A separate video feed of the choir is available here.

Preacher: Revd Canon Helen D. Cameron
Led by: Revd Canon Helen D. Cameron
Revd George Mwaura &
Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Introit: Veni Sancte Spiritus (Taizé)

Welcome

Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

As we wait together in one place,
Holy One,
pour out your Spirit upon us.

As the roaring wind announces its coming,
Holy One,
pour out your Spirit upon us.

As the tongues of fire manifest its arrival,
Holy One,
pour out your Spirit upon us.

As we feel its overflowing presence deep in our inner beings,
Holy One,
pour out your Spirit upon us.

Today is the feast of Pentecost.
The fulfilment of God’s promises, a celebration of unity-in-diversity.
Today we mark the beginning of the Church,
a community of people called by God from all corners of the world,
from all tongues ever spoken, from all colours of the human race.
Male and female, young and old called at the beginning of time,
at the beginning of life at the beginning of history. Called by God to be one.

[Silence]

Loving God, we thank you for the opportunity to come together to celebrate the life of our Queen.

For her courage, her dignity, her sincerity,
we praise you.
For her dedication, her resilience, her faith,
we praise you.
For all the ways she has put service before self,
we praise you.
And we ask your blessing on her and all those she loves at this special time, and always

Amen

Hymn: Father of everlasting grace

Father of everlasting grace,
thy goodness and thy truth we praise,
thy goodness and thy truth we prove;
thou hast, in honour of thy Son,
the gift unspeakable sent down,
the Spirit of life, and power, and love.

Send us the Spirit of the Son,
to make the depths of Godhead known,
to make us share the life divine;
send him the sprinkled blood to apply,
send him our souls to sanctify,
and show and seal us ever thine.

So shall we pray, and never cease,
so shall we thankfully confess
thy wisdom, truth, and power, and love;
with joy unspeakable adore,
and bless and praise thee evermore,
and serve thee as thy hosts above:

Till, added to that heavenly choir,
we raise our song of triumph higher,
and praise thee in a bolder strain’
out-soar the first-born seraph’s flight,
and sing, with all our friends in light,
thy everlasting love to man.

Charles Wesley (1707–1788))
CCL31580

Confession

Revd George Mwaura

Almighty God, you poured your Spirit upon gathered disciples
creating bold tongues, open ears, and a new community of faith.
We confess that we hold back the force of your Spirit among us.
We do not listen for your word of grace, speak the good news of your love,
or live as a people made one in Christ.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Transform our timid lives by the power of your Spirit,
and fill us with a flaming desire to be your faithful people,
doing your will for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ukraine Kyrie

Forgive us and send your living Spirit to renew us,
inspire us, sustain us, and encourage us in our journey.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

God of all nations, on this day of Pentecost we praise you for the power of your Holy Spirit,
equipping each of us for our life’s work.
We celebrate especially the wonderful work of our Queen,
who has put loyalty before her royalty through all the ages of her reign.
And who, day by day, has served you her God and Christ her King
with humility, resilience and grace.
Thank you for all she is and all she has done to your glory.

Amen

Peruvian Gloria

Ministry of the Word

Acts 2: 1–21

Read by Glynne Gordon-Carter

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’

¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.,

Peter Addresses the Crowd

¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ ‘”In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
¹⁹ I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
²⁰ The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
²¹ And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.”’

NIV®

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

Hymn: Come down, O love divine

Come down, O love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy name bestowing.

O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part,
and o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling,
for none can guess its grace,
till he become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.

Bianco da Siena (d. 1434) tr. Richard Frederick Littledale (1833–1890)
CCL31580

John 14: 8–17

Read by Katherine Wheldon

⁸ Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’

⁹ Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father’?” ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works  themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.’

NIV®

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

Homily

Revd Canon Helen D. Cameron

Choral Response

Affirmation of Faith

Revd George Mwaura

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 David Moore

The Peace

Revd George Mwaura

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 God be always with you.
and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Hymn: Like the murmur of the dove’s song

Like the murmur of the dove’s song,
like the challenge of her flight,
like the vigour of the wind’s rush,
like the new flame’s eager might:
come, Holy Spirit, come.

