Presiding Minister: Revd George Mwaura
Preacher: Revd Tim Norwood

Call to Worship

Come, Holy Spirit, breathe on us today.
Just as the wind swept through the house at Pentecost,
may your Spirit move among us – stirring, awakening, and uniting us.

We gather, longing for your presence, hungry for your truth, eager to witness your power.

God, open our hearts to receive your new life.
Let dreams and visions spring up again.
Let every voice proclaim your wonders.
Let us worship the living God, who fills us with the Spirit and makes all things new.

Amen

Opening Prayer

Living God, we come as your people, waiting and hoping –
like those first disciples in Jerusalem – for your Spirit to move among us.
Blow through our doubts and fears; ignite in us the fire of your love.
May your presence fill this place, and may your peace settle deep in our souls.
Open us to what you are doing today, and give us the courage to follow where you lead.
In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen! Come, Holy Spirit, Come

Hymn: Come down, O love divine

 Come down, O love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy name bestowing.

 O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

 Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

 And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling,
for none can guess its grace,
till he become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.

Bianco da Siena (d. 1434)
tr. Richard Frederick Littledale (1833–1890)
CCL31580

Confession

Spirit of the Living God, you came like wind and fire, breathing life into your Church,
yet we confess that we have resisted your movement.
You call us to unity, but we have clung to division.
You call us to boldness, but we have been timid in faith.
You call us to proclaim your love, but we have remained silent.
Forgive us, O God.

Cleanse our hearts by your Spirit.
Renew us in your grace, that we may walk in the freedom and power of your presence.

[Silence]

Absolution

May the God of mercy, who sent his Spirit to renew the face of the earth,
forgive you all your sins, restore you in his image, and fill you with the fire of his love.
Through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

God of wind and flame,
you poured out your Spirit on the disciples and made them bold to share your love with the world.
Pour out your Spirit on us today, that we may be messengers of your grace,
speaking words of truth, hope, and peace.
Shape us into your people, alive with your power and led by your wisdom,
for we ask in the name of the risen Christ.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Acts 2: 1–21

Read by Brian Halstead

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’

¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.,

Peter Addresses the Crowd

¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ ‘”In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
¹⁹ I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
²⁰ The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
²¹ And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.”’                                          NIV®

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

Hymn: Breathe on me, Breath of God

 Breathe on me, Breath of God;
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.

 Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will,
to do and to endure.

 Breathe on me, Breath of God,
till I am wholly thine,
until this earthly part of me
glows with thy fire divine.

 Breathe on me, Breath of God;
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life
of thine eternity.

Edwin Hatch (1835–1889)
CCL31580

John 14: 8–17

⁸ Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’

⁹ Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ ‘If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

NIV®

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

Sermon

By Revd Tim Norwood

[Silence]

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God, whose Spirit moves among us, bringing life where there is dryness,
hope where there is despair, and unity where there is division.

We believe in Jesus Christ, who promised not to leave us alone, but to send the Holy Spirit –
our Advocate and Comforter, the very presence of God with us always.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to speak and live with courage,
gathering people from every nation and tongue, binding us together as the body of Christ.
We trust in the God who makes all things new, and in whose Spirit we find life, purpose, and peace.

Amen

The Peace

Friends in Christ, today we celebrate Pentecost – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon God’s people.
Just as the Spirit descended upon the disciples, breaking barriers of language and culture,
so too does the Spirit unite us in love, peace, and the sacred bond of community.

Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give to you.’

It is not the peace of this world, but the peace that transcends, heals, and restores.
As we share this peace, may it be a sign of the Spirit’s presence among us –
breaking down walls, reconciling hearts, and binding us together in the unshakable love of Christ.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
and also with you.

Let us share that peace with one another.

Hymn: Spirit of the living God

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mould be, fill me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Daniel Iverson (1890–1977)
CCL31580

Holy Communion

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 our thanks and praise.

God of wind and flame, you are the breath that moves through all creation;
you are the fire that burns in every heart.
On this Pentecost day, we remember how your Spirit came in power,
like a rushing wind, filling the house where your disciples waited –
and tongues of fire rested on each of them.
We give you thanks, O God, for the gift of your Spirit, who speaks every language,
crosses every border, and gathers your people from every corner of the earth.
By your Spirit, you break down the walls that divide us, and you make us your one family.
With all creation, with all those who have gone before us in faith,
and with every voice on earth and in heaven, we join in singing your praise:

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.

Holy God, we remember with joy how Jesus, your Son, sat at table with his friends.
He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying,

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

When the meal was finished, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,

‘Drink from this, all of you.
This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’

Holy Spirit, come. Come upon us, gathered here. Come upon these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we might be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his love, set on fire with his hope.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us. Melt us, mould us, fill us, use us.

Make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory, and together we feast at his heavenly banquet.

By your Spirit, unite us with every tribe, nation, and tongue.
Let your peace flow through us, and your love shine from us,
that we may be your witnesses near and far.
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour are yours, almighty God, now and for 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

Sharing the Bread and the Cup

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Come, for all is ready.

Prayer after Communion

Spirit of God, you have met us in bread and cup, in word and silence, in wind and fire.
As we leave this table, send us out – renewed, inspired, and filled with your life.
Give us boldness to speak your truth, compassion to love our neighbours,
and the joy of knowing we are never alone. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Notices

Christian Aid Week 2025

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to Christian Aid this Christian Aid Week. All together, we raised £627.30 in donations plus approximately £98 in gift aid. Christian Aid envelopes collected at services contained £245 and the cake sales on Sunday and at the Toddlers Group session on Monday raised£167.30. Our grateful thanks to all those who baked and donated cakes.

Social Justice Group

Cornerstone Church Council

7.00 pm Tuesday, 24 June 2025 in the Small Hall

If you have any matter that you would like the Church Council to discuss at this meeting please contact our Church Secretary Pat Kyd by email (pat_kyd@yahoo.co.uk). One item for discussion will be the agenda for the next Congregational Meeting, on Sunday, 13 July 2025.

Pat Kyd, Church Secretary

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.

Cornerstone Notice Sheet by email?

Would you like to be able to read the Cornerstone Notice Sheet every week, whether or not you are able to come to church? If you would, and are not already on the mailing list, please send an email to: robin_kyd@yahoo.co.uk and I will add your email address to the mailing list.

Robin Kyd

Offering

Offertory Prayer

Gracious God, all abundance flows from your endless love.
We humbly present these offerings – both those given today and those already shared –
asking for your blessing as we build your kingdom through this church and beyond.
May these gifts serve your purpose and bring light to all corners of your world.

Amen

Hymn: Shine, Jesus, shine

Lord, the light of your love is shining,
in the midst of the darkness, shining;
Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us,
set us free by the truth you now bring us,
shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine,
fill this land with the Father’s glory;
blaze, Spirit, blaze,
set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow,
flood the nations with grace and mercy;
send forth Your word,
Lord, and let there be light.

Lord, I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine, …

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
So our faces display Your likeness.
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine, …

Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
CCL31580

Blessings and Sending out

May the God who breathed life into creation fill you with the Spirit’s power.
May Christ’s peace rest upon you, and may you find courage to speak love, hope, and truth.
Go now, blessed and sent, to serve a world hungry for God’s presence.

And the blessings of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
descend and rest upon you today and always.

Amen

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

Amen