The best part of the Christmas story is, I think, the way that people surpassed themselves. It could have gone much differently. Mary found herself with child by the Holy Spirit, and she could have found herself with-out the support of her family, fiancée, and community. Instead, they believed her. They trusted her. They supported her. They loved her.
People don’t always do that, do they?
Later, caught in an unusual and unwelcome government operation, Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem to find no space available. One of the innkeepers among the many without a place for them created some basic shelter, some semblance of comfort. Meanwhile, on a hillside shepherds chose to follow the wild directions of heavenly beings. Exhausted in the stable, I can’t imagine that Gabriel’s promises of a Messiah sounded likely to Jesus’ first-time parents. When the shepherds brought the angels’ word, they also brought an assurance they desperately needed.
Later, Herod acted like an ordinary king – fearful, jealous, and violent – while foreigners took the extraordinary step (steps, actually) to celebrate the birth of one who would rule in a different way. Their stunning generosity enabled the threatened family to survive, and the infant Messiah to thrive.
Over and over again, people surpassed themselves. They did more than others expected, perhaps even more than they expected of themselves. This Christmas, surprise yourself with your goodness, your mercy, your support, your acceptance, your generosity. Surpass yourself with your family, your neighbors, and your church.
As we celebrate the surpassing worth of Christ, let us give as he would have us give.
Merry Christmas!
Eric Anderson
To support the ministry of the Church of the Holy Cross with a special gift, please visit our Donate Page.
Our monthly sing-along turns seasonal. Let’s get together and sing our favorite carols and festive songs!
December 19: Community Concert, 6:00 pm, Sanctuary
I’ll step up to the microphone with guitar and ukulele and sing both well-known and lesser-known Christmas carols, as well as sharing some of my own works. Enjoy this concert in person or via live stream!
December 20: Singalong Messiah, 4:00 pm, Sanctuary
Join together with frequent and occasional singers for this annual event celebrating the great oratorio of George Frideric Handel. Enjoy the wonderful solo performances and lift your own voice in Hallelujah! Scores will be available.
December 21: Christmas Pageant, 10:00 am, Sanctuary
The young people will bring their talents and their faith to worship on Sunday, December 21, and share this year’s Christmas Pageant, “The Goat.”
December 24: Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary
Celebrate the Night of Nights with Scripture and song, with carols and candlelight. Our renewed Holy Cross Singers will sing for the first time at this service. Praise God for the gift of Jesus in this special time of worship.
Bible Studies will continue on December 10 and 17, but will not be held on December 24 or 31.
Whether you can attend all of these events or just one or two, may you be blessed in this season and beyond. Merry Christmas!
Join us to bring holiday cheer to neighbors and friends with songs of the season. On December 7th we will visit some of the local convalescent homes as well as members who have difficulty getting about and sing some of our favorite carols.
We’ll meet at the Building of Faith at 1:00 pm and return for some supper when we’ve raised spirits with our voices.
Jesus’ birth in a stable overturns our expectations once again, confirming that God works in marvelous ways.
Here’s a transcript:
It’s Christmas Eve, so I’m thinking about the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel (Luke 2:1-14). Actually, I’m thinking about one verse:
“She gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)
Christianity is an odd and challenging faith. We believe that the most significant person to have ever lived upon the planet was born in a is stable. We believe that he was not born in the place where his parents lived, but in the place that they had had to go at the whims of a somewhat arbitrary government. We believe that he was not wrapped in fine cloth but in whatever scraps of cloth they could find. How could a person in such circumstances become the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ?
The answer, of course, is because this is how God works.
God works in the unexpected ways. God works in the ways that overturn our expectations. God works in the ways that are based upon love and growth and grace.
And those are not the ways of power or privilege, are they?
On this Christmas, remember that the Christ child teaches us that any child can become a follower of Christ. Any child can emulate the Savior. And also any adult, whatever kind of life they’ve lived up to that point, whether it’s been one of poverty or one of privilege, any human being can also become one who imitates Christ.
Let that be said of us, that we followed the way of the Savior: Love, and growth. and grace.
Merry Christmas to you one and all.
That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.
The next episode of What I’m Thinking will be posted on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
Thank you for joining us for this live stream (or recording, as the case may be) of Christmas Eve worship. May it bless you! You may need to click “Play” to launch the stream, which will be live around 6:50 PM.
Welcome to the live stream of worship from Church of the Holy Cross for Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024. You will find the service outline below, and you may download and print the PDF to follow more easily.
Christmas Eve Candle Light Service, December 24, 2024
Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Please note that audio and video of this service are being live streamed on the Internet and will be recorded. The right rear section of the sanctuary will not be captured by any cameras. Please be aware that in other sections you may be visible at times.
Prelude: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Angels from the Realms of Glory Kayleen Yuda
Opening Carol #135: O Come All Ye Faithful (v. 1-4)
Lighting of the Christ Candle: Peng Family
Family Member: The waiting ends, and the festival arrives.
