18 October - Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost – Year A

The Faith Action Programme would like to thank Rev Eleanor Hamilton, Minister, and Sarah McGrory, Community and Families Worker at Dumbarton Parish Church, for their thoughts on the 21^st Sunday after Pentecost.

Priority Areas Month

October 4-10 is Challenge Poverty Week and October 17 is the United Nations' International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Church of Scotland Priority Areas identify parishes with high concentrations of deprivation and provide support, networking and learning opportunities for congregations and communities. We would encourage you to explore ways in which your congregation can engage in anti-poverty issues at a local level.

Shoots of New Life

This month we are invited to look more closely for the shoots of new life emerging around us. Through the Season of Creation, Priority Areas and Challenge Poverty Week, we listen to people living and working in, and walking alongside, some of Scotland's most deprived communities – discovering their stories, challenges, resilience and hopes.

As the month progresses, we will ask where God is already at work: in creation, in our communities, around tables, in relationships and in the call to love our neighbours. Together, we will look for signs of hope, love, justice and possibility – the small but powerful shoots of new life already beginning to grow.

In these places, as in every place, God is present and active – through the love of Jesus, the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

So, where are you noticing shoots of new life – and how might you help them flourish?

Introduction

This week's readings all seem to circle around one simple question: what, or who, do we trust most? It's a question that feels just as relevant today as it did for Moses, Isaiah, Paul and Jesus. We all put our trust somewhere. Sometimes it's in money, sometimes in people, sometimes in our own abilities. These passages gently invite us to ask whether our confidence is really rooted in God.

Serving in a Priority Area means these aren't abstract questions. Many people are living with the daily reality of making difficult choices about heating, food, rent or debt. Worry about money isn't theoretical, it's personal. At the same time, poverty isn't only about a lack of money – it can also leave people feeling overlooked, labelled or defined by their circumstances.

We live in a culture that constantly encourages us to compare ourselves with others. Social media fills our screens with influencers, celebrities and carefully edited lives that seem more successful, attractive or comfortable than our own. When we measure ourselves against those images, it can be easy to feel that we don't have enough and, somehow, that we aren't enough. For those already living with scarcity, that pressure can be especially painful. Into that reality, these readings speak a very different message. Our worth isn't measured by our bank balance, our postcode, the things we own or the number of people who notice us. We bear God's image, and that changes everything.

As I spent time with the readings, I found myself drawn especially to Jesus' conversation about paying taxes. It's often read as a discussion about politics, but I think it's about something much deeper. Jesus asks whose image is on the coin. The answer is Caesar's, so it belongs to Caesar. But human beings bear God's image. We belong to God. Suddenly the conversation isn't really about coins at all. It's about worship, identity and loyalty. What do we rely on when life feels uncertain? What do we turn to when we're anxious? What quietly becomes the thing we trust most?

When I prepare worship, I usually begin by simply living with the passages for a few days before opening any commentaries. I read them slowly, noticing the words and themes that keep returning. This week it was trust, identity and the temptation to look for security somewhere other than God. Those themes felt particularly important in the context of Priority Areas ministry, where faith is lived out in communities that know both scarcity and extraordinary resilience. My hope is that these reflections encourage honest conversations, reminding us that while money has its place, it was never meant to become our master, and that even in seasons of uncertainty, God's presence remains our greatest security.

Exodus 33:12-23

Moses has reached the point where leadership feels heavy. The wilderness journey has been marked by complaint, disappointment and impatience. The people have grown frustrated with waiting, Moses has become worn down by carrying them, and even this conversation with God comes after the disaster of the golden calf. Yet, remarkably, Moses doesn't ask for an easier task. Instead he asks, "Show me your glory, I pray" (v.18).

That request stopped me in my tracks. Moses has already witnessed extraordinary things. He has seen the burning bush, the plagues in Egypt and the sea divided before the people. Yet none of that seems enough. He longs, not simply for God's help, but for God's presence.

