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, July 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

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Genesis 28:10-19)  Peter Braun

Leader:   What are our dreams when the night is long and the pillow hard?
People:  We may dream of a softer sleeping place, or we might dream of the gates of heaven.

Leader:   From his rocky bed Jacob dreamed of a stairway to God’s realm.
People:  From our rocky times we dream of God’s grace and salvation.

Leader:   Come to worship now and dream the dreams of waking.
People:  We will dream of justice, of grace, and of our voices raised in thanks.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #418: My Faith, It Is an Oaken Staff (v. 1 – 3)

* Invocation (based on Psalm 139:1-12, 23-34) Peter Braun

You have searched us and known us, O God, from near at hand and from far away. You know us better than we know ourselves, with knowledge too wonderful for any of your children. High in the sky or deep in the sea, you are with us: and so we pray that you might be with us in this time of worship to hear our needs and accept our praise. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: What Am I Gonna Eat          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Time with the Children                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:                           Peter Braun

Psalm 86:11-17

Teach me your way, O Lord,
    that I may walk in your truth;
    give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

O God, the insolent rise up against me;
    a band of ruffians seeks my life,
    and they do not set you before them.
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give your strength to your servant;
    save the child of your maidservant.
Show me a sign of your favor,
    so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
    because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

Sermon: Undivided Heart                    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 #398: Shadow and Substance (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Peter Braun

We offer our prayers of thanksgiving often in our lives. When small things and great things bless us, we remember to offer thanks. At this moment, let us give thanks in ways that will help others be grateful for small or great blessings in their lives. 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: Menuet in D  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         Peter Braun

We present these gifts in gratitude, O God, for your grace has lifted us in body, mind, and spirit. Bless them as you receive them so that others may, in turn, praise you for your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

* Hymn #413: By Gracious Powers (v. 1 – 4)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: A Tune for the Trumpet   Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

The Fathers Love
Contributors: Donald Lee Moore
Tune: © 1985 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

My Faith, It Is an Oaken Staff
Text by Thomas T. Lynch, 1855
Tune THE STAFF OF FAITH, Swiss folk melody, first pub. 1910
Public Domain

What Am I Gonna Eat
©2026 by Eric Anderson
Streamed by permission

Shadow and Substance
Text by Dan Damon, 1989
© 1994 Hope Publishing Company
Tune TWILIGHT by Dan Damon, 1989
© 1994 Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Menuet in D
John Stanley
© published by J. Curwen & Sons in 1959
Arranged by Eric H. Thiman
Public Domain

By Gracious Powers
Text by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1944
Trans. by Fred Pratt Green, 1972
© 1974 Hope Publishing Co.
Tune BONHOEFFER by Herbert G. Hobbs, 1976
Harm. by Jan Helmut Wubbena, 1976
© 1976 Herbert G. Hobbs
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

A Tune for the Trumpet
Contributors: David Paxton
Tune: © 1978 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

IMPORTANT DATES

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.

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, July 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

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude: Morning Has Broken           Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* I’d like to invite those who are able, to please stand and join me in the Call to Worship (based on Psalm 65:1-13) Christian Albano

Leader:   God brings the refreshing rain to the earth, enriching it,
People:  The river of God is full of water, providing the people with nourishment.

Leader:   God softens the ridges with showers, blessing the growth of greenery from rock.
People:  God crowns the year with bounty and with beauty.

Leader:   The pastures of the wilderness overflow; the hills gird themselves with joy,
People:  Meadows and valleys, decked with flocks and flowers, shout and sing together for joy.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #108: Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old (v. 1 – 4)

* Invocation (based on Psalm 119:105-112)                  Christian Albano

Your word is the lamp that guides our feet and lights our path, O God. We have promised to follow you in speech and deed, and we strive to do so. Accept our offerings of praise today, and teach us once again what it means to be your people. Your word is our heritage forever, the joy of our hearts. 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:                           Christian Albano

Isaiah 55:10-13

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose
    and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out in joy
    and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
    shall burst into song,
    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
    instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle,
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
    for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. If you have ears, hear!”