Family Member: The delivery comes, and the child is born.
Family Member: Our Advent season passes to Christmas.
Family Member: Our hearts awake to sing our Savior’s praise!
All Sing:
O come, O come Emmanuel The shadows of our hopelessness dispel Let peace take root within every frame: With joy we now your love and grace proclaim. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel has come to us, O Israel.
Tune: VENI EMMANUEL
Family Member: In the first candle of Advent, we declare our Hope. In the second candle of Advent, we declare our commitment to Peace. In the third candle of Advent, we proclaim our Joy. In the fourth candle of Advent, we celebrate the Love of God. And now we light the candle in the center, the one which glows for Christ, in the center of our wreath as Christ lives at the center of our hearts. This candle glows for Hope. This candle glows for Peace. This candle glows for Joy. This candle glows for Love. This candle glows for all the world.
Unison Prayer: In Hope we raise our prayers, O God. May we ever worship you, and ever live among our neighbors, in your Peace. Let Joy lend ardor to our singing. Let Love soothe our wounded hearts and then open our hearts to share generously with the world. You have come to us in Jesus Christ, a wonder and a marvel. Bless our worship tonight with Christ’s spirit. Amen.
Service of Lessons and Carols
Please remain seated while singing these carols
Anthem: Noel Festival Holy Cross Singers
First Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Jane Kawazoe
Carol #116: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (v. 1-2)
Second Lesson: Luke 1:26-35, 38 Gloria Kobayashi
Anthem: Away in a Manger Bell Choir
Third Lesson: Luke 2:1, 3-7 Mace Peng
Anthem: O Holy Night Kanako Okita Tom Mirenda
Fourth Lesson: Luke 2:8-16 John Narruhn
Carol #144: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (v. 1-2)
Fifth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12 Joyce Nakamoto
Carol #139: The First Nowell (v. 1-3)
Sixth Lesson: John 1:1-5, 14 Stefan Tanouye
Carol #132: Joy to the World
Meditation Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Christmas Prayer Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Service of Candlelight
Carol #134: Silent Night (v. 1-3)
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Joy to the World/Hallelujah Chorus Kayleen Yuda
Permissions Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Angels from the Realms of Glory, arr. Albin Whitworth Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
O Come All Ye Faithful Text: Latin attrib. to John Francis Wade, 18th cent. Trans. by Frederick Oakeley, 1841 Tune ADESTE FIDELES 18th cent. English melody Public Domain
He Shall Feed His Flock by George Friedrich Handel Public Domain
O Come, O Come Emmanuel Text from Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, 1710 Trans. by John Mason Neale, 1852 Tune VENI EMMANUEL, 15th cent. French melody Public Domain
Away in a Manger Text Anon., 1885 Tune MULLER attrib. to James R. Murray, 1887 Public Domain
O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam, 1847 trans. by John Sullivan Dwight, 1855 Public Domain
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Text by Charles Wesley, 1739 Tune MENDELSSOHN by Felix Mendelssohn, 1840 Public Domain
The First Nowell Trad. English text Tune THE FIRST NOWELL trad. English melody Public Domain
Joy to the World! Text by Isaac Watts, 1719 Tune ANTIOCH by Lowell Mason, 1836 Public Domain
Silent Night Text by Joseph Mohr, 1818 Trans. by John F. Young, 1863 Tune STILLE NACHT by Franz Gruber, 1818 Public Domain
Pastor Rev. Eric S. Anderson Moderator Stefan Tanouye Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita Choir Director Doug Albertson Organist Kayleen Yuda Soloist Tom Mirenda Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy Projected Imagery Sue Smith Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte Videographers Eric Tanouye, Eli Yamaki Ruth Niino-DuPonte, Bob Smith Chapel Decorations
Mahalo nui to the following people who donated our Poinsettias for the Christmas season.
Please take your flowers home after the Christmas Eve service.
Nalyn Ang and Ming Peng Eric Anderson Cindy Debus Janet Fujioka Barbara Iwami Jane Kawazoe Anna Kennedy Woody and Jean Kita Gloria and Ray Kobayashi Joyce Nakamoto Tim Shintani Moira Tanaka Jean Tanouye Stefan and Jen Tanouye
What’s happening this Advent and Christmas season?
All December: The Giving Tree
Please bring gifts of canned goods and toiletries and place them beneath the Giving Tree near the entrance to the sanctuary throughout December. The Sunday School has wrapped the boxes for these gifts.
Community Sing: Friday, December 13, 6:00 pm
Join us in the sanctuary for this time when the participants choose the songs we sing. It’s likely to include more than a few Christmas carols!
Community Concert: Friday, December 20, 6:00 pm
Pastor Eric Anderson will offer a collection of holiday favorites in this one-hour concert. Join us in the sanctuary or enjoy the live stream via the Internet.
Open Messiah Sing: Saturday, December 21, 4:00 pm
Be part of a big chorus singing the Christmas section of Handel’s great oratorio, Messiah. We’ll raise our voices in the sanctuary starting at 4:00 pm.
