Led by Revd Tim Norwood

Gathering Music

Opening Responses

God welcomes us.
We are glad to be here.

Jesus welcomes those who seem small.
We are glad to be here.

The Spirit sends us to welcome others.
We are glad to share God’s love.

Come, all who are thirsty.
God gives us living water.

Come, all who seek peace.
God shows us the way of truth.

Come, all who want to follow Jesus.
We come to worship, learn and serve.

God of truth and peace, open our ears to your word, open our eyes to your presence,
open our hands to serve, and open our hearts to welcome Christ in one another.

Amen

Hymn: All are welcome (Let us build a house)

Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome,
all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophesy speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, …

Let us build a house where love is found
in water, wine and wheat:
a banquet hall on holy ground
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space;
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
All are welcome, …

Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, …

Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed
as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace,
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, …

Marty Haugen (b. 1950)
CCL31580

Confession

Jesus says, ‘Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.’

Lord, forgive us when our welcome has been narrow, when we have failed to notice the stranger,
or when we have turned away from those in need.

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

The prophet reminds us that true peace comes from God.
Lord, forgive us when we have chosen easy words over honest ones, when we have avoided truth,
or when we have settled for peace without justice.

Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus says that even a cup of cold water given in love is precious to God.
Lord, forgive us when we have missed small chances to serve, when our hands have been closed,
or when our hearts have been cold.

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

May the God of truth and peace forgive us, renew us, and send us out to welcome
and serve in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Kyrie

Prayer of the Week

God of truth and peace, you call us to welcome Christ in the stranger, the prophet, and the little one:
open our hearts to hear your word, make us generous in simple acts of love,
and teach us to seek the peace that comes from you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Hymn: Longing for light (Christ be our light)

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.

Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.

Christ be our light! ….

Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.

Christ be our light! ….

Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.

Christ be our light! ….

Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
helping your kingdom come.

Christ be our light! ….

Bernadette Farrell (b. 1957)
CCL31580

Bible Readings

Jeremiah 28: 5–9

Read by Chibby Chima-Okoro

⁵ Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord. ⁶ He said, ‘Amen! May the Lord do so! May the Lord fulfil the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the Lord’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. ⁷ Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: ⁸ from early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms. ⁹ But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognised as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true.’

NIV®

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

Matthew 10: 40–42

Read by Colin Ballard

⁴⁰ ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.’

NIV®

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

Sermon

By Revd Tim Norwood

Hymn: Brother, sister, let me serve you

Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we’ve known together
of Christ’s love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

Richard Gillard (b. 1953)
CCL31580

Musical Meditation: Ubi Caritas

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God, who speaks truth and calls us into peace.

We believe in Jesus Christ, who welcomes the stranger, receives the little ones,
and is present in every act of love.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who opens our ears to God’s word,
our hearts to one another, and our hands to serve.

We believe that even small gifts offered in Christ’s name
can share God’s love with the world.

We believe that God sends us out to seek true peace, to speak with courage,
and to welcome Christ in all.

Amen

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Robin Kyd

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

Christ has reconciled us to God and to one another. Through his grace we are members of one body.
Friends may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

Let us share with one another a sign of Christ’s peace.

Notices and Offertory

Pastoral Cover

During Revd George’s annual leave: 25 June – 13 July 2026

While I am away, the Congregation will be cared for by Revd Dr Margaret Goodall. If you have any pastoral concerns or needs during this time, please contact Revd Dr Goodall directly or speak to one of the church’s pastoral workers, who will be happy to assist or put you in touch with Margaret.

Blessings, Revd George

Cornerstone Gift Day and Fundraising Event

Sunday, 19 July 2026

We have an ambitious target to raise £7000 through our Gift Day and Fundraising Event.

At services from 5 July 2026, there will be an envelope for each of our members, supporters and regular attenders giving details of how you can make a donation towards our £7000 total. This will give details of how to donate by cash, cheque, bank transfer or using our card machine.

To top up the money received from Gift Day donations, we’re holding a fundraising event. – which we hope will be fun, as well as making a good profit!  Cheryl gave us some details last Sunday (21 June 2026) during the service and mentioned that we would need some help.

More details will be circulated nearer the date, but if you can offer help with any of the following, please let us know as soon as possible:

So far, we have a cake stall, a book stall, a grand auction, and there will be a few tables for hire at £10 at which you could sell your own items. Do you have any other ideas?

If you can help with any of the above, or would like any further information, please get in touch with Cheryl Montgomery (chezmonty73@gmail.com), Pat Kyd ( pat_kyd@yahoo.co.uk)  or Peter Cope (petercope26@gmail.com ).

Offertory Prayer

Gracious God, all abundance flows from your endless love.
We humbly present these offerings before you, those placed before your altar today
and those given faithfully throughout the week,
whether shared in person or offered electronically, seen and unseen.
Receive them all as signs of our gratitude and tokens of our trust in you.
Bless these gifts and those who give them, that they may serve your purposes, proclaim your kingdom,
and reflect the generous love revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Hymn: We are marching in the light of God

We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, marching;
we are marching, Oh, Oh.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, marching;
we are marching, Oh, Oh.
We are marching in the light of God.

We are living in the love of God.
We are living in the love of God.
We are living in the love of God.
We are living in the love of God.
We are living, living;
we are living, Oh, Oh.
We are living in the love of God.
We are living, living;
we are living, Oh, Oh.
We are living in the love of God.

We are moving in the power of God.
We are moving in the power of God.
We are moving in the power of God.
We are moving in the power of God.
We are moving, moving;
We are moving, Oh, Oh.
We are moving in the power of God.
We are moving, moving;
We are moving, Oh, Oh.
We are moving in the power of God.

Anders Nyberg (b. 1955) (v.1), Andrew Maries (b. 1949) (vv.2 & 3)
CCL31580

Closing Prayers

May the God of truth bless us.
May we walk in honesty and hope.

May the Christ who welcomes all bless us.
May we welcome him in one another.

May the Spirit of peace bless us.
May we seek peace with justice and joy.

And may the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be with us and those we love, now and always.

Amen

Sending out

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.

Amen