Preacher: Revd Jenny Mills, URC Deputy General Secretary (Faith in Action)
Presiding Minister: Revd George Mwaura

Gathering Music

Call to Worship

Christ is risen and walks among us, opening the scriptures and revealing himself in the breaking of bread.
Our hearts burn within us as we hear the good news: God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah.
Turn, repent, and receive the gift of new life,
for the promise is for you, your children, and all whom God calls.
Come, let us worship the risen Christ! Alleluia!

Greetings and Welcome

Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him,
for he is your health and salvation.
all you who hear, now to his altar draw near,
join in profound adoration.

Praise to the Lord, let us offer
our gifts at his altar,
let not our sins and transgressions
now cause us to falter,
Christ, the High Priest,
bids us all join in his feast,
gathered with him at the altar.

Praise to the Lord, who will
prosper our work and defend us;
surely his goodness and mercy
here daily attend us;
ponder anew all the Almighty can do,
he who with love will befriend us.

Praise to the Lord, oh let all that
is in us adore him!
All that has life and breath,
come now in praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from
his people again,
now as we worship before him.

Joachim Neander (1650–1680)
tr. Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878) and others
CCL31580

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

Risen Lord Jesus, we thank you that you meet us on the road,
in our confusion, our sorrow, and even our doubt.
You do not abandon us, but walk beside us, opening the Scriptures and revealing your grace.
We give thanks for your saving work,
for your cross and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of new life.
Yet we confess, O God, that we are often slow to recognize you.
We cling to fear instead of faith, to despair instead of hope,
to our own understanding instead of your truth.

Forgive us for the ways we turn away, for hardened hearts and distracted minds.
Restore us, renew us, and draw us back to you.
Teach us to listen, to trust, and to follow, until our hearts burn with your presence and our lives proclaim your glory.
Through Jesus Christ our risen Lord.

Amen

[Silence]

Absolution

Hear the good news:
Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. You are set free, restored, and made new.
Walk in the joy of his resurrection life.

In his name we will.

Amen

Gloria

Prayer of the Week

Gracious God, whose Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread:
open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in all his redeeming work;
strengthen us to follow where he leads, and fill us with the power of your Spirit,
through him who died that we might share eternal life with you.

Amen

Bible Readings

Psalm 116: 1–4 & 12–19

Read by Kate Abrahams

¹ I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

³ The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the Lord:
‘Lord, save me!’

[…]

¹² What shall I return to the Lord
for all his goodness to me?

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
¹⁴ I will fulfil my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.
¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.

¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank-offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
¹⁸ I will fulfil my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord –
in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.

NIV®

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

Hymn: I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship

I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship,
should set his love upon the sons of men,
or why, as Shepherd, he should seek the wanderers,
to bring them back, the know not how or when.
But this I know, that he was born of Mary
when Bethl’em’s manger was his only home,
and that he lived at Nazareth and laboured,
and so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.

I cannot tell how silently he suffered,
as with his peace he graced the place of tears,
or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted
and stays our sin and calms our lurking fear
and lifts the burden from the heavy laden;
for still the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.

I cannot tell how he will win the nations,
how he will claim his earthly heritage
how satisfy the needs and aspirations
of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,
and he shall reap the harvest he has sown,
and some glad day his sun will shine in splendour
when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands will worship,
when at his bidding every storm is stilled,
or who can say how great the jubilation
when every heart with joy and love is filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
and myriad myriad human voices sing’
and earth to heav’n, and heav’n to earth, will answer,
‘at last the Saviour, Saviour of the world is King!’

William Young Fullerton (1857–1952)
CCL31580

Luke 24: 13–35

Read by Brian Halstead

On the road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognising him.

¹⁷ He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’

¹⁹ ‘What things?’ he asked.

‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.’

²⁵ He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going further. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke the bread.

NIV®

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

Sermon

By Revd Jenny Mills, URC Deputy General Secretary (Faith in Action)

Musical Meditation

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God the Father,
who raised Jesus from the dead
and calls all people into new life.

We believe in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord,
who walks with us, teaches us, and is made known in word and sacrament.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
who opens our hearts, gives us faith,
and empowers us to live as witnesses of the resurrection.

We believe in the forgiveness of sins,
the fellowship of believers,
and the promise of eternal life.

