Led by Grace Hunting LLM
Preacher: Revd George Mwaura

Welcome and Greetings

Call to Worship

We have answered the call to life, and we gather to worship our Creator.
We gather to seek the Spirit’s strength and guidance.
Come, let us worship the one who restores our souls and leads us in paths of righteousness.

Amen: we have come to worship the Lord!

Creator God, thank you for giving us life.
We ask that you equip and inspire us today; be our strength and our guide.
Help us see where we have gone wrong,
and the places and people that need the life that only you can bring.

Amen

Hymn: From heaven you came, helpless babe

From heaven you came, helpless babe,/entered our world, your glory veiled;
not to be served, but to serve,
and give your life, that we might live.
This our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.

There in the garden of tears,
my heavy load he chose to bear;
his heart with sorrow was torn,
‘Yet not my will but yours,’ he said.
This our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.

Come see his hands and his feet,
the scars that speak of sacrifice,
hands that flung stars into space
to cruel nails surrendered.
This our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.

So let us learn how to serve,
and in our lives enthrone him;
each other’s needs to prefer,
for it is Christ we’re serving.
This our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.

Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
CCL31580

Thanksgiving and Confession

Good Shepherd, our hearts overflows with gratitude.
Like a sheep resting in green pastures, you give us peace we could never find on our own.
You lead us beside quiet waters when our souls are parched.
Even when we stumble, your rod and staff are there, guiding us back to your paths.
Thank you for preparing a table before us, even when enemies surround us.
Our cup truly runs over with your goodness.

Just as Jesus promised that no one can snatch us from your hand,
we rest secure in your grip.
You know our names, you hear our voice, and you hold us close.

But too often we’ve wandered from your paths, thinking we knew better ways.
We’ve ignored your voice when you called, pretending not to hear.
Like a foolish sheep, we’ve strayed into dangerous places, far from your protection.
Forgive use for the times we’ve doubted your care, even though you’ve never failed us.
When shadows fell across our path, we gave in to fear
instead of trusting your rod and staff.
We’ve questioned whether you really know us, even though you call us by name.

Draw us back to your fold, Lord. Help us recognise your voice again and follow only you.
Thank you that even when we wander, your goodness and mercy still pursue us.
Your hands are strong enough to hold us, and nothing can snatch us away from your love.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

Almighty God, our faithful Shepherd,
who leads us beside still waters and restores our weary souls:
grant us grace to hear and recognise your voice amidst life’s clamour,
that we may follow where you guide and rest secure in your unfailing grip;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who knows us by name.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Psalm 23

Read by Bob Collard

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever

NIV®

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

Hymn: The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
he makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
his goodness restores my soul.

And I will trust in you alone,
and I will trust in you alone,
for your endless mercy follows me,
your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,
and he anoints my head with oil,
and my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on his pure delights.

And I will trust in you alone, …

And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know.

And I will trust in you alone, …

Stuart Townend (b. 1963)
CCL31580

John 10: 22–30

Read by Cheryl Montgomery

²² Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. ²⁴ The Jews who were there gathered round him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’

²⁵ Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.’

NIV®

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

Meditation

By Revd George Mwaura

[Silence]

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen

Prayers of Intercession

Led by Don Head

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

Hymn: Alleluia, sing to Jesus!

Alleluia, sing to Jesus!
his the sceptre, his the throne;
alleluia, his the triumph
his the victory alone:
hark, the songs of peaceful Sion
thunder like a mighty flood;
Jesus out of every nation
hath redeemed us by his blood.

Alleluia, not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
alleluia, he is near us,
faith believes, nor questions how:
though the cloud from sight received him,
when the forty days were o’er,
shall our hearts forget his promise,
‘I am with you evermore’?

Alleluia, bread of angels,
thou on earth our food, our stay;
alleluia, here the sinful
flee to thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners,
earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,
where the songs of all the sinless,
sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia, King eternal,
thee the Lord of lords we own;
alleluia, born of Mary,
earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne:
thou within the veil hast entered,
robed in flesh, our great High Priest;
thou on earth both Priest and Victim
in the eucharistic feast.

William Chatterton Dixon (1817–1898)
CCL31580

The Peace

May the peace of God who is the Good Shepherd,
who holds us securely in his hands as one flock,
be with you all.
And also with you.

Let us share peace with one another.

Notices

Christian Aid: Cake sale and collection

Sunday, 11 May 2025

Christian Aid Week is 11–17 May 2025 and as usual we at Cornerstone are raising funds for Christian Aid’s vital work, both responding to emergencies and disasters (such as in Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine and the Middle East) and providing long-term development aid. We will be selling cakes after this Sunday’s morning service, so come prepared to buy one! Also, If you can offer a cake, please let Cathy Hampton know at c.m.hampton@warwick.ac.uk and bring it to the church before the service (labelled, please, with a list of ingredients).

Collection envelopes will be distributed for your donations by cash or cheque on Sunday, or else you can donate online at any time via our e-Envelope at: https://bit.ly/Cornerstone-CAW25 (also accessed by scanning the QR code).

Social Justice Group

How your money helps

This Christian Aid Week, you can support communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

In places like Guatemala, extreme weather is destroying crops, deepening hunger and threatening livelihoods. But with the right tools and training, farmers can build sustainable futures. Every pound you raise could help:

• Provide climate-resilient seeds to help families grow food.
• Fund water conservation techniques to protect crops.
• Support vital training so farmers can build a sustainable future.

Flowers in the Worship Area

Flowers this week are in celebration of Cheryl and Jim’s 41st wedding anniversary and their granddaughter, Charlotte’s, 21st birthday. We wish them all every happiness.

Wednesday Bible study

Resuming Wednesday, 14 May 2025

We completed our study of the Book of Revelation before Lent. Now, starting this Wednesday (14 May 2025), we are beginning a new Bible study. All our study sessions are by Zoom This Wednesday will be a planning session, deciding on which book or books of the Bible we will study next.

If you would like to join the group, and have not already done so, please contact Pat or Robin Kyd, and we will add your email address to the list to receive emails with information and Zoom links for the sessions.

Offertory

Gracious God, all abundance flows from your endless love.
We humbly present these offerings – both those given today and those already shared –
asking for your blessing as we build your kingdom through this church and beyond.
May these gifts serve your purpose and bring light to all corners of your world.

Amen

One more step along the world I go

One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go;
from the old things to the new
keep me travelling along with you.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me travelling along with you.

Round the corners of the world I turn,
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see
you’ll be looking at along with me.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new; …

As I travel through the bad and good,
keep me travelling the way I should;
where I see no way to go
you’ll be telling me the way, I know.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new; …

Give me courage when the world is rough,
keep me loving though the world is tough;
leap and sing in all I do,
keep me travelling along with you.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new; …

You are older than the world can be,
you are younger than the life in me;
ever old and ever new,
keep me travelling along with you.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new; …

Sydney Carter (1915–2004)
CCL31580

Blessings

May the Lord who shepherds you through green pastures and dark valleys,
who knows you by name and holds you secure in his hands,
fill you with goodness and mercy all the days of your life.

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.
In the name of Christ.

Amen