Celebrant and Preacher: Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford
with Revd Canon Jane Haslam, Associate Archdeacon of Dorchester

Ministers: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga & Revd George Mwaura

[The Bible, the basket of prayers, and the Clergy enter the Worship Area.]

Gathering Music

Welcome

People of God,
let us walk in God’s ways;
let us sing of God’s love;
let us shout for God’s justice.
We are ready to walk, sing and shout for God’s kingdom.

People of God,
get ready to listen to all God wants to say;
get ready to change your minds and your heart;
get ready to move with God in the world.
We are ready to listen, change and move with God.

People of God,
listen for God’s voice; listen
for God’s guidance;
listen to what God is saying to us today.
We are ready to listen and to follow with all our heart.

[Silence]

Welcome to the house of God.
We have come from all the corners of the earth.

Welcome to the hospitality of God.
We come as we are; we bring our life, our stories, our journey.

Welcome, brothers and sisters.
We are the rainbow people of God.

Welcome, chosen people.
May God our companion bind us in his love.

Amen

Hymn: I, the Lord of sea and sky

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them,
they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied,
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Dan Schutte (b. 1947)
CCL31580

Confession

Led by Revd Canon Jane Haslam

Father, we confess that we are often divided;
although united in proclaiming you our king, we disagree on what that means, and what you are like.
We think you favour our church over others, and even fight among ourselves,
claiming greater knowledge, greater understanding, than any of us can possibly have.
Today, we put our differences aside and come before you as one,
to acclaim and worship you as king over all.

Kyrie (Ancient version)

Assurances of forgiveness

By Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son,
has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Peruvian Gloria

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to the Father.
Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to the Father
To him be glory forever.
To him be glory forever.
Alleluia, amen. Alleluia, amen.
Alleluia amen, alleluia amen.

Glory to God, glory to God,
son of the Father.
Glory to God, glory to God,
son of the Father.
To him be glory forever.
To him be glory forever.
Alleluia, amen. Alleluia, amen.
Alleluia amen, alleluia amen.

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to the Spirit.
Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to the Spitit
To him be glory forever.
To him be glory forever.
Alleluia, amen. Alleluia, amen.
Alleluia amen, alleluia amen.

Prayer of the Week

Father, you are the king of heaven, above all forms of earthly kingship;
Jesus, you are the king of love incarnate, our Saviour, lover of souls;
Holy Spirit, you are the spirit of divine kingship, surging among us in power and glory.
We adore you, not with gold and jewels or the symbols of earthly rulers,
but with hearts and minds open to the love and wisdom of your divine leadership.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Psalm 48

Read by Nerys Steeds

¹ Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

² Beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.
³ God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.

⁴ When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,
⁵ they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.
⁶ Trembling seized them there,
pain like that of a woman in labour.
⁷ You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish
shattered by an east wind.

⁸ As we have heard,
so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
forever.

⁹ Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.
¹⁰ Like your name, O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
¹¹ Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.

¹² Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,
¹³ consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.

¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.

NIV®

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

Mark 6: 1–13

Read by Zoe Littlecott-Prado

A Prophet without Honour

¹ Jesus left there and went to his home town, accompanied by his disciples. ² When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.

⁴Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’ ⁵He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Jesus Sends out the Twelve

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. ⁷ Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

⁸ These were his instructions: ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. ⁹ Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. ¹⁰ Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’

¹²They went out and preached that people should repent. ¹³ They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

NIV®

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

Sermon

By Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

Choral response

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in the Creator:
the maker of all things

We believe in the Son:
the redeemer of our broken world

We believe in the Spirit:
The sacred wind that binds all things together in the family of God.

Creator Father, beloved Son and living Spirit.

Amen

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Revd Canon Jane Haslam

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: In Christ alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
fullness of God in helpless Babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
scorned by the ones he came to save
till on that cross as Jesus died,
the wrath of God was satisfied,
for every sin on Him was laid;
here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground his body lay,
light of the world by darkness slain,
then bursting forth in glorious day,
up from the grave He rose again!
And as he stands in victory
sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
for I am His and He is mine –
bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ in me;
from life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
can ever pluck me from His hand;
till He returns or calls me home,
here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

Stuart Townend (b. 1963)
CCL31580

Holy Communion

Celebrated by Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

The Thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this bread to offer,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this wine to offer,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become our spiritual drink.

Blessed be God for ever.

The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.

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.

Almighty God, good Father to us all, your face is turned towards your world.
In love you gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death.
Your Word goes out to call us home to the city where angels sing your praise.

