Service of the Word for Black History Sunday – Live Streamed – Sunday, 13 October 2024
Preacher: Revd Guy Hewitt,
Head of the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit
Ministers: Revd George Mwaura
and Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Gathering Music
Welcome
Beloved God,
Today we bring ourselves into your presence, to celebrate Black History Sunday.
Today we remember the legacy of those who came before us –
who not only paved the way but carried the bricks on broken backs that then built that road.
Today we celebrate the myriad contributions
that Black Britons have made to this country over the centuries.
Today we consider these stories of struggle, suffering, and success,
and thank you for giving those brave individuals the courage, strength, and faith
both to survive and then to thrive,
even though they encountered discrimination and prejudices just because the colour of their skin.
Today we also praise you for the histories that are still being made,
and think of the next generation of young people who stand on the shoulders of giants.
Today we affirm together:
Black History is our history.
Hymn: Swing low, sweet chariot
Swing low, sweet chariot,
coming for to carry me home.
Swing low, sweet chariot,
coming for to carry he home.
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see?
Coming for to carry he home;
a band of angels coming after me,
coming for to carry me home.
Swing low, sweet chariot …
If you get there before I do,
coming for to carry me home,
tell all my friends I’m a-coming too,
coming for to carry me home.
Swing low, sweet chariot …
Spiritual
CCL31580
Gathering Prayer
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
Confession
We confess our sin in penitence and faith.
Lord God, our maker and our redeemer, this is your world and we are your people:
come among us and save us.
We have wilfully misused your gifts of creation.
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have seen the ill-treatment of others and have not gone to their aid.
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have condoned evil and dishonesty and failed to strive for justice.
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have heard the good news of Christ, but have failed to share it with others.
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have not loved you with all our heart, nor our neighbours as ourselves.
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
Kyrie from Ghana
Absolution
May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.
Amen
Prayer of the Week
Loving Lord, you know us better than we know ourselves.
As we come together to worship you and celebrate Black History Sunday,
help us to explore our relationship with you and one another.
May your words and challenges strengthen and affirm us. May your love sustain us and guide us.
May our worship be acceptable to you. In Jesus’ name.
Amen
Ministry of the Word
Acts 10: 34–35
Read by Nerys Steeds
34 Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
NIV®
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn: Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah,
kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah,
kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah,
O Lord, kum ba yah.
Someone’s singing Lord, kum ba yah, …
Someone’s crying Lord, kum ba yah, …
Someone’s praying Lord, kum ba yah, …
Spiritual
CCL31580
Matthew 28: 19–20
Read by Peter Steeds
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’
NIV®
Meditation
By Revd Guy Hewitt, Head of the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit
Choral Response: MLK (Martin Luther Kink – Sleep, sleep tonight)
Songwriters: U2 – Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
Affirmation of Faith
Let us confess the faith of the Church.
We believe in God the Father:
who made the world.
We believe in Jesus Christ, his Son:
who redeemed humankind.
We believe in the Holy Spirit:
who gives life to the people of God.
Amen
Intercessions
Led by Glynne Gordon-Carter
God of all peoples, whose Son reached across the ethnic boundaries
between Samaritan, Roman and Jew, help us to break down the barriers in our communities,
enable us to see the reality of racism and bigotry, and free us to challenge and uproot it from ourselves,
our society and our world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all victims of racial hatred and discrimination, and we seek your protection for those affected in our churches, our schools, our places of work and our communities.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all in our world, of whatever race, who suffer the horrors of modern slavery. Your Son came to bring good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed. We pray for all working to combat modern slavery and to end human trafficking: for governments and agencies, for Church and other faith leaders, for businesses, charities and individuals.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for ourselves. May we be voices against oppression and channels of the transforming power of the gospel. Open our hearts to all who suffer in our midst but out of sight. Help us to work for a world where human beings are valued, where no one is enslaved, and no one used against their will for another’s pleasure or need.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray that we may know the power of reconciliation. Wherever there is division between us and others, because of our race or ethnicity, we pray that we may all be led to reconciliation. We pray for all who work to bring communities together in ways that are just and equal for all.
We pray for peace in the Holy Land.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
As we pray for reconciliation, we pray also for restoration. We pray for those whose spirits and communities have been weighed down by racism. Guide us as we strive to ensure everyone has equal dignity.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
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 today our daily bread.
