Preacher: Revd Daphne Preece
Presiding Minister: Revd George Mwaura

Gathering Music

Call to Worship

Lift up your eyes to the hills, where does our help come from?
Our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

God calls us to leave what is familiar and walk by faith.
We come, trusting the One who leads us.

Christ invites us to be born anew by the Spirit.
We come seeking renewal and life.

Let us worship the God who calls, keeps, and renews us.
We worship in faith, hope, and love.

Amen

Welcome and Greetings

Hymn: Breathe on me, Breath of God

Breathe on me, Breath of God;
fill me with life anew,</span
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will,
to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
till I am wholly thine,
until this earthly part of me
glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God;
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life
of thine eternity.

Edwin Hatch (1835–1889)
CCL31580

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Confession

Faithful God, you call us into journeys we do not fully understand,
and you promise to be with us wherever we go.
You watch over our coming and our going, and you love the world so deeply
that you gave your Son for our salvation. We thank you for your steadfast presence,
for the gift of new life in Christ, and for the Spirit who leads us onward.
Yet merciful God, we confess we cling to what is comfortable, we resist your call to change,
we doubt your care when the road is hard, and we forget the new life you offer.
Forgive us. Renew us by your Spirit, so we may walk in trust and live as your people.

[Silent prayer]

Kyrie

Assurance

God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. In Christ, we are forgiven and made new.

Thanks be to God.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

Holy and guiding God, you called Abram to step out in faith, and you call us to trust your promises.
Give us courage to follow where you lead, eyes to see your presence on the journey,
and hearts open to the new birth you offer in Christ.
Shape us by your Spirit, that we may live as signs of your love in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Genesis 12: 1–4a

Read by Stuart Kean

The call of Abram

¹ The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

² ‘I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.’

⁴ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.

NIV®

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

Hymn: I to the hills will lift mine eyes

I to the hills will lift mine eyes;
from whence doth come mine aid?
My safety cometh from the Lord,
who heaven and earth hath made.

Thy foot he’ll not let slide, nor will
he slumber that thee keeps;
behold, he that keeps Israel,
he slumbers not, nor sleeps.

The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade
on thy right hand doth stay;
the moon by night thee shall not smite,
nor yet the sun by day.

The Lord shall keep thy soul; he shall
preserve thee from all ill;
henceforth thy going out and in
God keep for ever will.

Psalm 121
Scottish Psalter (1650)
CCL31580

John 3: 1–17

Read by Krou Assoua

Jesus teaches Nicodemus

¹ Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’

³ Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’

⁴ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’

⁵ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’

⁹ ‘How can this be?’ Nicodemus asked.

¹⁰ ‘You are Israel’s teacher,’ said Jesus, ‘and do you not understand these things? ¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹² I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man. ¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

NIV®

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

Sermon

By Revd Daphne Preece

Musical meditation

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God, who calls us from the familiar into the unknown, and whose promises are faithful. We believe in Jesus Christ, who reveals God’s love to the world, who offers new birth and eternal life, and who came not to condemn but to save. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who renews us, guides us, and keeps us in God’s care now and forever. We trust the God who calls, the Christ who saves, and the Spirit who gives life.

Amen

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Robin Kyd

Sharing Peace

As people born of the Spirit and kept by God’s care, let us share signs of Christ’s peace.
Church, may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be always with you,
And also with you.

Let us share peace in the agreed protocols and wave to those watching on the live stream.

Hymn: Will you come and follow me

Will you come and follow me,
if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
will you let my love be known,
will you let my life be grown,
in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind
if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see
if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean
and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean
in you and you in me?

Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound
in you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
where your love and footsteps show,
thus I’ll move and live and grow
in you and you in me.

John l. Bell (b. 1949) and Graham Maule (b. 1958) Iona Community
CCL31580

The Great Thanksgiving

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.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, at all times and in all places to give you thanks and praise,
heavenly King, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
And now we give you thanks that you call your people to journey in faith.
As you called Abram to leave what was familiar and trust in your promise.
You watch over our going out and our coming in, and you lead us on the path of life.
In this season of repentance and renewal, you call us to be born from above by water and the Spirit,
and you loved the world so much that you gave your only Son
that we might not perish but have eternal life

Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever 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.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Accept our praises, heavenly Father, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ;
and as we follow his example and obey his command, grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit
these gifts of bread and wine may be to us his body and his blood;
who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
‘Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’
To you be glory and praise for ever.

In the same way, 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,
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.’
To you be glory and praise for ever.

