Led by: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Preacher: Krou Assoua, Licensed Lay Minister

Gathering Music

Welcome

This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it!

Gathering Prayer

Eternal God, source of all blessing, help us to worship you with all our heart and mind and strength;
for you alone are God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.

Amen

[Silence]

Welcome to the hospitality 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: The kingdom of God is justice and joy

The kingdom of God is justice and joy,
for Jesus restores what sin would destroy;
God’s power and glory in Jesus we know,
and here and hereafter the kingdom will grow.

The kingdom of God is mercy and grace,
the captives are freed, the sinners find space
the outcasts are welcomed God’s banquet to share,
and hope is awakened in place of despair.

The kingdom of God is challenge and choice,
believe the good news, repent and rejoice!
His love for us sinners brought Christ to his cross,
our crisis of judgement for gain or for loss.

God’s kingdom is come, the gift and the goal,
in Jesus begun, in heaven made whole;
the heirs of the kingdom shall answer his call,
and all things cry ‘Glory!’ to God all in all.

Bryn Rees (1911–1983)
CCL31580

Confession

For our foolishness and our thoughtless use of the gifts of your creation,
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

For our neglect of you, and our failure to care for others,
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

For our selfishness in prayer and our carelessness in worship,
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

[Silence]

Here is good news for all who put their trust in Christ. Jesus says:
‘Your sins are forgiven.’

Amen. Thanks be to God.

Prayer of the Week

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts;
for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength,
so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen

Ministry of the Word

Ephesians 2: 11–22

Read by Robin Kyd

Jew and Gentile Reconciled through Christ

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (which is done in the body by human hands) –¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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

Mark 7: 24–37

Read by Pat Kyd

Jesus Honours a Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith

²⁴ Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. ²⁵ In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. ²⁶ The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

²⁷ ‘First let the children eat all they want,’ he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’

²⁸ ‘Lord,’ she replied, ‘even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’

²⁹ Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’

³⁰ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man

³¹ Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. ³² There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

³³ After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spat and touched the man’s tongue. ³⁴ He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means ‘Be opened!’). ³⁵ At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

³⁶ Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. ³⁷ People were overwhelmed with amazement. ‘He has done everything well,’ they said. ‘He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’

NIV®

Meditation

By Krou Assoua, Licensed Lay Minister

The inclusive Body of Christ

• Faith
• Trust
• Forgiveness

Affirmation of Faith

Let us confess the faith of the Church.

We believe in God the Father:
who made the world.

We believe in Jesus Christ, his Son:
who redeemed humankind.

We believe in the Holy Spirit:
who gives life to the people of God.

Amen

Intercessions

Led by Adrian Boynton

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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Amen

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 Babies and Toddlers Group

Our new term begins this Monday (9 September 2024) and we have some fantastic new toys and equipment! We meet in term time from 10.00 am to 11:30 am, in the Guildhall, for a fun morning of play, activities, singing and snacks. £1:00 donation per family. No need to book; just drop in. Everyone is welcome and we look forward to meeting you!

Nerys Steeds

Revd George Mwaura

Revd George Mwaura is away this Sunday (8 September 2024). He will be back here at Cornerstone for  Holy Communion next Sunday (15 September 2024).

Consultation on Milton Keynes City Plan 2050

Milton Keynes City Council have started a consultation on the ‘MK City Plan 2050’: the plan for how the city will develop between now and 2050. It is really important and will determine the priorities for Milton Keynes for the next thirty years. The consultation is open now and closes at 5.00 pm on Wednesday, 9 October 2024.

The consultation documents are on the council website: www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/city-plan. Alternatively, copies of the response form, draft MK City Plan 2050, policies maps and Topic Papers are all available in the Central Library, as well as other public libraries across Milton Keynes (www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/libraries/library-info/library-hours). Alternatively, you can contact the council to make an appointment to view the documents in the Civic office.

There are also drop-in public exhibitions being held in different locations in MK where staff from MK City Council will be available to explain the draft plan and answer questions.

David and one or two other people are intending to go to the public exhibition at Margaret Powell House, MK9 3BN (just around the corner from Cornerstone) 2.00–8.00 pm this Friday (13 September 2024). They will also meet at Cornerstone between about 3:30 and 5.00 pm that afternoon to discuss the plans. Cheryl is planning to attend on 18th September at lunchtime at the Christian Centre in Oldbrook. If anyone would like to join her, please let her know and they could form a small group as well.

For more information please contact Cheryl or David.

Cheryl Montgomery chezmonty73@gmail.com
David Chapman dachapman9@gmail.com

Stall for Fairtrade Fortnight

3.00–5.30 pm Saturday, 14 September 2024 in Reception at Cornerstone

Come and find out about recent developments, browse, sample and buy from our range of Fairly traded treats and essentials:

Teas, coffees, cocoa, chocolate biscuits, jams, savouries. cleaning and toiletries (including eco-friendly large sizes and handwash refills).

Crafts and accessories.

Joy Chapman

Episcopal Visitation relating to
the ecumenical parish of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes

Bishop Simon’s Visitors (Commissaries) will be in Milton Keynes 23–27 September 2024 to meet church leaders, members of councils and committees, and members of Christ the Cornerstone. Personal submissions to the Visitation should be posted to ccmkvisitation@oxford.anglican.org two weeks before 23 September 2024. Requests to meet the Visitors should also be sent by the same date.

Volunteers’ Tea Party

4.30 pm on Wednesday, 25 September 2024 in the Worship Area

A tea party for Cornerstone volunteers takes place on Wednesday, 25 September 2024 in the Worship Area, starting at 4.30 pm. Volunteers are asked to RSVP to Marianne Cockburn (marianne.cockburn@cornerstoneevents.co.uk) or Simon Lowson (simon.lowson@cornerstoneevents.co.uk).

Wednesday Bible Study by Zoom

Start date: 7.00 pm Wednesday, 2 October 2024

Our next Wednesday Bible study will be on the Book of Revelation, beginning on Wednesday, 2 October 2024 at 7.00 pm. More information will be available later in September. If you have not yet joined these stimulating sessions and would like to join us, please send a request to robin_kyd@yahoo.co.uk to add your email address to the list of folk receiving the Zoom link.

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: Be thou my vision

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true Word;
be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;
be thou my soul’s shelter, be thou my high tower:
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise:
thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art!

High King of heaven, thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won;
great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

Irish (8th century)
tr. Mary Byrne (1880–1931)
versified Eleanor Hull (1860–1935)
CCL31580

Blessings

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