Led by Revd George Mwaura
Talk by Barbara Keal

Gathering Music

Welcome and Greetings

Opening Prayer

Living God, today, as we gather to celebrate harvest,
we are mindful that there are places here in our country and across the globe
where crops have been seriously affected by extreme weather.
For many the harvest has not been plentiful, and for many more it hasn’t come at all.
Instead there is only the prospect of hunger.
We pray especially for our sisters and brothers in the Horn of Africa,
where famine stalks, stopping any harvest they hoped to see;
where the threat of conflict and climate change combine to strangle hope.
The most vulnerable suffer first and, without sharing compassion, millions will die.
God, in your mercy, set us in solidarity and unite us in hope that has been dried up by famine.
We pray that you rain generosity and justice onto our fields, our communities and our churches
in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Hymn: Come, ye thankful people, come

Come, ye thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest-home!
All be safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin;
God, our maker, doth provide
for our wants to be supplied;
come to God’s own temple, come;
raise the song of harvest-home!

We ourselves are God’s own field,
fruit unto his praise to yield;
wheat and tares together sown,
unto joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear:
grant, O harvest Lord, that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,
and shall take his harvest home;
from his field shall purge away
all that doth offend, that day,
give his angels charge at last
in the fire the tares to cast,
but the fruitful ears to store
in his garner evermore.

Then, thou Church triumphant, come,
raise the song of harvest-home;
all be safely gathered in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there for ever purified
in God’s garner to abide;
come, ten thousand angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest-home!

Henry Alford (1810–1871)
CCL31580

Introduction to Theme

Prayers of thanksgiving and confession

Lord of Harvest, we thank you for all of creation:
for food and vegetables, for trees and flowers, for fish and animals.
Above all we thank you for the gift of people.
May we always remember that what we have, comes from you.
May we have generous hearts that share and respectful hearts that care
for all you have entrusted to us especially this fragile earth.
But Lord we remember with sadness the awful damage we have caused the earth
and all your creation and so:

For our foolish and careless use
of the gifts of your creation,

Lord have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

For our indifference to the needs of others,
our brothers and sisters for whom you died,

Christ have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

For our neglect of fellowship
and the means of grace in worship and private prayer,

Lord have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
Hear then Christ’s word of grace to us:

Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

Prayer of the Week

Creator God, you crown the year with your goodness
and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season:
grant that we may use them to your glory and for the relief of those in need and for our own wellbeing; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord who showed compassion on those who were hungry.

Amen

Jeremiah 29: 4–11

⁴ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ⁵ ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. ⁶ Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. ⁷ Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.’ ⁸ Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. ⁹ They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,’ declares the Lord.

¹⁰ This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

NIV®

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn: For the healing of the nations

For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord,
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.

Lead us, Father, into freedom,
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.

All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life’s brief span.

You, Creator-God, have written
your great name on all mankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind;
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.

Fred Kaan (1929–2009)
CCL31580

Romans 15: 8–13

⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹ and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
  I will sing the praises of your name.’

¹⁰ Again, it says,

‘Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.’

¹¹ And again,

‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.’

¹² And again, Isaiah says,

‘The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.’

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

NIV®

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Procession of Coat of Hopes

Talk

By Barbara Keal

Musical meditation

Affirmation of Faith

We believe and trust in God the Father,
who made the earth and all its inhabitants.

We believe and trust in his Son, Jesus Christ,
who redeemed the world after the fall.

We believe and trust in the Holy Spirit,
who sustains life and renews creation.

Amen

Prayers and Intercessions

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Amen

Sharing Peace

We read in Isaiah 55:

You shall go out in joy
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you<
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands…

Friends, may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
and all God’s creation as you come and go…

And also with you!

Share peace!

Notices

Service and Celebrations for Black History Month

Sunday, 9 October 2022

Mr Richard Reddie’s Sermon was based on the Gospel reading and was well received. This has been reproduced on the website. Members, appreciated the questions and answers session, and the fact that Richard joined us over lunch, as this allowed some folk the opportunity to speak with him. During the service, we were graced with poetry readings by Miss Maureen Onwunali, a member of our church. Folk showed their appreciation with warm applause. The music, prayers and readings were well-crafted, in keeping with the theme, thanks to our clergy Ernesto and George, and Adrian, our Musical Director.