“Hear, then, the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart;

this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Sermon: We Are Not Farmers (Mostly)                  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 #318: Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering                Christian Albano

From day to day we set out to make things grow – relationships, communities, and the resources that sustain our lives and those of others. From that abundance we share in turn: love, support, and the gifts that sustain life. 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: Cantilene       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         Christian Albano

Accept these gifts, O God, which have grown from the seeds you planted in us. May they in turn grow to sustain and to encourage many others in their relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

* Hymn #495: Called as Partners in Christ’s Service (v. 1 – 4)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Fanfare           Kayleen Yuda

PERMISSIONS

Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old
Text by Joy F. Patterson, 1982
© 1982 The Hymn Society (admin. Hope Publishing Co.)
Tune JUDAS AND MARY by Sydney Carter, 1964
© 1964 Stainer & Bell Ltd. (admin. Hope Publishing Co.)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

I Will Sing Of Thy Mercies
James Filmore
Public Domain

Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast
Text by John Cawood, 1815
Public Domain
Tune ST. FLAVIAN first pub. 1562
Public Domain

Cantilene
Contributors: Arthur W. Marchant, Edward Broughton
Tune: © 1981 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Called as Partners in Christ’s Service
Text by Jane Parker Huber, 1981
© 1981 Jane Parker Huber
(admin. Westminster John Knox Press
Tune BEECHER by John Zundel, 1855
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Fanfare
Music by Nicolas J. Lemmens; edited by Diane Bish
© Copyright 1993 Tarzana Music Company
(administered worldwide by the Fred Bock Publishing Group)
All rights reserved. Used by Permission.
Contributors: Diane Bish, Nicolas Jacques Lemmens
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

IMPORTANT DATES

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.

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.

This service includes the celebration of Holy Communion. If you will be worshiping from home, please prepare and have ready some bread or other staple food and grape juice or another beverage for that portion of the service.

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, July 5, 2026. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship July 5, 2026
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Psalm 145:8-14)     Faith Mishina

Leader:   The LORD is gracious and merciful,
People:  Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Leader:   God is good to everyone.
People:  God has compassion for all the created world.

Leader:   May all God’s works give thanks to the LORD!
People:  May all God’s faithful tell of the glory and power of the LORD!

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #449: Softly and Tenderly (v. 1 – 3)

* Invocation (based on Song of Solomon 2:8-13)                  Faith Mishina

We look for you as we look for one we love, O God. Come to us leaping over the mountains. Come to us sailing over the hills. Let the winter of our spirits pass, let the flowers bloom on earth and the singing ring in the trees. Come to us, O God, as we look for one we love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Ngang Mi Nenieoch            Stuart Mori

Time with the Children                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:                           Faith Mishina

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-76

So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and he has given him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live, but you shall go to my father’s house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.’

“I came today to the spring and said, ‘O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also”—let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’

“Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels. Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left.”

And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will.” So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“May you, our sister, become
    thousands of myriads;
may your offspring gain possession
    of the gates of their foes.”

Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man, and the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi and was settled in the Negeb. Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field, and, looking up, he saw camels coming. And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel and said to the servant, “Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
    we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Sermon: Never Satisfied                       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.

Call to Offering                Faith Mishina

“Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds,” said Jesus. Let us be wise indeed and share our offerings with God and with our neighbors, so that they may know how deeply they are loved. 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: Prayer            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         Faith Mishina

We present these gifts aware that, in themselves, they will accomplish less than we wish and less than we hope. We present these aware that in your hands, there are no limits to the good we can do through them. Receive them, we pray, and through them build your realm. Amen.

* Hymn #336: Here, O My Lord, I See You Face to Face (v. 1-5)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

Consecrating the Bread and Cup    

Prayer of Thanksgiving

* Hymn #459: Come, O Fount of Every Blessing (v. 1 – 3)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Great Is the Lord                 Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions

Important Dates and Announcements

Today, July 5 – Board of Trustees meeting after Worship service in the Lounge.

July 19 – J’s Mini-Mart & Bread for the World Bake Sale – requesting baked goods for sale; all proceeds will go to Bread for the World’s Mission in Action.

August 16 – Church Picnic after Worship Service

Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. – One Song from Church of the Holy Cross streamed live (canceled this week)

Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m. – Bible Study in person, in Pastor’s Study or via Zoom (see The Weekly Chime for Zoom meeting link.)

Pickleball Lessons – Contact Connie 808-936-7534 or Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com to sign up

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.

