Service of the Word, Sunday 28 February 2021
This Service is conducted by Zoom.
Full details on how to access the Zoom Service can be found here.
A recording of the service is now available:
Led by: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Preacher: Revd George Mwaura
Introit – Harpsichord prelude in C, J.S.Bach
Welcome
Prayer of the Week
God who calls us on our journey, as we remember Jesus’ time in the wilderness,
help us to cast aside those things that get in the way of hearing your word.
Help us to seek you in the places of bounteous beauty and of barren bleakness.
Help us to seek you in the faces of friends and in the smiles of strangers.
Help our devotion to be made real in the actions of our lives.
When we have looked deep into our own hearts and struggled with who we are,
send angels to minister to us and draw us out from our own wilderness
to fulfil our calling to serve you.In Christ’s name.
Amen.
Hymn: Take up thy Cross, the Saviour said
Take up thy cross, the Saviour said,
if thou wouldst my disciple be;
deny thyself, the world forsake,
and humbly follow after me.
Take up thy cross: let not its weight
fill thy weak spirit with alarm;
his strength shall bear thy spirit up,
and brace thy heart, and nerve thy arm.
Take up thy cross, nor heed the shame,
nor let thy foolish pride rebel:
the Lord for thee the cross endured,
to save thy soul from death and hell.
Take up thy cross then in his strength,
and calmly every danger brave;
’twill guide thee to a better home,
and lead to victory o’er the grave.
Take up thy cross, and follow Christ,
nor think till death to lay it down;
for only they who bear the cross
may hope to wear the glorious crown.
To thee, great Lord, the One in Three,
all praise for evermore ascend:
O grant us in our home to see
the heavenly life that knows no end.
C.W. Everest (1814–1877)
CCL31580
Gathering Prayer
Wanderers, gatherers, homemakers, travellers:
we come to God.
Questioners, adventurers, believers, doubters:
we come to God.
Workers, menders, seekers, dreamers:
we come to God.
We have come from all the corners of the earth.
We come to the house of God.
Let us pray.
As we journey through this season of Lent,
we pray that you will speak to us
in our hearts and in our minds
and show us how to live a life full of your grace and love.
Pour out your Spirit upon us.
We ask it in the name of Jesus.
Amen
The Confession
Loving God,
we remember in this season of Lent
the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness,
the pressures he faced,
the choices he had to make,
the evil he has to resist,
the path he chose.
We remember that though he was tempted as we are he did not give way;
though he could have use his powers for his own ends,
he used them instead for us;
though he could have taken the easy way,
he took the hard.
Loving God,
Forgive us that our testimony is all too often so different.
We have failed you in so much,
refusing to take up our cross
and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
We have not obeyed your commandments,
or love as you have loved us,
or in any way lived faithfully as your people.
We have been narrow in our vision,
weak in our commitment,
careless in our worship,
self-centred in our attitudes,
repeatedly preferring our way to yours
and wandering far from you.
Kyrie
Absolution
Loving God,
have mercy upon us.
Renew us in heart and mind and spirit,
strengthen our wills and deepen our faith,
and send us out once more as your people,
forgiven and restored,
to live and work for you.
In the name of Christ.
Amen
Bible readings
Psalm 22: 23–24
Read by Chibby Chima-Okoro
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honour him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
NIV®
Mark 9: 2–9
Read by Catherine Brew
The transfiguration
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
NIV®
Meditation
By Revd George Mwaura
Musical response: Reflections on Amazing Grace
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
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.
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
The Peace
Jesus says:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Notices
Offering
Thank you
to everyone who has continued giving through our regular schemes during these past months.
Your generosity has been amazing and much appreciated.
We couldn’t have carried on without you.
We have various ways in which you can continue to give your offering in support of the Church.
For details please contact the Stewardship Secretary, Janet Trimnell, at steward.cccmk@gmail.com
For full details are also available on our website at: www.cornerstonemk.co.uk/giving.
Final Prayer
Lord, grant us simplicity of faith
and a generosity of service
that gives without counting cost,
a life overflowing with Grace
poured out from the One
who gave everything
that we might show
the power of love
to a broken world
and share the truth
from a living Word.
Lord, grant us simplicity of faith
and a yearning to share it.
Amen
Hymn: I, the Lord of sea and sky
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them,
they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied,
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
Dan Schutte (b. 1947)
CCL31580
The Blessing
Beloved God,
go with us in our journey of Lent,
revive us when we grow weary,
direct us when we go astray,
inspire us when we turn back.
Keep us traveling ever-onwards,
a pilgrim people,
looking to Jesus Christ,
who has run the race before us,
and who waits to welcome us home.
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 God.
Amen
The following musical items, which could not be included in the Service, are available here:
Christ whose glory fills the skies
Written by Charles Wesley, set to the melody RATISBON attributed to Johannn Gottlob Werner.
Here I am Lord
“I the lord of sea and sky”. Composed by Dan Schutte. Performed by the Choir of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes, with Abigail Burrows (flute) and Adrian Boynton (piano).
Choral reflection – The life I now live is not my life
Words based on Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:26-27. Composed by Adrian Boynton.
Postlude – Fugue from Sonata no 6 in D minor
From opus 65 six Organ Sonatas composed by Felix Mendelssohn.