Earlier in the chapter God promises, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (v.14). I found myself wondering whether we sometimes settle for wanting God's blessings more than God. We naturally pray for health, security, enough money to pay the bills or solutions to difficult situations, and those are good prayers. But Moses reminds us that the greatest gift God gives is Godself.

In communities where life often feels uncertain, this speaks with particular hope. Scarcity can easily lead us to believe that if only we had more resources everything would be well. Practical support matters deeply, but this passage reminds us that God's promise is first and foremost one of presence. God walks with God's people through the wilderness rather than around it.

The passage also leaves room for mystery. Moses cannot see God's face. There are limits to what he is allowed to understand. That feels reassuring. Faith has never depended on having every answer. More often it means trusting that God is already ahead of us, even when we cannot see the whole road.

As I reflected on this passage, I found myself asking: when life feels uncertain, what do I seek first? God's gifts, or God's presence? And how might our churches become communities where people encounter not only practical help but the living presence of God?

Psalm 99

Psalm 99 is full of the language of holiness. Three times we hear the refrain that the Lord is holy. At first, holiness can feel like a distant idea, suggesting a God who is far removed from ordinary life. Yet this psalm holds together two truths that belong together. God is utterly holy, and God is also present among the people.

I was particularly drawn to verse 4: "Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity." Holiness is not separated from justice. God's reign is seen not simply in power but in fairness, compassion and faithfulness. That feels significant when so many people experience inequality, exclusion or the sense that the system is stacked against them.

The psalm also remembers Moses, Aaron and Samuel, ordinary people who called on God and discovered that God answered them. They were far from perfect, but they remained people of prayer. That reminder encourages me. Faithfulness isn't reserved for heroes. It grows in ordinary lives that continue to seek God day by day.

The challenge the psalm left with me was this: If we worship a God who loves justice, how should that shape the life of the Church? Worship can never be disconnected from the way we treat our neighbours. The God we praise on Sunday is the God who calls us to reflect God's character throughout the week.

Isaiah 45:1-7

One of the surprises in Isaiah 45 is that God's chosen instrument is Cyrus, a Persian king who neither belongs to Israel nor shares Israel's faith. God even says, "I call you by your name, though you do not know me" (v.4).

That immediately challenged my assumptions. We often expect God to work through the obvious people: church leaders, committed Christians or established congregations. Yet Isaiah reminds us that God's activity cannot be confined to our expectations. God is already at work beyond the walls of the church.

In Priority Areas, I've often seen glimpses of this. Community workers, teachers, volunteers, recovery groups and neighbours quietly offer hope and dignity long before anyone speaks about faith. That doesn't diminish the Church's calling. Instead it reminds us to look for signs of God's kingdom in unexpected places and to join in with what God is already doing.

The repeated phrase, "I am the Lord, and there is no other" can sound uncompromising to modern ears, but I hear it as an invitation to trust. In a world where so many voices compete for our attention, God alone remains faithful. Political leaders come and go. Economic circumstances rise and fall. Public opinion shifts. God remains.

As I sat with this passage, I found myself asking where I expect to find God at work. Have I become so familiar with my own assumptions that I miss the surprising ways God is already moving within the community?

Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)

Psalm 96 is filled with joy. Again and again the Psalmist invites God's people to sing, proclaim and tell of God's glory among the nations. Worship is not presented as something private or confined to one place. Instead, it overflows into the whole world.

I was particularly drawn to the opening words: "Sing to the Lord a new song" (v.1). That invitation isn't simply about singing something unfamiliar. It's about responding afresh to what God is doing. Every generation has its own song because every generation discovers God's faithfulness in new ways.

The psalm also reminds us that worship and witness belong together. As we declare God's greatness, we are also invited to "tell of his salvation from day to day" (v.2). In Priority Areas, that often happens less through grand events and more through everyday acts of kindness, hospitality and faithful presence. Our lives become part of the song we sing.

The closing verses widen our perspective even further as the whole of creation rejoices before the Lord. It is a reminder that God's kingdom is far bigger than our own congregation or community. The God we worship is Lord of all, and our praise joins with the worship already rising from the whole earth.

As I reflected on this psalm, I found myself asking: does my life give people a reason to sing about God's goodness?

