Preacher: Revd George Mwaura
Celebrant: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Gathering Music

Welcome

Gathering Prayer

Jesus, child of the crib, with Mary, who gave birth to you,
with the innkeeper, who found a stable for you, with Joseph, who protected you,
with the animals of the stable, who watched over you,
with the angels, who sang of you, with the shepherds, who ran to you,
with our brothers and sisters throughout the world, we welcome you.

Jesus, Saviour of the world,
we welcome you.

Amen

Hymn: Joy to the world

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing!

Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns!
Your sweetest songs employ
while fields and streams and hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

Isaac Watts (1674–1748)
CCL31580

The Confession

The sun of righteousness has dawned with healing in his wings.
Let us come to the light of Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

[Silence]

Lord of grace and truth, we confess our unworthiness to stand in your presence as your children.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.

The Virgin Mary accepted your call to be the mother of Jesus.
Forgive our disobedience to your will.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.

Your Son our Saviour was born in poverty in a manger.
Forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.

The shepherds left their flocks to go to Bethlehem.
Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.

The wise men followed the star to find Jesus the King.
Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.

May God, who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to be our Saviour,
forgive us our sins and make us holy to serve him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

The Lighting of the Christmas Candle

As we light this Christmas candle, may its flame be for us a sign of Jesus’ birth.

Loving God, today – on this special day –
you remind us that you can use anyone and everyone for your purposes.
We willingly offer you all that we are and all that we have,
choosing to believe that who we are is enough to be used by you.
We do this in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

Loving and Living God,
you brighten our lives by this yearly festival of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ.
Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer,
may with sure confidence see and receive him when he comes to complete the work of redemption,
for we know he lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen

The Peruvian Gloria

Ministry of the Word

Isaiah 52: 7–10

Read by Bob Collard

⁷ How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,who proclaim peace,“Your God reigns!”
⁸ Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
⁹ Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
¹⁰ The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

NIV®

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

Hymn: Who would think that what was needed

Who would think that what was needed
to transform and save the earth,
might not be a plan or army
proud in purpose, proved in worth?
Who would think, despite derision,
that a child should lead the way?
God surprises earth with heaven,
coming here on Christmas Day.

Shepherds watch and wise men wonder,
monarchs scorn and angels sing;
such a place as none would reckon
hosts a holy, helpless thing;
stabled beasts and passing strangers
watch a baby laid in hay:
God surprises earth with heaven,
coming here on Christmas Day.

John l. Bell (b. 1949) and Graham Maule (b. 1958) Iona Community
CCL31580

John 1: 1–15

Read by Veronica Fernandes

The Word Became Flesh

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵ (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) 

NIV®

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

Meditation

By Revd George Mwaura

[Silence]

Prayers and Intercessions

The Peace

May the peace and the love of the Lord be yours today and always.

May the peace of the Lord be with you.
and also with you.

Let us share a sign of peace.

Hymn: Angels from the realms of glory

Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creation’s story
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship Christ the new-born King.

Shepherds in the field abiding,
watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
yonder shines the infant Light:
Come and worship Christ the new-born King.

Sages, leave your contemplations;
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of Nations;
ye have seen his natal star:
Come and worship Christ the new-born King.

Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear:
Come and worship Christ the new-born King.

Though an infant now we view him,
he shall fill his Father’s throne,
gather all the nations to him;
every knee shall then bow down:
Come and worship Christ the new-born King.

James Montgomery (1771–1854)
CCL31580

Holy Communion

The Thanksgiving

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

Blessed be God for ever.

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

Lift up your hearts!.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks!
It is right to give God thanks and praise!

We adore you, creator of the universe.
In the beginning you spoke life into being.

We adore you, God, who kept the promise made to our ancestors.
You promised to redeem the earth and set its people free.

In the fullness of time, you came to us in Jesus,
a baby, born of God’s desire to lift up the broken hearted.

We adore you with the simplicity of a shepherd’s conviction.
We adore you with the wise of ancient days, who knelt before you and paid you homage.
We adore you, with the angels who sang glory to you in the highest heavens
and brought peace to all people on earth.
Today we join them to praise your name:

Holy Lord, God of endless love, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The wise men recognized it, the angels and the whole creation sang of it,
the shepherds encountered it, we have been blessed with it.

