Category: Worship Services

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, August 10, 2025. 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

Leader:   Happy are those whose God is the LORD,
People:  Happy are those whom God has chosen.

Leader:   The LORD sees all humankind, all the inhabitants of the earth.
People:  Nations are not saved by armies, nor warriors by strength.

Leader:   The LORD delivers their soul from death and keeps them alive in famine.
People:  Our souls wait for the LORD, for God is our help and shield.

All:           Let us worship God!

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

We trust in you, O God. You are our hope. We count on you for the fulfillment of our yearnings, for the future in which all live content and free. We look forward to a community whose foundations, architect, and builder are all you, our God. Count our faith to us as righteousness, we pray, and bring us to the heavenly homeland you have prepared through Jesus Christ. Amen.

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: He Leadeth Me           Kayleen Yuda

Time with the Children           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20    Lorraine Davis
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

 Hear the word of the Lord,
    you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
    says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams
    and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
    or of lambs, or of goats.

 When you come to appear before me,
    who asked this from your hand?
    Trample my courts no more;
bringing offerings is futile;
    incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation—
    I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
Your new moons and your appointed festivals
    my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me,
    I am weary of bearing them.
When you stretch out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove the evil of your doings
    from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
    learn to do good;
seek justice,
    rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
    plead for the widow.

Come now, let us argue it out,
    says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land;
but if you refuse and rebel,
    you shall be devoured by the sword;
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Luke 12:32-40
 ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 ‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

 ‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’

Sermon: Heart for the Vulnerable (Or: It’s All About the Widows and Orphans)
                                                Rev. Eric S. Anderson

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer

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 and ever. Amen

* Hymn #582: O God of Earth and Altar (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Lorraine Davis

We are of more worth than birds in the field, of more value than flowers that bloom. God cares for us, so let us put aside our anxious fears. Let us care for one another in today’s offering. 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

God of the ravens, God of the lilies, accept the gifts of your grateful people, whom you have fed and clothed as your children. May these offerings build up your realm in bodies, minds, and souls. Amen.

* Hymn #573: Lead On Eternal Sovereign (v. 1-3)

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Postlude         Kayleen Yuda

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesdays, 5 PM – Bible Study in Pastor’s Study and via Zoom (The meeting link and Bible references will be in the Weekly Chime). Special Bible Study sessions will be held from Sept 17 – Oct 15 as part of our Open & Affirming (ONA) discussion (contact Rev Dr Jonathan Roach.)

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             Stefan Tanouye
Vice Moderator Lorraine Davis
Lay Reader            Lorraine Davis
Chapel Decorations    Barbara Iwami , Bill and Nancy Chen
Organist / Pianist     Kayleen Yuda   
Hand Bell Director        Anna Kennedy   
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
Church Office Manager Pearl Momi Lyman

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, August 3, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship August 3, 2025
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude: For the Bread Which You Have Broken                  Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles                                  

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Leader:   Give thanks to the LORD, for God is good.
People:  God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Leader:   Let those whom God has preserved tell the story.
People:  The LORD has helped us in trouble, and so we come to worship.

Leader:   Let us thank the LORD for the steadfast love we have known.
People:  God satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #563: We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky (v. 1-3)

* Invocation (based on Hosea 11:1-11)     Jennifer Tanouye

Sometimes we try hard to be faithful to your ways, O God, and sometimes we fail. We confess that sometimes we do not try, and when we do not try, we fail more quickly. Though we are not consistent, you have always led us with cords of human kindness. You have lifted us like infants to your cheeks. When we moved furthest away from you, you reached out to us. We thank you for your love and forgiveness, O God, and so we come to you in grateful worship. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Maing Sises     IYAA

Time with the Children          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Psalm 49:1-12         Jennifer Tanouye
Hear this, all you peoples;
    give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
both low and high,
    rich and poor together.
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
    the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
I will incline my ear to a proverb;
    I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.