After the service, everyone went to the Guildhall, where we enjoyed a tasty bring-and-share lunch. We viewed artefacts from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. Excerpts from this year’s Racial Justice Sunday pack highlighted the theme ‘What’s it got to do with me? Racial justice is everyone’s business.’ The entire morning’s events displayed a rich international diversity of songs, prayers, artefacts, traditional outfits and foods. Church Family, thank you for your presence, participation, and contribution.

‘To God Be the Glory”

Glynne Gordon-Carter

Harvest Thanksgiving

This Sunday we have of our Harvest Thanksgiving. We are asking you to consider whether you can give a financial gift to support the work of Cornerstone. A flyer containing details of how to make your gift along with an envelope was included with this last week’s Notice Sheet. Extra flyers and envelopes can be obtained from the Stewards.

Thank you for your support, it is much appreciated.

Janet Trimnell
steward.cccmk@gmail.com

Church Membership Renewals 2022

Each year as church members we have to complete information for our parent churches. This year we have agreed to do it slightly differently: easier for members and easier for our Stewardship Secretary. Instead of sending everyone blank Membership and Gift Aid forms to be written out from scratch, it was agreed that church members who had previously supplied their email address could receive a copy of their previous completed membership form. The member is asked to check the details on their form and email the Stewardship Secretary steward.cccmk@gmail.com, saying whether or not changes were needed, e.g. change of address etc. This would greatly reduce the effort required to update church records. For those members who are new this year, or whose Membership and Gift Aid forms were not supplied by email last year, please can you email steward.cccmk@gmail.com to receive a blank form for you to complete and return by email to her?

If you do not have email access, paper Renewal and Gift Aid forms will be given or posted to you, together with reply envelopes addressed to the Stewardship Secretary.

Creative Expressions of Faith – A Black History Month Event

10.30 am – 3.30 pm Saturday, 29 October 2022
Servant King Church & Community Centre, Dulverton Drive, Furzton MK4 1NA

This special day brings together the creative expression of faith to celebrate black heritage through art, dance, music, poetry and more.

The event is for anyone who would like to explore the richness and depth of black heritage and celebrate the influence of black history in the UK.

Find out more and book your free place at:
eventbrite.co.uk/e//creative-expressions-of-faith-tickets-427930330137

Piano Recital by John Robertson

St Mary & St Giles, Stony Stratford: 3.00–4.30 pm Sunday, 30 October 2022

John Robertson, whom many Cornerstone members will remember as Director of Ecumenical Mission with the Milton Keynes Mission Partnership, is giving a piano recital as part of the Music for All at SMSG programme. He will be performing pieces by Bach, Beethoven and Chopin. Entry is £10 on the door, and refreshments will be available.

Cornerstone Shop Stamps and Christmas Cards

The Cornerstone Shop has a stock of the current second-class stamps. Anyone buying Christmas cards from the shop can buy books of twelve second-class stamps at £7 (normally £7.92).

Closing hymn: We plough the fields and scatter

We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God’s almighty hand;
he sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.

All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above,
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,
for all his love.

He only is the maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star.
The wind and waves obey him,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us his children,
he gives our daily bread.

All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above,
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,
for all his love.

…We thank thee then, O Father,
for all things bright and good:
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
No gifts have we to offer
for all thy love imparts,
but that which thou desirest,
our humble, thankful hearts.

All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above,
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,
for all his love.

Matthias Claudius (1740–1815)
tr. Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817–1878)
CCL31580

Benediction

May our creating God, who is the source of all goodness and growth,
pour his blessing upon all things created, and upon you his children
that you may use them to his glory and the welfare of all people.

And the blessings of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
rest and remain upon you all today and always.

Amen

The Dismissal

Church, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.

Amen