Therefore, heavenly Father, we remember his offering of himself made once for all upon the cross;
we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; we look for the coming of your kingdom,
and with this bread and this cup we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Accept through him, our great high priest, this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving;
and as we eat and drink these holy gifts in the presence of your divine majesty,
renew us by your Spirit, strengthen us for our Lenten journey, inspire us to trust your promises,
watch over us in your steadfast love, and unite us in the body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

To you be glory and praise for ever.

Through him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you, Father almighty,
in songs of everlasting praise:
Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever, 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

Breaking of the Bread

Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Post Communion Prayer

God of new life, we thank you for this holy meal.
You have met us on our journey and nourished us with grace.
Send us out renewed, trusting your promises, watching for your presence, and sharing your love. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Notices and Offertory

Our guest preacher: Revd Daphne Preece

Having graduated in geography, I taught for a few years before training for ministry in the United Reformed Church. I was ordained in 1989. In 1997 I joined the ministerial team at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone. Sadly, after problems in my personal life, and other pressures, I had health issues and I resigned in 2001. One of the last things I did before becoming ill was share in the funeral of Patricia Preece. Her widower, Frank, was very supportive of me through a tough time, and in due course we fell in love. We married at Cornerstone in 2004. My Gethsemane became my place of resurrection.

More than half my ministry, however, has been in hospital chaplaincy. My last post was as Head of Chaplaincy at Milton Keynes University Hospital, from which I retired in 2015.

Frank and I live in Winslow, where Frank is involved in the Catholic congregation. I worship both at the Anglican church in Winslow and at Twyford URC, a few miles away. I try to limit my ‘up front’ involvement to one Sunday a month. That leaves me some time to enjoy a variety of other activities, including our garden and allotment, patchwork, WI, and volunteering for the National Trust!

Cornerstone Christmas Charity Appeal 2025

We received £4323 in donations during the Christmas Appeal this year and so, after adding the gift aid claimed, we have been able to give our chosen charities an amazing total of £5070!

We have donated £2000 to Advantage Africa, £1000 to St Mark’s Meals, £1320 to Willen Hospice and £750 to MK ANSARS.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make the Christmas Appeal so successful this year.

Christmas Appeal Committee

Prayers for the City at MK Rose on Friday, 13 March 2025

Our lunchtime prayers for the City of Milton Keynes on Friday, 13 March 2026 will be held at the Cornerstone Pillar at MK Rose in Campbell Park. This is the anniversary of the dedication of our building on 13 March 1992, and we have invited the rest of the City to join us in prayer that day. We meet at 12.30 pm – bring an umbrella if necessary. If anyone needs a lift there from the church, please see Cheryl at coffee after the Service on Sunday morning.

Journeying with Jesus – Week 2: ‘Sitting down with Jesus’

We continue our Lenten Bible study this week looking at Luke 10: 38–42 where Jesus is at the house of Martha and Mary.

Milton Keynes City Council elections on Thursday, 7 May 2026

Tell us over coffee after the Sunday morning service in the Guildhall (or send an email) what you think are priorities to ask of the candidates ahead of the Milton Keynes Council elections that will be held on 7 May 2026. Remember that due to re-organisation this is a particularly important election in the city, with sixty seats up for grabs!

Please think about:

• what is the most important climate-related action that we should ask candidates to pledge to support if they are elected?
• what is the most important social justice action that we should ask candidates to pledge to support if they are elected?

Stuart Kean stuart.kean@gmail.com and David Chapman dachapman9@gmail.com

Fair Trade Big Brew: Sunday, 8 March 2025

Please join us after the Service next Sunday for our usual refreshments with a difference! There will be Fair Trade treats to sample, a stall where you can browse and buy new products and clearance bargains, and a collection for Transform Trade (cash or card). Any offers of cakes or biscuits made with Fair Trade (and/or organic) ingredients gratefully received (sugar/chocolate/coffee can be provided). More information from Joy Chapman 07854762676 or cjoy.chapman9@gmail.com.

We will also be introducing the ‘26 in 26‘ campaign organised by Church Action on Poverty and Christian Aid. See https://give.church-poverty.org.uk/page/181225.

Stuart Kean stuart.kean@gmail.com and David Chapman dachapman9@gmail.com

Offertory Prayer

Gracious God, all abundance flows from your endless love.
We humbly present these offerings, both those given today and those already shared,
asking for your blessing as we build your kingdom through this church and beyond.
May these gifts serve your purpose and bring light to all corners of your world.

Amen

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 till I want no more. (×2)

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. (×2)

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. (×2)

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

Blessings and Sending out

May the God who called Abram lead you in faith.
May Christ, who brings new birth, renew your hearts.
May the Spirit, your keeper and guide, watch over your coming and going.
And may the blessings of God Almighty, Father Son and Holy Spirit,
rest and remain upon you and all whom you love today and always.

Amen

Dismissal

Church, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.

Amen