Led by: Revd Dr Margaret Goodall

Gathering Music

Welcome

Call to Worship

Come and worship the living God,
God’s goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.

Come and worship the living God who gathers us to his side,
like a shepherd gently gathers in the flock.

In the name of Jesus:
We come to worship, for all are welcome here!

Hymn: All heaven declares

All heaven declares
the glory of the risen Lord;
who can compare
with the beauty of the Lord?
For ever he will be
the Lamb upon the throne;
I gladly bow the knee,
and worship him alone.

I will proclaim
the glory of the risen Lord,
who once was slain
to reconcile man to God.
For ever you will be
the Lamb upon the throne;
I gladly bow the knee,
and worship you alone.

Noel (b.1955) and Tricia Richards (b.1960)
CCL31580

Prayer of Adoration

God, who is like a good shepherd,
we are your people.
You count each one of us as your own.
You call us brothers and sisters of Christ.
You know us by name and by nature.

Shepherding God,
we worship you.

God, who is like a good shepherd,
we are your people.
In Christ you have gone ahead that we might follow.
In Christ you have opened springs of living water that we might be refreshed.
In Christ you have conquered death that we might live without fear.

Shepherding God,
we worship you.

God, who is like a good shepherd,
we are your people.
We know your voice,
the voice that draws us closer, the voice that sends us out,
the voice that injustice cannot silence, the voice that sets the prisoner free.

Shepherding God,
we worship you.

Hymn: Jesus, be the centre

Jesus, be the centre,
be my source, be my light,
Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
be the wind in these sails;
be the reason that I live,
Jesus, Jesus.

Jesus, be the centre,
be my hope, be my song,
Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart, …

Jesus, be my vision,
be my path, be my guide,
Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart, …

Michael Frye
CCL31580

Prayer of Confession

God, who is like a good shepherd,
we are your people, and we have wandered far from your presence.
We have turned our ears from your voice and listened to other voices –
the voice of greed, the voice of selfishness, the voices of arrogance and pride.
You have offered us abundance of life, but we have settled for so much less.
Forgive us.

[Silence]

Assurance of Pardon

Our God is like a good shepherd,
never giving up on those who are lost,
always ready to welcome the wanderer home.
Alleluia! Praise be to the living God!

Amen

Peruvian Gloria

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to the Father!
Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to the Father!
To God be glory forever!
To God be glory forever!
Alleluia, Amen!
Alleluia, Amen!
Alleluia, Amen!
Alleluia, Amen!
Alleluia, Amen!
Alleluia, Amen!

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to Christ Jesus…

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to the Spirit…

Psalm 23

Read by Peter Steeds

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.

NIV®

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

[Introduction]

John 10: 1–10

Read by Nerys Steeds

The good shepherd and his sheep

¹ ‘Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice.’ ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

NIV®

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

Talk

By Revd Dr Margaret Goodall

Hymn: Have you heard God’s voice

Have you heard God’s voice; has your heart been stirred?
Are you still prepared to follow?
Have you made a choice to remain and serve,
though the way be rough and narrow?

Will you walk the path that will cost you much
and embrace the pain and sorrow?
Will you trust in One who entrusts to you
the disciples of tomorrow?

Will you use your voice; will you not sit down
when the multitudes are silent?
Will you make a choice to stand your ground
when the crowds are turning violent?

Will you walk the path…

In your city streets will you be God’s heart?
Will you listen to the voiceless?
Will you stop and eat, and when friendships start
will you share your faith with the faithless?

Will you walk the path…

Will you watch the news with the eyes of faith
and believe it could be different?
Will you share your views using words of grace?
Will you leave a thoughtful imprint?

We will walk the path that will cost us much
and embrace the pain and sorrow.
We will trust in One who entrusts to us
the disciples of tomorrow.

Jacqueline G. Jones
CCL31580

Prayers of Intercession

Notices and Offertory

Methodist Northampton District ‘Big Sing’

Thank you to all those who helped us to give a warm Cornerstone welcome to all who attended the Methodist District event last Sunday (19 April 2026). Your contributions were much appreciated.

Rosemary Kearsey

Men in Sheds MK Open Day

10.00 am – 4.00 pm Saturday, 2 May 2026: 30 Burners Lane, Kiln Farm MK11 3HB

Join Men in Sheds Milton Keynes for a free, family-friendly community open day. Live demos, workshop tours and hands-on activities.

• Tour our workshop facilities;
• Meet local members and volunteers;
• See our latest projects;
• Activities and demonstrations;
• Games and prizes;
• Hand-crafted items for sale;
• Tea, coffee and refreshments.

Men in Sheds MK is a registered charity, primarily, though not exclusively, for men. Many are retired or not working. The charity works in an informal way and is open up to four days a week. Members have the use of workshop space for wood and metal work, crafts, model making, art and electronic projects. We undertake all sorts of construction activities: making things for individual members and to fulfil commissions from the community.

For more information about Men in Sheds MK and their Open Day visit their website: Men In Sheds Milton Keynes – A place to build. learn and socialise.

Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust  Ride + Stride 2026

10.00 am – 6.00 pm Saturday, 12 September 2026

The annual Ride + Stride event is a major fund-raising event for the work of the Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust. Half the funds collected revert to the local church, and the other half are used to help churches across Buckinghamshire.

At Cornerstone we need somebody to take on the job of coordinator to publicise the event in advance, to arrange for a friendly reception at Cornerstone throughout 10.00 am – 6.00 pm on Saturday, 12 September 2026, with tea and biscuits, to collect a register of Ride + Stride arrivals, and to ensure donations are forwarded to Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust after the event.

For more information visit the Ride + Stride page on the Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust website: Ride + Stride – Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust.

Adrian Yardley

Hymn: The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
he makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
his goodness restores my soul.

And I will trust in you alone,
and I will trust in you alone,
for your endless mercy follows me,
your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,
and he anoints my head with oil,
and my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on his pure delights.

And I will trust in you alone, …

And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know.

And I will trust in you alone, …

Stuart Townend (b. 1963)
CCL31580

Prayer and Blessing

Prayer of the Week

Holy Shepherd,
you know your sheep by name and lead us to safety.
Guide us by your voice, that we may know the way to that leads to you.

Amen