Led by: Revd George Mwaura

[Silence]

Welcome

As we are gathered, Jesus is here,
one with each other, Jesus is here;
joined by the Spirit, washed in his blood,
part of the body, the Church of God.
As we are gathered, Jesus is here,
one with each other, Jesus is here.

John Daniels (1979)
CCL31580

Call to Worship

Open now thy gates of beauty, Zion, let us enter there,
where our souls in joyful duty wait for him who answers prayer.
O how blessed is this place,
filled with solace, light and grace!
Come let us worship God together:

Amen, we are to worship!

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

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Confession

Loving God, we thank you for those people you call us to serve
and those places you call us to serve you.
We thank you for opportunities to see you at work in the church and in the world.
Help us to walk in your footsteps and to trust our journey to you.
We give thanks for those who have gone ahead of us and those who will follow behind,
but particularly for those who walk with us, sharing stories and jokes, tales and tears.
Bind us together in love and strengthen us day by day. Caring God, you count us as worthy.
Your love calls and we respond, reluctantly sometimes, wholeheartedly sometimes.
We do not always understand. There are times when we do not see and times when we do not hear.
There are times we lose our way by accident;
there are times when we lose our way deliberately and by design.

[Silence]

Yet you go on forgiving. Your mercy is new every morning.
There is no barrier that stands in the way of your loving embrace. Calm us and quieten us. Speak to us your word and compassion and peace.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

Divine Creator, you are the one who plants seeds, casts out fishing nets, bakes bread, and searches for precious pearls. Transform us into living parables, so that we may become imaginative and life-affirming stewards of the world that you have entrusted to our thoughtful and compassionate care.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

1 Kings 3:  5–12

Read by Stuart Kean

⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’

⁶ Solomon answered, ‘You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

⁷ ‘Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. ⁹ So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’

¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

NIV®

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

Matthew 13: 44–46

Read by Maggie Kean

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

⁴⁴ ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

⁴⁵ ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

NIV®

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

[Silence]

Introduction to Theme

Hymn: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God,
and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you;
allelu, alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.

Ask and it shall be given unto you,
seek and ye shall find.;
knock and itshall be opened unto you;
allelu, alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.

We shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of God;
allelu, alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.

Karen Lafferty (1948–2013)
CCL31580

Reflections

By Revd George Mwaura

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Cheryl Montgomery

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

Jesus said: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid…

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
And also with you!

Share peace using agreed protocols.

Notices

Piano Recital by John Robertson

3.00–4.30 pm on Sunday, 20 August 2023 at St Mary & St Giles Church,
Stony Stratford MK11 1BD

John Robertson, whom many members of Cornerstone will remember in his former role as Milton Keynes Mission Partnership’s Director of Ecumenical Mission, has now taken up again his musical career. His piano recital next month in Stony Stratford will feature works by Bach, Beethoven, Medtner and Rachmaninoff. Entry is £10 on the door, and refreshments will be available. This recital is part of the Music for All programme (www.muciforaallsmsg.org).

Wednesday Bible Study: Parables of the Kingdom

Our Wednesday evening Bible Studies on the Parables of the Kingdom now take a break for the summer. We shall resume on Wednesday, 20 September 2023.

Are you a member of Amnesty International?

Our Church has often in the past supported the work of Amnesty International, such as through letter-writing campaigns to appeal for the release of prisoners of conscience around the world. Cornerstone’s Social Justice Group is seeking someone who can work with them to revive this aspect of our mission to be an Oasis of Hope. If you are a member of Amnesty International and could spare some time to help, please get in touch with the chair of the Social Justice Group, David Chapman (01908 666422, david@dachapman.free-online.co.uk). For more information about Amnesty International see website: https://www.amnesty.org/en/.

Cornerstone Notice Sheet by email

Would you like to receive copies of the Notice Sheet by email? This allows you to keep abreast of Cornerstone events, activities and services even when you are not able to get to church yourself. You will also receive news and information of other events that may be of interest to church folk. Just send your name and email address to robin_kyd@yahoo.co.uk and Robin will add you to the mailing list. To comply with the data protection legislation your email address can only be added to the mailing list with your explicit permission. You can ask for you email address to be taken off the mailing list at any time.

The Offering

Hymn: Give me joy in my heart

Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
give me joy in my heart, I pray.
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising.
Keep me praising till the end of day.

Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the King!

Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting,
give me peace in my heart, I pray.
Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting.
Keep me resting till the end of day.

Sing hosanna! …

Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
give me love in my heart, I pray.
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving.
Keep me serving till the end of day.

Sing hosanna! …

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning,
give me oil in my lamp, I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.
Keep me burning to the end of day.

Sing hosanna! …

Traditional
CCL31580

Blessing

Loving God, thank you for your reign breaking in, all around, for those with eyes to see.
May the light of your love be focused within us.
May we create space in our hearts to treasure it.
And may we be of service to your love, now and always.

Go in peace 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