Preacher & Celebrant:
Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

Ministers:
Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga and Revd George Mwaura

Gathering Music

Welcome

Jesus, you came to bring good news to all,
help us to listen to you.

Jesus, you came to release the captives,
help us to follow your example.

Jesus, you came to release the oppressed,
help us to walk in your ways.

[Silence]

Welcome to the hospitality 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: All praise to our redeeming Lord

All praise to our redeeming Lord,
who joins us by his grace,
and bids us, each to each restored,
together seek his face.

He bids us build each other up;
and, gathered into one,
to our high calling’s glorious hope
we hand in hand go on.

The gift which he on one bestows,
we all delight to prove;
the grace through every vessel flows,
in purest streams of love.

Ev’n now we think and speak the same,
and cordially agree;
concentred all, through Jesus’ name,
in perfect harmony.

We all partake the joy of one,
the common peace we feel,
a peace to sensual minds unknown,
a joy unspeakable.

And if our fellowship below
in Jesus be so sweet,
what heights of rapture shall we know
when round his throne we meet!

Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
CCL31580

Confession

All too easily we stray from doing what is good and right in your sight.
God, forgive us.

All too easily we find prejudice creeping into our lives.
God, forgive us.

All too easily we become greedy and unwilling to share with those who have less.
God, forgive us.

All too easily we neglect the needs of the earth, animals, and humans.
God, forgive us.

All too easily we forget the path you set before us.
God, forgive us.

The Kyrie

Sung by the Cornerstone Choir

Assurance of Forgiveness

Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

God forgives all who confess.
Let us know we are forgiven, and go and live the Good News.

Amen

The Gloria

Prayer of the Week

Lord, as your Church, we gather together to worship you, in person and online.
You are the source of all being, the one who gives love and unites us, the one who gives all for our sake.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

1 Corinthians 12: 12–31

Read by Brian Halstead

Unity and diversity in the body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, ’Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

NIV®

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

Luke 4: 14–21

Read by Joy Chapman

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

¹4 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸ ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’

NIV®

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

Sermon

By Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

Choral Response

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Grace Hunting

Sharing the Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
Then the disciples were they glad when they saw the risen Lord.

The peace of God be always with you
and also with you!

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Hymn: O for a thousand tongues to sing

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my dear Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

He speaks; and, listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive,
the mournful broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your Saviour come;
and leap, ye lame, for joy!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim
and spread through all the earth abroad
the honours of the name.

Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
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 the cup of salvation.

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 Cornerstone Choir will sing.]

Post Communion Prayer

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

Bishop of Oxford’s Visitation to Cornerstone

This Sunday (26 January 2025)

The Bishop of Oxford will attend morning worship at Cornerstone this Sunday (26 January 2025), and afterwards Bishop Steven will speak to the Congregation about the report.

There is no bring and share lunch this Sunday. Light refreshments will be served at the back of the Worship Area after the Service.

A message from Jill le Sueur

It was a comfort to me that friends from Cornerstone came at short notice to the funeral of my husband Paul. There was an atmosphere of God’s presence and peace at the service.

Thank you for the kind words, messages, cards and donations to the Children’s Society generously given in Paul’s memory. The occasion was a blessing to many.

Shalom Jill

Milton Keynes Climate Action Network workshop:
‘Community partnership with the local councils for the environment’

Sunday, 2 February 2025 2.15–5.00 pm at Cornerstone

Milton Keynes Climate Action Network is organising a workshop about ‘Community partnership with the local councils’ with a focus on environmental and climate-change issues. The workshop will be held at Cornerstone Church on Sunday, 2 February, 2025 2.15–5.00 pm. The workshop objectives are to understand how Milton Keynes’ City Council and parish councils make decisions, and to identify how community members can help councils and contribute to climate-change policy in 2025. Please register to attend: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-action-partnership-with-the-local-councils-tickets-1118937124059?aff=erelexpmlt. For more information please contact Stuart Kean.

Stuart Kean (stuart.kean@gmail.com)

Cornerstone Café closure

Monday, 27 January – Friday, 14 February 2025 inclusive

Cornerstone Café will be closed for three weeks for major refurbishments. If all goes to plan the café will reopen as usual on Monday, 17 February 2025, but if the work takes a little longer there may be some delay. Cornerstone Café will then be open 9.00 am – 3.00 pm Monday–Friday. We shall post updates in the Notice Sheet as the work progresses. When it is open again, why not drop in to see the new-look café and sample the splendid freshly made sandwiches and cakes, hot and cold drinks, and superb cooked lunches.

Big Garden Birdwatch: this weekend (24–26 January 2025)

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is organising the annual Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend. It is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring. Take time out to enjoy the amazing beauty of ‘the Birds of the Air’. For information about how to take part, check out the RSPB website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch/faqs.

Cornerstone Eco Church Group

Wednesday Bible study

We have two more sessions studying the Book of Revelation. Next Wednesday (29 January 2025) we are studying Chapters 17–20 and then on Wednesday, 5 February 2025 we conclude with Chapters 20 & 21 ‘The New Heaven and New Earth’.

Offering

Final Prayer

Lord Jesus, you were anointed to bring new sight, freedom and good news to all people.
Help us to share this good news of your love and care with everyone we meet in the week ahead.

Amen

Hymn: Lord, for the years

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided,
Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us,
Lord of the word, receive your people’s praise.

Lord, for our land, in this our generation,
spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care;
for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

Lord, for our world; when we disown and doubt him,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain;
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him,
Lord of our world, we pray that Christ may reign.

Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us,
self on the cross and Christ upon the throne;
past put behind us, for the future take us,
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926–2024)
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 while the Cornerstone Choir sing.]

Report of Episcopal Visitation

Following the Service and refreshments Bishop Steven will talk to the Congregation about the Report of the Visitation in September 2024. This will be presented on Zoom.