Category: Worship Services

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, September 28, 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

Leader:   Woe to those who lounge on beds of ivory.
People:  Woe to those who eat lambs from the flock and calves from the stall.

Leader:   Woe to those who sing idle songs and make ignorant music.
People:  Woe to those who drink their wine and anoint themselves with perfume.

Leader:   Woe to those who do not grieve for the ruin of the people.
People:  Woe to those who revel amidst the grief of the poor, for God will not forget their callousness.

All:           Let us worship God!

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

* Invocation: (based on Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16)     Anna Kennedy

Open your wings so that we might take shelter, O God. Deliver us from the snares and illnesses that beset us. Cover us with your feathers and embrace us in the safety of your care. In you we will not fear the terror of the night; we will not fear the harms of the day. As we call to you, answer us with rescue and salvation. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Sonata Opus 2 Nr 1 Movement 2 Adagio               Mace Peng  

Time with the Children           Rev. Eric Anderson

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15    Anna Kennedy
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah, where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. Zedekiah had said, ‘Why do you prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord: I am going to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

 Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’ Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.

 And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.

Luke 16:19-31
 ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”’

Sermon: Are You Convinced? 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 #563: We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Anna Kennedy

Generosity is a crucial element of a Christian life. When we withhold our resources from others, we close our spirits to God. When we share with others, God visits us with grace. 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         Anna Kennedy

Accept the gifts, O God, which we have presented to you this day. Visit us with your grace and peace as we open our souls to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

* Hymn #562: Take My Gifts (v. 1-3)

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Please be seated

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Great Is Our Lord    Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

Month of September – Foodland’s Give Aloha — donate to Church of the Holy Cross at any of your local Foodland or Sack N Save

Today, September 28 – J’s Mini Market

Mondays, 11:30 a.m. -Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com to sign up.

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          Anna Kennedy 
Chapel Decorations  Jane and Janine Kawazoe,
in memory of Masaji Kawazoe
Organist / Pianist     Kayleen Yuda   
Guest Pianist Mace Peng
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

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, September 21, 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

Leader:         Praise the LORD! Those who serve God, praise the name of the LORD.
People:        Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time on and forevermore.

Leader:         From the rising of the sun to its setting, praise the name of the LORD.
People:        The LORD rises high above the nations; God’s glory is beyond the
                        heavens.

Leader:         God raises the poor from the dust and the needy from the dump.
People:        The LORD makes them sit with princes in honor and peace.

All:                 Let us worship God!

* Hymn #471: What a Covenant (v. 1-3)

You have warned us, O God, through Law, prophets, apostles, and history, that forgetting your guidance has consequences. May we never become a people taunted by our neighbors for our misfortunes, mocked and derided by those around us. Instead, may we be the fortunate who have been forgiven of sin and raised in spirit by your abundant grace. Amen.

Please be seated

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1                     Peter Braun
My joy is gone, grief is upon me,
    my heart is sick.
Hark, the cry of my poor people
    from far and wide in the land:
‘Is the Lord not in Zion?
    Is her King not in her?’
(‘Why have they provoked me to anger with their images,
    with their foreign idols?’)
‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
    and we are not saved.’
For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt,
    I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.

 Is there no balm in Gilead?
    Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my poor people
    not been restored?
O that my head were a spring of water,
    and my eyes a fountain of tears,
so that I might weep day and night
    for the slain of my poor people!

* 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

O God who is the Prince of Peace, accept these gifts and guide them toward the quiet and peaceful lives of your human family. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

* Hymn #591: This Is My Song (v. 1-2)

Announcements                               Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                                       Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Great God of Glory            Kayleen Yuda

* Please stand if you are able.

PERMISSIONS

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Robert J. Hughes
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

What a Covenant
Text by Elisha A. Hoffman, c. 1887
Tune LEANING by Anthony J. Showalter, 1887
Public Domain

Dream of Peace
Text and tune by Eric Anderson, 2022
© 2022 by Eric Anderson
Streamed by permission of the author

When Peace, Like a River
Text by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
Tune VILLE DU HAVRE by Philip P. Bliss, 1876
Public Domain

God’s Love Surrounds Us
Carl Simone
Tune: © Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

This Is My Song
Text by Lloyd Stone, 1934
© 1934 Lorenz Publishing Co.
Tune FINLANDIA by Jean Sibelius, 1899
Arr. for The Hymnal, 1933
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Great God of Glory
David Paxton
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

IMPORTANT DATES

Month of September – Foodland’s Give Aloha — donate to Church of the Holy Cross at any of your local Foodland or Sack N Save

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, September 14, 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

*Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 14)      Ming Peng

Leader:   There are people in the world who acknowledge no authority over them.