To the members of Christ’s Body,
to the branches of the Vine,
to the Church in faith assembled,
to her midst as gift and sign:
come, Holy Spirit, come.

With the healing of division,
with the ceaseless voice of prayer,
with the power of love and witness,
with the peace beyond compare:
come, Holy Spirit, come.

Carl P. Daw Jr (b. 1944)
CCL31580

Holy Communion

The Thanksgiving

Revd Canon Helen D. Cameron

The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.

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.

Almighty God, good Father to us all, your face is turned towards your world.
In love you gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death.
Your Word goes out to call us home to the city where angels sing your praise.

We join with them in heaven’s song:

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.

We bless the name of Jesus, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh,
whose brokenness and suffering makes love real,
who on the night in which he was betrayed took bread,
gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying,

Take, eat. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

After supper he took the cup saying,

Drink from this, all of you, this is my blood given for you.
Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.

This is the mystery of our faith.

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

Therefore, as we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we acknowledge brokenness as a path to truth.
We long for the bread of tomorrow: eternally broken and so able to nourish.
We long for the new wine of the kingdom: continuously poured out that thirst may be quenched.

Send your Spirit on us now,
that by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire.
May we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you
and be welcomed at your feast in heaven, where all creation worships you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:

Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours forever and 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 Communion

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.

The congregation are invited to come forward to receive the sacrament.

After Communion

Revd Canon Helen D. Cameron

Holy One, in your grace you brought us to your table to share this meal of hospitality.

May the love we find at this table
be reflected in our lives.

May the power we received at this table
make us peacemakers and healers.

May the Spirit who fills us again at this table
be the compass of our journey, our stories and our lives.

Amen

Final Prayer

Revd George Mwaura

The Lord says:

‘In the last days I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.’

Today is that day, the word of God has been fulfilled.

‘And your sons and daughters shall prophesy…’

Holy One, give us your insight.

‘Your old people shall dream dreams…

Holy One, give us your dream.

‘Your young people shall see visions,’

Holy One, give us your vision.

Amen

Notices

Revd George Mwaura

Pentecost and Platinum Jubilee celebration

Our service on Sunday (5 June 2022) is a special service for Pentecost, with Revd Canon Helen D. Cameron, Chair of the Northampton District of the Methodist Church.

After the service, please stay and join us to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with special cake and coffee. Sparkly drinks will also be available so we can raise a glass to Her Majesty!

Send-off for Revd George Mwaura on his sabbatical

Sunday, 26 June 2022

Sunday, 26 June 2022 will mark the start of Revd George Mwaura’s sabbatical leave. We want to send him off with blessings – and a bit of a party. There will be a bring-and-share lunch after church, when we can share our family-favourite recipes from whatever is our cultural background in a wonderfully diverse buffet. Closer to the date we will be seeking volunteers for washing up!

The Ecumenical Council

Advance Notice

Our worship on Sunday, 26 June 2022 will focus on the environment and Cornerstone’s commitment to become an Eco-Church. Over the next few weeks there will be information about what this means for all of us as a Congregation and as individuals. It’s also the Sunday when we will collect together our pumpkin seedlings!

Mark the date and make sure you come along.

Eco-Church Support Group

Christian Aid Week

15–21 May 2022

Through your generous donations Cornerstone’s e-envelope exceeded the target and raised £781.25 (including gift-aid) for the work of Christian Aid. In addition there have been further donations from Cornerstone members made through routes other than the online e-envelope scheme, including the £112.54 reported last week from the cake sale. Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way.

David Chapman

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

Blessing

Revd Canon Helen D. Cameron

May God who multiplied loaves and fishes and changed water into wine,
lead us, feed us, multiply us, and change us to reflect the glory of our Creator
now and through all eternity;
and the blessing of God almighty
the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit
be with you and remain with you always.

Amen

Dismissal

Go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.

Amen