Christmas Pageant: Sunday, December 22, 10:00 am
The Sunday School keiki invite you to enjoy this special (and certainly unique) account of the nativity story, “Where’s Joseph?” during worship on the fourth Sunday of Advent.
Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols: Tuesday, December 24, 7:00 pm
Rejoice in the gift of the Christ child during this evening of music and sacred words. Then join in a time of fellowship following the service!
May all these events feed your spirit for the celebration of Christmas.
Candle Light Service, December 24, 2023 Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Please note that audio and video of this service are being live streamed on the Internet and will be recorded. The right rear section of the sanctuary will not be captured by any cameras. Please be aware that in other sections you may be visible at times.
Prelude: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Angels from the Realms of Glory Kayleen Yuda
Opening Carol #135: O Come All Ye Faithful (v. 1-4)
Lighting of the Christ Candle: Roach Family Roach Family
Family Member: The waiting ends, and the festival arrives.
Family Member: The delivery comes, and the child is born.
Family Member: Our Advent season passes to Christmas.
Family Member: Our hearts awake to sing our Savior’s praise!
All Sing:
O come, O come Emmanuel The shadows of our hopelessness dispel Let peace take root within every frame: With joy we now your love and grace proclaim. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel has come to us, O Israel.
Tune: VENI EMMANUEL
Family Member: With each candle, our wreath grows brighter. Bright with hope and its cycle of promise, fulfillment, and promise again. Bright with peace, sustaining all life. Bright with joy, celebrating life and growth. Bright with love and its embraces, bonds, and sharing.
Family Member: And now we light the candle in the center, the one bright for Christ, in the center of our wreath as Christ should be the center of our hearts. This candle glows for Hope. This candle glows for Peace. This candle glows for Joy. This candle glows for Love. This candle glows for all the world.
Unison Prayer: In Hope we raise our prayers, O God. May we ever worship you, and ever live among our neighbors, in your Peace. Let Joy lend ardor to our singing. Let Love both soothe our hearts, and open up our hearts for kindly sharing with the world. For you have come to us in Jesus Christ, a wonder and a marvel. Bless our worship with Christ’s spirit, God. Amen.
Service of Lessons and Carols
Please remain seated while singing these carols
Anthem: He Shall Feed His Flock Kayleen Yuda Michael Springer
First Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Jennifer Tanouye
Carol #116: O Come, O Come Emmanuel (v. 1-2)
Second Lesson: Luke 1:26-35, 38 Woody Kita
Carol #124: Away in a Manger (v. 1-2)
Third Lesson: Luke 2:1, 3-7 Nalyn Ang
Anthem: O Holy Night Rachel Edwards Kanako Okita
Fourth Lesson: Luke 2:8-16 John Narruhn
Carol #144: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (v. 1-2)
Fifth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12 Gloria Kobayashi
Carol #139: The First Nowell (v. 1-3)
Sixth Lesson: John 1:1-5, 14 Jordan Nakamoto
Carol #132: Joy to the World
Meditation Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Christmas Prayer
Service of Candlelight
Carol #134: Silent Night (v. 1-3)
Benediction Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Postlude: Joy to the World/Hallelujah Chorus Kayleen Yuda
Permissions Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Angels from the Realms of Glory, arr. Albin Whitworth Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
O Come All Ye Faithful Text: Latin attrib. to John Francis Wade, 18th cent. Trans. by Frederick Oakeley, 1841 Tune ADESTE FIDELES 18th cent. English melody Public Domain
He Shall Feed His Flock by George Friedrich Handel Public Domain
O Come, O Come Emmanuel Text from Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, 1710 Trans. by John Mason Neale, 1852 Tune VENI EMMANUEL, 15th cent. French melody Public Domain
Away in a Manger Text Anon., 1885 Tune MULLER attrib. to James R. Murray, 1887 Public Domain
O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam, 1847 trans. by John Sullivan Dwight, 1855 Public Domain
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Text by Charles Wesley, 1739 Tune MENDELSSOHN by Felix Mendelssohn, 1840 Public Domain
The First Nowell Trad. English text Tune THE FIRST NOWELL trad. English melody Public Domain
Joy to the World! Text by Isaac Watts, 1719 Tune ANTIOCH by Lowell Mason, 1836 Public Domain
Silent Night Text by Joseph Mohr, 1818 Trans. by John F. Young, 1863 Tune STILLE NACHT by Franz Gruber, 1818 Public Domain
Pastor Rev. Eric S. Anderson Moderator Woody Kita Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita Choir Director & Conductor Doug Albertson Organist Kayleen Yuda Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy Childcare Coordinator Evonne Shioshita Movement Leader Genie Phillips Projected Imagery Sue Smith Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte Videographers Eric Tanouye, Bob Smith, Eli Yamaki, Ruth Niino-DuPonte Chapel Decorations Cynthia Debus