Amen

Prayers of Intercession

Led by Robin Kyd

Sharing Peace

The risen Christ came among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
May the same peace of the risen Lord be always with you,
and also with you.

Let us share the peace of Christ and wave to those watching on the live stream.

Hymn: Be known to us in breaking bread

Be known to us in breaking bread,
but do not then depart;
Saviour, abide with us, and spread
thy table in our heart.

There sup with us in love divine,
thy body and thy blood,
that living bread, that heavenly wine,
be our immortal food.

James Montgomery (1771–1854)
CCL31580

Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you,
and also with you.

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

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

With joy we praise you, gracious God, for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us, even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who by his glorious resurrection overcame the power of sin and gave us new life.
Therefore, we join our voices with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name:

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.

We give thanks to God that our Saviour, Jesus Christ, before he suffered,
gave us this memorial of his sacrifice, until he comes again.
At his last supper, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, as we now do,
he broke it and gave it to his disciples saying:
Take and eat, this is my body, which will be broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after the meal he took the cup of wine and said:
this cup is the new covenant between you and my father sealed in my blood that will; be shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins: do this always in remembrance of me.
For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Therefore, let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:

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

Life-giving God, send your Holy Spirit so that this bread and cup
may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May we and all your saints be united with Christ and remain faithful in hope and love.
Gather your whole church, O Lord, into the glory of your kingdom.
We pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray saying:

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 is broken. Christ is revealed. Come and receive the gift of life.

Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Amen

Meal is shared

Post Communion Prayer

God of abundance, you have made yourself known to us in the breaking of bread.
Send us now into the world to live and share your love, until all people come to know your grace.

Amen

Notices and Offertory

Revd Jenny Mills

Jenny Mills is an ordained United Reformed Church (URC) Minister, currently serving as the URC Deputy General Secretary (Faith in Action). This is a new team in the offices of General Assembly and brings together all the work of mission and discipleship. She works alongside an amazing team of people as they seek to serve the URC through the synods and local churches. She lives in Milton Keynes with her husband, who is an Assistant Head at a SEND Primary School. She is also on the board of Trustees of MK Christian Foundation.

Methodist Northampton District ‘Big Sing’

6.00 pm this Sunday (19 April 2026) at Christ the Cornerstone
Preacher: Revd Richard Andrews – President of the Methodist Conference

All are invited to come to this service – refreshments at 5.30 pm.

We have been asked to provide refreshments and, although some people from the MK Methodist Circuit will come to help and will be providing some cakes, I would be very grateful for help from some Cornerstone members as well.

Rosemary Kearsey

Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust  Ride + Stride 2026

10.00 am – 6.00 pm Saturday, 12 September 2026

The annual Ride + Stride event is a major fund-raising event for the work of the Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust. Half the funds collected revert to the local church, and the other half are used to help churches across Buckinghamshire.

At Cornerstone we need somebody to take on the job of coordinator to publicise the event in advance, to arrange for a friendly reception at Cornerstone throughout 10.00 am – 6.00 pm on Saturday, 12 September 2026, with tea and biscuits, to collect a register of Ride + Stride arrivals, and to ensure donations are forwarded to Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust after the event.

For more information visit the Ride + Stride page on the Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust website: Ride + Stride – Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust.

Adrian Yardley

Offertory Prayer

Gracious God, all abundance flows from your endless love.
We humbly present these offerings before you, those placed before your altar today
and those given faithfully throughout the week,
whether shared in person or offered electronically, seen and unseen.
Receive them all as signs of our gratitude and tokens of our trust in you.
Bless these gifts and those who give them, that they may serve your purposes, proclaim your kingdom,
and reflect the generous love revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Hymn: Be thou my vision

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word;
be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;
be thou my soul’s shelter, and thou my high tower:
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor meaningless praise:
thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art!

High King of heaven, thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after vict’ry is won;
great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

Irish (8th century)
tr. Mary Byrne (1880–1931)
versified Eleanor Hull (1860–1935) and others
CCL31580

Blessings

May the Risen Christ walk beside you, open your eyes to his presence,
and set your hearts on fire with his love.
May the Holy Spirit empower you to live as witnesses of resurrection hope.
And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

Amen

Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Benediction

May God’s blessing surround us each day,
as we trust him and walk in his way.
May his presence within guard and keep us from sin.
Go in peace, go in joy, go in love.