Holy Communion – Live Streamed – World Environment Sunday, 7 June 2026
Presiding Minister: Revd George Mwaura
Gathering Music
Call to Worship
Come, all who thirst for hope and healing.
We come to worship the Creator of heaven and earth.
The earth is filled with the goodness of God:
the valleys are clothed with grain; the hills sing together for joy.
We come to praise the One who waters the earth and crowns the year with bounty.
Jesus calls us to look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
We come to learn again the way of trust, gratitude, and care.
In a world burdened by climate crisis, greed, pollution, and fear, God still speaks life over creation.
We gather to renew our covenant with God, with one another,
and with the earth entrusted to our care.
Amen
Opening Prayer
Creator God, you made the heavens and stretched out the earth.
You formed the mountains, filled the seas, and breathed life into every living thing.
You water the earth abundantly,
and in Christ you teach us not to live by fear, but by trust in your loving care.
Open our eyes to the beauty of your creation.
Open our hearts to the suffering of the earth and the poor.
Open our hands to serve, protect, and restore what you have made.
May this worship renew our love for you and deepen our commitment to care for creation,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Hymn: God, beyond our dreams
God, beyond our dreams,
you have stirred in us a mem’ry;
you have placed your powerful spirit
in the hearts of humankind.
All around us we have known you,
all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.
God, beyond all names,
you have made us in your image;
we are like you, we reflect you;
we are woman, we are man.
All around us we have known you, …
God, beyond all words,
all creation tells your story;
you have shaken with our laughter,
you have trembled with our tears.
All around us we have known you, …
God, beyond all time,
you are labouring within us;
we are moving, we are changing
in your spirit ever new.
All around us we have known you, …
God of tender care,
you have cradled us in goodness.
you have mothered us in wholeness,
you have loved us into birth.
All around us we have known you, …
Bernadette Farrell (b. 1957)
CCL31580
Prayer of Thanksgiving, Lament and Confession
Faithful and Generous God, we thank you for the gift of creation:
for rivers that sustain life, for forests that breathe with beauty, for oceans alive with mystery,
for creatures great and small, for fertile soil, for rain and sunshine, for seedtime and harvest,
for the songs of birds, and for the dignity of every human being made in your image.
We thank you for the earth that nourishes us, for communities that work for justice and healing,
and for signs of hope that continue to spring forth even in difficult times.
Yet we also come with lament.
We grieve the destruction of forests, the poisoning of waters, the warming of the climate,
and the extinction of species. We lament systems built on greed and exploitation.
We mourn for communities displaced by drought, storms, floods, and famine.
We remember especially the poor and vulnerable, who suffer most from environmental injustice.
Merciful God, we confess that we have not cared for creation as faithful stewards.
We have consumed more than we need.
We have wasted resources, ignored the cries of the earth, and chosen convenience over compassion.
Too often we have worried about our own comfort,
while failing to seek first your kingdom of justice and righteousness.
Forgive us, O God. Renew in us right relationships: with you, with one another, and with all creation.
Teach us to live simply, love generously, and act courageously.
Hear the good news: The God who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds also showers mercy upon us.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, renewed, and called to participate in the healing of the world.
Thanks be to God.
Amen
Kyrie
Prayer of the Week and Days ahead
Almighty God, whose Spirit renews the face of the earth, grant that in this week,
and in the years ahead, we may faithfully care for your creation.
Give wisdom to leaders, compassion to communities,
and courage to all people working for climate justice and ecological healing.
Deliver us from fear, apathy, and selfishness.
Teach us to seek first your kingdom, trusting that you provide what we truly need.
May our churches become places of renewal, our homes places of stewardship,
and our lives signs of hope for future generations.
Amen
Ministry of the Word
Psalm 65: 4–13
Read by Martin Petchey
4 Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.
5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Saviour,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
9 You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with corn,
for so you have ordained it.
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with corn;
they shout for joy and sing.
NIV®
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn: Beauty for brokenness
Beauty for brokenness,
hope for despair,
Lord, in your suffering world
this is our prayer.
Bread for the children,
justice, joy, peace,
sunrise to sunset,
your kingdom increase!
Shelter for fragile lives,
cures for their ills,
work for all people,
trade for their skills;
land for the dispossessed,
rights for the weak,
voices to plead the cause
of those who can’t speak.
