Led by: Revd George Mwaura
Preacher: Grace Hunting LLM

Gathering Music

Call to Worship

God of justice and fire, you call us to gather in your presence,
where truth is spoken and hearts are stirred.
As You stand in the midst of the assembly and judge with righteousness,
ignite within us a holy passion.

Help us to seek justice for the weak, defend the cause of the poor,
and respond to your call with courage.
Let us worship you with reverence and awe,
ready to be transformed by your Word and your Spirit.

Amen

Greetings and Welcome

Opening Prayer

Righteous Judge and Consuming Fire, we come before you, humbled by your authority and your mercy.
In a world divided by injustice and strife, we seek your guidance.
Speak to us as you spoke through your Son, challenging our complacency,
kindling in us a desire for truth, and calling us to discern the signs of your kingdom.
May your Spirit burn away all that is false in us, so we may stand ready for the work you set before us,
united in your love and purpose.

Amen

Hymn: God is Love: let heaven adore him

God is Love: let heaven adore him;
God is Love: let earth rejoice;
let creation sing before him,
and exalt him with one voice.
He who laid the earth’s foundation,
he who spread the heavens above,
he who breathes through all creation,
he is Love, eternal Love.

God is Love: and he enfoldeth
all the world in one embrace;
with unfailing grasp he holdeth
every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking
under sorrow’s iron rod,
then they find the selfsame aching
deep within the heart of God.

God is Love: and though with blindness
sin afflicts the souls of all,
God’s eternal loving kindness
holds and guides us when we fall.
Sin and death and hell shall never
o’er us final triumph gain;
God is Love, so Love for ever
o’er the universe must reign.

Timothy Rees (8174–1939)
CCL31580

Thanksgiving and Confession Prayers

Holy God, we thank you for your steadfast justice and the gift of your Son,
who came not to bring empty peace but a refining fire to this world.
We are grateful for your patience with us, for your faithfulness despite our failings.

Yet we confess that we have been slow to seek justice,
hesitant to embrace the challenges of discipleship,
and blind to the signs of your presence among us.
Forgive us, O Lord.
Rekindle our hearts with gratitude for your mercy and renew in us a spirit of repentance.
Teach us to walk in your ways, standing for truth and living as reflections of your grace.

[Silence]

Kyrie

Absolution

Children of God, hear the good news: God judges with righteousness and offers mercy without end.
By the fire of Christ’s love, you are forgiven, restored, and called to new life.
Rise now in the freedom of God’s grace,
empowered to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

Prayer of the Week

Gracious God, we thank you for the gift of this gathered church
and for your steadfast presence among us.
As we step into a new week, fill our hearts with gratitude for your daily mercies
and open our eyes to the opportunities you set before us.
Grant us wisdom to discern your will, courage to do what is right,
and compassion for those we meet along the way.
Guide our words, shape our actions,
and keep us mindful of your Spirit at work in and through us, today and always.

Amen

Scriptural Readings

Psalm 82

Read by Peter Steeds

¹ God presides in the great assembly;
he renders judgment among the ‘gods’:

² ‘How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
³ Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
⁴ Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

⁵ ‘The “gods” know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

⁶ ‘I said, “You are ‘gods’;
you are all sons of the Most High.”
⁷ But you will die like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.’

⁸ Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance.

NIV®

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

Hymn: Tell out, my soul

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of your word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make know his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name, the Lord, the mighty one.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm in his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore!

Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926–2024)
based on Luke 1: 46–51
CCL31580

Hebrews 11: 29 – 12: 2

Read by Nerys Steeds

²⁹ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched round them for seven days.

³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. ³⁵ Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. ³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were put to death by stoning; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and ill-treated – ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

12 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

NIV®

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

Sermon

By Grace Hunting LLM

Instrumental Music for Meditation

Prayers of Intercession

Led by Maggie Kean

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

Sharing Peace

As grateful people, called into God’s justice and mercy, let us share the peace Christ gives,
a peace that prepares us for the week ahead and strengthens us to love and serve.

My dear friends, may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be always with you.

And also with you.

Let us share peace with one another.

Notices

Welcoming and Empowering Palestinian Students and Graduates in Milton Keynes

A powerful new initiative, MK ANSARS, has been launched to support Palestinian students and recent graduates from Gaza and the West Bank as they resettle and thrive in Milton Keynes.

Spearheaded by Kurshida Mirza, former High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire and British Empire Medal honouree, and Dr Nela Smolović Jones of The Open University, MK ANSARS unites Truby’s Garden, the Church of Christ the Cornerstone, and academics from The Open University and Durham University, with more partners joining soon.

Following Milton Keynes’ successful track record welcoming Syrian, Afghan, and Ukrainian communities, MK ANSARS will offer mentorship, friendship, and essential financial support, for housing, childcare, transport, and utility bills, empowering students to rebuild their futures in the heart of the UK.

Kurshida Mirza said: ‘We have a proud tradition in Milton Keynes of welcoming people fleeing persecution… ANSARS symbolises the helpers in Medina who supported the Prophet’s migration – this is about community and compassion.’

Dr Nela Smolović Jones added: ‘These students are exceptionally capable people who, under different circumstances, would be leading their homelands. Milton Keynes will be enriched by their talent.’

The first cohort arrives this month: one PhD student exploring grassroots leadership in war-shattered communities, and four Master’s graduates in economics and education.

You can help by donating via: https://localgiving.org/fundraising/SupportingPalestinianFamiliesinMiltonKeynes.

Contact for more information: nela.smolovic-jones@open.ac.uk or kurshidabmirza@gmail.com.

Social Justice Group

Card Reader / Payment of offerings by card

The card reader for donations will now be in the Reception Area for easier use. Please note that registering for gift aid on the card reader once increases your donations by 25% at no cost to you.

Thank you so much to everyone who gives to us regularly, whether it be by card payment, cash in the collection basket, our envelope scheme, by direct debit or our Parish Giving Scheme. Your generosity is much appreciated. All these gifts are blessed in our weekly services.

Funeral of Barry Anderson

Tuesday, 19 August 2025

Barry’s funeral will be in Loughton on Tuesday. The burial will be at 11.30 am in Loughton Jubilee Graveyard followed by a Thanksgiving Service at 12.00 noon in All Saints Church Loughton.

Offertory Prayer

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.

Hymn: Take my life, and let it be

Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let the move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet, and let the be
swift and purposeful for thee.

Take my voice, and let it sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it thine,
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–1879)
CCL31580

Blessings

Go now into the week ahead, strengthened by the justice of God and the fire of Christ’s love.
May gratitude root you, truth guide you, and boldness fill you to seek what is right,
defending the weak, speaking with compassion, and serving with joy.

And may the blessing of the Righteous Judge,
the wisdom of the Holy Spirit,
and the peace of Christ go with you now and always.

Amen

Dismissal

Church, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ, we will.

Amen