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, June 28, 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: Pavane              Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18)                  Jennifer Tanouye

Leader:   Let us sing of God’s steadfast love.
People:  Let us sing of God’s faithfulness to all generations.

Leader:   Happy are the people who know the festival shout.
People:  Happy are those who walk in the light of God’s face.

Leader:   God is the glory of our strength; we exalt in the LORD.
People:  The LORD is our protection, our safety, and our guide.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #505: Sweet Hour of Praise (v. 1 – 3)

* Invocation (based on Romans 6:12-23)             Jennifer Tanouye

You have promised us forgiveness, O God, and you have freed us from our bondage to the sins of our past. May we now serve you in righteousness and in holiness! Through Jesus you have freed us to be sanctified and to know eternal life. For this we bless you at all times, and especially now as we gather in worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Drei Romanzen                      Bob Grove

Time with the Children                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:                           Jennifer Tanouye

Jeremiah 28:5-9

Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord, and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill the words that you have prophesied and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord and all the exiles. But listen now to this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”

Matthew 10:40-42

“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

Sermon: Mister Bad News                   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 #493: O Jesus, I Have Promised (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Jennifer Tanouye

Jesus told his friends that even a drink of water for someone who is thirsty is a gift worthy of God’s blessing. Let us take this opportunity to share what sustains body, mind, and soul with our neighbors. 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: A Song of Peace                   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         Jennifer Tanouye

You have given us Good News in and through Jesus, O God. May we be found among those who share that good news in word and in deed with neighbors near and far. Accept and bless these gifts so that bodies, minds, and spirits might be refreshed in Jesus’ name. Amen.

* Hymn #498: Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love (v. 1 – 5)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: God of Our Father               Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

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.

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, June 21, 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: Dear Lord and Father of Mankind          Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Matthew 10:24-39)                  Cynthia Debus

Leader:   Jesus said, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light.
People:  What you hear whispered, proclaim from the rooftops.

Leader:   Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
People:  God’s love endures beyond the life we know.

Leader:   God knows the life and death of sparrows.
People:  We will not fear, because we know we are of more value than many sparrows.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #24: The God of Abraham Praise (v. 1 – 4, Eng.)

* Invocation (based on Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17)    Cynthia Debus

Incline your ear to us, O God, for we need your help and aid. We come to you in devotion. You are our God, and we cry for you all day long. You, O God, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love. Be with us in this time of worship, and hear our thanks and praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Sing with the Spirit!             Holy Cross Singers

Time with the Children                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:                           Cynthia Debus

Genesis 21:8-21

The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Romans 6:1b-11

Should we continue in sin in order that grace may increase? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, so we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Sermon: Better than the Bible            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 #400: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Cynthia Debus

We have gathered for worship because Jesus has changed our lives in some way. As we have been blessed, let us turn to blessing others. 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: Presence Divine                  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         Cynthia Debus

We thank you, O God, for the presence of Jesus in our lives. May these gifts make your love visible, tangible, and powerful in the lives of others. Amen.

* Hymn #391: In the Midst of New Dimensions (v. 1 – 5)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Sing a New Song of Joy      Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

Today, June 21 – Board of Deacons meeting after Worship service in the Lounge
Saturday, June 27, 4:00 p.m.. – Service for Janet Fujioka in the Sanctuary
Sundays, 8:30 a.m. – Holy Cross Singers Rehearsal in the Lounge
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, 9:00 a.m. – Bell Choir Rehearsal in the Building of Faith Meeting Room
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      Cindy Debus
Chapel Decorations  Ruth Ohata, in memory of Roy & Sachi 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.

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, June 14, 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

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Psalm 100)                  Faith Mishina

Leader:   Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
People:  Serve the LORD with gladness, come into God’s presence with singing.

Leader:   The LORD is God. God has made us.
People:  We are God’s people. We are the sheep of God’s pasture.

Leader:   Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and God’s courts with praise!
People:  We have come to give thanks and bless God’s name.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #13: O My Soul, Bless Your Creator (v. 1 – 5)

* Invocation (based on Romans 5:1-8)                  Faith Mishina

We thank you for the peace you have given us in Christ, O God, a peace which has brought us to grace. At the right time you sent Jesus, and he died for us and for all who were estranged from you. In this we find our hope, and in this we find our joy to worship you today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Born to Die for Me                IYAA

Time with the Children                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:                           Faith Mishina

Exodus 19:2-8a

They journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now, therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”

So Moses went, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one, “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.”

