All Age Service – Live Streamed – Sunday, 24 September 2023
Led by Revd George Mwaura
Gathering song
Cornerstone Children’s Choir
Welcome and Opening Prayers
Let us come before God our creator, parent and sustainer.
who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love for us.
Let us come before Christ our merciful Lord, and self-giving redeemer,
who wants us as his disciples and gives us his joy.
Let us come before the Holy Spirit nearer than our breath, the source of our life,
lighting the fire of God’s love within us, and teaching us the way of Christ.
Let us come before God to worship and give praise,
to listen and respond, and to offer with joy all we have to give.
Let us come before God
Amen
Hymn: All over the world
All over the world
the Spirit is moving,
all over the world
as the prophets said it would be;
all over the world
there’s a mighty revelation
of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.
All over his church
God’s Spirit is moving,
all over his church
as the prophets said it would be;
all over his church
there’s a mighty revelation
of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.
Right here in this place
the Spirit is moving,
right here in this place
as the prophets said it would be;
right here in this place
there’s a mighty revelation
of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.
Roy Turner (1984)
CCL31580
Prayers of confession and forgiveness
Caring God, so often we are like the first workers in the vineyard, resentful, ungrateful and angry.
So often we feel little for those on street corners,
waiting for work, waiting for dignity, waiting for kindness.
So often we miss opportunities to work together,
to support one another, to be gracious to one another.
So often we call unfair that which is amazing and unjust that which is beautiful.
So often we limit your generosity to the size of ours.
But you know our weakness God and so in confidence we trust your forgiveness,
in gratitude we receive your grace, in humility we learn from your justice,
in faith we cherish your generosity,
and in prayerfulness, we ask that you would make us people who appreciate first and complain last –
to your glory and for the good of all.
Amen
Prayer of the Week
Gracious God, it is through your abundant provision that even those who grumble
and remain discontented receive all that is required for their existence.
Guide us in learning your ways of fairness and inspire us to embody your generosity,
so we may lead a life that reflects the gospel truths
revealed to us by your Son and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen
Cornerstone Children’s Choir
Bible Readings
Jonah 3: 10 – 4: 11
Read by David Chapman
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion
1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, ‘Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.’
4 But the Lord replied, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, ‘It would be better for me to die than to live.’
9 But God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?’
‘It is,’ he said. ‘And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.’
10 But the Lord said, ‘You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left – and also many animals?’
NIV®
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Matthew 20: 1–16
Read by Bob Collard
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
1 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 ‘About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the market-place doing nothing. 4 He told them, “You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” 5So they went.
‘He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, “Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?”
7 ‘ “Because no-one has hired us,” they answered.
‘He said to them, “You also go and work in my vineyard.”
8 ‘When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.”
9 ‘The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 “These who were hired last worked only one hour,” they said, “and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.”
13 ‘But he answered one of them, “I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
16 ‘So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’
NIV®
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.
Reflections
By Revd George Mwaura
[Silence]Hymn: It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord
It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord,
standin’ in the need of prayer. (×2)
Not my brother or my sister, but it’s me, O Lord
standin’ in the need of prayer.
Not my brother or my sister, but it’s me, O Lord
standin’ in the need of prayer.
It’s me, it’s me, …
Not my mother or my father, but it’s me, O Lord
standin’ in the need of prayer.
Not my mother or my father, but it’s me, O Lord
standin’ in the need of prayer.
It’s me, it’s me, …
Not the stranger or my neighbour, but it’s me, O Lord
standin’ in the need of prayer.
Not the stranger or my neighbour, but it’s me, O Lord
standin’ in the need of prayer.
It’s me, it’s me, …
Afro-American Spiritual)
CCL31580
Prayers and Intercessions
Led by Adrian Boynton
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
Sharing peace
Peace is a gift of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church
and we have been commanded to preach it, practice it and share it.
So, Church, may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you…
And also with you!
Notices
Sponsored Bible Reading
It’s not too late to make a donation towards this Saturday’s Bible reading event!
You can put your donation in one of the special envelopes in the Reception area and hand it in to the stewards on Sunday or to Reception desk during the week. Or you can donate on-line using the following details:
Account name: Ecumenical Partnership of Christ the Cornerstone Milton Keynes
Sort code: 23 05 80; Account number 37995851 (Metro Bank)
Please give reference as: sponsor bible
A huge thank-you to everyone who has contributed.
Peter Cope
Coffee Morning and Fair Trade stall at the Almere
10.30 am – 12.30 pm Saturday, 7 October 2023
We are returning after a very enjoyable gathering in the spring with residents of these new apartments in Avebury Boulevard, MK9 2FF. Please offer your support for a short time if you can, to provide cakes/cookies, help transport the Fair Trade stall goods, set up or clear the room or simply to meet and greet our neighbours with a smile – many are recently moved into Milton Keynes. More information (including arranging drop off of cakes etc. in advance if you are not available on the day) from Joy Chapman, 07854 762676, cjoy.chapman9@gmail.com.
Black History Sunday, 8 October 2023
Bring and Share Lunch
The 75th Anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush on 22 June 1948 is being commemorated by many churches and civic organisations in the UK.
On Sunday, 8 October 2023 a special service is being planned by Revd Ernesto and Revd George. Members of our Congregation who have connections with ‘Windrushers’ as second or third generations will be contributing to the worship. After the service, we will be having a ‘bring and share’ lunch in the Cornerstone Café, which Christine Mwaura is coordinating. Please contact Christine with respect to your assistance, as well as any queries you may have. We look forward to everyone’s participation, as this will be our special event for the celebration of Black History Month.
Christine Mwaura, Glynne Gordon-Carter
MK Can! – World Record attempt, 10 km of cans for MK Food Bank
By last Friday we had 215 cans, so we are well on our way to our target of 350 cans needed for the MK Food Bank’s ‘MK Can!’ on World Food Day: Monday, 16 October 2023. We need to fill Cornerstone’s 25 metre section of the 10 km. So thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, and please keep the cans coming! Donate tins of fruit, vegetables, tomatoes, soup, meat, fish, baked beans, pulses, rice pudding, custard or pasta. There are boxes behind the desk in Reception in which to leave your cans. For more information see https://mkfoodbank.org.uk/mk-can/.
We will also need volunteers in the day, so please offer your services if you can be available for some or all of the time 9.00 am – 5.00 pm on Monday, 16 October, in Campbell Park. Contact to Mubina Chakera (mubinachakera@hotmail.com) or David Chapman (david@dachapman.free-online.co.uk).
Social Justice Committee
Cornerstone Children’s Choir
Offertory
Hymn: The Spirit lives to set us free
The Spirit lives to set us free,
walk, walk in the light;
he binds us all in unity,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light,
walk in the light,
walk in the light,
walk in the light of the Lord.
Jesus promised life to all,
walk, walk in the light;
the dead were wakened by his call
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, …
He died in pain on Calvary,
walk, walk in the light;
to save the lost like you and me,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, …
We know his death was not the end,
walk, walk in the light;
he gave his Spirit to be our friend,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, …
By Jesus’ love our wounds are healed,
walk, walk in the light;
the Father’s kindness is revealed,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light, …
The Spirit lives in you and me,
walk, walk in the light;
his light will shine for all to see,
walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light,
Damian Lundy (1944–1996)
CCL31580
Sending out and Blessings
May God send you out as workers in the vineyard,
to do whatever God calls you to do,
to do it fairly and without favour,
so that all may share in Gods harvest of generosity.
and the blessings of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you today and always.
Amen
Church, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ,
Amen