Worship for September 7, 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.

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, September 7, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship September 7, 2025
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude: Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart  Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 1)        Christian Albano

Leader:   Happiness does not come from following the ways of the wicked.
People:  May we keep from the path that sinners tread.

Leader:   A satisfied soul reflects on the law of the LORD and finds there its delight.
People:  The ways of God feed our spirits like water feeds the roots of the trees.

Leader:   The wicked will bow their heads to the judgment of the LORD,
People:  The LORD watches over the way of the righteous and brings them peace.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #455: I Am Yours, O Lord (v. 1-4)

* Invocation (Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18)           Christian Albano

You have known us and searched us, O God, from when we rise each dawn to when we lie down each night. You have watched us follow our path; you know all our ways. Such knowledge is too great for us. We cannot attain it. We, your wonderfully made creations, praise you in this time of worship, for in each moment and in each day, we are still with you. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem:                              IYAA

Time with the Children          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-21    Christian Albano
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith towards the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.

For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Luke 14:25-33
Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Sermon: Consider           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                Christian Albano

Jesus asks a great deal of us, and leaves it to us to decide whether and how to give it. Jesus asks your help today for those who need the assurance of our collective love and care. Let us demonstrate that we are a faithful part of the Body of Christ. 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: Kedron           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         Christian Albano

O God of Jesus, who gave all, receive these gifts from your Church. May we lift hearts and souls; may we meet the hungers of body and spirit, through these offerings and your grace. Amen.

Hymn #336: Here, O My Lord, I See You Face to Face (v. 1-3)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Trumpet Dialogue Professional Kayleen Yuda

Permissions

Important Dates

Today, September 7 – Board of Trustees meeting after Worship Service in the Lounge

Month of September – Foodland’s Give Aloha — donate to Church of the Holy Cross at any of your local Foodland or Sack N Save

September 20, Sunday – Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Lili`uokalani Gardens, 8:00 AM. Please join us as walkers, or donate to our church’s group of walkers.

Mondays, 11:30 a.m. –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth (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
Lay Reader            Christian Albano
Chapel Decoration      Joyce Nakamoto
Organist      Kayleen Yuda        
Hand Bell Director        Anna Kennedy   
IYAA Music Director Stuart Mori
Projected Imagery        Sue Smith
Web Master          Ruth Niino-DuPonte  
Videographers    Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith,
            Mace Peng, Woody Kita, Cindy Debus
Streaming Sound Director 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.