Worship for August 31, 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, August 31, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship August 31, 2025
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 112)  Cindy Debus

Leader:   Happy are those who honor the LORD and delight in God’s commandments.
People:  They rise in darkness as a light for the upright. They are gracious, merciful, and righteous.

Leader:   May all be well with those who act with generosity and justice.
People:  May the righteous be remembered forever!

Leader:   They have given to the poor, their names are spoken in honor.
People:  The hearts of the righteous are steady; they will not be afraid, for they are secure in the LORD.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #454: Lord, I Want To Be a Christian (v. 1-4)

* Invocation: (Psalm 81:1, 10-16)    Cindy Debus

We sing aloud to you, O God our strength. We raise our voices to the God of Creation. We know that we falter and fail in our faith. We do not bridle our stubborn hearts, and it works out badly for us time and again. Help us to listen to you, to walk in your ways. Feed us on the finest wheat of your grace, and the sweet honey of your love. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Tell Us A Story           Eric Anderson

Time with the Children           Rev. Eric Anderson

Scripture: Proverbs 25:6-7     Cindy Debus
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
    or stand in the place of the great;
for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here’,
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

Luke 14:1, 7-14
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. ‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’

He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’

Sermon: Pride at Home Rev. Eric Anderson

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer              Rev. Eric 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 #504: You Walk along Our Shoreline (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Cindy Debus

God’s people need your help. Some are hungry in body, some are hungry in spirit. When we pool our gifts, we can bring what God has given us to their aid. 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:                           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

Accept these gifts, O God, which even gathered together cannot meet the world’s need. Accept these gifts and let your power magnify their influence for good and for grace. Amen.

* Hymn #539: Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant? (v. 1-6)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric Anderson

PERMISSIONS

Lord, I Want To Be a Christian
Text: African-American spiritual
Public Domain
Tune I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN, African-American spiritual
Arr. by Joyce Finch Johnson, 1992
© The Pilgrim Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Tell Us A Story
Written by Eric Anderson
Streamed by permission of Eric Anderson

You Walk along Our Shoreline
Text by Sylvia G. Dunstan, 1984
© 1991 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc.
Tune SALLEY GARDENS trad. Irish melody
Arr. The New Century Hymnal, 1994
© 1993 The Pilgrim Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant?
Text by Richard Gillard, 1977
© 1977 Universal Music,
Brentwood Benson Publishing
Tune SERVANT SONG by Richard Gillard, 1977
© 1977 Brentwood Benson Publishing
Streamed by permission CCLI License #1595965

IMPORTANT DATES

Saturday, Sept 20: Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Lili`uokalani Gardens, 8:00 AM. Come and join as a walking participant, or donate to our church’s walking group (on-line, or by check/cash to a walker.)

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          Cindy Debus 
Chapel Decorations   Carol Morioka
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.