[This Service is not being live-streamed.]

Presiding Minister: Revd George Mwaura
Preacher: Krou Assoua, LLM

Gathering Music

Call to Worship

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light!
Those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shone!

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us.
Authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Today in the city of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord!
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!

Come, let us worship the new-born King!

Greetings and Welcome

Lighting the Fourth Advent Candle of Love

God of boundless love, as we kindle this flame of Love,
we stand in awe of the mystery that you so loved the world that you gave your only Son…
Transform our hearts, O God, that we might love, not with mere sentiment,
but with the costly, sacrificial love that empties itself for others.

Amen

Carol: O little town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet, in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth;
for Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

Where children pure and happy
pray to the blessèd Child,
where misery cries out to thee,
son of the mother mild;
where charity stands watching
and faith holds wide the door,
the dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
and Christmas comes once more.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to/on us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell:
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.

Phillips Brooks (1835–1893)
CCL31580

Opening Prayer

Gracious God we gather here tonight with joy, expectant hearts and minds.
We recall with fondness that your angels broke into the midnight of a sleeping town so long ago
to sing the news that Christ was born in Bethlehem.
Break into the midnight of our dark wintry world and stir hearts to hear again the message of your love.
On this night of joyful and expectant wonder, we look forward to the coming of the child
whose birth was foretold by prophets, acclaimed by angels, and greeted by shepherds.
Open our eyes to see in him your loving purposes and arouse within us the spirit of adoring praise.
Loving God, in the stillness of this midnight hour, touch our understanding with your Holy Spirit,
that we may gain in true reality the wonder of your love in Jesus Christ;
and though there was no room for him in Bethlehem’s inn,
help us to make more room for him in our lives,
responding to his love and receiving his peace, for the sake of the same Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

Prayer for Christmas

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to take our nature upon him and to be born of a virgin:
Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with you and the same Spirit be honour and glory, now and for ever.

Amen

Carol:  While shepherds watched

While shepherds watched
their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around.

‘Fear not,’ said he,
(for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind)
‘Glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind.’

‘To you in David’s
town this day
is born of David’s line
a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
and this shall be the sign:

The heavenly Babe
you there shall find
to human view displayed,
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
and in a manger laid.’

Thus spoke the Seraph;
and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of Angels praising God, who thus
addressed their joyful song:

‘All glory be
to God on high,
and on the earth be peace,
goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
begin and never cease.’

Nahum Tate (1652–1713)
CCL31580

Isaiah 9: 2–7

Read by Richard May-Miller

² The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
³ You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
⁶ For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

NIV®

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

Carol: Silent night, holy night

Silent night, holy night.
All is calm, all is bright,
round yon virgin mother and child;
holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace. [×2]

Silent night, holy night.
Shepherds quake at the sight,
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing alleluia:
Christ the Saviour is born. [×2]

Silent night, holy night.
Son of God, love’s pure light,
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth. [×2]

Joseph Mohr (1792–1848)
tr. J.F. Young (1820–1885)
CCL31580

Luke 2: 1–14

Read by Brian Halstead

The birth of Jesus

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests./span>

NIV®

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

Reflections

By Krou Assoua, LLM

Musical Interlude

Prayers of Intercession

Led by Cheryl Montgomery

Sharing Peace

The Prince of Peace has come among us, breaking down the walls that divide us
and reconciling us to God and to one another.
In the light of Christ’s birth, we are called to share signs of his peace with one another.
May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.

Carol: It came upon the midnight clear

It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold;
‘Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven’s all-gracious King!’
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
with peaceful wings unfurled;
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world:
above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hovering wing;
and ever o’er its Babel-sounds
the blessèd angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angel-strain have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and man, at war with man, hears not
the love-song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
and hear the angels sing!

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on,
by prophet-bards foretold,
when, with the ever-circling years
comes round the age of gold,
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendours fling,
and the whole world give back the song
which now the angels sing.

Edmund H. Sears (1810–1876)
CCL31580

Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving

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 truly right and good to glorify you at all times and in all places,
by offering you our thanksgiving, O Lord.
In the wonder of this holy night, you sent your only Son to be born of the Virgin Mary for our salvation.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate from her and shared our human nature.
He lived among us, full of grace and truth.
Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your glory and join their unending hymn of 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 and gracious God, we give you thanks for Jesus Christ our Lord.
On the night he was born, angels sang of peace on earth and goodwill to all people.
On the night before he died,
he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
‘Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’

After supper 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, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’

Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:

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

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and wine,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Grant that we who receive this holy sacrament may be filled with your light
and share your love with all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory and we feast with him in his eternal kingdom.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, almighty God, now and for ever.

