Celebrant: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Gathering music

Introit: Since by man came death

Welcome

Prayer of the Week

God our Father,
may we look forward with hope to our resurrection,
for you have made us your sons and daughters,
and restored the joy of our youth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

Hymn: Jesus, stand among us at the meeting of our lives

Jesus, stand among us at the meeting of our lives,
be our sweet agreement at the meeting of our eyes;
O Jesus, we love You, as we gather here,
join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

So to You we’re gathering out of each and every land,
Christ the love between us at the joining of our hands;
O Jesus, we love You, as we gather here,
join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

Jesus stand among us at the breaking of the bread:
join us as one body as we worship You, our head.;
O Jesus, we love You, as we gather here,
join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

Graham Kendrick (1977)
CCL31580

Gathering Prayer

God of Promise and God of Hope,
who through your great mercy
have granted us new birth
through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
we praise your wonderful name!
God of Glory and God of Might
who through your great power
have granted us new strength
to endure all things through faith in Christ our risen King,
we praise your wonderful name!

Amen

Confession

God of healing,
God of wholeness,
we bring our brokenness,
our sinfulness,
our fears
and despair,
and lay them at your feet.

God of healing,
God of wholeness,
we hold out hearts and hands,
minds and souls
to feel your touch,
and know the peace
that only you can bring.

Kyrie

God of healing,
God of wholeness,
this precious moment
in your presence and power
grant us faith and confidence
that here broken lives
are made whole.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Psalm 4

¹ Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

² How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
³ Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴ Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.

⁶ Many, Lord, are asking, ‘Who will bring us prosperity?’
Let the light of your face shine on us.
⁷ Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.

⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.

NIV®

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

Hymn: On the day of Resurrection (Emmaus)

On the day of resurrection
To Emmaus we return
While confused amazed and frightened
Jesus comes to us unknown

Then this stranger asks a question
What is this which troubles you
Meets us in our pain and suffering
Jesus walks with us unknown

In our trouble words come from Him
Burning fire within our hearts
Tells to us the scripture’s meaning
Jesus speaks to us unknown

Then we near our destination
Then we ask the stranger in
And He yields unto our urging
Jesus stays with us unknown

Day of sorrow is forgotten
When the guest becomes the host
Taking bread and blessing breaking
Jesus is Himself made known

Opened eyes renewed convictions
Journey back to scenes of pain
Telling all that Christ is risen
Jesus is through us made known

Michael Peterson & Mark Sedio
CCL31580

Luke 24: 36b–48

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

⁴⁴ He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, ‘This is what is written: the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. …’

NIV®

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

Meditation

Choral Response: O for a closer walk with God

O for a closer walk with God
A calm and heav’nly frame
A light that shines upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb

Return, O holy Dove, return,
sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn,
and drove Thee from my breast.

So shall my walk be close with God,
calm and serene my frame;
so purer light shall mark the road
that leads me to the Lamb.

William Cowper / Stanford
CCL31580

An 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

Intercessions

Led by Cheryl Montgomery

Let us come together in prayer,
when we can bring our doubts and fears, joys and concerns, petitions and praise to our God
and offer them for the earth and all its creatures.

Risen Christ: Hear our prayer.

Lord of Life, we give thanks for this city of Milton Keynes, our home.
We appreciate the wisdom of the city builders who gave us parks and pathways,
ribbons of green and homes for wildlife to gladden our hearts when days are cold or times are dangerous.
Bless our elected members and civic officials with time to ponder this great wealth
which must not be squandered for short-term gain.
We remember Shirley Williams and her contribution to public life as well as that of the Duke of Edinburgh
whose funeral was yesterday.
Help us take heart from their example that we also can make a valuable contribution to community life.

Risen Christ: Hear our prayer.

Lord of Life, we pray for our world, so over-fished and over-farmed, depleted and run down.
As leaders prepare for the virtual earth summit open their eyes to the effects of our use of the planet.
Show us how we can help them make good decisions, make promises that will be kept
and consult for the benefit of generations still to come.
Where there is war, may we shame the weaponisers to the peace table;
where the pandemic rages, let the vaccines freely flow;
where there is a patch of poor, bare earth may it break forth green.

Risen Christ: Hear our prayer.

Lord of Life, through whom we know the power of redemption,
help us keep faith with the women who first told your story,
who witnessed great things to the frightened disciples yet never stopped their telling.
Make us as bold to demonstrate our faith in what we do and say
that the world may know us as Christian people here in Central Milton Keynes.
Open our minds to understand the scriptures and guide us in the path of discipleship
that we and all we meet may enjoy your refreshment.

Risen Christ: Hear our prayer.

Lord of Life, we pray for our Christian fellowship
and the groups at work to discover how we need to refresh our witness and worship in these new times.
Give them imagination and creativity in this voyage of discovery.
Life-sustaining Lord we pray for those of us in need of comfort and relief
like Joy and Joan and Eric.
As you have called us to do, we care for our companions in Christ with acts of love and words of comfort.
As you have blessed us may we be a blessing to others.

Risen Christ: Hear our prayer.

Amen

The Peace

Jesus says,

‘Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.’

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

Notices

Revd George Mwaura

George is on ten days’ annual leave, resuming his duties on Saturday, 24 April 2021. Because of travel restrictions he has not gone to Kenya.

Offering

Thank you
to everyone who has continued giving through our regular schemes during these past months.
Your generosity has been amazing and much appreciated.
We couldn’t have carried on without you.

We have various ways in which you can continue to give your offering in support of the Church.

For details please contact the Stewardship Secretary, Janet Trimnell, at steward.cccmk@gmail.com

Full details are also available on our website at: www.cornerstonemk.co.uk/giving.

Holy Communion

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this bread to offer,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this wine to offer,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become our spiritual drink.

Blessed be God for ever.

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 thanks and praise.

Father, you made the world and love your creation.
You gave your Son Jesus Christ to be our Saviour.
His dying and rising have set us free from sin and death.
By your Holy Spirit you make us your friends.
And so we gladly thank you,
with saints and angels praising you and saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
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 out-poured,
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.
We proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.

Great is the mystery of faith:

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

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

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

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.

Take this bread:

Share this wine.

In these Christ comes to us with love from God.
The gifts of God for the people of God.

Amen

Post-Communion Prayer

Lord God our Father,
through our Saviour Jesus Christ
you have assured your children of eternal life
and in baptism have made us one with him:
deliver us from the death of sin
and raise us to new life in your love,
in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

 

Final Prayer

Almighty Father,
who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples
with the sight of the risen Lord:
Give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened
and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Hymn: All you that seek the Lord who died

All you that seek the Lord who died,
your God for sinners crucified,
now, let all your grief be o’er!
Believe, and you shall weep no more.

The Lord of life is risen indeed,
to death delivered in your stead;
his rise proclaims your sins forgiven,
and shows the living way to heaven.

Haste then, you souls who first believe,
who dare the gospel word receive,
your faith with joyful hearts confess,
be bold, be Jesus’ witnesses.

Go, tell the followers of your Lord
their Jesus is to life restored;
he lives to quicken humankind;
he lives that all his life may find.

Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
CCL31580

The Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you,
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit
Be upon you today and always.

Amen

 

The Dismissal

Go in to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.