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, January 4, 2026. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Service of Worship January 4, 2026
Second Sunday after Christmas Day
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: The Master Hath Come Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Eric S. Anderson
* Call to Worship: (based on Sirach 24:1-12) Lorraine Davis
Leader: We hear the voice of Wisdom proclaiming her glory.
People: She came from the mouth of the Most High and covered the earth like a mist.
Leader: Over the waves of the sea, over the mountains of the earth,
People: Over every people and every nation Wisdom holds sway.
Leader: Among all the earth she sought a resting place. Where should she abide?
People: May Wisdom abide in us, taking root and blossoming in glory.
All: Let us worship God!
* Hymn #143: On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (v. 1-3)
* Invocation (based on Psalm 147:12-20) Lorraine Davis
We praise you, O God, from the seashores and the summits, for you strengthen our communities, you bless our keiki. You command the snow to fall, the wind to blow, and the sun to shine. You declare your word to us, your guidance to our hearts. Embrace us in this time of worship, as we praise your name. Amen.
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: IYAA
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Lorraine Davis
For thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel.’
See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
those with child and those in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.’
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
and they shall never languish again.
Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,
says the Lord.
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Sermon: A Little Wisdom; A Lot of Wisdom 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 Lorraine Davis
In God’s eyes, Wisdom means coming to Earth, taking on human form, and giving all for the life of humanity. What is Wisdom to us? It is loving our family and neighbors; it is raising them up if they fall. Our gifts today contribute to our life of Wisdom. 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 Streams of Babylon 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 Lorraine Davis
In your wisdom you sent us Jesus, O God, a gift beyond imagining. In our wisdom we offer these gifts, and pray that they might lift up those who have been cast down in our community and in other communities around the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
* Hymn #345: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (v. 1-4)
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
* Hymn #55: Rejoice, You Pure in Heart (v. 1 -5)
Please be seated
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: March of the King Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions
The Master Hath Come
Lani Smith
Tune: © 1984 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
On Christmas Night All Christians Sing
Text Trad. English carol
Public Domain
Tune SUSSEX CAROL English trad. Melody
Harm. Jonathan McNair, 1993
© 1991 the Pilgrim Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
The Streams of Babylon
Wihla Hutson
Tune: © 1979 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Text 4th century; trans. by Gerard Moultrie, 1864
Tune PICARDY 17th century French carol
Harmony by Ralph Vaughn Williams, 1906
Public Domain
Rejoice, You Pure in Heart
Text by Edward H. Plumptre, 1865
Public Domain
Tune MARION by Arthur H. Messiter, 1883
Public Domain
March of the King
Carl Simone
Tune: © 1984 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Important Dates
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).
Sundays, 8:30 a.m. and Thursdays, 4:00 p.m. Hilo Cross Singers’ Rehearsal in the Lounge.
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.
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 Lorraine Davis
Chapel Decoration Laura Ota
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,
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.