We join with them in heaven’s song:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

We bless the name of Jesus, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh,
whose brokenness and suffering makes love real,
who on the night in which he was betrayed took bread,
gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying,

Take, eat. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

After supper he took the cup saying,

Drink from this, all of you, this is my blood given for you.
Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.

This is the mystery of our faith.

Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

Therefore, as we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we acknowledge brokenness as a path to truth.
We long for the bread of tomorrow: eternally broken and so able to nourish.
We long for the new wine of the kingdom: continuously poured out that thirst may be quenched.

Send your Spirit on us now,
that by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire.
May we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you
and be welcomed at your feast in heaven, where all creation worships you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:

Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever.

Amen

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

The Communion

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

Amen

Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

[During the Holy Communion the choir will sing.]

Post Communion Prayer

Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us.
Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your spirit to give ourselves for others.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Notices

Special Leave

Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga has been granted special leave of absence by the Archdeacon of Buckingham from 8 July to 2 August 2024. Ernesto will be back for Sunday, 4 August 2024.

Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Wednesday Bible Study: St John’s gospel: Week 5
‘Festal Controversies’ (John 7 & 8)

Theme: ‘Living Water’ and ‘Light of the World’
Focus: Jesus’ teachings at the Feast of Tabernacles and the encounter with the adulteress
Key verses: John 7: 37–38; 8: 12, 24 & 58

Study questions

What does ‘living water’ symbolise in Jesus’ teachings?
How does Jesus embody ‘the light of the world’?
What does the encounter with the adulteress reveal about Jesus’ mission?

Cecilia Collard

We are saddened to learn of the death last Thursday (27 June 2024) of Cecilia (Celia) Collard, who has been a member of Cornerstone and a regular volunteer for a great many years. Her funeral will be at Cornerstone at 11.00 am on Tuesday, 16 July 2024, followed by a private family committal at the crematorium. Refreshments will be available in the Guildhall after the service. Please remember Bob and all of Celia’s family in your prayers.

Congregational Meeting and Cornerstone Church Picnic

Sunday 21 July 2024

The next Congregational Meeting will be on Sunday, 21 July, immediately after the morning service (and before the church picnic). There will be live-streaming for those at home and questions can be asked by phone. One topic will be introducing the Pastoral Friends scheme, which will bring us closer together as a church. Please bring any questions you might have about the scheme, which will be entirely optional.

Pat Kyd, Cornerstone Church Secretary

The Cornerstone Church Picnic in the Fred Roche Gardens at the back of the church will also be on 21 July 2024 after the morning service and Congregational Meeting. The picnic will be an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the gardens and will be a fun time. If it is wet the picnic will be held in the Guildhall. Please do put the date in your diary as we hope as many people as possible will attend. Please will you let Christine Mwaura know if you’re intending to come to the picnic and also if you would be willing to help with organising the picnic.

Eco Church Core Group

Cornerstone Prayer Network

Prayer is central to our Christian fellowship. The Cornerstone Prayer Network is here for people who have asked us to pray for them. Please send your prayer requests to cornerstonechurch.prayernetwork@gmail.com and the details will be passed on to the members of the Prayer Network. If your prayer request is for someone else, please check with them before sending details to the Cornerstone Prayer Network.

If you would like to become a member of the Cornerstone Prayer Network, please send your details by email to cornerstonechurch.prayernetwork@gmail.com, or speak to June Halstead after a Service in the church.

Offering

Final Prayer

Revd Canon Jane Haslam

Lead us, Lord, when we lose sight of you.
Lead us, good Lord, through darkness to your light.
Lead us through disappointment and failure to a place of new calling.
Lead us though we often struggle and sometimes do not listen to your voice.
Lead us, good Lord, deeper into your love for us.

Amen

Hymn: From heaven you came, helpless babe

From heaven you came, helpless babe,
entered our world, your glory veiled;
not to be served, but to serve,
and give your life, that we might live.
This our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,</span.
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.</span.

There in the garden of tears,
my heavy load he chose to bear;
his heart with sorrow was torn,
‘Yet not my will but yours,’ he said.
This our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,</span.
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.</span.

Come see his hands and his feet,
the scars that speak of sacrifice,
hands that flung stars into space
to cruel nails surrendered.
This our God, the Servant King,
 he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.

So let us learn how to serve,
and in our lives enthrone him;
each other’s needs to prefer,
for it is Christ we’re serving.
This our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,</span.
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.</span.

Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
CCL31580

Blessing

By Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

May the Lord bless you and keep you;
may the Lord’s face shine on you,
and be gracious to you; may the Lord’s face
turn towards you and give you peace.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you, today and always.

Amen

Dismissal

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

Amen

[The Bible, the basket of prayers, and the Clergy leave the Worship Area.]