Holy Communion – Live Streamed – Sunday, 6 October 2024
Preacher: Revd George Mwaura
Celebrant: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Gathering Music
Welcome
When we don’t have all the answers,
we can still be faithful.
When everything is going wrong,
we can still be faithful.
When we have no words to express our pain,
we can still be faithful.
When others let us down,
we can still be faithful,
for God remains faithful to us.
Amen
[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: Love divine, all loves excelling
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temples leave.
There we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above;
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation:
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
CCL31580
Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have questioned
your goodness, power, or justice when we face suffering or evil.
We have doubted your promises, which are sure and true.
We have neglected the praise that is due to your name.
We confess that we have not followed the example of Job,
who remained faithful to you despite his trials.
We have failed to trust in you or seek your will in all circumstances.
Forgive us, O God, for our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation, help us to hold fast to our integrity,
and to worship you in spirit and truth.
Loving God, your forgiveness heals hurts and restores relationships.
Give us a spirit of compassion and kindness, that we may do likewise.
Amen
Prayer of the Week
Living God, like the psalmist, we come before you, seeking vindication and examination.
We pray that our hearts and minds are pure before you. That we may walk in integrity and faithfulness.
Search us O Lord, and know us, testing our thoughts and intentions.
We long to be in your presence, to sing songs of thanksgiving and tell of your wondrous deeds.
In our relationships, may we reflect Christ’s love for the church – unbreakable and enduring.
In your never-ending mercies, redeem us and be gracious to us in Jesus’ mighty name.
Amen
Ministry of the Word
Psalm 26
Read by Bob Collard
1 Vindicate me, Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the Lord
and have not faltered.
2 Test me, Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
4 I do not sit with the deceitful,
nor do I associate with hypocrites.
5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and go about your altar, Lord,
7proclaiming aloud your praise
and telling of all your wonderful deeds.
8 Lord, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,
whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 I lead a blameless life;
deliver me and be merciful to me.
12 My feet stand on level ground;
in the great congregation I will praise the Lord/
NIV®
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God,
and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you;
allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.
Ask and it shall be given unto you,
seek and ye shall find.;
knock and itshall be opened unto you;
allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.
We shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of God;
allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.
Karen Lafferty (1948–2013)
CCL31580
Mark 10: 2–12
Read by Rosemary Goldie
Divorce
2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’
3 ‘What did Moses command you?’ he replied.
4 They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.’
5 ‘It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,’ Jesus replied. 6 ‘But at the beginning of creation God “made them male and female.” 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.’
NIV®
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.
Meditation
By Revd George Mwaura
[Silence]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 Adrian Boynton
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: Bind us together
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together with cords
that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together,
bind us together with love.
There is only one God,
there is only one King.
There is only one Body,
that is why we sing:
Bind us together, Lord, …
Made for the glory of God,
purchased by his precious Son,
born with the right to be free,
for Jesus the victory has won.
Bind us together, Lord, …
You are the family of God,
you are the promise divine,
you are God’s chosen desire,
you are the glorious new wine.
Bind us together, Lord, …
Bob Gillman (b. 1946)
CCL31580
Holy Communion
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
We come to this table, not because we must, but because we may,
not because we are strong, but because we are weak.
We come, not because any goodness of our own gives us a right to come,
but because we need mercy and help.
We come, because we love the Lord a little and would like to love him more.
We come, because he loved us and gave himself for us.
We come and meet the risen Christ, for we are his Body.
Post Communion Prayer
Eternal Father, we thank you for nourishing us with these heavenly gifts:
may our communion strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and make us grow in love;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Notices
Online Vigil for Peace
8.00 pm Monday, 7 October
Join Christian Aid one year on from 7 October 2023, to pause, pray and stand in solidarity for peace.
Sign up at: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/events/gaza-appeal-vigil.
Screening of The Tinderbox at Cornerstone
Thursday, 10 October 2024 at 7.00 pm in the Small Hall
To help understand what led to the terrible events of 7 October 2023 and the subsequent killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians, Christian Aid is encouraging everyone to watch The Tinderbox, a rare and thought-provoking documentary made in 2022 which examines both sides of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, from its catalyst to why it still rages, to what needs to happen for it to stop.
Christian Aid is encouraging churches to show this film in association with their Gaza Appeal, and the screening will be followed by a question and answer session with Phil Evans, the Christian Aid Church Engagement and Fundraising Officer for the Home Counties. All are welcome.
David Chapman
Christian Aid Gaza Appeal
Christian Aid is working with its long-term partners in Gaza to deliver urgent humanitarian aid. If you would like to support relief for the people of Gaza, we have envelopes available over the next few weeks. On-line giving can be made at https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/gaza-appeal.
Black History Sunday, 13 October 2024
The guest speaker at the morning Service next Sunday will be Revd Guy Hewitt, Head of the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit. Unfortunately, the bring and share lunch will not take place as the Guildhall is not available. Coffee after the Service will be served in the Guildhall as usual.
Harvest Celebration, 26–27 October 2024
This year, donations of food and/or money will go to the Milton Keynes Foodbank. There will be opportunity to present gifts during the Service on the Sunday.
Ecumenical Confirmation
Sunday, 24 November 2024 at Christ the Cornerstone
There will be Ecumenical Confirmation at Cornerstone on Sunday, 24 November 2024 with Bishop Steven. Confirmation evening classes are available at St Mary’s Wavendon and Watling Valley churches If you may be interested in confirmation, please contact one of our ministers.
Education and Worship Group
We are looking for people who could help plan the Learning for our Congregation and support the people who plan Worship. This would involve meeting to discuss Advent and Lent Bible studies, regular learning in All Age Worship and opportunities for enhancing Worship. We will raise this at the Congregational Meeting, but if you would like to discuss this further, please contact Cheryl, Revd George or Cathy Hampton.
Cheryl Montgomery
Offering
Final Prayer
Go in the name of the Lord to your homes, your neighbours, your communities.
Go and make a difference.
Raise up those who are disheartened.
Tell others about the risen Christ.
Visit those who are lonely,
and may your heart and mind be open to receive all that God gives to you and asks of you.
Amen
Hymn: Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o’er the world’s tempestuous sea;<\span>
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee;<\span>
yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our Father be.<\span>
Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us:
all our weakness thou dost know;<\span>
thou didst tread this earth before us,
thou didst feel kits keenest woe;<\span>
lone and dreary, faint and weary,
through the desert thou didst go.<\span>
Spirit of our God, descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy,<\span>
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cloy:<\span>
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
nothing can our peace destroy.<\span>
James Edmeston (1791–1867)
CCL31580
Blessing
God be in your head, and in your understanding;
God be in your eyes, and in your looking;
God be in your mouth, and in your speaking;
God be in your heart, and in your thinking;
God be at your end, and at your departing.
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