July 1—Classical guitar concert in the sanctuary featuring William Jenks. A free-will offering will be received. Starts at 7 p.m., everyone is welcome to attend.

Mondays, 11:30 a.m. –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com to sign up.
 
Wednesdays, 5 p.m. Bible Study in Pastor’s Study and via Zoom. The meeting link will be in the Weekly Chime.

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            Stefan Tanouye
Chapel Decorations    Mark Tanouye
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, Woody Kita, 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.