 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
those who trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life,
    there is no price one can give to God for it.
For the ransom of life is costly,
    and can never suffice,
that one should live on forever
    and never see the grave.

 When we look at the wise, they die;
    fool and dolt perish together
    and leave their wealth to others.
Their graves^[c] are their homes for ever,
    their dwelling-places to all generations,
    though they named lands their own.
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
    they are like the animals that perish.

Sermon: Riches                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 and ever. Amen

Call to Offering                Jennifer Tanouye

When we offer what we have to others, when we share our blessings with those who suffer, we build our treasure with God. We can do that in many ways at many times. This is just one of them: and let us take this opportunity to do so. 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.

* 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

Gracious God, you have given us all things, and we thank you. Accept these gifts, and bless them to the building up of your realm of peace and light. Amen.

* Hymn #349: I Come with Joy (v. 1-5)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving

* Hymn #82: Go, My Children, with My Blessing (v. 1-2)

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken             Kayleen Yuda

Permissions

Important Dates

Today, August 3 – Board of Trustees meeting after Worship Service

August 24, Sunday – Annual Hilo Style Picnic, following Worship Service

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             Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader            Jennifer Tanouye
Chapel Decoration      Anne Sadayasu
Organist      Kayleen Yuda        
Hand Bell Director        Anna Kennedy   
IYAA Music Director Stuart Mori
Projected Imagery        Sue Smith
Web Master          Ruth Niino-DuPonte  
Videographers    Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith,
            Mace Peng, Woody Kita, Cindy Debus
Streaming Sound Director Ben Yamaki
Sunday School Teacher          Gloria Kobayashi
Sunday School Aide      Johanna Narruhn
Church Office Manager Pearl Momi Lyman

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.

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, July 27, 2025. 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: Fidelis Servus Pièces d’orgue       Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 85)     Nina Buchanan

Leader:   The LORD has forgiven the unfaithfulness of the people;
People:  The LORD has pardoned all our sins.

Leader:   May the LORD revive us again, so that we may rejoice in God.
People:  May we receive the steadfast love of the LORD and rejoice in God’s salvation.

Leader:   May the LORD speak peace to the people, to those who bring their hearts to God.
People:  Let steadfast love and righteousness meet, and faithfulness spring up from the ground.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #179: We Yearn, O Christ, for Wholeness (v. 1-3)

* Invocation: (based on Psalm 138) Nina Buchanan

On the day we called you, O God, you answered us. From you we received our strength of soul. Though you are great beyond our imaginations, you stay near to us in our everyday lives. When we walk through the midst of trouble, move with us. Stretch out your hand and deliver us. Your steadfast love endures forever, O God, and so we worship you today and always. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: You Are Mine  Kayleen Yuda

Time with the Children           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Hosea 1:2-10           Nina Buchanan
When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, ‘Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.’ So he went and took Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

 And the Lord said to him, ‘Name him Jezreel; for in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.’

 She conceived again and bore a daughter. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have pity on the house of Israel or forgive them. But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God; I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen.’

When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said, ‘Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God.’

Yet the number of the people of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which can be neither measured nor numbered; and in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people’, it shall be said to them, ‘Children of the living God.’

Luke 11:1-13
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
    Your kingdom come.
    Give us each day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our sins,
        for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
    And do not bring us to the time of trial.’

 And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

 ‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for^[e] a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit^[f] to those who ask him!’

Sermon: Persistence      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 and ever. Amen

* Hymn #508: Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire (v. 1-5)

Call to Offering                Nina Buchanan

When we came to God, knocking on the door in the middle of the night, God answered us with speedy grace. Now our neighbors knock at our door, and they need our help and God’s grace. Let us rise and respond. 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: Prelude on “Spanish Hymn”       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         Nina Buchanan

O God who is generous to one and all, accept these gifts from your grateful people. We have, in this small way, imitated your ways of open hands and open hearts. May others be fed in body, mind, and spirit through our offerings and your steadfast love. Amen.