People:  All too often, they will not restrain their actions, and those around them suffer.

Leader:   God looks upon the earth and wonders: Are there any who are wise? Are there    any who seek God?
People:  Sometimes it is hard to find even one who does good, even one.

Leader:   While some would confound the plans of the poor, the LORD is their refuge.
People:  May deliverance come to us all from the grace and strength of our God!

All:           Let us worship God!

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

*Invocation: (based on Psalm 51:1-10)      Ming Peng

Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love. We are not perfect. We have taken our own roads when your direction was clear. We have sinned against you, and stand guilty. Teach us wisdom in our inmost heart. Purge us from sin. Wash us clean, and we shall lift our voices in gladness and joy. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within us. Amen.

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Simple Gifts     Kayleen Yuda

Time with the Children           Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Ming Peng
 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke 15:1-10
Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

 ‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’

Sermon: One Silver Coin           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 #547: Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound (v. 1-5)

Call to Offering                Ming Peng  

Jesus asks a great deal of us, but also forgives an enormous amount in us. We may struggle from day to day and week to week, but Jesus will always love us. Let us respond to that love with our offerings today. 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: Morning Song          Kayleen Yuda

* Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost – Amen

*Offertory Prayer          Ming Peng

O God of mercy, accept these gifts from your grateful people. As you receive them, bless them so that others may hear more easily and more effectively of your love and grace. Amen.

* Hymn #553: There Is a Balm in Gilead (v. 1-3)

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Elizabethan Postlude         Kayleen Yuda

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

Month of September – Foodland’s Give Aloha — donate to Church of the Holy Cross at any of your local Foodland or Sack N Save

Today, September 14— Council meeting after worship in the lounge

Mondays, 11:30 a.m. -Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com to sign up.

Saturday, Sept 20: Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Lili`uokalani Gardens, 8:00 AM. Come and join as a walking participant, or donate to our church’s walking group (on-line, or by check/cash to a walker.)

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, September 7, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship September 7, 2025
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude: Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart  Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 1)        Christian Albano

Leader:   Happiness does not come from following the ways of the wicked.
People:  May we keep from the path that sinners tread.

Leader:   A satisfied soul reflects on the law of the LORD and finds there its delight.
People:  The ways of God feed our spirits like water feeds the roots of the trees.

Leader:   The wicked will bow their heads to the judgment of the LORD,
People:  The LORD watches over the way of the righteous and brings them peace.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #455: I Am Yours, O Lord (v. 1-4)

* Invocation (Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18)           Christian Albano

You have known us and searched us, O God, from when we rise each dawn to when we lie down each night. You have watched us follow our path; you know all our ways. Such knowledge is too great for us. We cannot attain it. We, your wonderfully made creations, praise you in this time of worship, for in each moment and in each day, we are still with you. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem:                              IYAA

Time with the Children          Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-21    Christian Albano
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith towards the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.

For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Luke 14:25-33
Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Sermon: Consider           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                Christian Albano

Jesus asks a great deal of us, and leaves it to us to decide whether and how to give it. Jesus asks your help today for those who need the assurance of our collective love and care. Let us demonstrate that we are a faithful part of the Body of Christ. 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: Kedron           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

O God of Jesus, who gave all, receive these gifts from your Church. May we lift hearts and souls; may we meet the hungers of body and spirit, through these offerings and your grace. Amen.

Hymn #336: Here, O My Lord, I See You Face to Face (v. 1-3)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

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

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Trumpet Dialogue Professional Kayleen Yuda

Permissions

Important Dates

Today, September 7 – Board of Trustees meeting after Worship Service in the Lounge

Month of September – Foodland’s Give Aloha — donate to Church of the Holy Cross at any of your local Foodland or Sack N Save

September 20, Sunday – Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Lili`uokalani Gardens, 8:00 AM. Please join us as walkers, or donate to our church’s group of walkers.

Mondays, 11:30 a.m. –Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth (rnduponte07@gmail.com) to sign up.

