Worship for January 18, 2026

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, January 18, 2026. 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: Morning Has Broken           Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                Rev. Eric S. Anderson

*Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 29:1-11)       Anne Sadayasu

Leader: We have seen the flames upon the mountain, leaping once again.
People: We have known the shaking of the earth, in wilderness and town.

Leader: We have experienced the howling wind stripping leaves and branches from the trees.
People: We have held our breath as the world cries, “Glory!”

Leader: Come now and worship the One enthroned above land and sea and sky.
People: We come to pray for strength and peace from the One who made heaven and  earth.

All: Let us worship God!

* Hymn #281: Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove (v. 1-3)

* Invocation: (based on Acts 10:34-43)                 Anne Sadayasu

You show no favor to one group of people or another, O God. Those who come to you find you waiting with love and grace. Receive our worship today in celebration of Jesus’ life and ministry, who brought the work of the Holy Spirit to the people of his time and to us. Bless us with Christ’s presence in this hour and in every hour. Forgive us our sins in his name. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: “Lovely Child, Holy Child” & “Mary Wore Three Links of Chain”
                  Holy Cross Men’s Trio

Time with the Children                       Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7                       Anne Sadayasu
Listen to me, O coastlands,
    pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
    while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
    in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
    in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, ‘You are my servant,
    Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’
But I said, ‘I have labored in vain,
    I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
    and my reward with my God.’

 And now the Lord says,
    who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
    and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
    and my God has become my strength—
he says,
‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
    to raise up the tribes of Jacob
    and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
    that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’

 Thus says the Lord,
    the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
    the slave of rulers,
‘Kings shall see and stand up,
    princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.’

John 1:29-42
The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter.

Sermon: The Invitation 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

* Hymn #522: I Love to Tell the Story (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering    Anne Sadayasu

God gave us Jesus as guide, friend, and Savior. Jesus, in turn, invites us to learn, to believe, and to follow. God’s great gift to us urges us to give in turn. 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: A Quiet Prayer                    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         Anne Sadayasu

We present these offerings to you, O God, at the invitation of Jesus, who called us to follow him. We follow in many ways, including these gifts with which we pray you will care for our neighbors and friends. Amen.

* Hymn #286: Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness (v. 1 -4)

Please be seated

Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Sing a New Song of Joy      Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

Mondays, 11:30 AM — Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com to sign up.

Fridays, 10 AM – Hand Bell Choir Rehearsal in Building of Faith’s meeting room

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.