God of the poor,
friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray:
melt our cold hearts,
let tears fall like rain;
come, change our love
from a spark to a flame.
Refuge from cruel wars,
havens from fear
cities for sanctuary,
freedoms to share.
Peace to the killing-fields,
scorched earth to green,
Christ for the bitterness,
his cross for the pain.
Rest for the ravaged earth,
oceans and streams
plundered and poisoned –
our future, our dreams.
Lord, end our madness,
carelessness, greed;
make us content with
the things that we need.
God of the poor, …
Lighten our darkness,
breathe on the flame
until your justice burns
brightly again;
until the nations
learn of your ways,
seek your salvation
and bring you their praise.
God of the poor, …
Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
CCL31580
Matthew 6: 25–34
Read by Brian Halstead
Do not worry
25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 ‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
NIV®
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.
Sermon
By Revd George Mwaura
Musical Meditation
Affirmation of Faith
We believe in God, Creator of heaven and earth, source of life and giver of every good gift.
We believe in Jesus Christ, who proclaimed the kingdom of God, calmed the storm,
blessed the poor, and taught us to trust the Father who cares for all creation.
Through his life, death, and resurrection, Christ reconciles all things to God.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who renews the earth, inspires justice,
and calls the Church to stewardship, compassion, and hope.
We believe that the earth is the Lord’s, and that we are entrusted with its care
We commit ourselves to protect creation, seek climate justice,
and work for a future where all people and all living things may flourish.
Amen
Prayers of Intercession
Led by Glynne Gordon-Carter
The Peace
Christ is our peace.
In him all things are being reconciled: people and nations, humanity and creation, earth and heaven.
As those forgiven and renewed by grace, let us share signs of Christ’s peace with one another.
Church, may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be always with you,
and also with you.
Invitation to the Table
This is the table, not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is prepared for those who love God,
and for those who want to love God more.
Come, you who have much faith, and you who have little;
you who have been here often, and you who have not been for a long time;
you who have tried to follow, and you who have failed.
Come, not because the Church invites you; it is Christ, and Christ alone,
who welcomes you to this feast of grace.
Hymn: God in his love for us lent us this planet
God in his love for us lent us this planet,
gave it a purpose in time and in space:
small as a spark from the fire of creation,
cradle of life and the home of our race.
Thanks be to God for its bounty and beauty,
life that sustains us in body and mind:
plenty for all, if we learn how to share it
riches undreamed-of to fathom and find.
Long have our human wars ruined its harvest;
long has bowed to the terror of force;
long we have wasted what others have needed,
poisoned the fountain of life at its source.
Earth is the Lord’s: it is ours to enjoy it,
ours, as God’s stewards, to farm and defend.
From its pollution, misuse and destruction,
good Lord deliver us, world without end!
Fred Pratt Green (1903–2000)
CCL31580
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you,
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you,
holy Creator, almighty and everlasting God. You spoke creation into being.
You formed the earth from chaos, filled the seas with life, and set the stars in their courses.
You send rain upon the earth, water the valleys, and crown the year with goodness.
When humanity turned from your ways, you did not abandon the world you loved.
Through the prophets you called your people to justice and mercy.
In Jesus Christ, you came among us, proclaiming good news to the poor,
peace to the fearful, and hope to all creation.
Therefore, with angels and archangels, with the rivers and forests, with creatures of land and sea,
and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy and gracious God, accept our praise, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ;
who on the night before he died, took bread; and when he had given thanks to you,
he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said:,
‘Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’
After supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying,
‘Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’
Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Remembering his death and resurrection, we offer you this bread and this cup,
giving thanks that you have made us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.
Send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ. Renew the face of the earth through your Spirit.
Make us one body in Christ, faithful in worship, steadfast in justice, and joyful in service,
until your kingdom comes in fullness, and creation is restored in peace.
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:
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
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
Invitation
These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all is now ready..
Prayer after Communion
God of abundance, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of Christ.
May this holy meal strengthen us to care for your earth,
serve our neighbours, and live with trust rather than fear
Send us into the world as witnesses of hope, workers for justice, and stewards of your creation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Notices and Offertory
Daily prayers
Dear Cornerstone family!