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Then Jesussummoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not take a road leading to gentiles, and do not enter a Samaritan town, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse those with a skin disease; cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

Sermon: Assignment Mercy   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 #586: Come to Tend God’s Garden (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Faith Mishina

Jesus told the twelve to rely upon the generosity of strangers as they brought healing and hopeful words to the villages of Galilee. Let us be the strangers for whom others may give thanks. 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: God’s Love Surrounds Us 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         Faith Mishina

We have homes and food and clothing, O God. We live in peace, at least for the most part. We present these gifts to you so that others may have homes, food, clothing, hope, and peace. Amen.

* Hymn #532: Come, Labor On (v. 1 – 4)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Great God Of Glory             Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

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      Faith Mishina
Chapel Decorations  Shirley Miyake, in memory of Richard Miyake
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.

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.

This service includes the celebration of Holy Communion. If you will be worshiping from home, please prepare and have ready some bread or other staple food and grape juice or another beverage for that portion of the service.

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, June 7, 2026. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship June 7, 2026
Second Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Psalm 33:1-12)        Gloria Kobayashi

Leader:    Rejoice in the LORD, O people. Praise befits the upright.
People:   The word of God is upright. God works in faithfulness.

Leader:    The LORD loves righteousness and justice,
People:   The earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

Leader:    The guidance of the LORD stands forever; God’s thoughts to all generations.
People:   Happy are those whose God is the LORD.

All:            Let us worship God!

* Hymn #565: God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending (v. 1 – 4)

* Invocation (based on Psalm 50:7-15)                  Gloria Kobayashi

You have told us and told us, O God, that we do not worship you properly with sacrifice alone. All we have comes from you, so we offer what is yours already. Encourage us to share our substance with our neighbors, so that having fulfilled our vows to you, we may worship you with a sacrifice of thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Let Us Break Bread Together                   Kayleen Yuda

Time with the Children                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:                           Gloria Kobayashi

Hosea 5:15-6:6

I will return again to my place
    until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face.
    In their distress they will beg my favor:

“Come, let us return to the Lord,
    for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;
    he has struck down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
    on the third day he will raise us up,
    that we may live before him.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
    his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.”

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
    What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
    like the dew that goes away early.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
    I have killed them by the words of my mouth,
    and my judgment goes forth as the light.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that moment. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread through all of that district.

Sermon: God Desires Mercy                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.

Call to Offering                Gloria Kobayashi

What does God ask us to give? Love to our neighbors, and love to our God. May this moment be one in which we give both to our God and to those around us. 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: Introit             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         Gloria Kobayashi

Merciful One, accept the gifts of your people. We rejoice in your mercy, and we pray that these offerings might spread your grace to people near and far. Amen.

* Hymn #337: Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether (v. 1-3)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

Consecrating the Bread and Cup    

Prayer of Thanksgiving

* Hymn #23: There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (v. 1 – 2)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: See How Great a Flame Aspires             Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

Permissions

Important Dates and Announcements

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.

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, May 24, 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

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship (based on Matthew 28:16-20)                  Stefan Tanouye

Leader:   After his resurrection, Jesus met his disciples on a mountain in Galilee.
People:  They met him in worship and in wonder.

Leader:   Jesus told them that he had been given authority over heaven and earth,
People:  And he told them to make disciples of all people.

Leader:   We come in worship and wonder to hear our commission once again:
People:  To bring all people together in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #273: Praise with Joy the World’s Creator (v. 1 – 4)

* Invocation (based on Psalm 8)       Stefan Tanouye

How majestic is your name in all the earth, O God! You have set your glory far beyond the heavens we can see, and at the same time your put your word in the mouths of children and infants. What are human beings that you care for us? Yet you have crowned us with glory, making us just a little lower than yourself. Be with us as we worship you today, O God, and hear our prayer and praise! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Jubilate, Amen                        Bell Choir

Time with the Children                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:                           Stefan Tanouye

Genesis 1:1-2:4a

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind and the cattle of every kind and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make humansin our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

So God created humans in his image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all their multitude. On the sixth day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Be restored; listen to my appeal;agree with one another; live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Sermon: Created             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 #276: Holy God, We Praise Your Name (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering                Stefan Tanouye

For love, God made a world, indeed a universe, full of wonder and beauty. For love, God has created life and given that life to us. What can we share in celebration of such astonishing gifts? 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: Canzona         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

Creator of the Universe, we bless you for the wonders of earth and stars and galaxies, and we bless you for life and love and beauty. Accept these gifts we offer today in thanks, praise, and worship. Amen.