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

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Jubilate Deo Omnis Terra Kayleen Yuda

PERMISSIONS

Fidelis Servus Pièces d’orgue
J. Fischer and Bros.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

We Yearn, O Christ, for Wholeness
Text by Dosia Carlson, 1986
© 1986, 1993 by Dosia Carlson
Streamed by permission of the family
Tune PASSION CHORALE by Hans Leo Hassler, 1601
Harm. by J. S. Bach, 1719
Public Domain

You Are Mine
David Haas
Tune and text: © 1991, GIA Publications, Inc.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire
Text by James Montgomery, 1818
Tune ST. AGNES by John B. Dykes, 1866
Public Domain

Prelude on “Spanish Hymn”
Flor Peeters
© 1960 C. F. Peters
Streamed by permission CCS License #13303

My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
Text by Edward Mote, c. 1834
Tune SOLID ROCK by William B. Bradbury, 1863
Public Domain

Jubilate Deo Omnis Terra
J. Fischer and Bros
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

IMPORTANT DATES

Today, July 27 – J’s Mini Mart before Worship Service; Bread for the World Bake Sale after Worship Service

Sundays, 3 p.m. – Confirmation class in Pastor’s Study

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             Stefan Tanouye
Vice Moderator Lorraine Davis
Lay Reader            Nina Buchanan
Chapel Decorations    Sally and Froilan Queja
Organist / Pianist     Kayleen Yuda   
Hand Bell Director        Anna Kennedy   
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
Church Office Manager Pearl Momi Lyman

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.

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, July 20, 2025. 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: Toccata in A Minor   Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                                        Rev. Eric S. Anderson

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #451: Be Now My Vision (v. 1-4)

* Invocation: (based on Colossians 1:15-28)       Gloria Kobayashi
We praise you, O Christ, image of the invisible God, firstborn of all Creation. We praise you, the head of the Church, first of all things. We thank you for reconciling us to God. We have been wayward and estranged, but in your grace we have found our sacred home. We rejoice in the riches of your glory. Amen.

Anthem: Wonder is Not Enough        Eric Anderson

Time with the Children           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Amos 8:1-12            Gloria Kobayashi
This is what the Lord God showed me—a basket of summer fruit.He said, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A basket of summer fruit.’ Then the Lord said to me,

‘The end has come upon my people Israel;
    I will never again pass them by.
The songs of the temple shall become wailings on that day,’
says the Lord God;
‘the dead bodies shall be many,
    cast out in every place. Be silent!’

 Hear this, you that trample on the needy,
    and bring to ruin the poor of the land,
saying, ‘When will the new moon be over
    so that we may sell grain;
and the sabbath,
    so that we may offer wheat for sale?
We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,
    and practice deceit with false balances,
buying the poor for silver
    and the needy for a pair of sandals,
    and selling the sweepings of the wheat.’

 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
Shall not the land tremble on this account,
    and everyone mourn who lives in it,
and all of it rise like the Nile,
    and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt?

 On that day, says the Lord God,
    I will make the sun go down at noon,
    and darken the earth in broad daylight.
I will turn your feasts into mourning,
    and all your songs into lamentation;
I will bring sackcloth on all loins,
    and baldness on every head;
I will make it like the mourning for an only son,
    and the end of it like a bitter day.

Luke 10:38-42
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.^[a] Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

Sermon: Summer Fruit             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 and ever. Amen

* Hymn #446: Jesus, Still Lead On (v. 1-4)

Offertory: Brother James Air  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

* Hymn #494: We Who Would Valiant Be (v. 1-3)

Announcements                         Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                  Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Joyous Dialogue       Kayleen Yuda

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

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.

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, July 13, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor
Rev. Linda Petrucelli, Guest Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude: Jesus Calls Us Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                           Rev. Linda Petrucelli

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 82)     Bob Smith

Leader:   Imagine God among a council of heavenly beings.
People:  Imagine God viewing the Earth and issuing judgment.

Leader:   “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?” God wants to know.
People:  Truly we wish to know when there will be justice for the weak and destitute, the orphan and the oppressed.

