Preacher: Revd Barry Lotz
Presiding Minister: Revd George Mwaura

Gathering Music

Opening Sentences

God calls us to loose the bonds of injustice, to let the oppressed go free,
and to bring light into places of darkness.

We come to worship, seeking God’s healing and freedom,
trusting in his mercy to renew and restore us.

Just as Jesus set free the woman who was bound for eighteen years,
so God invites each of us to be made whole.

We open our hearts to God’s love, ready to receive grace and to share it with others.
Spirit be with us.

Amen

Greetings and Welcome

Hymn: Be still, for the presence of the Lord

Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.
Come, bow before him now, with reverence and fear.
In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire, with splendour he is crowned.
How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.

Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place,
he comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace.
No work too hard for him, in faith receive from him;
be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.

David J. Evans (b. 1957)
CCL31580

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

Creator God, we thank you for your steadfast love and mercy,
for the freedom you offer and the healing you bring.
You call us to be people who loose the bonds of injustice,
who bring light into darkness, and who care for those in need.
We give thanks for Jesus, who saw those who were bent low
and offered compassion and restoration, even when others turned away.
Yet we confess that we have not always followed your call.
Too often, we have turned from our neighbour’s need or chosen comfort over compassion.
We have failed to bring release where there is oppression,
and sometimes our words and actions have weighed others down instead of setting them free.
Forgive us, Lord. Renew us with your Spirit. Help us to walk in your ways,
to seek justice, to love mercy, and to be agents of your healing in the world.
May our worship today open our hearts to your transforming grace,
and may we leave this place ready to share that grace with all.
Through Christ, our Healer and Redeemer, we pray.

Amen

Silence for personal confessions

Absolution

Hear the good news:
God knows how easily we are drawn to trust in wealth, status, and the false security of possessions.

Yet, through Christ, God offers us something that money cannot buy:
mercy, forgiveness, and life that never ends.
As those who turn from self-reliance and look to God for all things,
hear and trust this promise: In Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

God of Mercy, we thank you for the gift of life and for every new day you set before us.
Fill our hearts with gratitude for your constant love and mercy.
As we step into the week ahead, grant us your grace to walk in faith,
to serve with kindness, and to live as reflections of your compassion.
Guide our words and actions and keep us mindful of your presence in all we do.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Isaiah 58: 9–14

Read by Joy Enenche

⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: here am I.

‘If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

¹³ ‘If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the Lord’s holy day honourable,
and if you honour it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
¹⁴ then you will find your joy in the Lord,
and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.’
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

NIV®

Psalm 71: 1–6

¹ O ETERNAL One, in you I seek refuge;
let me never be shamed.
² In your bounty rescue me and deliver me;
pay heed to me and save me.
³ Be to me a rock of refuge,
a mighty stronghold to save me;
for you are my rock, my fortress.
⁴ My God, free me from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and the ruthless.
⁵ It is you, O Sovereign GOD, who are my hope,
my refuge since my youth.
⁶ While yet unborn, I relied on you;
from my mother’s womb you were my protector.
I sing your praises always.

Adapted from The Psalms: The Grail Translation

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

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

Luke 13: 10–17

Read by Rosemary Kearsey

Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath

¹⁰ On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, ¹¹ and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ ¹³ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’

¹⁵ The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶ Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’

¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

NIV®

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

Sermon

By Revd Barry Lotz

[Silence]

Musical Meditation

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God, whose light breaks forth like the dawn,
who calls us to loose every bond and let the oppressed go free.

We believe in Jesus Christ, who saw the bent and the burdened,
who spoke words of release and touched lives with healing, restoring dignity and hope.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, poured out to renew, to guide, and to fill us with compassion.
We trust that God’s grace is stronger than all that weighs us down,
and that in Christ, we are called to bring light, share mercy, and walk as people made whole.
We affirm that our worship leads us into the world,
to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.

Amen

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Don Head

Hymn: Meekness and majesty

Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity,
in perfect harmony, the Man who is God.
Lord of eternity dwells,
kneels in humility and washes our feet.

O what a mystery, meekness and majesty,
bow down and worship for this is your God,
this is your God.

Father’s pure radiance, perfect in innocence,
yet learns obedience to death on a cross.
Suffering to give us life, conquering through sacrifice,
and as they crucify prays: ‘Father forgive.’

O what a mystery, …

Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible,
love indestructible in frailness appears.
Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly,
lifts our humanity to the heights of his throne.

O what a mystery, …

Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
CCL31580

Sharing the Peace

Jesus teaches us that life is not found in the abundance of our possessions,
but in being rich toward God and one another.
The peace we share is not something we can buy or earn; it is a gift
And so my dear friends, may the peace of Christ,
which frees us from anxiety about what we have or do not have, be with you all.

And also, with you.

Let us share with one another the peace that comes from trusting in God alone.

