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 Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST – CONGREGATIONAL
440 West Lanikaula Street, Hilo, Hawai`i
Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor
Candle Light Service
December 24, 2025
Prelude: The First Noel Kayleen Yuda
Opening Carol #135: O Come All Ye Faithful (v. 1-4)
Lighting of the Christ Candle Nakamoto Family
Family Member: The night has come! A child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The night has come, the child has arrived, and we have gathered to sing the praise of Jesus.
All Sing:
To a stable, hard and bare,
let us journey to stand and stare,
listening to a mother’s prayer,
as Christ is born, the blessed child of Mary.
Tune: JOSEPH LIEBER, JOSEPH MEIN 7.8.8.11.
Family Member: During the Advent season, we have lit four candles, each one representing a grace we seek in the Christ child. Tonight we light them again: a candle shining for Hope. A candle shining for Peace. A candle shining for Joy. A candle shining for Love. Jesus was born to bring these to us, and much more: Forgiveness. Power. Justice. Guidance. Inspiration. Righteousness. Companionship. Faith. God with us. For all this and in celebration of much more, we light this central candle for Christ.
Unison Prayer: We sing to you with songs both old and new, O God, in celebration of your salvation. We proclaim your greatness, shining like the stars in the heavens. We proclaim your strength, standing like the mountains. We proclaim your splendor, crashing like the spray upon the shore. And we proclaim your tender mercy, coming to us in the child of Bethlehem, you power made perfect in weakness. Increase our joy tonight as we worship you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Service of Lessons and Carols
Please remain seated while singing these carols
Anthem: “All on a Christmas Morning”/”Ah, Bleak and Chill the Wintry Wind”
Holy Cross Singers
First Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Lorraine Davis
Carol #116: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (v. 1-2)
Second Lesson: Luke 1:26-35, 38 Eli Yamaki
Carol #124: Away in a Manger (v. 1-2)
Third Lesson: Luke 2:1, 3-7 Joyce Nakamoto
Anthem: This Child Will Make a Joyful Morning Rebekah Anderson
and Eric Anderson
Fourth Lesson: Luke 2:8-16 Momi Lyman
Carol #144: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (v. 1-2)
Fifth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12 Stefan Tanouye
Carol #139: The First Nowell (v. 1-3)
Sixth Lesson: John 1:1-5, 14 John Narruhn
Carol #132: Joy to the World
Meditation Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Christmas Prayer Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Service of Candlelight
Carol #134: Silent Night (v. 1-3)
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Joy to the World/Hallelujah Kayleen Yuda
Permissions
The First Noel
John Innes
Tune: (c) 1979 Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
O Come All Ye Faithful
Text: Latin attrib. to John Francis Wade, 18th cent.
Trans. by Frederick Oakeley, 1841
Tune ADESTE FIDELES 18th cent. English melody
Public Domain
All On a Christmas Morning
Ah, Bleak and Chill the Wintry Wind
from The Alfred Burt Carols Set I
Text by Bates G. Burt & Wihla Hutson
Music by Alfred S. Burt
© 1957 Shawnee Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Text from Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, 1710
Trans. by John Mason Neale, 1852
Tune VENI EMMANUEL, 15th cent. French melody
Public Domain
Away in a Manger
Text Anon., 1885
Tune MULLER attrib. to James R. Murray, 1887
Public Domain
This Child Will Make a Joyful Morning
Text and Tune by Eric S. Anderson
© 2025 by Eric S. Anderson
Streamed by permission
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Text by Charles Wesley, 1739
Tune MENDELSSOHN by Felix Mendelssohn, 1840
Public Domain
The First Nowell
Trad. English text
Tune THE FIRST NOWELL trad. English melody
Public Domain
Joy to the World!
Text by Isaac Watts, 1719
Tune ANTIOCH by Lowell Mason, 1836
Public Domain
Silent Night
Text by Joseph Mohr, 1818
Trans. by John F. Young, 1863
Tune STILLE NACHT by Franz Gruber, 1818
Public Domain
Joy to the World/Hallelujah Chorus, arr. Albin Whitworth
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company
Text: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company,
assigned to Lorenz Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Pastor Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator Stefan Tanouye
Choir Director Bob Grove
Guest vocalist Rebekah Anderson
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Eli Yamaki
Ruth Niino-DuPonte, Bob Smith
Chapel Decorations
Mahalo nui to the many members and friends who donated the Poinsettias for use during the Christmas season. You may take your flowers home after the Christmas Eve candle light service.
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.
