Led by Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Please note that the video feed will go live from around 9:50 am and will be switched off after the service.
A separate video feed of the choir is available here.

Gathering Music

Welcome

Let us write God’s word onto our hearts as we share in worship together.
Let us listen to Scripture with the child Jesus and like him grow strong in wisdom.

Amen

Gathering Prayer

Praise be to God for the words written in Scripture throughout the ages.
God is good and we are one.

Praise be to God for the good news written to tell us about Jesus.
God is good and we are one.

Praise be to God for all words written in our hearts to inspire and guide us.
God is good and we are one.

We are from love, of love, for love.

Amen

Hymn: All over the world

All over the world
the Spirit is moving,
all over the world
as the prophets said it would be;
all over the world
there’s a mighty revelation
of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.

All over his church
God’s Spirit is moving,
all over his church
as the prophets said it would be;
all over his church
there’s a mighty revelation
of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.

Right here in this place
the Spirit is moving,
right here in this place
as the prophets said it would be;
right here in this place
there’s a mighty revelation
of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.

Roy Turner (1984)
CCL31580

Confession

Lord God, we confess that we struggle to love others.
Sometimes we don’t even recognise who our neighbour is,
never mind knowing how to love them.
Encourage us in your ways, O Lord.

We confess that we don’t always realise that to show love to others,
first we have to learn to love ourselves.
Sometimes we haven’t a clue how to do that.
We may have an ideal in our head of what love is,
then get cross with ourselves when we fall short.
Encourage us in your ways, O Lord.

We confess that we have the idea that love is this great dramatic gesture or action,
when sometimes it can be as small as a touch of a fingertip.
Encourage us in your ways, O Lord.

Kyrie

The God of all heaven and earth
looks upon us now with love.
He wraps us tightly in his arms.
His love pardons us, enfolds us,
emboldens us to accept that our sins are forgiven,
and we can go into the world to reveal his love.
Praise be to God.

Amen

Prayer of the Week

God of love, you are so much more than anything we could ever imagine.
Abundant love flows from your very being.
We know your love is the greatest of all.
We bask now in that love, making our small offering in return.
We love you with all our heart, all our understanding, and all our strength –
and always will.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Psalm 119: 1–8

¹ Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
² Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart –
³ they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
⁴ You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
⁵ Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
⁶ Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
⁷ I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
⁸ I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.

NIV®

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

Choral contribution

Mark 12: 28–34

The Greatest Commandment

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’

²⁹ ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” ³¹ The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’

³² ‘Well said, teacher,’ the man replied. ‘You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ³³ To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And from then on no-one dared ask him any more questions.

NIV®

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

Testimony

By Grace Hunting

Choral Response

Affirmation of Faith

Let us declare our faith.

We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us with power from on high.

We believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Amen

Prayers and Intercessions

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: Bind us together

Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together with cords
that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together,
bind us together with love.

There is only one God,
there is only one King.
There is only one Body,
that is why we sing:

Bind us together, Lord, …

Made for the glory of God,
purchased by his precious Son,
born with the right to be free,
for Jesus the victory has won.

Bind us together, Lord, …

You are the family of God,
you are the promise divine,
you are God’s chosen desire,
you are the glorious new wine.

Bind us together, Lord, …

Bob Gillman (b. 1946)
CCL31580

The Peace

Notices

Thank You

Thank you to all those of you who supported our Harvest Appeal. I hope to bring you a figure next week as to how much was raised.

Thank you also to all those of you who have continued to give regularly to Cornerstone during the past eighteen months. Currently, your giving to the Church is of particular importance because Cornerstone, like many other organisations, has suffered a significant drop in income during Covid-19.

More details on how to make your offering can be found in the ‘Giving’ section on the Cornerstone website at cornerstonemk.co.uk, or by contacting me.

Janet Trimnell steward.cccmk@gmail.com

Judy Jarvis

Sadly, we have received news that Judy Jarvis died last week.

Many of us will remember Judy with great affection as she was our Ecumenical Council Chair for several years – a job she did with great skill and energy.

Before coming to Milton Keynes, Judy had been a Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, and was in the forefront of national safeguarding work to make churches safer places for children. Judy and her husband Eric were very involved in the life of Cornerstone until ill health led them to move nearer to their family in Scotland some years ago. The Cornerstone Community was greatly blessed to count Judy and Eric as friends.

Here is a message to us from Judy’s son, Andrew.

Mum had been ill with cancer for nearly thirteen years. It was clear earlier this summer that this had returned with a vengeance. Although she was well aware that her life was drawing to a close, she continued preaching until four weeks ago (receiving her certificate for 60 years’ service), and remained active in Perth Methodist Church and the local circuit.

Her health deteriorated significantly in the last month, and she was taken into hospital ten days ago. She was transferred to the Cornhill Macmillan hospice unit at Perth Hospital on Monday, and remained ‘Judy’ until Wednesday – she was very talkative, reminiscing as well as planning for what came next. However, by the middle of the week she was experiencing increasing discomfort, and with increased medication she was sedated during Thursday and Friday, and so it was with some relief that she slipped away.

We do not know about funeral arrangements at present – but if anyone does want more details or wishes to pass on messages, then please reply to me at this address: andrew.jarvis@live.co.uk.

Mum and Dad had a very happy eight years in Milton Keynes despite increasing ill health. I know they had many friends there, and I would be very grateful if you can pass on this message to all Judy’s friends.

Andrew Jarvis

We have just learnt that Judy’s funeral will be taking place this Monday (1 November 2021). There will be a cremation at 9.30 am and a service of thanksgiving at 11.00 am.

Advent Study Groups

This year the material we will be using is:
Unwrapping Advent: Celebrating the Wonder of Jesus’ Arrival Then and Now by Margaret Feinberg.

We are planning these possible groups, if we can have five or more people per group:

Monday	11.00 am	Spaces available
	7.00 pm	Spaces available
Tuesday	11.00 am	Spaces available
	7.00 pm	No spaces available
Wednesday	11.00 am	Spaces available
	7.00 pm	Spaces available
Thursday	11.00 am	Spaces available
	7.00 pm	No spaces available

If you would like to join any of these groups, please contact Mark Okor: phone: 01908 237777; mobile/WhatsApp: 07968 119690; email: admin@cornerstonemk.co.uk.

Deadline for registration: 15 November 2021.

Praying for COP26

This is the critical fortnight when the negotiations will be undertaken that will set the future direction of global climate change. This is the time when we should pray for a successful outcome with ambitious targets and commitments. Green Christian has prepared a useful prayer guide to help focus our prayers across the fortnight: https://greenchristian.org.uk/resources/prayer-guide/.

You may also be interested to look at an informative slide show that Green Christian has produced entitled ‘Why faith matter at COP26’: https://greenchristian.org.uk/why-faith-matters/.

Global Day of Action during COP26

The COP26 Coalition are organising decentralised mass mobilisations around the world. On 6 November 2021, join people around the world, marching through major cities, gathering in their local communities, and making their voices heard online, all raising their voices for climate justice. Find out how you can be part of this with information from Christian Aid: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved-campaigns/climate-change/cop26-mobilisation.

Harvest Gift

Final Prayer

May the word of God dwell in our hearts,
in our minds and in our actions, every day of our lives.
And let us pray for one another, saying together:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all, now, every day and evermore.

Amen

Hymn: For the healing of the nations

For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord,
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.

Lead us, Father, into freedom,
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.

All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life’s brief span.

You, Creator-God, have written
your great name on all mankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind;
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.

Fred Kaan (1929–2009)
CCL31580

Blessings

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
And the blessing of God almighty
the Father, the Son and the 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