Led by:      Revd George Mwaura

Gathering Music

Opening Responses

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you

Come once more, with eager longing, to receive the promises of God.
Out of the desert places of our lives we gather with joy and gladness.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
Our God has promised that lonely places and deserts will be glad and blossom as the rose.

The Lord has promised that the blind will be able to see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap and dance, and those who cannot speak will shout for joy.
Our God, who made heaven and earth and all that is in them, keeps faith forever. He sets the prisoners free and brings healing to those who seek him.

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down and watches over strangers. He upholds the orphan and the widow.
Our God executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. Amen! Come Lord Jesus Come!

Hymn: Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed,
great David’s greater Son!
hail, in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free,
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.

He comes with succour speedy
to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy,
and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light,
who souls, condemned and dying,
were precious in his sight.

He shall come down like showers,
upon the fruitful earth
and love, joy, hope’ like flowers,
spring in his path to birth:
before him on the mountains
shall peace, the herald, go;
and righteousness in fountains
from hill and valley flow.

Arabia’s desert-ranger
to him shall bow the knee;
the Ethiopian stranger
his glory come to see;
with offerings of devotion
ships from the isles shall meet,
to pour the wealth of ocean
in tribute at his feet.

Kings shall down before him,
and gold and incense bring;
all nations shall adore him,
his praise all people sing:
to him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend;
his kingdom still increasing,
a kingdom without end.

O’er every foe victorious,
he on his throne shall rest;
from age to age more glorious,
all-blessing and all-blest:
the tide of time shall never
his covenant remove;
his name shall stand for ever,
his changeless name of love.

James Montgomery (1771–1854)
CCL31580

Lighting the Candle

We light this candle today to remind us that Christ came, and is coming again, so that all people might have a rich and abundant life.
We thank God for the hope he gives us, for the peace he bestows, and for the joy he pours into our hearts.

The Third Advent Candle is lit

God of Joy, Emmanuel, send your light into our hearts. Help us to be ready for the day and hour of Christ’s appearing.
Fix our hearts and our minds upon those things you have done and those you have promised to do that we may have the joy you have promised.
As we worship you, strengthen us so that we may always do your will and so bless you and the world you have made.

Amen.

Prayers of Confession

God of light and promises, your Word says, ‘Rejoice always.’ But we would rather sulk about the things that don’t go right.
Your Word says, ‘Pray without ceasing..’ But we go for days without even thinking about you.
Your Word says, ‘Give thanks in all circumstances’. But our thankfulness is fleeting, because we think we deserve blessings.
Your Word says, ‘Hold fast to what is good’ ,while we hold fast to sinful ways of thinking and acting.

[Silence]

Assurance of Pardon

The prophets of old have declared:
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God.
For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robes of righteousness.

Friends, believe the good news: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

Christ our saviour,
who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you:
grant that we who follow you today as modern disciples may likewise so prepare
and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found
an acceptable people in your sight and inherit the Kingdom with you.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Isaiah 35: 1–10

Read by Rosemary Kearsey

Joy of the Redeemed

¹ The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, ² it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendour of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendour of our God.

³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
‘Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.’

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
⁹ No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
¹⁰ and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

NIV®

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

Hymn: Hills of the North, rejoice

Hills of the North, rejoice,
river and mountain-spring,
hark to the advent voice;
valley and lowland sing.
Christ comes in righteousness and love,
he brings salvaion from above.

Isles of the Southern seas,
sing to the listening earth,
carry on every breeze
hope of a world’s new birth:
in Christ shall all be made anew,
his word is pure, his promise true.

Lands of the East, arise,
he is your brightest morn,
greet him with joyous eyes
praise shall his path adorn:
your seers have longed to know their Lord;
to you he comes, the final word.

Shores of the utmost West,
lands of the setting sun,
welcome the heavenly guest
in whom the dawn has come:
he brings a never-ending light
who triumphed o’er our darkest night.

Shout, as you journey home,
songs be in every mouth,
lo, from the North they come,
from East and West and South:
in Jesus all shall find their rest,
in him the universe be blest.

Editors of English Praise (1975), based on Charles E. Oakley (1832–1865)
CCL31580

Matthew 11: 2–11

Read by Robin Kyd

Jesus and John the Baptist

² When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’

⁴ Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.’

⁷ As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

‘ “I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.”

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

NIV®

This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.

Jesus’ Christmas Party

By Nicholas Allen

Performed by the Cornerstone Sunday School

Reflection

By Revd George Mwaura

Choral Response

Intercessions

Led by Adrian Boynton

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

Offertory

Cornerstone Choir

Notices

Cornerstone Christmas Appeal 2022

The beneficiaries of our appeal this year will be Advantage Africa, Citizens Advice, and the Winter Night Shelter (now operating all year round). All the money raised will go to these charities (we do not take out any expenses).  Leaflets and donation envelopes for the appeal are available in the Reception area if you haven’t already received them. We know budgets might be tight this year, but please give as generously as you are able. Please put donation envelopes in the collection plates at any service up to 31 December 2022 – or hand them in at the Reception desk during the week.

Please make cheques payable to ‘Cornerstone Christmas Appeal’.

You can also donate by online or telephone banking using the following account details:
Metro bank business account number: 43302825
Account name: Cornerstone Christmas Appeal
Sort code: 23 05 80
Please write ‘Xmas’ as the payment reference.

A huge ‘thank you’, on behalf of all the people our charities will support using your donations.

Peter Cope

Churches Together in Milton Keynes

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 18–25 January 2023

During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18–25 January 2023) there are events taking place across the city to celebrate the launch of Churches Together in Milton Keynes (CTMK) and Cornerstone will be hosting one of the events.  Full details are available at:
https://www.ctmk.church/2022/10/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2023.html.

On Sunday, 22 January 2023 there will be a performance of A Child of our Time by Michael Tippett and the Bach Magnificat by the choir supported by an orchestra and some excellent soloists. As this is very much a church event it would be good to have people to help with various things like setting up, stewarding and interval refreshments. If you would like to help, please speak to Ann Wilson or Adrian Boynton, who will be very pleased to have your support.

Because it has not been possible to recruit a voluntary orchestra this will be a ticketed event and tickets will be available to Cornerstone Members at the reduced cost of £17 and £13.

Ann Wilson and Adrian Boynton

Closing Hymn: You shall go out with joy

You shall go out with joy
and be led forth with peace.
The mountains and the hills will
break forth before you;
there’ll be shouts of joy,
and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands.

And all the trees of the field
will clap their hands,
the trees of the field
will clap their hands
The trees of the field
will clap their hand,
while you go out with joy.

[Repeat]

Stuart Dauermann (1975)
CCL31580

Hymn: You shall go out with joy

Benediction

Friends, go out with joy for the health of the living God is among you and within you.
Go out into the world buoyantly and boldly
and may the laughter of the saving Christ,
the cheerfulness of the lively Spirit,
and the joy of the everlasting God, be with you now and always.

Amen

The Dismissal

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

Amen