Led by: Revd George Mwaura

Preacher: Revd George Mwaura

Gathering Music

Welcome

Call to Worship

Sisters and Brothers, do not be afraid, for Jesus is here.
Listen to his living word, and respond to his call.
Reach for his outstretched hand, and be held in his love.

We will, confidently and in faith.

Amen

Prayer of Approach

God of grace and glory, you delight in the praises of your people.
Free us to worship you at this time and in this place.
Be present among us; open our minds and hearts to your word in Scripture and in life
and inspire and equip us to be you people in today’s world.
You are our source of wisdom and strength.
Lead us on in your way for us. In the name of Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Amen

Hymn: How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It sooths his sorrows, heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
and calms the troubled breast;
’tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary rest.

Dear name! the rock on which I build,
my shield and hiding place,
my never-failing treasury filled
with boundless stores of grace.

Jesus! my Shepherd, Brother Friend,
my Prophet, Priest and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.

Till then I would thy love proclaim
with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of thy name
refresh my soul in death.

John Newton (1725–1807)
CCL31580

Thanksgiving and Confession

Living God, in Jesus you met the needs of the hungry.
In Jesus you met the needs of the terrified disciples.
We thank you that you continue to meet our needs in body, mind, and spirit.

When we fear for the future, grant us courage and strength to face the unknown.
When we would settle for the comfort and the security of the familiar,
give us the confidence to step out in faith and hope.
When we would turn aside from your call to us and seek to ignore your clear commands,
give us the consistency and the commitment to fulfil your purposes for the church and for the world.
And when we fail you, speak to us again your words of comfort, forgiveness, and reassurance.
When we are battered by life’s storms and feel lost, isolated, and alone,
help us to find the trust in you that renews our strength.

Loving, forgiving God, we bring our prayers to you in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

Blessed are you, creator God of the universe, you come to us in our need.
You comfort us in our fear and rescue us when we are sinking.
We offer you the praise of our thankful hearts.
Here in this holy place we see Jesus and he calls us to come.
He calls us to follow him out of this safe place and into the difficult waters of life.
We need have no fear, as he takes our hand, lifts us up and saves us.
However small our faith we need not doubt, for he truly is the Son of God
and we come to worship him.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Psalm 85: 8–13

Read by Robin Kyd

⁸ I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants –
but let them not turn to folly.
⁹ Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
¹⁰ Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
¹² The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.

NIV®

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

Hymn: Just as I am, without one plea

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou biddst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fighting within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need, in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am (thy love unknown
hath broken every barrier down),
now, to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, of that free love
the breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Charlotte Elliott (1789–1871)
CCL31580

Matthew 14: 22–33

Read by Pat Kyd

Jesus Walks on the Water

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’

²⁸ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’

²⁹‘Come,’ he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

NIV®

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

Meditation

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

Intercessions

Led by Cheryl Montgomery

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: Father, I place into your hands

Father, I place into your hands
the things I cannot do.
Father, I place into your hands
the things that I’ve been through.
Father, I place into your hands
the way that I should go,
for I know I always can trust you.

Father, I place into your hands
my friends and family.
Father, I place into your hands
the things that trouble me.
Father, I place into your hands
the person I would be,
for I know I always can trust you.

Father, we love to see your face,
we love to hear your voice.
Father, we love to sing your praise
and in your name rejoice.
Father, we love to walk with you
and in your presence rest,
for we know we always can trust you.

Father, I want to be with you
and do the things you do.
Father, I want to speak the words
that you are speaking too.
Father, I want to love the ones
that you will draw to you,
for I know that I am one with you.

Jenny Hewer (b. 1945)
CCL31580

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.

Notices

‘Songs of Praise’ by Zoom

6.00 pm Sunday, 27 August 2023

Rosemary Kearsey is offering to present a ‘Songs of Praise’ by Zoom at 6.00 pm on Sunday, 27 August 2023. If you have a favourite hymn or reading you would like included, please would you send this to Rosemary by Sunday, 20 August 2023, so that she has plenty of time to find the links and plan the service. Rosemary’s email address is rosemary.kearsey@btopenworld.com.

Notice of the First Congregational Meeting of the Cornerstone CIO
(new Cornerstone Charity)

The Trustees of Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership hereby notify the Congregations that a meeting will be held on 10 September 2023 at the close of Morning Worship (about 10.50 am) in the church building, the purpose of which is to elect an additional trustee. All members are invited. The agenda will be available at the end of August. Special arrangements will be made for those members worshipping on-line to take part.

Cheryl Montgomery – Secretary

Cornerstone Baby and Toddler Group

We are re-starting the baby and toddler group in September and would like to invite families with pre-school children to come and join the fun on Monday mornings, 10.00–11:30 am starting from Monday, 11 September.

We already have a core team in place but also need volunteers who could help us to get the group up and running. Perhaps you could join in with the activities with the children, make tea, or help to set up. We know people are busy so you don’t need to commit to coming every week but any support you could give would be brilliant and we guarantee you will have fun too!

Please contact: Nerys Steeds njsteeds@icloud.com or Joy Chapman cjoy.chapman9@gmail.com

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

We need tins of food: lots of them! Cornerstone is committed to collecting at least 350 cans ahead of the event on World Food Day, Monday, 16 October 2023. This event is being organised by the MK Food Bank and is a major Milton Keynes effort to smash the current world record for the longest line of cans of food! We need to fill Cornerstone’s 25 metre section of the 10 km, so please donate tins of fruit, vegetables, tomatoes, soup, meat, fish, baked beans, other pulses, rice pudding or custard, or pasta.

Bring them to the church on Sunday or whenever it is open and we’ll store them ahead of the event. All the cans will be used during the following months by MK Food Bank to give out in food parcels, so they need to be in good condition (not dented or damaged) and well within the best before date, ideally by a year at least. For more information see https://mkfoodbank.org.uk/mk-can/.

We will also need volunteers in the day, so please offer your services if you can be available for some or all of the time between 9am and 5pm on Monday 16th October, in Campbell Park. Contact to Mubina Chakera (mubinachakera@hotmail.com) or David Chapman (david@dachapman.free-online.co.uk).

Social Justice Committee

Offering

Final Prayer

Lord, be with us on our journey of life. As we travel with you in the coming days,
may we share your love and compassion with those we meet whose path is hard.
Transform us, and transform them, with your life-giving love.

Amen

Hymn: Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o’er the world’s tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee;
yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our Father be.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us:
all our weakness thou dost know;
thou didst tread this earth before us,
thou didst feel kits keenest woe;
lone and dreary, faint and weary,
through the desert thou didst go.

Spirit of our God, descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy,
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cloy:
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
nothing can our peace destroy.

James Edmeston (1791–1867)
CCL31580

Blessings

Living God, you have met us here and calmed our fears.
May we step out into your world strong with the hope and courage you give,
ready to meet you in faith.
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

Church, go in peace to serve and love the Lord.
In the name of Christ, we will.

Amen

Song: God on the Mountain

Life is easy, when you’re up on the mountain
and you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known.
But when things change and you’re down in the valley
don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night

You talk of faith when you’re up on the mountain,
talk comes so easy when life’s at its best.
Now it’s down in the valley of trials and temptations:
that’s when your faith is really put to the test.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.…

Bill & Gloria Gaither (2005)
CCL31580