Worship for November 8, 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, November 8, 2026. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship November 8, 2026
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

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: Near to the Heart of God   Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome: Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Psalm 78:1-7)          Stefan Tanouye

Leader:   Give ear, O people to the words of the wise.

People: We will listen to the parables and advice of the ages.

Leader:   We have heard these things and known them from our ancestors’ mouths.

People:  We will share them with our children. They shall know of God’s wonders.

Leader:   God commanded us to wisdom and to keep the commandments.

People:  God commanded us to pass them to each generation in faithfulness.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #112: Keep Awake, Be Always Ready (v. 1 – 2)

* Invocation (based on Psalm 70)   Stefan Tanouye

Deliver us, O God, and make haste to help us in our troubles and distress. When others act against us, protect us from their malice. When we commit folly on our own, help us to recover our wisdom. Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. May those who love your salvation proclaim, “God is great!” Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: I Will Sing of the Mercies  Kayleen Yuda

Time with the Children Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:                           Stefan Tanouye

Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16

Wisdom is radiant and unfading,
and she is easily discerned by those who love her
and is found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.
To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding,
and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
because she goes about seeking those worthy of her,
and she graciously appears to them in their paths
and meets them in every thought.

Matthew 23:1-12

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those young women got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other young women came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Sermon: Light of Wisdom                   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 Stefan Tanouye

Wisdom is radiant and unfading, like the love and grace of God, given to us so freely. Let us be radiant and unfading, sharing our gifts with those around us, so that our community may shine in the night. 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: Canzonet       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         Stefan Tanouye

Author of wisdom, crafter of the Universe, source of grace, accept these gifts offered by your creations. May they become part of your great blessings to the world. Amen.

* Hymn #436: God of Grace and God of Glory (v. 1 – 5)

Please be seated

Announcements Rev. Eric S. AndersonBenediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

Near to the Heart of God
Hymn tune by Cleland B. McFee
Arr. by Albin Whitworth
© 1982, 2003 Belwin Mills Pub.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Keep Awake, Be Always Ready
Text by Arthur G. Clyde, 1993
© 1993 by The Pilgrim Press
Tune WACHET AUF by Philipp Nicolai, 1599
Public Domain
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

I Will Sing of the Mercies
Tune by James H. Fillmore
Arr. by Roger House
Public Domain

Ekolu Mea Nui (Three Greatest Things)
Text by Robert Nawahine
Tune NAWAHINE by Robert Nawahine
Arr. by Martha Hohu, 1971
Arr. © 1972 the Hawai’i Conference UCC
Streamed by permission

Canzonet
by Stewart Landon
© 1979 Lorenz Publishing Co.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

God of Grace and God of Glory
Text by Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930
Tune CWM RHONDDA by John Hughes, 1907
Public Domain

Fanfare
by Jacques Lemmens
Public Domain

IMPORTANT DATES

Leading Worship this Morning

Pastor    Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Moderator                         Lorraine Davis
Vice Moderator               Elwood Kita
Lay Reader                        Stefan Tanouye
Chapel Decorations      Lois Jean Tanouye, Kelly & Stefan Tanouye families,
in memory of Kenneth and Kenny Tanouye
Organist/Pianist            Kayleen Yuda
Music Director-Accompanist           Bob Grove
Na Kani O Kalani (Bells) Director Evan Montemayor                 
IYAA Choir Director      Stuart Mori
Sunday School Teacher                      Gloria Kobayashi
Sunday School Aide      Johanna Narruhn
Image Artist                      Sue Smith
Live Stream Director    Ruth Niino-DuPonte  
Sound Engineer & Assistant Director                  Ben Yamaki
Videographers                Eric Tanouye, Mace Peng, Bob
                  Smith, Cindy Debus, Woody Kita
Office Manager                Kahealani Mahone-Brooks

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

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.