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul begins this letter with gratitude. Before offering any instruction or correction, he gives thanks for a church whose faith has become visible. What makes the Thessalonian Christians remarkable isn't their wealth, influence or size, rather Paul celebrates "your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope" (v.3).

Those three qualities stayed with me: faith, love and hope. They are wonderfully ordinary, yet they have transformed a whole community. Paul says their witness has become known throughout the region, not because they have impressive resources but because people can see the difference Christ has made in their lives.

That offers encouragement to churches serving communities where numbers may be small, and resources limited. It's easy to measure success by attendance, budgets or buildings. Paul measures something different. He notices lives that have been changed.

I found myself wondering what our own churches are known for. If people in our community described us, would they speak first about our buildings and activities, or about our hope, generosity and love?

Perhaps that is Paul's greatest challenge. The most powerful witness the Church offers has never been its wealth or influence, but lives that quietly point towards Jesus through everyday faithfulness.

Matthew 22:15-22

Jesus refuses to be trapped by the Pharisees' question. Rather than taking sides in a political debate, He asks for a coin and poses a question of His own: "Whose head is this, and whose title?" (v.20). The answer is obvious, but Jesus' response takes the conversation in an unexpected direction: "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's and to God the things that are God's" (v.21).

As I reflected on this passage, I found myself thinking less about taxation and more about identity. The coin bears Caesar's image, but Genesis reminds us that human beings bear God's image. The question isn't simply what belongs to Caesar, but who belongs to God.

That feels particularly relevant today. We live in a world where our identity is often shaped by what we own, what we earn or how others see us. Yet Jesus reminds us that our deepest identity is found not in possessions, status or success, but in the God whose image we bear. That truth speaks powerfully into communities where people can easily feel defined by their circumstances rather than by their God-given worth.

The question that stayed with me was simple: What shapes my identity most? Is it the values of the world around me, or the God whose image I carry?

Sermon ideas

As I reflected on these readings, I kept returning to one simple question: what do we really worship? That might sound like an odd question to ask in church, because most of us would instinctively answer, "God." Yet worship is often revealed not by what we say, but by what captures our hearts, shapes our decisions and gives us a sense of security. Sometimes it can be money or success. Sometimes it can be influence or status. Even within the Church, there are times when we become more passionate about preserving a building than pursuing God's mission, or place more confidence in finding the right minister than in following Christ. None of these things are wrong in themselves, but they become a problem when they quietly take the place that belongs to God alone.

The Gospel provides a natural starting point. Jesus is asked whether it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, but He refuses to be drawn into a political argument. Instead, He asks whose image is on the coin. "Caesar's," they reply. Jesus answers, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21).

The coin bears Caesar's image, but human beings bear God's image. Jesus shifts the conversation from money to identity. The real question is not what belongs to Caesar, but who belongs to God.

That question feels especially relevant today. We live in a culture that constantly tells us our worth is measured by what we earn, what we own or how successful we appear. Social media encourages endless comparison, leaving many people feeling they don't have enough or aren't enough. For those already living with financial pressure, those messages can be especially damaging.

Scripture never suggests that money doesn't matter. It does. The question is whether money becomes our source of security instead of God. The wilderness story in Exodus provides a helpful companion. The Israelites grew impatient while waiting for God and turned to something visible they could control. We may not build golden calves today, but we can still be tempted to place our confidence in wealth, possessions, status or political leaders rather than in God.

One possible way into this theme would be to invite people to reflect honestly: What do I turn to first when life feels uncertain? What do I believe will make me safe? Those questions create space for self-examination without becoming judgemental.

Another approach might be to share a testimony of God's provision. Such stories should never minimise the reality of poverty or suggest that faith removes hardship, but they can gently point towards God's faithfulness in difficult circumstances.

An interactive alternative would be to invite people to think about the "coins" they carry today. Not literally, but the things they value most. The week's readings remind us that our deepest identity, security and worth are found not in what we possess, but in the God whose image we bear.

