Worship for November 30, 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, November 30, 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: O Come, O Come Emmanuel         Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Moment of Concern

* Lighting of the Advent Candles    Mori family

First Advent candle.     Christian Albano

Family Member:   The Scriptures are filled with visions. Some prophets looked ahead to tragedy, and others to triumph. Isaiah envisioned a world unlike the one in which he lived, filled with sickness and war. “They shall beat their swords into plowshares,” he wrote, “and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” He never saw such a day. He hoped for it. We hope for such a day to come soon.

All Sing:

Share with us a wondrous seed
that will blossom in time of need.
The bloom of hope will sustain us here
as we await the blessed child of Mary.

Tune: JOSEPH LIEBER, JOSEPH MEIN 7.8.8.11.

Family Member:   With this first Advent candle, we kindle a light for hope. This light shines for those lost in shadow. This light shines for those oppressed in spirit. This light shines for those who can no longer imagine a better day. This light shines for hope.

Unison Prayer                 Christian Albano

Holy and Gracious God, restore the hopes of those who despair. Revive the fainting spirits, the suffering hearts. Reply to the near-silenced prayers so that all may see there is reason for hope. Feed our hope for love with love, in the name of the One who came to meet all hopes, Jesus Christ. Amen.

* Hymn #179: We Yearn, O Christ, for Wholeness (v. 1-3)

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise         Bell Choir

Time with the Children           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5  Christian Albano
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

 In days to come
    the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
    and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
    Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
    and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob,
    come, let us walk
    in the light of the Lord!

Romans 13:11-14
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Sermon: Hope Worth Hoping For     Rev. Eric S. Anderson                           

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Special Litany for Helani Congregational Church

Pastor: When we see ashes where there was once beauty,
People: God of hope, rebuild us in love.

Pastor: When we hear silence where there was once song,
People: God of hope, sing again through us.

Pastor: When our hearts are heavy and our strength feels small,
People: God of hope, lift us by your Spirit.

Pastor: When a church is wounded, the whole-body aches.
People: Let our shared prayers and gifts become healing balm.

Pastor: As we give, may we give from the heart; as we pray, may we believe in miracles.
All: O God of resurrection hope, rebuild your house at Helani and in every heart that seeks you. ʻĀmene.

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 #102: O How Shall I Receive You (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Christian Albano

Through many people over the centuries, God has offered hope to those who desperately needed a better day. And through many people over the centuries, God has fulfilled that hope through those who followed the Divine call. Let us maintain hope. Let us fulfill hope with our offerings. 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: Pastorale       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 who sees the future, accept these gifts. May they contribute to the peace, joy, and love of the world. Amen.

* Hymn #103: Watcher, Tell Us of the Night (v. 1-3)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: O Blessed Emmanuel         Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

Today, November 30 – Board of Stewardship and Mission meeting after Worship Service

The Giving Tree – Donations of canned/packaged food for The Food Basket and toiletry items for Hope Services may be placed under the Giving Tree through the end of the year.

Sunday, December 7, 1:00 PM – Christmas caroling: meet at Building of Faith to carpool, and return for supper.

Wednesday, December 10 – Deadline to order Christmas poinsettia plants ($17) for Christmas Eve service. Contact Cindy Debus.

Saturday, December 22, 4:00 PM – The Sing Along Messiah in the sanctuary.

Sundays, 8:30 AM – Holy Cross Singers Rehearsal in the Lounge

Mondays, 11:30 AM — 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          Christian Albano
Chapel Decorations   Hats Kamimura
Organist / Pianist     Kayleen Yuda   
Choir Director Bob Grove
Hand Bell Director        Anna Kennedy 
IYAA Choir Director Stuart Mori  
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

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.