Worship for August 10, 2025

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, August 10, 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

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Leader:   Happy are those whose God is the LORD,
People:  Happy are those whom God has chosen.

Leader:   The LORD sees all humankind, all the inhabitants of the earth.
People:  Nations are not saved by armies, nor warriors by strength.

Leader:   The LORD delivers their soul from death and keeps them alive in famine.
People:  Our souls wait for the LORD, for God is our help and shield.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #112: Keep Awake, Be Always Ready (v. 1-2)

We trust in you, O God. You are our hope. We count on you for the fulfillment of our yearnings, for the future in which all live content and free. We look forward to a community whose foundations, architect, and builder are all you, our God. Count our faith to us as righteousness, we pray, and bring us to the heavenly homeland you have prepared through Jesus Christ. Amen.

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: He Leadeth Me           Kayleen Yuda

Time with the Children           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20    Lorraine Davis
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

 Hear the word of the Lord,
    you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
    says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams
    and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
    or of lambs, or of goats.

 When you come to appear before me,
    who asked this from your hand?
    Trample my courts no more;
bringing offerings is futile;
    incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation—
    I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
Your new moons and your appointed festivals
    my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me,
    I am weary of bearing them.
When you stretch out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove the evil of your doings
    from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
    learn to do good;
seek justice,
    rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
    plead for the widow.

Come now, let us argue it out,
    says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land;
but if you refuse and rebel,
    you shall be devoured by the sword;
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Luke 12:32-40
 ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 ‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

 ‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’

Sermon: Heart for the Vulnerable (Or: It’s All About the Widows and Orphans)
                                                Rev. Eric S. Anderson

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer

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 #582: O God of Earth and Altar (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Lorraine Davis

We are of more worth than birds in the field, of more value than flowers that bloom. God cares for us, so let us put aside our anxious fears. Let us care for one another in today’s offering. 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: Et Incarnatus           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          Lorraine Davis

God of the ravens, God of the lilies, accept the gifts of your grateful people, whom you have fed and clothed as your children. May these offerings build up your realm in bodies, minds, and souls. Amen.

* Hymn #573: Lead On Eternal Sovereign (v. 1-3)

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Postlude         Kayleen Yuda

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesdays, 5 PM – Bible Study in Pastor’s Study and via Zoom (The meeting link and Bible references will be in the Weekly Chime). Special Bible Study sessions will be held from Sept 17 – Oct 15 as part of our Open & Affirming (ONA) discussion (contact Rev Dr Jonathan Roach.)

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            Lorraine Davis
Chapel Decorations    Barbara Iwami , Bill and Nancy Chen
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,
            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.