Celebrant and Preacher: Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

Led by: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Including a dedication and blessing for the new City pf Milton Keynes
by: Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

Processional

[Please stand if you are able during the procession.]

The Cornerstone Choir enter the Worship Area through the aisles singing:

Down to the River to Pray

As I went down to the river to pray
studying about that good old way
and who shall wear the robe and crown.
Good Lord, show me the way!

O brothers, let’s go down.
Let’s go down; come on down.
Come on brothers let’s go down,
down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray
studying about that good old way
and who shall wear the starry crown.
Good Lord, show me the way!

O mothers, let’s go down.
Let’s go down; come on down.
Come on mothers let’s go down,
down to the river to pray.

As I went down to the river to pray
studying about that good old way
and who shall wear the robe and crown.
Good Lord, show me the way!

O fathers, let’s go down.
Let’s go down; come on down.
Come on fathers let’s go down,
down to the river to pray.

The Bible, the basket of prayers and the Clergy process into the Worship Area.

Everybody sits and the Cornerstone Choir sings:

Vive la Compagnie!

Vive la vie, vive la vie, vive la compagnie!
Vive la vie, vive la vie, vive la compagnie!
Let every good fellow now join in a song:
vive la compagnie!
Success to each other and pass it along:
vive la compagnie!
Vive la vie, vive l’amour, vive la compagnie!
Vive la vie, vive l’amour, vive la compagnie!

Welcome

Heavenly Father, we come before you today
with grateful hearts for the gift of this day
and for the chance to gather as a community of believers.
Bless our time together, and may your Holy Spirit fill our hearts with joy, peace, and love.
We pray that you would speak to us through the reading and teaching of your Word,
and that we would leave this place transformed and renewed by your grace.

Amen

[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: Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not;
as thou hast been thou for ever wilt be:
Great is the faithfulness! Great is the faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand has provided,
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love:
Great is the faithfulness! …

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is the faithfulness! …

Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960)
CCL31580

Confession

Almighty God, we acknowledge and confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed;
we have not loved you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength;
we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves.
Deepen within us our sorrow for the wrong we have done, and the good we have left undone.

Kyrie

(Ancient version)

Assurance of Forgiveness

By Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

May the God of mercy, who forgives us all our sins,
strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.

Amen

Peruvian Gloria

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Father.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Father.
To him be glory for ever.
To him be glory forever.
Alleluia, amen. Alleluia, amen.
Alleluia amen. Alleluia amen.

Glory to God, glory to God, Son of the Father.
Glory to God, glory to God, Son of the Father.
To him be glory for ever.
To him be glory forever.
Alleluia, amen. Alleluia, amen.
Alleluia amen. Alleluia amen.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Spirit.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Spirit.
To him be glory for ever.
To him be glory forever.
Alleluia, amen. Alleluia, amen.
Alleluia amen. Alleluia amen.

Ministry of the Word

Psalm 127

Read by Zoe Littlecott-Prado

If God doesn’t build the house,
the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?

Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children.
Your enemies don’t stand a chance you,
you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.

The Message ®

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

Matthrew 5: 13–16

Read by Greg Osumbor

Salt and Light

‘Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt – seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of the earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

‘Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this; as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house, be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, the generous Father in heaven.

The Message ®

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

Sermon

By Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

Choral Response

Psalm 40 (U2 version)

I waited patiently for the Lord.
He inclined and heard my cry.
He lift me up out of the pits,
out of the miry clay.

I will sing, sing a new song.
I will sing, sing a new song.

How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long, how long, how long?
How long to sing this song?

He set my feet upon a rock
and made my footsteps firm.
Many will see,
many will see and hear.

I will sing, sing a new song.
I will sing, sing a new song.
(Sing it!)

How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long, how long, how long?
How long to sing this song?

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Katherine Wheldon

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 the Lord be always with you.
and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Hymn: In Christ alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
fullness of God in helpless Babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
scorned by the ones he came to save
till on that cross as Jesus died,
the wrath of God was satisfied,
for every sin on Him was laid;
here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground his body lay,
light of the world by darkness slain,
then bursting forth in glorious day,
up from the grave He rose again!
And as he stands in victory
sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
for I am His and He is mine –
bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ in me;
from life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
can ever pluck me from His hand;
till He returns or calls me home,
here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

Stuart Townend (b. 1963)
CCL31580

Holy Communion

Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

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.

[Said] 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 – Beba Yetu [Swahili]

Sung by the Cornerstone Choir

Baba yetu, yetu uliye
Mbinguni yetu, yetu amina!
Baba yetu, yetu uliye
Jina lako e litukuzwe.
Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji, utusamehe
Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, muovu e milele!
Ufalme wako ufike utakalo
Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni.
(Amina)

Our Father, who art in heaven. Amen!
Our Father, hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread,
forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive others
who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one for ever.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen

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.

[During Holy Communion the Cornerstone Choir will sing.]

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

Dedication and Blessing for the new City of Milton Keynes

By Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

[Please stand if you are able.]

May God, the Lord of heaven and earth,
who has gathered us for the dedication and blessing of this new city of Milton Keynes,
be always with you.
And also with you.

We come today in this Holy Place as pilgrims of faith,
and together with those who are seeking and those who are doubting,
to beseech for this new city of Milton Keynes.

We come together to celebrate our common humanity
and make our bidding that this new city will be a place of harmony and peace,
mutual understanding and respect.

We come together to pray for the people and the leaders of this new city,
that they may work together to find a collective vision for our common life,
that would be marked by diversity, inclusion, imagination, integrity, justice and compassion.

Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament.
Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.

I dedicate and bless this new City of Milton Keynes to almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Notices

Congregational Meeting

12.30 pm Sunday, 22 October 2023 by Zoom

There will be a congregational meeting next Sunday (22 October 2023) by Zoom, which will include an update on the work of the CIO among other items. The Zoom invitation, Agenda and Minutes of the last Congregational Meeting on 11 June 2023 will be circulated next Friday (20 October2023).

Pat Kyd, Clerk to the Ecumenical Partnership

Church Membership Renewal 2023

At Cornerstone we all renew our membership each year at this time. We would like this to be as simple and easy as possible. Every member on our email contact list will be contacted by email asking if they wish to continue membership and if there are any changes to their contact details. If you reply ‘yes’ then you will continue on the membership list with contact details unchanged or amended as appropriate. Your replies should be sent to our Stewardship Secretary, Janet Trimnell (steward.cccmk@gmail.com). Not every member has internet access – for members who need them, paper membership forms will be available in church at Sunday services – please ask a steward, complete the form and return it to the Stewardship Secretary’s pigeonhole in Reception. If you wish to speak to someone about your membership, please talk to Pat Kyd in church.

Trubys Interfaith Café

12.30–5.30 pm this Sunday (15 October 2023) in the Guildhall

After the Sunday morning service, don’t go home! Stay for a coffee and then lunch at Trubys Interfaith Cafe in the Guildhall. During the afternoon Trubys will be joined by Thames Valley Police for conversations to raise awareness as part of their work for National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2023 along with Hanifa Umar, the Cancer Support Community Development & Outreach Worker (Ethnic Minority & Faith Communities).

Trubys fundraises to support those in hardship within the communities of Milton Keynes. They have many families and individuals in need and their caseload has increased exponentially during this year due to the cost-of-living crisis. Trubys hardship support includes financial help with cost of living such as groceries, housing costs, and utilities to enable families and individuals to live with dignity.

MK Can! – World Record attempt, 10 km of cans for MK Food Bank

Campbell Park 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Monday, 16 October 2023

We need volunteers on Monday, so please offer your services if you can be available for some or all of the time 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, in Campbell Park. If you can, sign up on the sheet in Reception, or contact Mubina Chakera (mubinachakera@hotmail.com) or David Chapman (david@dachapman.free-online.co.uk).

Social Justice Committee

Misogyny Weaving Trust event

Church of Christ the Cornerstone 2.00–4.00 pm next Saturday (21 October 2023)

Women are faced with abusive relationships both at home and in the workplace. But what do you understand about misogyny?

Stopping violence against women starts with learning what misogyny really is, so the Citizens:MK campaign against misogyny is holding a Weaving Trust event here at Cornerstone.

All welcome. Please put it in your diary and for more information contact Mubina Chakera (mubinachakera@hotmail.com).

Social Justice Committee

Offering

[During the offering the Cornerstone Choir will sing.]

Final Prayer

Go into the week ahead, and wherever you find yourself,
celebrating or sharing a sadness, or anything in between,
may you rejoice in God’s grace.
See each moment as an invitation to meet with God,
each meeting as an opportunity to invite others.
Until we meet again.

Amen

Hymn: Siyahamba – We are marching in the light of God

Siyahamba, ekukanyen’ kwenkos’,
Siyahamba, ekukanyen’ kwenkos’,
Siyahamba, ekukanyen’ kwenkos’,
Siyahamba, ekukanyen’ kwenkos’,
Siyahamba, siyahamba, oh,
Siyahamba, ekukanyen’ kwenkos’.
Siyahamba, siyahamba, oh,
Siyahamba, ekukanyen’ kwenkos’.

We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, marching;
we are marching, Oh, Oh.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, marching;
we are marching, Oh, Oh.
We are marching in the light of God.

tr. Anders Nyberg (b. 1955)
CCL31580

Blessing

Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

May the Lord bless you and keep you;
may the Lord’s face shine on you, and be gracious to you;
may the Lord’s face turn towards you and give you peace.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you today and always

Amen

Dismissal

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

Amen

Recessional

The Bible, the basket of prayers and the Clergy leave the Worship Area while the Cornerstone Choir sings:

I bid you goodbye

Lay down my dear brother, lay down and take your rest.
I want to lay your head upon your Saviour’s breast.
I love you, but Jesus loves you best.
I bid you goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.
I bid you goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.

Lay down my dear brother, lay down and take your rest.
I want to lay your head upon your Saviour’s breast.
I love you, but Jesus loves you best.
I bid you goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.
I bid you goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.

One of these mornings bright and early and soon, goodbye.
Now they’re pickin’ up the spirit to the shore beyond, goodbye.
Go walking in the valley of the shadow of death, goodbye.
He’s riding a staff, gonna comfort me, goodbye.
Join the wise, there’s a soul to find, goodbye.

Lord send a fire, not a flood next time, goodbye.
To leave for the ark, that wonderful boat, goodbye.
She really loaded down, getting water to float, goodbye.
Now pray for the beast at the ending of the world, goodbye.
He loved the children that would not be good, goodbye.

I remember rather well, I remember right well, goodbye.
I went walking to Jerusalem just like John.
Goodnight, goodnight, goodbye.

Lay down my dear brother, lay down and take your rest.
I want to lay your head upon your Saviour’s breast.
I love you, but Jesus loves you best.
I bid you goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.
I bid you goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.