Led by: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Gathering Music

Welcome

Gathering Prayer

With word and silence, prayer and song, we come together to worship,
a worshipping people before our God.
Risen Lord, be real and present with us in this time, teach us and encourage us,
speak to us through stories old and new
so that with fresh eyes we can see again the glories of your being.

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: Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
He is the King of creation.

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name.

Spread the good news o’er all the earth.
Jesus has died and has risen.

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name.

We have been crucified with Christ.
Now we shall live for ever.

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name.

God has proclaimed the just reward:
Life for all men, alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name.

Come, let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour.

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name.

Donald Fishel (b. 1950)
CCL31580

Call to Worship

Come, all who have made mistakes.
Come, all who have said or done things they regret.
Come, all who have failed to do what was right.
Come, all who want to start afresh.
Come to the God who offers hope, healing, and forgiveness.

Confession

Almighty God, we read the stories of old, of psalmists and prophets,
of disciples and apostles, of followers and onlookers, and we ask ourselves:

Why did they do that,
why did they make so many mistakes,
why did they do bad things, wrong things?

Help us to see
that we too do things that are wrong, that are not good or right.

Help us to see
that we make mistakes, take wrong decisions
because they somehow seemed the easiest things to do at the time.

As you have forgiven those of old, so too, when we confess our failings,
when we look at what we have really done and seen what we could have done better,
you forgive us, you cleanse us and set us free.

[Silence]

Almighty God, we have confessed to you and faced our failings,
let us now in penitence hear your forgiving words
that assure us of your love, your forgiveness, and your patience with us.
Take the burden from us and help us to face the future with a lighter load and clearer vision.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

God of grace, you know our weaknesses,
and how we let you, ourselves, and others down by the things we say and do, or fail to do.
As we come to worship, open our hearts and minds, to learn from our mistakes,
to know more of your ways, and live and love as Christ loves us.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Psalm 4

Read by Peter Steeds

¹ Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

² How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
³ Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴ Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.

⁶ Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
⁷ Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.

⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.

NIV®

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

Luke 24: 36–48

Read by Rosemary Goldie

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.…”

NIV®

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

Meditation

[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 Glynne Gordon-Carter

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: He is Lord, he is Lord

He is Lord, he is Lord.
He is risen from the dead and he is Lord.
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.

He is King, he is King.
He is risen from the dead and he is Lord.
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is King.

He is love, he is love.
He is risen from the dead and he is Lord.
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is love.

Anonymous
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

Cornerstone Prayer Network

Prayer is central to our Christian fellowship. The Cornerstone Prayer Network is here for people who have asked us to pray for them. Please send your prayer requests to cornerstonechurch.prayernetwork@gmail.com and the details will be passed on to the members of the Prayer Network. If your prayer request is for someone else, please check with them before sending details to the Cornerstone Prayer Network.

If you would like to become a member of the Cornerstone Prayer Network, please send your details by email to cornerstonechurch.prayernetwork@gmail.com, or speak to June Halstead after a Service in the church.

Choral Celebration of Eastertide

6.00 pm Sunday, 14 April 2024

The Service at Cornerstone this Sunday evening is a Choral Celebration of Eastertide led by Revd Nicola Vidamour with the Cornerstone Choir.

The service includes inspirational readings from Scripture and poetry, and wonderful musical settings by Phillips, Purcell, Handel, Stanford, Vaughan Williams and Rutter. We are delighted to welcome Revd Nicola Vidamour to lead our service, shortly before her move to Cambridge to become Director of Reflective Pastoral Supervision at Wesley House.

Adrian Boynton

Cornerstone weekly Notice Sheet by email

Many of our congregation have chosen to receive the weekly Cornerstone Notice Sheet by email, which means they can keep up with events at Cornerstone even when they are not able to come to church. As well as the weekly Notice Sheet, other information of interest to Cornerstone folk is also sent to those on the mailing list.

Robin Kyd

Cornerstone Notices

Notices of Cornerstone events and meetings are always welcome for inclusion in the weekly Notice Sheet. Please send them to our Administrator, Mark Okor (admin@cornerstonemk.co.uk), and Robin Kyd (robin_kyd@yahoo.co.uk) to arrive no later than the Wednesday before the Notice is to appear.

Citizens:MK – Listening on housing and homelessness

Housing that is affordable, secure and habitable is crucial to security, well-being and health. Too many in the UK are living in housing that is insecure, unaffordable or of sub-standard quality. Across the country, Citizens alliances have campaigned successfully on housing and homelessness, but much more needs to be done both locally and at the national level. Citizens:MK wants to hear about housing and homelessness issues in Milton Keynes ahead of the Citizens Assembly on Wednesday,1 May 2024, here in Cornerstone. Please share your thoughts with Rick Mutwarasibo or David Chapman.

David Chapman

Offering

Final Prayer

Lord, thank you that you do not give up on us when we fail,
that you offer us a fresh start through your forgiveness.
Guide and teach us that we may learn from our mistakes,
and walk with us into each new day, in Jesus’ name.

Amen

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

Blessing

May God the Father prepare your journey,
Jesus the Son guide your footsteps,
the Spirit of Life strengthen your body,
the Three in One watch over you,
on every road that you may follow.
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