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

Gathering Music

Welcome

Ever-present God, you call us together in this place.
Let the light of your presence shine on us, inspire us, challenge us and encourage us
as we encounter you.

[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: Be still, for the presence of the Lord

Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.
Come, bow before him now, with reverence and fear.
In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire, with splendour he is crowned.
How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.

Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place,
he comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace.
No work too hard for him, in faith receive from him;
be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.

David J. Evans (b. 1957)
CCL31580

Confession

Father God, forgive us our mistakes and for all the times we fail to listen, yield and obey.
We’re sorry for all our bad habits.

Forgive us if we have behaved in ways that go against your Word
and for seeking the opinions of others before you.
We’re sorry for not looking to you first.

Forgive us for the times we have asked but not liked what we heard, preferring our own way.
We’re sorry for not following you.

Forgive us for the times we hide behind proud and selfish masks.
We’re sorry for our stubbornness and neglect of others.

Forgive us for not spending more time face-to-face with you.
We’re sorry for getting distracted.
Help us to turn back to you.

[Silence]

Through Jesus’ death on the cross, our sins are paid for in full.
We are free from the bondage of sin.
Thank you, Father God, for your loving mercy.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

Holy and transforming God, like Moses on Sinai and Jesus on the mountain,
draw us into your radiant presence.
Though we cannot bear to look upon your full glory, let your light shine through us,
making holy what is ordinary, transforming what is earthly into divine.
Speak to us from within and open our ears to hear Jesus’ voice, our eyes to glimpse your glory.
Give us courage to follow where Christ leads, down from the mountain and into the valley of service,
not by our own power, but by your grace working within us.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Exodus 34: 29–35

Read by Adrian Boynton

The radiant face of Moses

²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. ³⁰ When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

³³ When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. ³⁴ But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵ they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

NIV®

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

Hymn: There is a Redeemer

There is a Redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own Son,
precious lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One.

Thank you, O my Father,
for giving us your Son,
and leaving your Spirit
till the work on earth is done.

Jesus, my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
precious lamb of God, Messiah,
O for sinners slain.

Thank you, O my Father, …

When I stand in glory
I will see his face,
and there I’ll serve my King for ever
in that holy place.

Thank you, O my Father, …

Melody Green (b. 1946) vv. 1 & 2, Keith Green (1953–19820 v. 3
CCL31580

Luke 9: 28–36

Read by Rosemary Kearsey

The Transfiguration

²⁸ About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. ²⁹ As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰ Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. ³¹ They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem. ³² Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. ³³ As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ (He did not know what he was saying.)

³⁴ While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him. ³⁶ When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

NIV®

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

Meditation

By Revd George Mwaura

[Silence]

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 Don Head

Sharing the Peace

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: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy, there is none beside thee
perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
all thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessèd Trinity!

Reginald Heber (1783–1826)
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 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

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

Post Communion Prayer

Eternal Father, we thank you for nourishing us with these heavenly gifts:
may our communion strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and make us grow in love;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Notices

Anniversary prayers at Cornerstone pillar at the MK Rose

5.30 pm Thursday, 13 March 2025

There is a pillar at the MK Rose in Campbell Park inscribed with the date of the dedication of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone on 13 March 1992.

On Thursday, 13 March 2025 everyone is invited to meet at MK Rose at 5.30 pm for prayers to celebrate this anniversary.

Pat Kyd, Church Secretary

World Day of Prayer

12.30 pm Friday, 7 March 2025

This year our Milton Keynes Service for the World Day of Prayer will be held at the Salvation Army Centre, Ramsons Avenue, Conniburrow MK14 7BA at 12.30 pm. Please come and join us. We would love to see you there.

Rosemary Kearsey

Milton Keynes welcomes our new Bishop

3.00 pm Sunday, 9 March 2025

You are warmly invited to a Service of Welcome for the new Bishop of Buckingham, Rt Revd Dave Bull here at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone.

The service will last about an hour and will be followed by light refreshments in the Guildhall.

All are most welcome to join us on this special occasion, please share this invitation widely. Please note that registration is required to assist with seating and catering arrangements. RSVP by email to welcomebishop@sent.com. If you are registering on behalf of others please include all names in your message.

Revd Guy Elsmore, Archdeacon of Buckingham

Bishop Steven’s next visit to Cornerstone

7.00 pm Tuesday, 11 March 2025 in the Guildhall

When Bishop Steven met us on 23 January 2025, he said he hoped to return for another conversation with us in a few weeks’ time to hear how we are getting on. The Bishop’s office has now confirmed the time and date: 7.00 pm Tuesday, 11 March 2025 in the Guildhall.

All Church Council trustees, directors of the Trading Company, the PCC, Cornerstone Church employees and Cornerstone trustees of the Cornerstone Trust are invited.

Pat Kyd, Church Secretary

Lent Studies

We shall be holding three series of Lent studies, one on Monday/Tuesday, and two on Wednesday. The materials we shall be studying are from ‘A Search for Peace’ by John Birch from Faith & Worship (www.faithandworship.com). There will be five weekly sessions. Because of other events on 11 & 18 March 2025 the first two ‘Tuesday’ sessions will be on Mondays 10 & 17 March 2025.

Pat Kyd, Church Secretary

Thursday Morning Coffee

We now have regular weekly gatherings for coffee (or other drinks), fellowship and chat in the revamped Cornerstone Café from 11.00 am on Thursday. This is an informal drop-in session, so feel free to come and go as you wish. There is a Zoom session for anyone who would like to join in, but is unable to come to the Cornerstone Café on a Thursday morning. For a link to the Zoom session please email robin_kyd@yahoo.co.uk.

Offering

Final Prayer

Go with us, Lord, and be the light that shines through us.
As we take your light into the world, help us to reflect your love in all we do.

Amen

Hymn: Christ is the world’s true light

Christ is the world’s true light,
its captain of salvation,
the daystar clear and bright
of every land and nation;
new life, new hope awakes,
where peoples own his sway:
freedom her bondage breaks,
and night is turned to day.

In Christ all races meet,
their ancient feuds forgetting,
the whole round world complete,
from sunrise to its setting:
when Christ is throned as Lord,
lands shall forsake their fear,
to ploughshare beat the sword,
to pruning-hook the spear.

One Lord, in one great name
unite us all who own thee;
cast out our pride and shame
that hinder to enthrone thee;
the world has waited long,
has travailed long in pain;
to heal its ancient wrong,
come, Prince of peace, and reign!

George Wallace Briggs (1875–1959)
CCL31580

Blessing

When we are together
we will remember what it is like to travel alone.
When we are alone
we will remember what it is like to travel together.
Wherever we are
we will remember God who always goes with us.

Lord, go with us now, this day and always.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you today and always.

Amen

Dismissal

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

Amen