Blessed is he who is born this day.
Glory to God and on earth peace to all people.

Beloved God, you came to come to us, in Jesus Christ,
who on the night he was betrayed, took the bread,
blessed it, broke it, gave it to his disciples saying:,
‘Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’

After supper, he took the cup, and gave it to them saying,
‘This is my blood of the New Covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in remembrance of me.’

Beloved God, send the power of your Holy Spirit upon us,
that we may experience the presence of the Word-made-flesh – Jesus Christ.
Breathe your Spirit in us that we may be one body with him –
faithfully following and serving him, and awaiting with expectation the coming of his kingdom,
when we will adore him for ever and ever.

Amen

As our Saviour taught us, so 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

Breaking the Bread

We break this bread and take this cup so that we can all share in the life of Christ.
God’s gifts for Go’s people.

Amen

Prayer after Communion

Most gracious God, source of all blessing,
we give you thanks for inviting us to share this meal as your family;
strengthen us to be a blessing to one another and a blessing to all the world,
glorifying you in all things, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Notices

Cornerstone Christmas Charity Appeal 2024

Last reminder!!

Our Christmas Charity Appeal closes at the end of December – so not long left now to make your donation! It has raised the amazing total of over £133,000 for local and international charities over the past twelve years. This year we are supporting Advantage Africa, MK:Act, Tools for Self Reliance and Milton Keynes Christian Foundation’s Urban Farm. Further details are available in Reception. As well as donating by cash or cheque using the envelopes provided, the bank details for paying on-line are:

Account name: Cornerstone Christmas Appeal,
Sort code: 23 05 80 (Metro Bank),
Account number: 54451911

Please write your name as payment reference.

Thank you so much for your generosity for these very worthwhile causes.

Cornerstone Appeal Committee

Lighting the Dome for a loved one

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to ‘Lighting the Dome’ this Christmas season. So far we have raised the wonderful total of £915, and not all the money is in yet! There are still a small number of dates left if you’d like to sign up on the list in Reception. This money is being raised for much needed church funds. Thank you again!

Offering Envelopes for 2025

If you would like a set of offering envelopes for next year, please let me know. If you are currently using envelopes, you are already on the list to receive a set for next year, but I need to know if there is anyone else who would like a set for 2025.

Janet Trimnell, steward.cccmk@gmail.com

A Concert for Peace

7.00 pm Sunday, 19 January 2025

As part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Churches Together in Milton Keynes is presenting this Concert for Peace, featuring two beautiful works: ‘Requiem’ by Sir John Rutter and the popular ‘Armed Man’ by Sir Karl Jenkins. The Cornerstone Chamber Choir, Orchestra and Soloists are directed by Adrian Boynton, with Guest Muezzin Arif Master.

Tickets at £22 and £15 (under 18years £5) are available from: boyntonmusic@btinternet.com; 07961 348697; https://tinyurl.com/2x8ymxv8 (fees apply); cornerstonemusicmk.co.uk. In aid of St Mark’s Meals and SieveMK Gateway.

The Collection

[During the offering the choir will sing.]

Christmas Acclamation

We came to adore the Son of God.
Jesus is the Light of the world.

We came to share the bread of heaven.
Jesus is our way, our truth, our life.

We came to enter the door to life.
Jesus is the first and last.

We came to adore the Lord of all.
Jesus is our wisdom from above.

We came to adore the King of kings.
Jesus is our friend and brother

Immanuel, God with us, joy to the world.
We come from all the corners of the world to adore him.

Hymn: O come, all ye faithful

O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him, born the king of angels
O come let us adore him
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

God of God,
Light of Light,
lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
very God,
begotten not created:
O come, let us adore him, …

Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing all ye citizens of heaven above;
glory to God
in the highest:
O come, let us adore him, …

Yea, Lord, we greet thee
born this happy morning,
Jesu, to thee be glory given;
word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him, …

Latin (18th century)
tr. Frederick Oakeley (1802–1880) and others
CCL31580

The Blessing

May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ-child be yours this Christmas;
and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always.

Amen

Dismissal

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

Amen