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

Post Communion Prayer

Gracious God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ.
On this holy night, you have given us the greatest gift, your Word made flesh, born among us.
As we have received him in this sacred meal,
send us now into the world to bear his light to all who dwell in darkness.
May we live as your children, reflecting the glory of the new-born King, until he comes again in majesty.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Notices and Appeal

Anglican vacancy process update

Thank you so much to everyone who has sent in responses so far – the aim is that they will all be collated and the key themes shared after Epiphany, so do keep them coming.

It has been nearly twenty years since you last had an Anglican vacancy and so it was thought a brief explainer might be helpful.

We are hoping to have a PCC and Church Council meeting in mid-January where I will come along to explain the vacancy process in more details for the members present and share a Q&A session.

Four lay representatives for the shortlisting and interview panel shall also be nominated and elected. The other three members will be: George, +Dave and a member of the Anglican Deanery leadership team.

At the January meetings the representatives will be tasked with working together to identify a small group of people who will pull together, with me, the profile. Sensibly, there is a Churches Together in England requirement that this group is broadly representative of the ecumenical nature of Cornerstone.

Once the first draft of this profile is complete, two adverts are then drafted – an online format and one for the Church Times. The content will be largely identical, but the formats differ.

A meeting is called of the four representatives, George, +Dave and a member of the Anglican Deanery leadership team to approve the profile and the drafted adverts. The format of the interview day will also be decided then.

The adverts will then be sent to the Church Times for typesetting.

Once the advert has closed, there is a shortlisting meeting whereby the four representatives, George, +Dave and a member of the deanery leadership team invite suitable applicants to interview.

Should a suitable candidate be found at the interview, they are normally licensed about three months later, as this is the standard amount of notice required for clergy in post.

My prayers go with you,
Revd Asa Humphreys, Parish Development Adviser – Buckingham Archdeaconry

Cornerstone Christmas Charity Appeal 2025

Our Christmas Appeal concludes at the end of December. Thank you so much for all the generous donations already received. If you haven’t got round to making a donation yet – there’s still time!

You can donate by cash, cheque, card, telephone or on-line banking. All the details you need are in the envelopes/leaflets on the round table in the reception area.

This year the appeal is supporting four excellent charities:

Advantage Africa, Willen Hospice, St Mark’s Meals and MK ANSARS.

Our Christmas Appeal is one of the special ways the Cornerstone Congregation reaches out to others in need. Please give generously if you are able! A huge ‘thank you’ to all our donors.

Christmas Appeal Committee

Offering Envelopes for 2026

If you would like a set of offering envelopes for next year please let me know. If you are currently using envelopes, you should have received an email from me about this, but I need to know if there is anyone else who would like a set for 2026.

Janet Trimnell
steward.cccmk@gmail.com

Offering and Dedication

Loving God, receive and bless these gifts which we give in response to the greatest gift of all –
your Son, and our Lord.

Amen

Carol: 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, …

See how the shepherds
summoned to his cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw nigh, with lowly fear;
we too will thither
bend our joyful footsteps:
O come, let us adore him, …

Lo! Star-led chieftains,
Magi, Christ adoring,
offer him incense, gold and myrrh;
we to the Christ child
bring our heart’s oblations:
O come, let us adore him, …

Child, for us sinners
poor and in the manger,
fain we embrace thee, with awe and love;
who would not love thee,
loving us so dearly?
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

Words of Mission and Blessing

The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory.
Thanks be to God!

Go forth into the world rejoicing, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.
We go to proclaim the good news of great joy!

May the peace of the Prince of Peace go with you, the love of the new-born Saviour fill you,
and the light of Christ shine through you, now and always.

Amen! Alleluia!

Dismissal

Church, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ, we will.

Amen

On behalf of the Church Council and myself, I extend to you our warmest Christmas blessings. As we gather to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, may the wonder of God’s love made flesh fill your hearts with joy and peace. In this season of light, may you know the presence of Emmanuel – God with us – in profound and personal ways. We pray that the hope born in Bethlehem will sustain you through the coming year, and that you will experience God’s abundant grace in all things. Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year filled with faith, health, and happiness.

With love in Christ,
Revd George and the Church Council