All Age Service for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Live Streamed – Sunday, 28 January 2024
Led by>: Revd George Mwaura
Gathering Music
Call to Worship
We are gathered to pray for the visible unity of the Church.
So let us praise God, saying:
Glory to you, Father,
for you reveal yourself in your creation, and call all people to live in your presence.
Glory to you, Christ Jesus,
for you give yourself entirely to each one of us and invite us to do the same.
Glory to you, Holy Spirit,
for you gather us together in love and unity.
Glory to you, God of love,
in whom we are created, redeemed, and made one.
Amen
Hymn: The church’s one foundation
The church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word;
from heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride,
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
Elect from every nation,
yet one o’er all the earth,
her charter of salvation
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.
’Mid toil, and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace for evermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great Church victorious
shall be the Church at rest.
Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is one:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.
S.J. Stone (1839–1900)
CCL31580
Prayers of Confession
We come before you, O God, to confess our sins.
By seeking happiness without God and ignoring the command to love,
we have turned from our neighbour.
Our selfishness and desire to possess and control separate us from God.
Merciful God:
forgive and heal us.
When we disregard the humanity of others and build walls of division,
we sow seeds of hatred and violence, abandoning the Lord’s command to love.
forgive and heal us.
When our lack of compassion hardens our hearts,
we no longer see Jesus in those different from ourselves.
forgive and heal us.
When we fail to open our hearts and minds to God’s infinite and unconditional love,
the world is darkened by selfishness, violence, and indifference.
forgive and heal us.
Kyrie
Prayer of the Week
Creator God, you have created us to have life, and life in all its fullness.
Help your wounded Church to be a source of hope and healing.
As we follow Jesus’ way with determination, may we lead others to you.
May the gift of your Holy Spirit enable our eyes, ears, and minds to receive
the unconditional love with which you love us.
Purify our hearts that we may always be ready to love our neighbour, however different, as ourselves.
Through the self-giving life of Christ our Lord.
Amen
Bible Readings
Genesis 18: 1–8
Read by Nerys Steeds
The Three Visitors
1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, ‘If I have found favour in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way – now that you have come to your servant.’
‘Very well,’ they answered, ‘do as you say.’
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.’
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
NIV®
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn: Make me a channel of your peace
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury your pardon, Lord.
And where there’s doubt true faith in you.
Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness only light,
and where there’s sadness ever joy.
Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek …
Make me a channel of your peace.
It is pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving to all that we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to eternal life (
Sebastian Temple (1928–19970
from a prayer of St Francis of Assisi (c. 1183–1226)
CCL31580
Luke 10: 25–37
Read by Peter Steeds
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
26 ‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied. ‘How do you read it?’
27 He answered, ‘ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”’
28 ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’
30 In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”
36 ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’
37 The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’
Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ NIV®
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.
Meditation
By Revd George Mwaura
[Silence]Affirmation of Faith
We believe in the Creator,
the maker of all things.
We believe in the Son,
the redeemer of our broken world.
We believe in the Spirit,
the sacred wind that binds all things together in the family of God.
Creator Father, beloved Son and living Spirit.
Amen
Prayers and Intercessions
Led by Joy Enenche
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
The Peace
Peace to you from God, who is our Father.
Peace from Jesus Christ, who is our peace.
Peace from the Holy Spirit, who gives us life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Hymn: For the healing of the nations
For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord,
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.
Lead us, Father, into freedom,
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.
All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life’s brief span.
You, Creator-God, have written
your great name on all mankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind;
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.
Fred Kaan (1929–2009)
CCL31580
Notices
MK Climate Action Network Workshop
1.45 – 5.00 pm, Sunday 28 January at Cornerstone
Milton Keynes Climate Action Network are hosting a workshop about how we can unify our climate action voices and make Milton Keynes a thriving, greener city. Currently there is an opportunity for us to have our voices heard and influence the Carbon and Climate Study and the MK New City Plan, specifically in the areas of: buildings, transport and biodiversity. Please come and make your views known. Register at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mk-climate-action-network-tickets-778173607207?aff=oddtdtcreator. For more information please contact Stuart Kean.
Stuart Kean
Congregational Meeting
12.30 pm Sunday, 4 February 2024 by Zoom:
You are warmly invited to join the meeting by Zoom. It will be a short meeting, updating the Congregation about the progress to CIO, and requesting a vote on this motion::
The Ecumenical Council asks the Congregational Meeting on 4 February 2024 to extend the terms of office of its current officers and members until the date the CIO Board of Trustees becomes operational.
Pat Kyd, Clerk to the Ecumenical Partnership
Big Garden Birdwatch: 26–28 January 2024
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is organising the annual Big Garden Birdwatch
26–28 January 2024. It’s the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring. Take time out to enjoy the amazing beauty of ‘the birds of the air’. For information about how to take part, go to the RSPB website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch.
Eco Church Group
Training for Readers and Intercessors
Philip Allsop (who represents Fr Francis) has made a very kind offer of training for readers and intercessors. The Catholic cluster organise such training every now and again and have two excellent people to do the training. Philip is happy to hold their next training at Cornerstone and open it up to any of our readers and intercessors. It has been scheduled for 7.30–9.00 pm on Monday, 18 March 2024 in the Worship Area.
If you are interested in honing your reading skills or would like to get some training to become a reader, please let me or June know.
Brian Halstead, brianhalstead@hotmail.co.uk
Wanted: Volunteer Tour Guides
We often have requests from schools and other groups to provide a tour of the Cornerstone Church building, and we need volunteer guides to lead these tours, to explain the significance of the various features of the building and how it is used, and to answer questions. Full training will be provided. If you are interested, please contact our Administrator, Mark Okor at admin@cornerstonemk.co.uk.
Recycling
Friends! We are well into the new year and the Eco-Church Group is back offering information and help for all of us to be more sustainable and kinder to the environment. On Sunday morning Cheryl will provide a brief encouragement to help you recycle. Tracker sheets will be available to take home.
Cheryl Montgomery on behalf of the Eco Church Group
Offering
Put peace into each other’s hands
Put peace into each other’s hands
and like a treasure hold it;
protect it like a candle flame,
with tenderness enfold it.
Put peace into each other’s hands,
with loving expectation;
be gentle in your words and way,
in touch with God’s creation.
Put peace into each other’s hands,
like bread we break for sharing;
look people warmly in the eye:
our life is meant for caring.
As at communion, shape your hands
into a waiting cradle;
the gift of Christ receive, revere,
united round the table.
Put Christ into each other’s hands,
he is love’s deepest measure;
in love make peace, give peace a chance:
and share it like a treasure.
Fred Kaan (1929–2009)
CCL31580
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, who prayed that all might be one, we pray to you for the unity of all Christians,
according to your will, according to your means.
May your Spirit enable us to experience the suffering caused by division,
to see our sin and to hope beyond all hope.
Amen
Sending out and Blessings
You have been refreshed by union of one another in worship,
united in Christ and enlivened by the Holy Spirit: go forth to love God, and your neighbour as yourself.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always
Amen