Celebration of Wholeness and Healing with Holy Communion – Live Streamed – Sunday, 28 April 2024
Celebrant: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Jeremiah 17: 14
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.
Jeremiah 30: 17
But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’
Jeremiah 33: 6
Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.
Psalm 6: 2
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
Psalm 41: 3
The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
Psalm 103: 2–3
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
Psalm 147: 3
He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.
Gathering Music
Welcome
Lord God, pour out your healing grace on all who are sick, injured or disabled
that they may be made whole.
Grant to them a willingness to accept the support of others who care for them
and awareness of your presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hear us, O Lord of life.
Gathering Prayer
Lord, you invite all who are burdened to come to you.
In that spirit, we come in prayer, asking for your healing touch
on those in our catholic health-care family who suffer from injury, illness, or other heavy burdens.
Touch their hearts with your courage and infinite love.
Teach them to reach out to you in their need, and help them to lead others to you by their example.
Bring them health in body and spirit, that they may serve you with all their strength.
Touch gently their lives, which you have created for your glory, now and for ever.
Amen
Hymn: Bless the Lord, my soul
Bless the Lord my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion.
Bless the Lord my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
Prayers of Penitence
We come in penitence for journeys not shared with those who needed companionship.
We come in sorrow for not walking with and talking with those who needed us most.
We come in sadness that we have let ourselves and others down, and let you down
when we have not accompanied those who have been searching for you.
We confess our failings and seek forgiveness,
as we seek also to forgive those who have not walked with us
because the burden was too heavy for them as well.
In penitence we seek forgiveness.
Bless the Lord my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
God does not treat us according to our sins
nor repay us according to our faults.
Bless the Lord my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
Assurance of Forgiveness
The Lord forgives those who repent of their sins, of their failings and faults
and the Lord travels with us on our journey in life.
Amen
Bless the Lord my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
the Lord has pity on those who fear him;
for he knows of what we are made.
he remembers that we are dust.
Bless the Lord my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
© Ateliers et Presses de Taizé
CCL31580
Ministry of the Word
Psalm 41: 1–4 & 10–13
Read by Bob Collard
1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
2 The Lord protects and preserves them –
they are counted among the blessed in the land –
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness.
4 I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord;
heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
…
10 But may you have mercy on me, Lord;
raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 Because of my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.
13 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen
NIV®
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Mark 6: 53–56
Read by Veronica Fernandes
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
NIV®
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.
Meditation
The Whole Life Podcast – LICC
Historian Tom Holland talk about his own supernatural experience.
This is the YouTube link for the complete podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG6xIvxrd20.
Laying on of Hands and Anointing
Hear the prayer we offer for all your people.
Remember in your mercy those for whom we pray:
heal the sick, raise the fallen, strengthen the fainthearted
and enfold in your love the fearful and those who have no hope.
In the fullness of time complete your gracious work.
Amen
Beloved Lord, your apostles anointed the sick in your name,
bringing wholeness and joy to a broken world.
By your grace renewed each day you continue the gifts of healing in your Church
that your people may praise your name for ever.
By the power of your Spirit may your blessing rest on those
who are anointed with this oil in your name;
may they be made whole in body, mind and spirit.
Blessing of the Oil
God of all consolation, you chose and sent your Son to heal the world.
Graciously listen to our prayer of faith:
send the power of your Holy Spirit, the Consoler, into this precious oil,
this soothing ointment, this rich gift, this fruit of the earth.
Bless this oil + and sanctify it for our use.
Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it;
heal them in body, in soul, and in spirit, and deliver them in every affliction.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
In the name of God and trusting in his might alone,
receive Christ’s healing touch to make you whole.
May Christ bring you wholeness of body, mind and spirit,
deliver you from every evil, and give you, his peace.
Amen
[Members of the Mothers Union will join the Minister to pray for people.]May you believe and trust that the only name under heaven given for health and salvation
is the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
Prayers of Intercession
Read by Cheryl Montgomery
Let us bring before our compassionate God the needs of our community.
God of Compassion, we pray for all those in need of recovery from illness or injury.
Grant them your power, which turns sickness into health and suffering into joy.
Lord, hear our prayer.
God of Compassion, we pray for all who are suffering in our catholic health-care family,
those we are aware of and those whose suffering is known to you alone.
Grant them mercy and relief, forbearance, and renewed life.
Lord, hear our prayer.
God of Compassion, we pray for family and friends.
Grant them resilience and gentleness, patience and faithfulness.
Let their hope be in you, and by their ministry of love let your love be known.
Lord, hear our prayer.
God of Compassion, we pray for those who serve to heal others.
Bless and guide physicians, nurses, technicians, and all others who work for healing.
Grant them wisdom and skill, compassion, and patience.
Lord, hear our prayer.
As our Saviour taught us, we pray:
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
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people;
in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon us
and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls,
and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen
The Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.
The peace of God be always with you.
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Hymn: Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks with a grateful heart.
Give thanks to the Holy One.
Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son. [Repeat]
And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor sat ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us. [Repeat]
Give thanks.
Henry Smith (b. 1952)
CCL31580
Celebration of the Eucharist
The table of bread and wine is now to be made ready.