Leader:   God has called us children of the Most High.
People:  May God raise us up to live as God has called us.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #533: Children of God (v. 1-4)

* Invocation: (based on Psalm 25:1-10)    Bob Smith

To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame, for we seek to know your ways, we seek to follow your paths. Lead us in truth, teach us of your salvation. We give thanks for your steadfast love, for the mercy we have known our whole lives long. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: He Leadeth Me           Kayleen Yuda                                              

Time with the Children           Rev. Linda Petrucelli

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:9-14     Bob Smith
 And the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors, when you obey the Lord your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

 Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.

Luke 10:25-37
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

Sermon: Caring Neighbors      Rev. Linda Petrucelli

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer             Rev. Linda Petrucelli

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 and ever. Amen

* Hymn #539: Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant? (v. 1-6)

Call to Offering              Bob Smith

Jesus has called us to be caring neighbors. Sometimes the ones we care for are right in front of us. Sometimes we may never meet. Let us be caring neighbors in this moment, and let all people know that God care through 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: Meditation  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        Bob Smith

Accept our gifts, we pray, O God. Accept them for those who will find healing or relief through them. Accept them for the neighbors we know. Accept them for the neighbors far away. Accept our gifts, we pray, O God. Amen.

* Hymn #537: Christian, Rise and Act Your Creed (v. 1-4)

Announcements            Rev. Linda Petrucelli                                              

Benediction                     Rev. Linda Petrucelli

Postlude: March in D    Kayleen Yuda

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

Saturday, July 19 – Service Day, 8:30 AM to 12 noon; please come and help beautify our church campus.

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 6, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship July 6, 2025
Fourth 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 66:1-9)         Faith Mishina

Leader:    Come and see what God has done.
People:   God has down astounding things among the creatures of the Earth.

Leader:    God turned the sea into dry land, so people could make their way to freedom.
People:   On the shores of a dividing sea, they rejoiced in the might of the Lord.

Leader:    Come bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of praise be heard.
People:   God has kept us among the living. God has raised us up in strength.

All:            Let us worship God!

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

* Invocation: (based on 2 Kings 5:1-14)    Faith Mishina

You know better than we how our self-respect becomes an overwhelming pride, O God. We might even turn away from the healing of our bodies, our minds, and our souls because of that pride. May there always be somebody around us to say, “Try the simple thing that God has done, and see what healing comes.” And if there is no other voice to say those words, let the voice be yours, O God, speaking from love and grace. Amen.

Please be seated

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-16     Faith Mishina
My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads.

Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.”

 ‘Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.’

 The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’

Sermon: Written in Heaven    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 and ever. Amen

Call to Offering                Faith Mishina

Jesus’ seventy disciples brought gifts of healing and teaching to the villages of Galilee. Their hosts gave them gifts of meals and shelter. Everyone gave. Everyone learned. Everyone grew. Let us grow in our faith and healing. Let us bring our offerings. Whether you share your gift here in the church today, through a gift online, or via an envelope in the mail, let the offering now be received.

Offertory: Quebec           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

May people be healed through your grace in these gifts, O God. May those blessed by these gifts find ways to give as well. May we be comforted as we follow your gracious ways of giving. Amen.

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

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation
Consecrating the Bread and Cup
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving

* Hymn #347: Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ (v. 1-3)

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Permissions

Prelude on Ellers
David H Hegarty
Edward J Hopkins
Tune: © 1972 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corpiration
(Admin by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Come, Labor On
Text by Jane Laurie Borthwick, 1859
Public Domain
Tune ORA LABORA by Thomas Tertius Noble, 1918
Public Domain

Quebec (Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts)
Henry Baker
Public Domain

Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love
Text by Tom Colvin, 1969
© 1969 Hope Publishing Company
Tune CHEREPONI Ghanian folk song
Arr. by Jane Marshall, 1982
© 1982 Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ
Text by Fred Kaan, 1975
Tune LINSTEAD Jamaican folk song
Adapt. by Doreen Potter, 1975
Text and tune © 1975 Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

National Hymn (God of Our Fathers Whose Almighty Hand)
George W. Warren
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Important Dates

Today, July 6 – Board of Trustees meeting after Worship Service

July 19, Saturday – Service Day, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM – please come and help if you are able!

