Worship for April 12, 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, April 12, 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
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Roach, Guest Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                                                                                                         Rev. Jonathan Roach

* Call to Worship (based on 1 Peter 1:3-9)                                                     Nina Buchanan

Leader:         Blessed be our God who has given us Jesus Christ!
People:        By God’s mercy, we have been born to a living hope in Christ’s resurrection.

Leader:         This is an unfading, imperishable inheritance kept in heaven for us,
People:        God’s protection through faith for a salvation beyond time.

Leader:         You have not seen Christ, yet you love him and believe in him.
People:        In this faith we raise our voices in indescribable, glorious joy!

All:     Let us worship God!

* Hymn #570: We Shall Overcome (v. 1 – 4)

* Please join me in the Invocation (based on Psalm an16)                                                                                                        Nina Buchanan

Protect us, O God, for we seek our refuge in you. Though we might seek help in other places, you alone are our chosen portion. You hold our souls. Therefore our hearts are glad and our bodies rejoice in your security. You show us the path of life, and we give thanks forevermore. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Concertino for Clarinette in B                            Mace Peng and Kayleen Yuda

Time with the Children                                                                                   Rev. Jonathan Roach

Scripture:                                                                                                         Nina Buchanan

John 20:24-29

But Thomas (who was called the Twin^[a]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Sermon: Deep Wounds                                                                                                         Rev. Jonathan Roach

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer                                                                                                          Rev. Jonathan Roach

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. Amen.

* Hymn #553: There Is a Balm in Gilead (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                                                                                                        Nina Buchanan

Do not doubt, but believe, said Jesus. One of the ways we live our faith is with generosity toward our church, our neighbors, and the strangers on the far side of the world. 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: Andante                                                                                                 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                                                                                                          Nina Buchanan

You have given us your Spirit, O God, before we even asked. You have also give us the freedom to question and even to doubt. Accept these gifts offered from our faith, and may our faith grow as these offerings do good in the world by your guidance and grace. Amen.

* Hymn #423: Great Is Your Faithfulness (v. 1 – 3)

Please be seated

Announcements                                                                                                         Rev. Jonathan Roach

Benediction                                                                                                         Rev. Jonathan Roach

Postlude: Elizabethan Postlude                                                                                                 Kayleen Yuda

                                                                           

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IMPORTANT DATES

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.