Led by Revd Sarah Eden-Jones
Presiding Minister: Revd George Mwaura
Preacher: Revd Lara Deen

Gathering Music

Welcome and Opening Prayer

The Lord be with you,
and also with you.

 

Hymn: O God beyond all praising

O God beyond all praising,
we worship you today
and sing the love amazing
that songs cannot repay;
for we can only wonder
at every gift you send,
at blessings without number
and mercies without end:
we lift our hearts before you
and wait upon your word,
we honour and adore you,
our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Saviour,
accept the love we bring,
that we who know your favour
may serve you as our king;
and whether our tomorrows
be filled with good or ill,
we’II triumph through our sorrows
and rise to bless you still:
to marvel at your beauty
and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty
our sacrifice of praise.

Michael A. Perry (1942–1996)
CCL31580

Prayer of Preparation

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

Confession

Since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, looking to Jesus in penitence and faith.

Lord God, we have sinned against you; we have done evil in your sight.
We are sorry and repent. Have mercy on us according to your love.
Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.
Renew a right spirit within us and restore us to the joy of your salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Gloria [Sung]

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

God of holiness, your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints, inspire us to follow their example with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Song: I am a city on a hill

I am a city on a hill;
I am a light in the darkness.
Jesus living in me can change the world.
I am a city on a hill;
I am a light in the darkness.
Jesus living in me can change the world.

Let my light shine, let my light shine, let my light shine;
let my light shine, let my light shine, let my light shine.
If God is for me, who can stand against me?
Let my light shine, let my light shine, let my light shine.
If God is for me, who can stand against me?
Let my light shine, let my light shine, let my light shine.

We are a city on a hill;
we are a light in the darkness.
Jesus living in us can change the world.
We are a city on a hill;
we are a light in the darkness.
Jesus living in us can change the world

Let your light shine, let your light shine, let your light shine;
let it shine.
let your light shine, let your light shine, let your light shine.
If God is for us, who can stand against us?
Let your light shine, let your light shine, let your light shine.
If God is for us, who can stand against us?
Let your light shine, let your light shine, let your light shine.

Nick and Becky Drake (2014)
CCL31580

Ministry of the Word

Revelation: 7: 9–17

Read by Peter Steeds

The great multitude in white robes

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.’

¹¹ All the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, ¹² saying:

‘Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honour
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!’

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?’

¹⁴ I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’

And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore,

‘they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
¹⁶ “Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,”
nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb at the centre of the throne
will be their shepherd;
“he will lead them to springs of living water.”
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

NIV® (p. 1238)

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

Hymn: Speak, O Lord, as we come to you

Speak, O Lord, as we come to you
to receive the food of your holy word.
Take your truth, plant it deep in us;
shape and fashion us in your likeness,
that the light of Christ might be seen today
in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
all your purposes, for your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
in the radiance of your purity.
Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see
your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
help us grasp the heights of your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
that will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on your promises,
and by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till your Church is built
and the earth is filled with your glory.

Keith Getty (b. 1974) and Stuart Townend (b. 1963)
CCL31580

Matthew 5: 1–12

Read by Nerys Steeds

¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

³ ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

NIV® (p. 968)

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

By Revd Lara Deen

Musical Meditation

The Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Amen

Prayers of Intercession

Led by Alan Deen

The Peace

We are fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God, through Christ our Lord,
who came and preached peace to those who were far off and those who were near.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

Let us offer each other a sign of peace.

Offertory Hymn: For all the Saints

For all the saints who from their labours rest,
who thee by faith before the world confess,
thy name, O Jesus, be for ever blest.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou in the darkness drear their one true light.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them, the victor’s crown of gold.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

O blest communion! Fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

But lo! There breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array:
the King of glory passes on his way.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

William Walsham Howe (1823–1897)
CCL31580

Offertory Prayer

God of all goodness and grace, receive the gifts we offer;
and grant that our whole life may give you glory and praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Holy Communion

The Lord be with you,
and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Loving God, we thank you at all times and in every place through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Today we rejoice in the fellowship of all your saints:
those who have served you through the generations and those who walk beside us now.
Your grace has sustained them, and your love unites us in one body.
With angels and archangels and the whole company of heaven, we praise your holy name:

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.

Holy God, our loving Father, you gave your Son Jesus Christ to share our life and bring us back to you.
On the cross he offered himself once for all for the sins of the whole world.
By rising from the dead, he opened the way to everlasting life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and wine,
that as we receive them, we may share in the body and blood of Christ.

On the night before he died, Jesus took bread and gave you thanks.
He broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
‘Take, eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me..’

After supper he took the cup and gave you thanks. He gave it to them, saying:
‘Drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.’

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

Father, as we remember his death and resurrection, we offer you our thanks and praise.
Unite us by your Spirit, strengthen us to serve our neighbours,
and bring us, with all your saints, into the joy of your kingdom.
Through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, loving Father, now and for 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

The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

We share this wine of the new covenant.
Through Christ’s blood, we are forgiven and united in his love.

Invitation to Communion

Jesus invites us to his table. Come with faith and thanksgiving and receive the gifts of his love.

[Please come forward to receive when directed. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine is available.
If you would prefer a prayer of blessing, please indicate this to the minister.]

Prayer after Communion

Loving God, thank you for feeding us at your table and uniting us with all your saints.
Strengthen us to follow Jesus, to love our neighbours, and to serve you faithfully;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Notices

Colin Ballard

It is with great sadness that we report that Colin Ballard died on Tuesday, 27 October 2026 in Willen Hospice, surrounded by his family. Colin was a regular volunteer at Sunday morning services at Cornerstone.

Church Congregational Meeting

Sunday, 22 November 2026

Our next Church Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, 22 November 2026 immediately after Sunday Morning Service, in the Worship Area. All are welcome.

Leadership Team

3.30 pm Thursday, 5 November 2026

The Leadership Team will meet on Thursday, 5 November 2026 to plan the Agenda for the Congregational Meeting. Please let the Church Secretary (email: pat_kyd@yahoo.co.uk) know if you have an item you wish to be discussed.

Pat Kyd, Church Secretary

Barbara Smih’s funeral and memorial service

Thursday, 12 November 2026

Barbara Elizabeth Ann Smith’s funeral will take place on 12 November 2026, with a private burial. This will be followed by a Memorial Service at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone at 3.15 pm. Afterwards, the family warmly invites all who are able to join them for refreshments in the Guildhall.

Revd George Mwaura

Cornerstone Contemporary Worship Band

We are hoping to start a Contemporary Worship Band to introduce different styles to our worship during services. If you play a musical instrument or enjoy singing contemporary worship songs and would be interested in being part of the worship band, we would love to hear from you!

Please get in touch with Revd Lara Deen if you would like to be involved. Mobile: 07808 855478; Email : lara.deen@cornerstonemk.co.uk.

Revd Lara Deen

White Poppies and Red Poppies

The Peace Pledge Union has been promoting peace since 1934, and their annual White Poppy campaign calls for remembrance for all victims of war, both civilian and military, of all nationalities. At Cornerstone we sell their white poppies alongside the red poppies of the Royal British Legion. Many people wear both a red and white poppy.

Both red poppies and white poppies are now available at the Church Reception.

Social Justice Group

Hymn: Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
hold me with thy powerful hand;
bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore. (x2)

Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield. (x2)

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside,
death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side;
songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee. (x2)

Welsh, Willian Williams (1717–1791) tr. Peter and Willian Williams
CCL31580

Blessing

The love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself,
the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen you in his service,
the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

Amen

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

Amen