We invite you to volunteer in preparing our daily online prayers/devotions. What may seem like a simple act of service becomes a powerful ministry that uplifts hearts, strengthens faith, and ushers God’s presence into the lives of many. When you stand in the gap through prayer, you become a vessel of encouragement, hope, and spiritual renewal. The Lord honours those who faithfully pour into others, and the blessings that flow from serving Him are truly rewarding beyond measure. Come, be part of this sacred assignment. Your voice, your prayer, and your willingness can ignite faith and transform lives.
Blessings as you enjoy cooler weather!
Revd George
Celebrating ten years of Eco Church
2.30–4.30 pm this Sunday (7 June 2026)
We’re delighted that Andy Atkins, the Chief Executive of A Rocha, the organisation that founded and continues to support the Eco Church movement in England and Wales, will be giving a talk here at Christ the Cornerstone this Sunday (7 June 2026) from 2.30 to -4.30 pm. The programme will include some worship before Andy’s talk and discussion, which will be followed by refreshments in the Guildhall. We hope there will be a large turnout, so please book your free ticket: at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrating-10-years-of-eco-church-tickets-1989213888288?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Cornerstone Eco Church Core Group
Over £1119 raised for Christian Aid
Cornerstone’s Christian Aid Week fundraising this year brought in a fantastic £947.93 from donations via our online e-envelope (£370.29), cash in the paper envelopes (£465), and the cake sales (£112.64).
At least £171.32 will be added to this from Gift Aid, so we will have raised over £1119 for the vital work of Christian Aid.
For information about what Christian Aid does with the money and why it is so important, please have look at their website: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/
Thank you to everyone who helped and donated.
(You can still donate via our e-envelope until 26 June 2026: https://caw.christianaid.org.uk/envelope-2026/church-christ-cornerstone-e-envelope)
Social Justice Group
Big Green Week Eco Craft Fayres
Saturday, 6 June – Monday, 15 June 2026 in the Cloisters
11.00 am – 6.00 pm Monday–Friday; 11.00 am – 4.30 pm Saturday
Celebrate Big Green Week: discover unique upcycled gifts and craft your own sustainable story.
Come and meet a wide selection of sustainable craft vendors offering eco-friendly gift options.
Vacancy for Anglican Minister at Cornerstone
Short-listed candidates will be invited to Milton Keynes on 23 & 24 June 2026, with interviews on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. Please continue to pray for all those involved in this important process.
Cornerstone Chapel
Please note that the Chapel will be closed to the public on Wednesday, 24 June 2026.
Offertory Prayer
Gracious God, all abundance flows from your endless love.
We humbly present these offerings before you, those placed before your altar today
and those given faithfully throughout the week,
whether shared in person or offered electronically, seen and unseen.
Receive them all as signs of our gratitude and tokens of our trust in you.
Bless these gifts and those who give them, that they may serve your purposes, proclaim your kingdom,
and reflect the generous love revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Hymn: Now we hear creation groaning
Now we hear creation groaning
like a prisoner held in chains,
yearning for unbridled freedom,
healing from its present pains:
for the cosmos is in labour,
bearing worlds as yet unknown,
incomplete without the people
God has chosen as his own.
But the saints are also groaning
with this aching hope we bear;
through involvement in life’s turmoil,
Jesus’ wounds are ours to share:
in the church, the world’s frustrations
can be focused, felt and healed,
as a better, new creation
is foreshadowed and revealed.
So we find, in all this anguish,
God’s intentions are expressed,
for the groans the Spirit utters
are the deepest and the best:
and those painful, strong emotions
human words can never tell –
God the Spirit, who evokes them,
now interprets them as well.
Since this fallen, splendid cosmos
is the womb to greater things,
and since we, in all our frailty,
serve the broken King of kings,
teach us, God, to hear your Spirit
whose maternal, wordless call
is the heart of our vocation
and the truest prayer of all.
Martin E. Leckebusch (b.1962)
CCL31580
Blessings
May God the Creator, who delights in all creation, fill you with wonder and gratitude.
May Christ, who teaches us not to be anxious, but to trust in the loving care of God,
strengthen you for lives of justice, compassion, and peace.
May the Holy Spirit, who renews the face of the earth,
empower you to protect creation and inspire hope for generations to come.
And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us all always.
Amen
Sending out
Go into the world inspired by nature, committed to climate justice,
and hopeful for the future God is bringing. Care for the earth.
Protect the vulnerable. Seek first the kingdom of God.
And let your lives bear witness to the goodness and faithfulness of the Creator.
In the name of Christ we will.
Amen