Forgive us of our trespasses
as we forgive others who respass 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
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
and desires we live reconciled lives with the earth and its inhabitants.
May the peace of God be always with you.
And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Notices
Truby’s Garden Tea Room
1.00–5.30 pm Sunday, 13 October 2024 in the Guildhall
Join us for Lunch or Afternoon Tea. Truby’s Garden Tea Room is an inter-faith community café run by British Moslem women who live in Milton Keynes. For more information contact trubysgardentearoom@gmail.com.
Licensing of Grace Hunting as a Licensed Lay Minister
11.00 am Saturday, 2 November 2024 at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Grace Hunting will be admitted and licensed as a Licensed Lay Minister on Saturday, 2 November 2024 at 11.00 am – at the Annual Service at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.
A group of people from Milton Keynes will be travelling to Oxford to attend the service and support Grace. If you would like to join the travelling group you may find more details from Grace.
Please keep Grace, Michael, and her family in your prayers.
Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Ecumenical Confirmation
Sunday, 24 November 2024 at Christ the Cornerstone
There will be Ecumenical Confirmation at Cornerstone on Sunday, 24 November 2024 with Bishop Steven. The Preacher will be Revd Ian Suttie, District Ecumenical Officer of the Northampton Methodist District. Confirmation evening classes are available at St Mary’s Wavendon and Watling Valley churches If you may be interested in confirmation, please contact one of our ministers.
Education and Worship Group
We are looking for people who could help plan the Learning for our Congregation and support the people who plan Worship. This would involve meeting to discuss Advent and Lent Bible studies, regular learning in All Age Worship and opportunities for enhancing Worship. We will raise this at the Congregational Meeting, but if you would like to discuss this further, please contact Cheryl, Revd George or Cathy Hampton.
Cheryl Montgomery
Church Christmas Cards
Three cards designed by our volunteer Yvonne Bell are now available in Cornerstone shop. All proceeds towards church funds.
Bob Collard
Harvest Appeal: Sunday, 27 October 2024
Our Harvest Celebration this year will have a Food Bank focus. You are invited to make donations in the special orange envelopes that will be provided a week beforehand, to put in a basket in front of the Altar table, or to make donations of tins, packs, cartons of items urgently needed by the Foodbank. There is a list of items that the Food Bank needs here on page 3. Everything will be donated to Milton Keynes Food Bank. You can also donate online to Milton Keynes Foodbank at mkfoodbank.org.uk.
Pat Kyd
Offering
Final Prayer
Lord, go with us into our everyday lives, to honour you in all that we do and say.
May our being and doing reflect your love and your grace.
And when we next meet, may we recognise with thanks the prompting of the Holy Spiri
Amen
Hymn: Down by the riverside
Going to lay down my sword and shield,
down by the riverside; [×3]
Going to lay down my sword and shield,
down by the riverside.
Going to study war no more.
I ain’t going t’study war no more.
Ain’t going t’study war no more. [×5]
Going to lay down my burden,
down by the riverside; [×3]
Going to lay down my burden;
down by the riverside.
Going to study war no more.
I ain’t going t’study war no more. …
Going to try on my starry crown,
down by the riverside; [×3]
Going to try on my starry crown,
down by the riverside.
Going to study war no more.
I ain’t going t’study war no more. …
Going to meet my dear old father
down by the riverside; [×3]
Going to meet my dear old father
down by the riverside.
Going to study war no more.
I ain’t going t’study war no more. …
Down by the riverside, Going to study war no more.
Going to meet my dear old mother,
down by the riverside; [×3]
Going to meet my dear old mother,
down by the riverside.
Going to study war no more.
I ain’t going t’study war no more. …
Going to meet my loving Jesus,
down by the riverside; [×3]
Going to meet my loving Jesus,
down by the riverside.
Going to study war no more.
I ain’t going t’study war no more. …
Spiritual
CCL31580
Blessing
Go forth into the world in peace;
be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil;
strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour everyone;
love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit,
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be amongst you and remain with you always
Amen
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ,
Amen
As the Bible, the basket of prayers and the ministers depart, the Choir will sing:
Amen Siyakadumisa
Amen siyakudumisa (Masithi)
Amen, Bawo [×2]
Amen siyakudumisa (Masithi)
Singing translation
Amen, we praise your name, O God. (O sing now!)
Amen, amen. [×2]
Amen, we praise your name, O God. (O sing now!)