July 11-15 – UCC General Synod, Kansas City, Missouri

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 22, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship June 22, 2025
Second Sunday after Pentecost

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude: Austrian Hymn                                              Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                                                                    Lori Yamashiro

* Call to Worship: (based on 1 Kings 19:1-15)           John Narruhn

Leader:         What are you doing here?
People:        We are here because we are tired and fearful in these times.

Leader:         What are you doing here?
People:        We are here because we have tried to do God’s will, and it has been so
                        difficult to do.

Leader:         What are you doing here?
People:        We are here, and we know that we will be sent out again, so we come to
                        be renewed.

All:     Let us worship God!

* Hymn #163: Many Are the Lightbeams (v. 1-5)

* Invocation (based on Psalm 29)                                                                                                        John Narruhn

Do not be far away, O God. Come quickly to our aid! Because you have helped us before, we can praise you to our neighbors. Because you have helped us before, we can praise you in this congregation. May the poor eat and be satisfied; may all the families of the earth rejoice in your grace. Hear us and bless us as we worship you today, O God. Amen.

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: This is My Father’s World                         Kayleen Yuda

Time with the Children                                          Gloria Kobayashi

Scripture: 1 King 19:1-15                                        John Narruhn

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’ Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.

 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, ‘Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.’ He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’

He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.

Sermon: What Are You Doing Here?                      Lori Yamashiro

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer                                                       John Narruhn

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 and ever. Amen

* Hymn #496: Ekolu Mea Nui (Three Greatest Things) (v. 1-2)

Call to Offering                                                       John Narruhn

We have known both the difficulties of life and the relief of healing and joy. Give today because there are people who face challenges and they need your help. Give today because God helped you when you needed support and you give thanks. Give today for healing and for joy. 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: Quebec (Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts)        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                                                  John Narruhn

We offer you these gifts, O God, for the lifting up of those weighed down. We offer you these gifts, O God, because we rejoice in your aid. We offer you these gifts, O God, so that all the world might sing their praises to you. Amen.

* Hymn #395: In Christ There Is No East or West (v. 1-4)

Announcements                                                      Lori Yamashiro

Benediction                                                             Lori Yamashiro

Postlude: National Hymn                                        Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

Austrian Hymn
Franz Joseph Haydn, Mark Shepperd
Tune: © 1989 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Many Are the Lightbeams
Text by Cyprian of Carthage, 252
Swedish para. By Anders Frostenson
Trans. by David Lewis, 1983
© 1972 by Anders Frostenson
Tune LIGHTBEAMS by Olle Widestrand
© 1974 by Olle Widestrand
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
Arr. © 1972 the Hawai’i Conference UCC
Streamed by permission

IMPORTANT DATES

Sunday, June 29—Sabbatical presentation with Pastor Eric, after worship, includes potluck. Everyone is invited.

Tuesday, July 1—Classical guitar concert in the sanctuary featuring William Jenks. A free-will offering will be received. Starts at 7 p.m., everyone is welcome to attend.

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 15, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship June 15, 2025
Trinity Sunday

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Ringing of the Bell

Leader:         God reconciles us through our faith,
People:        And this faith brings us peace through Jesus Christ.

Leader:         We stand here in the grace of God,
People:        We quake with the hope of sharing God’s glory with all those around.

Leader:         Endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
People:        And hope does not put us to shame, for God’s love has been poured into our hearts.

All:     Let us worship God!

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

* Invocation (based on Psalm 8)                                  Anne Sadayasu                   

The heavens echo with the glory of your name, O God! The mouths of the very youngest proclaim your praise. In such greatness, what are we but fragile and small? Yet you care for us, crown us with glory and honor. May we exercise the powers you have given us with wisdom and with love, O God, and may we worship you this day in spirit and in truth. Amen.