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            Christian Albano
Chapel Decoration      Joyce Nakamoto
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.

Thank you for joining us for this live stream (or recording, as the case may be) of Sunday worship. May it bless you! You may need to click “Play” to launch the stream, which will be live around 9:50 AM.

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, August 31, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship August 31, 2025
Twelfth 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 112)  Cindy Debus

Leader:   Happy are those who honor the LORD and delight in God’s commandments.
People:  They rise in darkness as a light for the upright. They are gracious, merciful, and righteous.

Leader:   May all be well with those who act with generosity and justice.
People:  May the righteous be remembered forever!

Leader:   They have given to the poor, their names are spoken in honor.
People:  The hearts of the righteous are steady; they will not be afraid, for they are secure in the LORD.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #454: Lord, I Want To Be a Christian (v. 1-4)

* Invocation: (Psalm 81:1, 10-16)    Cindy Debus

We sing aloud to you, O God our strength. We raise our voices to the God of Creation. We know that we falter and fail in our faith. We do not bridle our stubborn hearts, and it works out badly for us time and again. Help us to listen to you, to walk in your ways. Feed us on the finest wheat of your grace, and the sweet honey of your love. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Tell Us A Story           Eric Anderson

Time with the Children           Rev. Eric Anderson

Scripture: Proverbs 25:6-7     Cindy Debus
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
    or stand in the place of the great;
for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here’,
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

Luke 14:1, 7-14
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. ‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’

He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’

Sermon: Pride at Home Rev. Eric Anderson

WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED

Pastoral Prayer              Rev. Eric 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 #504: You Walk along Our Shoreline (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Cindy Debus

God’s people need your help. Some are hungry in body, some are hungry in spirit. When we pool our gifts, we can bring what God has given us to their aid. 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:                           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         Cindy Debus

Accept these gifts, O God, which even gathered together cannot meet the world’s need. Accept these gifts and let your power magnify their influence for good and for grace. Amen.

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

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric Anderson

PERMISSIONS

Lord, I Want To Be a Christian
Text: African-American spiritual
Public Domain
Tune I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN, African-American spiritual
Arr. by Joyce Finch Johnson, 1992
© The Pilgrim Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Tell Us A Story
Written by Eric Anderson
Streamed by permission of Eric Anderson

You Walk along Our Shoreline
Text by Sylvia G. Dunstan, 1984
© 1991 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc.
Tune SALLEY GARDENS trad. Irish melody
Arr. The New Century Hymnal, 1994
© 1993 The Pilgrim Press
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant?
Text by Richard Gillard, 1977
© 1977 Universal Music,
Brentwood Benson Publishing
Tune SERVANT SONG by Richard Gillard, 1977
© 1977 Brentwood Benson Publishing
Streamed by permission CCLI License #1595965

IMPORTANT DATES

Saturday, Sept 20: Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Lili`uokalani Gardens, 8:00 AM. Come and join as a walking participant, or donate to our church’s walking group (on-line, or by check/cash to a walker.)

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          Cindy Debus 
Chapel Decorations   Carol Morioka
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.

Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Sunday, August 24, 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

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 71:1-6)         Mace Peng

Leader:   Take refuge in the LORD, let God protect you from shame.
People:  Let the righteousness of the LORD deliver us and rescue us.

Leader:   The LORD is our rock and our refuge, a fortress to protect us.
People:  May the LORD rescue us from the assaults of the unjust and the cruel.

Leader:   Let the LORD be your hope and your trust whether you are keiki or kupuna.
People:  We will rely upon God, who has protected us all our lives.

All:           Let us worship God!

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

* Invocation (based on Jeremiah 1:4-10)              Mace Peng

Let your word come to us, O God; let your Holy Spirit fill us. You have known us since before we were born; you have called us as your people and your ministers. Let your words be in our mouths and your compassion in our fingers. May we be prepared to plant your grace in those nearby and proclaim it for those far away. In Jesus’ name we praise you. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: How Did Moses Cross the Red Sea          Kayleen Yuda

Scripture: Isaiah 58:9-14         Mace Peng
Then you shall call and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

If you remove the yoke from among you,
    the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you continually,
    and satisfy your needs in parched places,
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters never fail.
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
    the restorer of streets to live in.

