Page 31 - FSB 2020 God's Church for God's World

A minister reassures us of our calling
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:
‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner’, and ‘A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.’
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
Anthem or Hymn
Anthems
O Holy City, seen of John – Herbert Howells (page 22) or
Christ is our corner-stone – David Ogden (page 25)
or
In the city of the Lord – John Harper (page 31)
or
Hymns
My hope is built on nothing less (Cornerstone) (page 41) or
Christ is our corner-stone (page 46)
Prayers of Penitence 21
1 Peter 2.4-10