Service of Worship September 13, 2026
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
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: Parable Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome: Rev. Eric S. Anderson
* Call to Worship (based on Psalm 114) Ming Peng
Leader: When Israel went out from Egypt, when the children of Jacob fled from slavery,
People: God came to dwell among the people descended from Israel.
Leader: The waters drew back from the Red Sea and from the Jordan River.
People: The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
Leader: Tremble, O Earth, at the presence of the LORD your maker.
People: God turns the rock into a pool of water, hard stone into a spring.
All: Let us worship God!
* Hymn #506: What a Friend We Have in Jesus (v. 1 – 3)
* Invocation (based on Psalm 103:1-13) Ming Peng
As you taught Moses, teach us, O God, for we trust both in your redemption and in your justice for all. We rejoice in your mercy and grace, your patience and steadfast love for us. Take away the guilt of our mistakes and misdeeds, and accept our thanks and praise in this time of worship. Amen.
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem: Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart Kayleen Yuda
Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Scripture: Ming Peng
Romans 14:1-12
Welcome those who are weak in faith but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat, for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on slaves of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it for the Lord. Also those who eat, eat for the Lord, since they give thanks to God, while those who abstain, abstain for the Lord and give thanks to God.
For we do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.”
So then, each one of us will be held accountable.
Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Sermon: Why Can’t I Judge? 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 #496: Ekolu Mea Nui (v. 1-2)
Call to Offering Ming Peng
God has asked us to be generous to one another as we consider our neighbors’ motives for their mistakes – and granted us a loving eye in considering our mistakes. Let us extend that generosity to sharing our resources with those who need our support to find health in body, mind, and spirit. 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: Canzonette 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
You have given us so much mercy, O God, beginning with our birth. You promise us mercy beyond the span of our earthly days. May these gifts contribute to the grace you extend to our neighbors near and far, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
* Hymn #504: You Walk along Our Shoreline (v. 1 – 3)
Please be seated
Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Fanfare March Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
PERMISSIONS
Parable
(1969)Composed by Robert E. Kreutz.
© 1969 World Library Publications.
License Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Text by Joseph Scrivens, 1855
Public Domain
Tune ERIE by Charles C. Converse, 1868 Public Domain
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
MORECAMBE (Frederick C. Atkinson); arr. Mark Hayes
© Lorenz Publishing Co., a division of The Lorenz Corporation
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Ekolu Mea Nui (Three Greatest Things)
Text by Robert Nawahine
Tune NAWAHINE by Robert Nawahine
Arr. by Martha Hohu, 1971
© 1972 the Hawai’i Conference UCC
Streamed by permission
Canzonette (1952)
Composed by William Stickles.© 1952 Chappell & Co. Inc.
Hal Leonard LLC. All rights reserved.
Broadcasted under the Religious Services Performance
Exemption for in-person worship.
You Walk along Our Shoreline
Text by Sylvia P. Dawson, 1984 © 1991 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc.
Tune SALLEY GARDENS trad. Irish melody
Arr. The New Century Hymnal, 1994© 1993 The Pilgrim Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Fanfare and March
Composed by Henry Purcell (Public Domain).
Arrangement by George Blake
© 1983 Lorenz Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
Reprinted and streamed with permission under
One License #ONELICENSE A-735890
IMPORTANT DATES
Today, September 13 – Church Council meeting after Worship, in the Lounge
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)
Saturday, September 19 – Special Service Day – Starting at 9:00 AM, come and help clean the area under the new projection screen
Thursday, September 24, 7:00 PM – First concert in the Kamaaina Concert Series will take place in this sanctuary. Visit KamaainaConcertSeries.com for more info.
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
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 Lorraine Davis
Vice Moderator Elwood Kita
Lay Reader Ming Peng
Chapel Decorations Ruth Ohata
Organist / Pianist Kayleen Yuda
Music Director-Accompanist Bob Grove
Hand Bell Director Evan Montemayor
IYAA Choir Director Stuart Mori
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Live Stream Director Ruth Niino-DuPonte. Bob Smith
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith, Woody Kita,
Mace Peng, Cindy Debus
Sound Engineer Ben Yamaki
Sunday School Teacher Gloria Kobayashi
Sunday School Aide Johanna Narruhn
Office Manager Kahealani Mahone-Brooks
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.
