Worship for August 23, 2026

https://youtube.com/live/YRrooYOZ-7A?feature=share

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, August 23, 2026. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Prelude: Suite in D Minor                    Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Psalm 124)                Ming Peng

Leader: If the LORD had not been for us – and let us say it together:
People: If the LORD had not been for us, we would have been swept away in the flood.

Leader: The torrent would have gone over us.
People: We would have flailed in the raging waters.

Leader: We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the hunters.
People: Like a freed bird we sing our thanks and our praise to God.

All:         Let us worship God!

* Hymn #309: We Are Your People (v. 1 – 6)

* Invocation (based on Psalm 138)  Ming Peng

We thank you, O God, because you heard our prayers and you answered them in the midst of the storm. You increased our strength of soul. Fulfill your purposes for us, for your steadfast love endures forever, and we are the work of your hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: My Shepherd Will Supply My Need        Marlise Ahuna

Time with the Children                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:                           Ming Peng

Romans 12:1-8

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Matthew 16:13-20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Sermon: This Age or Any Other         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. Amen.

* Hymn #448: Take My Life, God, Let It Be (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering                Ming Peng

In each day we seek to live our calling as Jesus’ followers, and to manifest God’s love in the world. We do that as individuals, and we do it together as a church through our offerings. 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: Sylvine           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         Ming Peng

We bring these gifts to you, O God, in thanksgiving for your help to us in the troubles of our lives. We bring these gifts to you, O God, so that they may aid others in the troubles of their lives. Amen.

* Hymn #535: O Holy God, Whose Gracious Power (v. 1 – 4)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Allegro Organ Concerto #15                   Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Today, August 23 – Church Picnic after Worship Service
Saturday, September 19 – Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Lili`uokalani Gardens, registration at 7:30 AM; walk or donate a pledge to someone walking on behalf of our church (contact Nina or Anne)

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 (see the link in our e-newsletter The Weekly Chime)
Interested in pickleball? Contact Connie at 808-936-7534 or Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com

Other Faith Groups that meet at Church of the Holy Cross

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.