Invitation to the Table

Come to this table, not because you have earned it, but because Christ calls you.
Come, not with the riches of the world, but with open hands and open hearts,
ready to receive God’s gifts.

We hunger for food that nourishes eternally.

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.

It is right and good to give you thanks and praise, loving God.
You created all things and called them good.
You give us life and breath,
yet we confess we have often looked to other things for meaning and security.
Still, you do not abandon us.
You sent your Son Jesus, who taught us that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions,
but in being rich toward God.
And so, with all who trust in you, with the company of heaven and the saints on earth,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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.

On the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
‘Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.’
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.’
So, Lord, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross.
Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.

Great is the mystery of faith:

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

Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when your kingdom comes,
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms and bring us with all the saints to feast at your table in heaven.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving God, For ever and ever.

Amen

Notices and Offertory

Revd George Mwaura: Annual Leave

Sunday, 24 August – Tuesday, 16 September 2025

Dear Church Family,

I wanted to let you know that Christine and I will be away on leave from 24 August to 16 September and will return to resume duty on Thursday, 18 September. During this period, if any urgent pastoral needs arise, please get in touch with Revd Dr Margaret Goodall. For any administrative matters, Cheryl Montergomery, our Church Council Chair, will be happy to assist.

You will all be in our prayers while we are away. May God watch over you and bless you in every way.

With every blessing🙏🙏

Revd G

New Wednesday Bible Study:
‘Weakness Made Strong. the Stories of Moses and Rahab’

Ever wondered if God can really use people with messy pasts and nagging doubts? Join us for a new six-week study as we follow the journeys of Moses and Rahab. Two Old Testament legends who had every reason to be counted out, yet were chosen by God for something extraordinary. We’ll see how God works through failure, fear, and the parts of our stories we’d rather forget. This isn’t just history; it’s hope for every one of us who’s ever felt unqualified or overlooked.

Come expecting honest conversation, fresh perspective, and a reminder that God still uses ordinary people for his greatest work. Whether you’re new to faith or looking for a deeper dive, this is a series you won’t want to miss! Our first study is on Wednesday, 24 September 2025 at 7.00 pm on Zoom.

Revd George

Welcoming and Empowering Palestinian Students and Graduates in Milton Keynes

A powerful new initiative, MK ANSARS, has been launched to support Palestinian students and recent graduates from Gaza and the West Bank as they resettle and thrive in Milton Keynes.

Spearheaded by Kurshida Mirza, former High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire and British Empire Medal honouree, and Dr Nela Smolović Jones of The Open University, MK ANSARS unites Truby’s Garden, the Church of Christ the Cornerstone, and academics from The Open University and Durham University, with more partners joining soon.

Following Milton Keynes’ successful track record welcoming Syrian, Afghan, and Ukrainian communities, MK ANSARS will offer mentorship, friendship, and essential financial support, for housing, childcare, transport, and utility bills, empowering students to rebuild their futures in the heart of the UK.

Kurshida Mirza said: ‘We have a proud tradition in Milton Keynes of welcoming people fleeing persecution… ANSARS symbolises the helpers in Medina who supported the Prophet’s migration – this is about community and compassion.’

Dr Nela Smolović Jones added: ‘These students are exceptionally capable people who, under different circumstances, would be leading their homelands. Milton Keynes will be enriched by their talent.’

The first cohort arrives this month: one PhD student exploring grassroots leadership in war-shattered communities, and four Master’s graduates in economics and education.

You can help by donating via: https://localgiving.org/fundraising/SupportingPalestinianFamiliesinMiltonKeynes.

Contact for more information: nela.smolovic-jones@open.ac.uk or kurshidabmirza@gmail.com.

Social Justice Group

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: Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go

Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go,
my daily labour to pursue;
Thee, only thee, resolved to know,
in all I think or speak or do.

The task thy wisdom has assigned
O let me cheerfully fulfil;
in all my works thy presence find,
and prove thy good and perfect will.

Preserve me from my calling’s snare,
and hide my simple heart above,
above the thorns of choking care,
the gilded baits of worldly love.

Thee may I set at my right hand,
whose eyes my inmost substance see,
and labour on at thy command,
and offer all my work to thee.

Give me to bear thy easy yoke,
and every moment watch and pray,
and still to things eternal look,
and hasten to thy glorious day.

For thee delightfully employ
whate’er thy bounteous grace hath given,
and run my course with even joy,
and closely walk with thee to heaven.

Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
CCL31580

 Words of Mission and Blessings

May the God who calls light to shine in the darkness guide your steps in the week ahead.
May Christ, who brings healing and sets us free, touch you with compassion and fill you with hope.
And until we meet again, may the Blessings of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
rest and remain upon you all today and always.

Amen

Dismissal

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

Amen

Benediction

May God’s blessing surround you each day,
as you trust him and walk in his way.
May his presence within guard and keep you from sin.
Go in peace, go in joy, go in love. [×2]