* Hymn #277: Holy, Holy, Holy (v. 1 – 4)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Gigue               Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

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       Stefan Tanouye
Chapel Decorations   Bob & Sue Smith
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.

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, May 24, 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

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Moment for Mission

* Call to Worship (based on 1 Corinthians 12:3-13)                  Lorraine Davis

Leader:   There are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit,
People:  There are varieties of services but the same God.

Leader:   Each of us receives the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
People:  The Spirit gives us wisdom and knowledge.

Leader:   The spirit gives us faith and healing.
People:  Just as the body is one and has many parts, we all drink from the one Spirit.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #272: On Pentecost They Gathered (v. 1 – 4)

* Invocation (based on Numbers 11:24-30)                  Lorraine Davis

Moses once said, “Would that all God’s people were prophets!” To be frank, O God, it is a gift that frightens us – yet we do pray for your Holy Spirit to guide us, encourage us, and strengthen us in faith and action. Put your Spirit upon us in this time of worship, and in all the times of our days. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: God Will Open Doors                       Laural Bragg

Time with the Children          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture:               Lorraine Davis

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews^[a] and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit,
        and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
    and signs on the earth below,
        blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
        before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 20:19-23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Sermon: Receive the Holy Spirit                   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 #267: Come, O Spirit, Dwell among Us (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering    Lorraine Davis

God gave us the gifts of the Holy Spirit to share with those around us: peace, forgiveness, life, joy, and understanding. Let us provide gifts that help others receive those blessings. 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: Et Incarnatus           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                     Lorraine Davis

In Jesus’ resurrection you have promised us life, peace, and forgiveness, O God, and through the gift of the Holy Spirit you have offered those to everyone in the world. May these gifts help us share life, peace, and forgiveness with those far and near. Amen.

* Hymn #270: Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song (v. 1 – 3)

Please be seated

Announcements Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Rejoice, the Lord Is King              Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

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       Lorraine Davis
Chapel Decorations   Laura Ota, in memory of Eileen Shiraishi
Organist / Pianist     Kayleen Yuda   
Guest Musician & Vocalist Laural Bragg
Music Director-Accompanist Bob Grove
Hand Bell Director        Anna Kennedy 
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.

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, May 17, 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: Allegretto                     Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome:                Rev. Eric S. Anderson

*Call to Worship (based on Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35)                   Anna Kennedy

Leader:   Let the righteous be joyful, let them be jubilant with joy.
People:   We will sing a song to the One who rides upon the clouds and exult before our Maker.

Leader:   God adopts the orphans and protects the widows.
People:   God gives the desolate a home to live in and leads the prisoners to prosperity.

Leader:   Ascribe power to God, whose majesty climbs from the earth to the skies.
People:   May our wondrous God bring power and strength to all people.

All:           Let us worship God!

Hymn #403: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less (v. 1-4)

Invocation (based on Acts 1:6-14)            Anna Kennedy

We stand with Christ’s disciples centuries ago, who wondered but did not learn when the world would change. May we do as they did, and bear witness to your love and grace in Jesus, and contribute to a new and better world. Bless us as we gather today in prayer, and tomorrow as we devote ourselves to serving your realm. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

John 17:1-11

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you,for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Sermon: Suffering and Rejoicing                   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 #413: By Gracious Powers (v. 1-4)

Call to Offering    Anna Kennedy

Jesus has claimed us, adopted us, and empowered us with grace and with the Holy Spirit. Let us pass that love to those around us and to those 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: Oh had I Jubal’s Lyre                      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

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

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       Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations   Ann Kanahele
Organist / Pianist     Kayleen Yuda   
Music Director-Accompanist Bob Grove
Hand Bell Director        Anna Kennedy 
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.