 On the heights, beside the way,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand;

 beside the gates in front of the town,
    at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
‘To you, O people, I call,
    and my cry is to all that live.

 The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,
    the first of his acts of long ago.
Ages ago I was set up,
    at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
    before the hills, I was brought forth—
when he had not yet made earth and fields,
    or the world’s first bits of soil.
When he established the heavens, I was there,
    when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
    when he established the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
    so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
    then I was beside him, like a master worker;
and I was daily his delight,
    rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
    and delighting in the human race.

John 16:12-15

‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Pastoral Prayer                                                 Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Hymn #3: Wakantanka Taku Nitawa (v. 1 Dakota, v. 1-2 English)

* 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

You delight in the human race, O God. Delight even more in us at this moment. We, like you, like the incarnate Wisdom Jesus, like the freely flowing Wisdom of the Spirit, have brought our gifts and dedicated them to you. Bless them and bless us, we pray. Amen.

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

Announcements                       Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                              Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Laudate Dominum                                  Rick Mazurowski

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

With a Voice of Singing
JW Harris/Martin Shaw
Text: © 1923, Shawnee Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Holy, Holy, Holy
Text by Reginald Heber, 1826
Tune NICAEA by John B. Dykes, 1861
Public Domain

Laudate Dominum
Robert E. Kreutz
Text from the Psalms
Text and music © 1987
OCP, All Rights reserved.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

IMPORTANT DATES

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 8, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship June 8, 2025
Pentecost Sunday

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 104:24-35)    Anna Kennedy

Leader:      The world is filled with the wisdom of the LORD,
People:     The creatures, the clouds, the sea: all these and more display the wisdom
                     of God.

Leader:      When God’s Spirit goes forth, creation spring up.
People:     God’s Spirit renews the face of the ground itself.

Leader:      Sing to the LORD today and as long as you live!
People:     We will sing to the LORD while we have being.

All:              Let us worship God!

* Hymn #261: Let Every Christian Pray (v. 1-3)

* Invocation (based on Genesis 11:1-9)     Anna Kennedy

Send your Holy Spirit to us today as we worship, O God. We have confused ourselves as much and more than those who attempted the Tower of Babel. We have striven for the heights of pride, and we have tumbled to the depths of failure. Unite us as creatures of the Earth. Unite us in love and compassion. Unite us in your praise. Amen.

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD  

Anthem: Bread for the World             Rick Mazurowski

Time with the Children          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Romans 8:14-17     Anna Kennedy
 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness^[ with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

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 nation 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: ‘Men of Judea 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.”

Sermon: Visions and Dreams             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer              Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Please join 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 and ever. Amen

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

Call to Offering                Anna Kennedy

We dream of a world at peace. We dream of a world of compassion. We dream of a world without need. Until the day our dreams are fulfilled, we bring our gifts to God with the prayer that they build this world of which we dream. 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: Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song                Rick Mazurowski

* 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         Anna Kennedy

Accept our gifts and our prayers, O God, and send us the Holy Spirit through which our dreams and your vision of peace might be made real. Amen.

* Hymn #286: Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness (v. 1-4)

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson                                               

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Toccata on ‘Come Holy Ghost’    Rick Mazurowski

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

Bread for the World
Bernadette Farrell
© 1990 Bernadette Farrell,
Published by OCP.
All rights reserved.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song
Alan Smith
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Toccata on ‘Come Holy Ghost’
Rick Mazuroski
Streamed by permission of the composer

IMPORTANT DATES

Today—Council Meeting after worship

Sunday, June 29—Sabbatical presentation with Pastor Eric, after worship, includes potluck. Everyone is invited.

Mondays, 11:30 a.m. –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com to sign up.
 
Wednesdays, 5 p.m. Bible Study in Pastor’s Study and via Zoom. The meeting link will be in the Weekly Chime. No Bible Study this week or next. Bible Study resumes on June 25.

Wednesdays, 12 noon –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.