Service of the Word – Live Streamed – Sunday, 11 January 2026
Led by: Revd George Mwaura
Gathering Music
Call to Worship
Come, all who seek the living God, for in Christ, heaven has been opened to us.
We gather as beloved children, marked by water and the Spirit.
God’s voice declares over each of us: ‘You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
Let us worship the One who welcomes all without partiality.
Amen
Greetings and Welcome
Hymn: All are welcome (Let us build a house)
Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome,
all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where prophesy speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, …
Let us build a house where love is found
in water, wine and wheat:
a banquet hall on holy ground
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space;
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
All are welcome, …
Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, …
Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed
as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace,
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, …
Marty Haugen (b. 1950)
CCL31580
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
Gracious God, we give you thanks for your radical welcome,
for opening heaven’s gates to all people, in every nation.
We thank you for Jesus, who stepped into the waters of baptism,
identifying with our humanity and showing us the way.
We praise you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, descending like a dove, anointing us for service.
Yet we confess, Lord, that we have not always extended your welcome.
We have shown partiality where you show none.
We have built barriers where you have torn them down.
We have hesitated to step into the waters where you call us to follow.
Forgive us, merciful Father. Wash us clean and renew us by your Spirit.
Help us to see as you see, to love as you love, and to welcome as you welcome.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen
[Silence]Prayer of the Week
Almighty God, who anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit at his baptism
and declared him your beloved Son:
help us this week to live as your beloved children, showing no partiality
but extending your radical welcome to all we meet.
May we go where you send us, speak what you give us to say, and serve with the power of your Spirit.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Acts 10: 34–38
Read by Bob Collard
34 Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached – 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
NIV®
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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
Matthew 3: 13–17
Read by Kudakwashe Matare
The baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’
15 Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’
NIV®
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.
Reflections
By Revd George Mwaura
[Silence]Musical Interlude
Affirmation of Faith
We believe in God who shows no partiality,
who welcomes every person from every nation.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the beloved Son,
who humbled himself in the waters of baptism, who was anointed by the Holy Spirit,
who went about doing good and healing all.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
who descends upon us like a dove, who empowers us for mission,
who makes us one family in Christ.
We believe we are God’s beloved children,
called to extend radical welcome, to tear down walls of division,
and to proclaim good news to all people.
This is our faith.
This is our call.
Amen
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
Prayers of intercession
Led by Don Head
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
Notices
Thanksgiving Service for the life of Mick Abrahams
The Thanksgiving Service for the life of Mick Abrahams will take place in the Oak Chapel at Crownhill Crematorium at 10.45 am on Tuesday, 13 January 2026.
Following the service, all are welcome to gather with us at the Fox and Hounds in Stony Stratford High Street (MK11 1AT) for refreshments.
Mick played here regularly and was well-known in Stony.
A collection box for donations in lieu of flowers will be placed in the Flower Court as you leave the chapel. The donations will be sent to Dementia UK. There is no expectation that black clothing should be worn.
Kate Abrahams
Sponsored Bible reading in aid of Church Funds
2.00–5.00 pm Saturday, 24 January 2026 on Zoom
The sponsored Bible reading originally scheduled for November 2025 will now take place 2.00–5.00 pm Saturday, 24 January 2026 on Zoom. We already have a number of readers, but we also need as many sponsors as you can find. Sponsorship forms will be available in Reception.
For more information please speak to Cheryl (chezmonty73@gmail.com) or Peter (petercope26@gmail.com).
Last time we did this we raised over £1500 for church funds. Can we beat that this time?!
Thank you for your help and support.
Florence Amele Adamah-Kuevi
We are sad to announce that Florence Amele Adamah-Kuevi passed away in hospital in Ghana on Thursday, 11 December 2025. Florence was a member of Cornerstone. Her funeral will take place in Ghana on Friday, 23 January 2026.
Lighting the Dome
Thank you to everyone who donated to Light the Dome over the Christmas period. There are just a couple more payments to come in, but so far we’ve raised around £800 for church funds. That’s amazing. Thank you!
Peter Cope
Talking Faith
The next Talking Faith Zoom session will be on at 7.30 pm on Thursday, 22 January 2026 with guest speaker, Dr Rachel Jordan-Wolf, Executive Director of Hope Together. To find out more check: Talking Faith Zoom Sessions | URC East Midlands Synod and to book a place email Hannah Holmes at trainingpa@urc5.org.uk.
Offertory Prayer
Gracious and generous God,
we give you thanks for the offerings given in advance for the work of your kingdom.
We are grateful for the faithful stewardship of your people, who give not out of abundance alone,
but out of love and commitment to your mission.
Bless these gifts and multiply them for your purposes.
May they bring hope to the hurting, welcome to the stranger, and proclaim your good news to all.
Use us, and all we offer, for your glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Hymn: I, the Lord of sea and sky
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them,
they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied,
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
Dan Schutte (b. 1947)
CCL31580
Blessings and Sending out
Go now as God’s beloved ones, anointed by the Holy Spirit for service.
Show no partiality but extend radical welcome to all.
Go about doing good, as Jesus did, for God is with you.
And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
rest and remain upon us all today and always.
Amen
Dismissal
Church, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ, we will.
Amen