Celebrant: Rt Revd Bishop Jonathan Meyrick

Gathering Music

Gathering

The Prophet Zechariah called to a people who had lost hope, urging them to rejoice:
Let your King come to you, triumphant and victorious, yet humble and riding on a donkey.

Jesus Christ called to the weary and heavy-laden:
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.

The Lord be with you,
And also with you.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden;
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord

Amen

Hymn: All hail the power of Jesu’s name

All hail the power of Jesu’s name;
let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem
to crown him, crown him, crown him/span>
crown him, Lord of all.

Crown him, ye morning stars of light,
who fixed this floating ball/span>
now hail the Strength of Israel’s might,
and crown him, crown him, crown him,
crown him, Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from his altar call;
praise him whose path of pain ye trod,
and crown him, crown him, crown him,
crown him, Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
ye ransomed of the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him, crown him, crown him,
crown him, Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him, crown him, crown him,
crown him, Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue
to him their hearts enthral:
lift high the universal song,
and crown him, crown him, crown him,
crown him, Lord of all.

Edward Perronet (1726–1792) and others
CCL31580

Confession

St Paul reflected: ‘I know that nothing good dwells in my unspiritual self –
though the will to do good is there, the ability to effect it is not.
The good which I want to do, I fail to do; what I do is the wrong which is against my will.’

But God so loved the world that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins.
Let us therefore confess our sins, in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God’s commandments,
and to live in love and peace with all.

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God.

Amen

Kyrie

Absolution

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is sanctified and governed:
Hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry, they may serve you in holiness and truth, to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Zechariah 9: 9–12

Read by Kate Abrahams

The coming of Zion’s king

⁹ Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
¹⁰ I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
and the battle-bow will be broken.…
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
¹¹ As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
¹² Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

NIV®

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

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven!

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven!
To his feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like me his praise should sing?
Praise him! Praise him! [×2] Praise the everlasting king!

Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same for ever,
slow to chide and swift to bless.
Praise him! Praise him! [×2] Glorious in his faithfulness!

Father-like he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him! Praise him! [×2] Widely as his mercy flows.

Angels, help us to adore him;
ye behold him face to face;
sun and moon bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space.
Praise him! Praise him! [×2] Praise with us the God of grace!

Henry Francis Lyte (1793–1847)
CCL31580

Matthew 11: 16–19 & 25–30

Read by Richard May-Miller

¹⁶ ‘To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the market-places and calling out to others:

¹⁷ ‘“We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.”

¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon.” ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.’

…

The Father revealed in the Son

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²⁷ ‘All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

²⁸ ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

NIV®

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

Sermon

By Rt Revd Jonathan Meyrick

Musical Meditation

Affirmation of Faith – The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen

Prayers of Intercession

Led by Joy Enenche

The Peace

God is love, and those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

May the Peace of the loving Lord always be with you,
and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s Peace.

Hymn: The King of love my shepherd is

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
and he is mine for ever.

Where streams of living water flow
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow
with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home rejoicing brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never:
good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house for ever.

H.W. Baker (1821–1877)
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 our thanks and praise.

It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, eternal God,
Creator and Sustainer of all life.
You formed us in your image and called us to walk in your ways.
When we wandered from your path, you remained faithful.
You raised up leaders and prophets, strengthened your servants,
and guided your people through every generation.

In the fullness of time you sent Jesus Christ, the Gate of salvation and the Shepherd of your flock,
who came that all might have life and have it abundantly.

Therefore, we praise you,
joining our voices with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, forever singing:

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.

We praise and bless you, loving Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts
that broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died, he had supper with his friends, and taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, shared it with them and said:
‘Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’

When supper was ended, he took a cup of wine. Again, he gave you thanks, shared it and said:
‘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.’

So, Father, as we remember all that Jesus did,
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.

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

Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day
when your justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth, and your kingdom comes.
Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with all the saints to be with you for ever 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 Father, for ever and ever.

Amen

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

Breaking of the Bread

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 to Communion

Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

Post-Communion Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him, we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.

Amen

Notices and Offertory

Pastoral Cover

During Revd George’s annual leave: 25 June – 13 July 2026

While I am away, the Congregation will be cared for by Revd Dr Margaret Goodall. If you have any pastoral concerns or needs during this time, please contact Revd Dr Goodall directly or speak to one of the church’s pastoral workers, who will be happy to assist or put you in touch with Margaret.

Blessings
Revd George

Cornerstone Gift Day and Fundraising Event

Sunday, 19 July 2026

Please remember to collect your envelope about the Gift Day from Reception area on (or after) Sunday (5 July 2026). Inside your envelope are all the details you’ll need for making your gift by cash, cheque, card or bank transfer.

Our target is to raise £7000 to help continue and develop our mission to provide an Oasis of Hope in Central Milton Keynes. Please give generously!

To top up the money received from Gift Day donations, we’re holding a Fundraising Event, which we hope will be fun, as well as making a good profit! This will be after the service on Sunday, 19 July 2026. There’ll be an Auction of Goods and Service, a Cake Stall, a Book Stall, refreshments, etc.

If you’re able to donate anything for the Auction, please could you let Don Head know. Cathy Hampton will be very grateful if you can bake a cake for the Cake Stall. Please let Peter Cope know if you have any books we could sell.

Thank you
Peter Cope

Offertory Prayer

Receive these gifts, Gracious God we pray, for your honour and glory, and the relief of those in need,
in you name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen

Hymn: Take my life, and let it be

Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let the move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet, and let the be
swift and purposeful for thee.

Take my voice, and let it sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it thine,
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–1879)
CCL31580

Blessing

Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.

Amen