Worship for April 19, 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 19, 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: Berceuse-James Denton                                                                                                                           Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                                                                                 Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 116:12-19)                                    Anne Sadayasu

Leader:         What shall we return to the LORD for all we have received?
People:        Let us lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD!

Leader:         Let us pay our vows to the LORD in the presence of all people.
People:        Let us declare that the LORD holds us in life and in death.

Leader:         Let us offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving in the presence of all people!
People:        Here in God’s house we will gather, sing, and pray.

All:                 Let us worship God!

* Hymn #255: Jesus, Sovereign, Savior (v. 1 – 3)

* Invocation (based on 1 Peter 1:17-23)                                            Anne Sadayasu

We know the futility of much of what we do, O God. We, like those around us, pursue comforts and perishable things. Even silver and gold will eventually succumb to time. Strengthen our trust and confidence in you today, O God, for in the resurrection of Jesus we see that there is life greater than what we have experienced or imagined. Make us new again in this time of worship. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: O Dearest Lord, Thy Sacred Head; Were You There Len Miyazano
Bob Grove
Eric Anderson

Time with the Children                                                             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Acts 2:14a, 36-41                                                                 Anne Sadayasu

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,

“Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”

And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,

and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,

but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.

Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”

He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.

But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.

Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.

Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”

Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!

Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?”

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.

But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight.

They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.

They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”

Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Sermon: The Moment of Recognition                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer                                                                              Rev. Eric S. Anderson

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 #343: Jesus Took the Bread (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering                                                                                      Anne Sadayasu

We say that Jesus gave us his life, and he did. He gave us his life when he used it to teach and heal. He gave us his life when he died on the cross. He gave us his life when he rose and lived again. In response to such a gift, let us give as well. 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: Aria-Leonardo Vinci                                                               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 rejoice in the life of Jesus given for us, O God. We honor that life with these gifts of our own, for the further life of the world. Amen.

* Hymn #253: Yours Is the Glory, Resurrected One! (v. 1 – 3 Eng.)

Please be seated

Announcements                                                                        Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                                                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: March from Two Oratorios                                                   Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

Berceuse
James Denton
© 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Jesus, Sovereign, Savior
Text by Patrick M. Kirkland
Public Domain
Tune KING’S WESTON by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1925
Public Domain

O Dearest Lord, Thy Sacred Head
Were You There
Arr. by David N. Johnson, 1975
© 1975 Augsburg Publishing House
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Jesus Took the Bread
Text by Ruth Duck, 1982
Tune NEW HOPE by Ruth Duck, 1982
Arr. by Randall Sensmeier, 1982
Copyright © 1992 G.I.A. Publications, Inc.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Aria
Contributors: George Blake, Leonardo Vinci
© 1986 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. by Music Services)

Yours Is the Glory, Resurrected One!
Text by Edmond L. Budry, 1904
Trans. New Century Hymnal, 1993
© 1993 the Pilgrim Press
Tune JUDAS MACCABEUS by G. F. Handel, 1751
Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

March from Occasional Oratorio
Instrumental|
Contributors: Janet Linker, G F Handel
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

IMPORTANT DATES

Today, April 19 – Board of Deacons Meeting after worship service

Sundays, 8:30 a.m. – Holy Cross Singers Rehearsal in the Lounge
Mondays, 11:30 a.m. — Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
                                                Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com to sign up
Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. – One Song from Church of the Holy Cross streamed live
Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m. – Bible Study in person, in Pastor’s Study or via Zoom
Fridays, 10:00 a.m. – Bell Choir Rehearsal in the Building of Faith 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.