So come to this table, you who have much faith and you who would like to have more;
you who have been here often and you who have not been for a while;
you who have tried to follow Jesus, and you who have failed. Come.
It is Christ who invites us to meet him here.
Let us pray.
Loving God, through your goodness we have this bread and wine to offer,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
May we know your presence in the sharing of this bread,
so that we may know your touch in all bread, all matter.
We celebrate the life that Jesus has shared among his community through the centuries,
and shares with us now.
Made one in Christ, and one with each other,
we offer these gifts and with them ourselves, a single, holy, living sacrifice.
Amen
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
We offer you praise, dear God, and hearts lifted high,
for in the communion of your love Christ comes close to us and we come close to Christ.
Therefore, with the whole realm of nature around us, with earth, sea, and sky, we sing to you.
With the angels of light who envelop us, with all the saints before and beside us,
with brothers and sisters, east and west, we sing to you.
And with our loved ones, separate from us now, who yet in this mystery are close to us,
we join in the song of your unending greatness:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is our brother Jesus, who walks with us the road of our world’s suffering,
and who is known to us in the breaking of bread.
On the night of his arrest Jesus took bread and having blessed it
he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:
This is my body, given to you.
In the same way he took wine and having given thanks for it,
he poured it out and gave the cup to his disciples, saying:
This cup is the new relationship with God, sealed with my blood.
Take this and share it.
Hear us, O Christ, and breathe your Spirit upon us, and upon this bread and wine.
May they become for us your body, vibrant with your life, healing, renewing, and make us whole.
And as the bread and wine which we now eat and drink are changed into us,
may we be changed again into you, bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh, loving and caring in the world.
Amen
Prayer after Communion
Living God, in this sacrament we have shared in your eternal kingdom.
May we who taste this mystery forever serve you in faith, hope, and love.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord.
Amen
Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever.
Amen
Notices
Brief Congregational Meeting
Following 10.00 am Service this Sunday (28 April 2024)
Immediately after the Sunday morning Service there will be a brief Congregational Meeting. Church members will be asked to approve transfer of assets from the existing charity no. 1122083 to the CIO charity no. 1202248, and then the closure of charity no. 1122083 when the CIO becomes operational on or around 1 May 2024. This will agree the formal closing of the Ecumenical Partnership charity and opening of the Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership CIO charity.
The Service will be live-streamed for those at home. During the meeting, if you wish to ask a question online, please can you email it to me pat_kyd@yahoo.co.uk and I will pass it on.
Pat Kyd
Clerk to the Ecumenical Partnership / Secretary to Cornerstone CIO
World Café and Networking Event on Climate Action in MK
2.00–5.00 pm Sunday, 19 May 2024 at Cornerstone
Milton Keynes Climate Action Network (MKCAN) are organising an afternoon of collaboration and networking where you’ll be able to meet with local groups and individuals who are passionate about taking action on climate change. We are meeting to learn, share ideas and support each other in our efforts to create a more sustainable future. Groups attending will include: MK Eco Church Network, MK Biodiversity, MK Letnet (local trading & exchange network), MK Transition Town, Wolverton Community Energy, Extinction Rebellion, Climate Café MK and The Parks Trust.
Please come and find out more about what’s going on to tackle climate change. Booking is required: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/855393975407?aff=oddtdtcreator
Eco Church Core Group
Citizens:MK – Listening on housing and homelessness
Housing that is affordable, secure and habitable is crucial to security, well-being and health. Too many in the UK are living in housing that is insecure, unaffordable or of sub-standard quality. Across the country, Citizens alliances have campaigned successfully on housing and homelessness, but much more needs to be done both locally and at the national level. Citizens:MK wants to hear about housing and homelessness issues in Milton Keynes ahead of the Citizens Assembly on Wednesday,1 May 2024, here in Cornerstone. Please share your thoughts with Rick Mutwarasibo or David Chapman.
David Chapman
Christian Aid Week 12–18 May 2024
This year we will be raising money to help Christian Aid in its work to push back against the inhumanity of poverty across the world. You can make a donation online now by following this link: https://fundraise.christianaid.org.uk/envelope-2024/christian-aid-week-0 or you can use your smart phone to scan the QR code below. This is Cornerstone’s ‘electronic envelope’ and money donated via this link will be recorded as part of Cornerstone’s fundraising for Christian Aid.
We are also looking for people to help organise fundraising for the week. Could you, for example, coordinate a cake sale after the Sunday morning Service on 12 May 2024? If you can offer to help, please get in touch with David Chapman: david@dachapman.free-online.co.uk.
Offering
Hymn: Give me joy in my heart
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
give me joy in my heart, I pray.
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising.
Keep me praising till the end of day.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the King!
Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting,
give me peace in my heart, I pray.
Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting.
Keep me resting till the end of day.
Sing hosanna! …
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
give me love in my heart, I pray.
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving.
Keep me serving till the end of day.
Sing hosanna! …
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning,
give me oil in my lamp, I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.
Keep me burning to the end of day.
Sing hosanna! …
Traditional
CCL31580
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ,
Amen