 If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,
    from pursuing your own interests on my holy day;
if you call the sabbath a delight
    and the holy day of the Lord honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,
    serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;^[a]
then you shall take delight in the Lord,
    and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Luke 13:10-17
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day.’ But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

Sermon: Unlawful (Sort Of)     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 #401: O God in Whom All Life Begins (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Mace Peng

God has given us life, talent, and a world of resources, and God has given us these things without regard to our notions of appropriate times. Let us give for the benefit of our neighbors and community without regard to artificial notions of the “right time.” All times are the right times to give. 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: Chorale          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         Mace Peng

God who is so gracious to us, multiply these gifts which we share with our neighbors. May they find healing of body, mind, and spirit through these gifts and our sharing all week. Amen.

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

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Chorale           Kayleen Yuda

PERMISSIONS

IMPORTANT DATES

Today, August 24 – Annual Hilo Style Picnic after Worship Service

Mondays, 11:30 a.m. -Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com to sign up.

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.)

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, August 17, 2025. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily. 

Service of Worship August 17, 2025
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Prelude: Praise God       Kayleen Yuda

Lighting of the Candles

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome                            Rev. Eric S. Anderson

* Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 82)     Nalyn Ang

Leader:   Imagine the LORD in the midst of a council in heaven.
People:  We listen to hear God’s voice in the midst of holy beings.

Leader:   “How long will people judge unjustly and show favor to the wicked?” God asks.
People:  “Give justice to the weak and the orphan, maintain the right of the lowly and destitute.”

Leader:   The world is filled with people who hide justice from the poor.
People:  Rise up, O God! Judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.

All:           Let us worship God!

* Hymn #417: This Is a Day of New Beginnings (v. 1-4)

* Invocation (based on Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19)         Nalyn Ang

Lend us your ear, O God, our shepherd and protector. Stir up the might through which you save us. You have brought us to this place over the seas and over the years, and here we have found our home. Protect us from the forces that threaten us including illness, malice, and the whims of disaster; preserve our lives, so that we continuously celebrate your name. Let your face shine on us so that we may be saved. Amen.

Please be seated

WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD

Anthem: Bring Me a Rose, Apostle   Eric Anderson

Time with the Children           Eric Anderson

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:23-29             Nalyn Ang
 Am I a God nearby, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Hebrews 11:29-12:2
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Sermon: What is the Power of Faith?          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 #433: In the Bulb There Is a Flower (v. 1-3)

Call to Offering                Nalyn Ang

Faith’s gift to us is not riches, however helpful it might be to have them. Faith’s gift to us is the heart to share them with those who suffer, and to build up the human community so that it more closely resembles Christ’s vision of peace and aloha. 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: Devotion       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         Nalyn Ang

God of all our ancestors, the ancestors of our parentage and the ancestors of our faith, accept these gifts, we pray. In giving we honor those who came before us, we honor those around us who will live better because of them, and we honor you, our Savior and our God. Amen.

* Hymn #299: For All the Saints (v. 1-5)

Please be seated

Announcements             Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Benediction                      Rev. Eric S. Anderson

Postlude: Double Chorus                     Kayleen Yuda

PERMISSIONS

Praise God
Hugh S. Livingston, Jr.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

This Is a Day of New Beginnings
Text by Brian Wren, 1978
© 1987 by Hope Publishing Company
Tune BEGINNINGS by Carlton R. Young, 1987
© 1987 by Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Bring Me A Rose, Apostle
Eric Anderson
Streamed by permission of composer

In the Bulb There Is a Flower
Text by Natalie Sleeth, 1985
© 1985 by Hope Publishing Company
Tune PROMISE by Natalie Sleeth, 1985
© 1985 by Hope Publishing Company
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

Devotion
David Paxton
Tune: © 1982 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

For All the Saints
Text by William W. How, 1864
Tune SINE NOMINE by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Public Domain

Double Chorus
Roger C Wilson
Tune: © 1950 Lorenz Publishing Company,
a division of The Lorenz Corporation
(Admin. by Music Services)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890

IMPORTANT DATES

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

Mondays, 11:30 a.m. -Pickleball lessons; contact Connie 808-936-7534 or
Ruth at rnduponte07@gmail.com to sign up.

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          Nalyn Ang 
Chapel Decorations   Moira Tanaka
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, 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.