Preacher: Revd George Mwaura
Celebrant: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Gathering Music

Welcome

God, you are the open arms of acceptance, the warmth of a hearty welcome, the joy of a sincere smile.
We cannot see you, and Jesus walked the earth long before our time,
yet we know by faith that he embodied your welcoming presence
in his dealings with your needy children.
We bow before you in worship and adoration for all that you are.

[Silence]

Welcome to the house of God.
We have come from all the corners of the earth.

Welcome to the hospitality of God.
We come as we are; we bring our life, our stories, our journey.

Welcome, brothers and sisters.
We are the rainbow people of God.

Welcome, chosen people.
May God our companion bind us in his love.

Amen

Hymn: God is love: let heaven adore him

God is Love: let heaven adore him;
God is Love: let earth rejoice;
let creation sing before him,
and exalt him with one voice.
He who laid the earth’s foundation,
he who spread the heavens above,
he who breathes through all creation,
he is Love, eternal Love.

God is Love: and he enfoldeth
all the world in one embrace;
with unfailing grasp he holdeth
every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking
under sorrow’s iron rod,
then they find the selfsame aching
deep within the heart of God.

God is Love: and though with blindness
sin afflicts the souls of all,
God’s eternal loving kindness
holds and guides us when we fall.
Sin and death and hell shall never
o’er us final triumph gain;
God is Love, so Love for ever
o’er the universe must reign.

Timothy Rees (8174–1939)
CCL31580

Prayer of Approach

You have called us to you, O God;
your welcome awaited long before we ever responded.
Certain of your joy at our coming, we gather before you to worship and adore.

Amen

Confession

Lord, so often our welcome lacks sincerity.
The word is cold on our lips; the smile does not reach our eyes.
We are polite; but there is little warmth in our hearts.
Perhaps no deeds accompany our words, no comfort offered, hospitality withheld.
We ask forgiveness of the One who always receives with open arms,
generous, caring, meeting needs and so much more.
We ask forgiveness from the One who accepts us, unconditionally, and is never too weary to care.
As we are welcomed, so may we welcome your children in return, in your name,
representing your love and generous nature..

[Silence]

Thank you, O God, for welcoming us even when we do not deserve it;
when we have thought, said and done things that others would find hard to forgive.
For with you, God, there is always forgiveness.
You accept our flawed humanity, and welcome us back to the fold again and again when we stray.
Thank you for your loving forgiveness,
and for the welcome that encourages us to emulate your generosity.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

Your affection for your disciples, Lord, shines out of your care expressed in this title, ‘little ones’,
which you gave to them. You were aware they were going out as lambs among wolves,
you knew they would need help and support, given through a generous, warm and comforting welcome.
You ask us, Lord, to continue to be open to receiving your little ones,
those who continue to be faithful to the work required by being faithful to your command
to go tell everyone your good news. Abide with us, merciful God. in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Psalm 89: 12–18

Read by Richard May-Miller

¹² You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
¹³ Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
¹⁵ Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
¹⁶ They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
¹⁷ For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favour you exalt our horn.
¹⁸ Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.

NIV®

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

Matthew 10: 40–42

Read by Bob Collard

⁴⁰ ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.’

NIV®

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

Meditation

Revd George Mwaura

[Silence]

Hymn: Brother, sister, let me serve you

Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace tou long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we’ve known together
of Christ’s love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

Richard Gillard (b. 1953)
CCL31580

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

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Robin Kyd

The Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said,

‘Peace be with you.’

Then the disciples were they glad when they saw the risen Lord.

The peace of God be always with you.
and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Hymn: God is working his purpose out

God is working his purpose out
as year succeeds to year,
God is working his purpose out
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the
glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

From utmost east to utmost west
where human foot hath trod,
by the mouth of many messengers
goes forth the voice of God.
‘Give ear to me, ye continents,
ye isles give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the
glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

What can we do to work God’s work,
to prosper and increase
the friendship of all humankind,
the reign of the Prince of Peace?
What can we do to hasten the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the
glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

March we forth in the strength of God
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious Gospel of
truth may shine throughout the world.
Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin,
to set their captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the
glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

All we can do is nothing worth
unless God blesses the deed;
vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
till God give life to the seed;
yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the
glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

A.C. Ainger (1841–1919)
CCL31580

Holy Communion

The Thanksgiving

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 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.

Amen

Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you,
and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

Post Communion Prayer

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us.
Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your spirit to give ourselves for others.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord..

Amen

Notices

Church Picnic and Guided Walk

10.30 am Saturday, 15 July 2023 in Campbell Park

We are planning a Church Picnic for Saturday, 15 July 2023 from 10.30 am until about 1.30–2.00 pm in Campbell Park. It will include a Guided Walk through Campbell Park, lasting about an hour. We need to have an idea of numbers so we can arrange enough stewards and helpers. The plan for the day would be:

From 10.30 am: arrive in Campbell Park
11.00 am – 12.00 noon: Guided Walk
12.00 noon onwards: Picnic and fellowship

Please note: No children without a parent. There are no toilet facilities in the park.

On this occasion you would bring your own picnic lunch and drink.

If you would like to take part, please clearly print your name and mobile phone number on the sign-up sheet in Reception.

Cheryl Montgomery, Eco-Church Group

MK Can!

Come along and find out more about MK Can

Alongside special guests and speakers MK Food Bank wants to invite as many businesses, community groups, charities and schools to learn about how we can work together to create MK Can, a World Record breaking attempt in Milton Keynes!

• Special guests and entertainment at the MK Rose
• How you can get involved
• MK Rose, Campbell Park 17:00 – 18:30

Details here: MK Can | Milton Keynes Food Bank (mkfoodbank.org.uk).

Sunday School Summer Holiday

There will be no Sunday School for children during the school holiday period, The last Sunday School will be on Sunday, 16 July 2023 and restarting Sunday, 3 September 2023. Activity packs will be provided for children to work on at their seats. Parents can choose that their children stay with them in the Worship Area, or, if they are unsettled, take them to the tables in the Cloisters and stay with them there.

Offering

Hymn: I, the Lord of sea and sky

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them,
they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied,
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Dan Schutte (b. 1947)
CCL31580

Blessing

God grant to the living, grace;
to the departed, rest;
to the Church, the King, the Commonwealth and all people,
unity, peace and concord;
and to us and all God’s servants life everlasting.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

Amen

Dismissal

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

Amen