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, December 7, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship December 7, 2025
Second Sunday of Advent
Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Please note that audio and video of this service are being live streamed on the Internet and will be recorded. The right rear section of the sanctuary will not be captured by any cameras. Please be aware that in other sections you may be visible at times.
Prelude: In the Bleak Mid-Winter Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moment of Concern
* Lighting of the Advent Candles Roach family
Second Advent candle Bob Smith
Roach Family Member: What does a day of peace look like? To Isaiah, it was predators and prey sharing a home. It was a mountain on which nobody hurt or destroyed. To the Apostle Paul, it was a welcome of new people into a community united in joy and peace, believing in the love of Jesus Christ. To John the Baptist, it was a straight road and a new way of living, begun in repentance and continued in the Holy Spirit. What does peace look like to us?
All Sing:
When the wars of nations cease,
when the captives will find release,
we will welcome the Prince of Peace,
the babe who is the blessed child of Mary.
Tune: JOSEPH LIEBER, JOSEPH MEIN 7.8.8.11.
Family Member: In the first Advent candle, we lit a light for hope. In the second Advent candle, we kindle a light for peace. This light shines for all beneath the shadow of violence. This light shines for all those living in fear. This light shines for a world that is desperate for a true and lasting peace, one embracing every human soul. This light shines for Peace.
Unison prayer
Holy and Gracious God, we are burdened with conflicts. Some arise within: We are torn between obligations, torn between desires, and yes, sometimes torn between temptations. Some arise without: when harsh words and even violence come to our homes, to our communities, to our neighbors. We are burdened with conflicts, O God, so bring us the wisdom to foster your peace, the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that will make a holy mountain where nobody hurts or destroys. Let the earth be as full of your knowledge, O God, as the waters cover the sea. Amen.
* Hymn #108: Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old (v. 1-4)
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: Kot Epwe Ning Non Nang (Glory to God in Heaven) IYAA
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10 Bob Smith
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples;
the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
Matthew 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.”’
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
Sermon: Towards Peace 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 Bob Smith
Today we dedicate our gifts to God, both those we have brought today or sent this week, but those we intend to give in the year to come. We have thought. We have prayed. We have sought God’s will. We have decided, and so we ask God to bless our choices. 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: The Quiet Carol 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 Bob Smith
Before you are the fulfillment of promises we have made to you for this year, O God, fulfillment in dollars and cents. Before you as well are the promises we make for the year ahead, promises again of dollars and cents, but also of the heart, the mind, and the will. Bless promise and fulfillment, we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
* Hymn #116: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (v. 1-2, 6-7)
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
* Hymn #115: The Baptist Shouts on Jordan’s Shore (v. 1-3, 6)
Please be seated
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Shout the Glad Tidings Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
John Innes
© 1989 Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Advent Liturgy
Text by Eric S. Anderson, 2019
Tune JOSEPH LIEBER, JOSEPH MEIN, 15th cent. German carol
Public Domain
Used by permission
Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old
Text by Joy F. Patterson, 1982
© 1982 The Hymn Society (admin. Hope Publishing Co.)
Tune JUDAS AND MARY by Sydney Carter, 1964
© 1964 Stainer & Bell Ltd. (admin. Hope Publishing Co.)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Kot Epwe Ning Non Nang (Glory to God in Heaven)
Trad. Chuukese hymn
Public Domain
The Quiet Carol
Ellen Jane Lorenz
Tune: © 1982 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Text: © 1982 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Text from Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, 1710
Trans. by John Mason Neale, 1851
Public Domain
Tune VENI EMMANUEL, 15th cent. French melody
Arr. by Thomas Helmore, 1854
Public Domain
The Baptist Shouts on Jordan’s Shore
Text by Charles Coffin, 1736
Trans. The New Century Hymnal, 1993
Tune WINCHESTER NEW, first pub. 1690
Used by permission of the Pilgrim Press
Shout the Glad Tidings
Carl Simone, Charles Avison
Tune: © 1989 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Important Dates
Today, December 7, 1 PM – Christmas caroling; meet at the Building of Faith to carpool, and return for supper. Also, please submit your pledge cards as part of Loyalty Sunday, and donations to the Christmas Fund are being dedicated.
Friday, Dec 12, 6 PM – Community Sing in the sanctuary
Friday, Dec 19, 6 PM – Community Concert in the sanctuary
Saturday, Dec 20, 4 PM – Sing Along Messiah in the sanctuary
Sunday, Dec 21, 10 AM – Christmas Pageant during Worship Service
Wednesday, Dec 24, 7 PM – Christmas Eve 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.
Christmas Poinsettias – Please sign up by December 10th at $17 each. Contact Cindy
Debus at 808-895-4011 if you have questions.
Chapel Decorations for 2026 – Please contact Cindy Debus at 808-895-4011 if you are able to grace our Sunday services with a donated floral arrangement for the chancel area.
Mondays, 11:30 a.m. –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth (rnduponte07@gmail.com) to sign up.
Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m. Bible Study in person and via Zoom in the Pastor’s Study (see the Weekly Chime for Zoom meeting link).
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 Bob Grove
Advent Candle Lighting The Roach Family
Chapel Decoration Beverly Dodo
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Choir Director Bob Grove
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
IYAA Music Director Stuart Mori
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith, Gloria Kobayashi
Mace Peng, Woody Kita, Cindy Debus
Streaming Sound Director 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.