Prayers

I like to begin with the Bible passage and the theme of the service, then think about what's happening in the world and in our local community. I often use the news to help shape the prayers so that worship connects with the things people have been thinking about and experiencing during the week.

I try to use simple, everyday language that everyone can understand and join in with. Most of the prayers use we and our so the whole congregation is praying together. When leading them, I'd leave a few moments of silence at different points to give people space to bring their own prayers to God, and, where appropriate, invite a simple response such as, "Lord, hear our prayer", to help everyone take part.

Call to worship
Lord, we have been on a journey –
This week past we have met people, been to places.
We pray that we have left the imprint of Your love with the people we met.
Refill us anew today with Your Holy Spirit as we worship You in this place.
We come together in Your name, Jesus. Amen

Confession
Lord Jesus, we meet with You in this community today.
We are sorry for the times when we have tried to go it alone
and ignored the people on the way who have needed a friend,
for not standing in solidarity with our neighbours,
for ignoring Your will for our lives and theirs.

Lord forgive us and heal us, help us to put things right.
Give us what we need this day and always
so that we can share Your love with others
and show them the way to Your peace and glory.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your divine wisdom.
When the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus, He answered with perfect grace and truth.
Lord, today, be in our hearts and our thinking
and as Jesus pointed out Caesar's image on the coin,
may we recognise that Your image is stamped upon our very souls.

May we meet people every day and pass on that love and reassurance to others.
Help us find ways of living faithfully in this world,
but never at the expense of our love for You.
May our ultimate devotion always be to You,
Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude
Heavenly Father, today we come before You with thankful hearts.
Thank You for the gift of life, for the breath in our lungs
and for the many blessings we so often take for granted.
Thank You for Your faithfulness that never fails,
for Your mercy that is new every morning
and for Your love that never lets us go.

Thank You for the people You have placed in our lives,
for family, friends, neighbours and strangers who remind us of Your goodness.
Thank You for the moments of joy that make us laugh,
for the challenges that help us grow
and for Your presence with us through every season.

Lord, help us to live with grateful hearts,
always ready to notice Your hand at work around us.
May our thankfulness be seen not only in our words
but in the way we love, serve and encourage others.
Help us never to lose sight of all that You have done for us through Jesus Christ,
and may our lives become an offering of praise to You.

We give You all the glory, honour and thanks,
today and always.
In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen.

Prayer for integrity in daily life
Lord God,
You know our hearts and are aware of our motives.
We pray that we may have the integrity of Jesus –
that we may not be swayed by flattery, malice, or the hypocrisy of this world.

We ask You today for the grace to walk upright and sincere before You
and all those around us.
Help us to be real and celebrate that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made
in Your image."

Guide our actions and our speech so that they reflect Your truth,
let our words be true and our actions pure.
Strengthen our resolve to give to the world what is required of us,
while freely offering all our hearts, minds, and soul to You,
in whose name we pray. Amen.

Prayer for our leaders and communities
Sovereign Lord, You, establish authorities and order in our lives.
Lord, we pray for our world leaders,
protect them from corruption and heal them.
Let them hear your voice as they make decisions.

Lord, we pray for peace in our world.

[You may want to name specific places and leave a moment's silence for people to form their own prayers]

We pray for our local and national leaders
grant them wisdom to govern with justice and fairness.

As we participate in our community,
help us to be beacons of Your love and an active peacemaker.
Teach us how to be patient and loving as You are Lord Jesus,
help us be a benefit to others in our communities
and to be held safe within Your hands.

Prayer for ourselves and our church
Life-giving God,
we pray for this church –
fill us afresh today with Your life-giving Spirit.
Help us trust You, to look to You and to worship You,
that we may be focused on You and not material things.

Speak to us Lord of hosts,
that we may know You with us in our daily walk,
that we may know the shelter of Your wings.

May Your Spirit fall upon us,
empowering us to act for justice, dignity and solidarity
in the communities that we are part of,
and for this word that we share.
Amen

Blessing
Peace perfect peace,
Lord, Youkeep us in perfect peace when our minds stay on You,
when we trust in You.
You give us all the strength and resilience we need
like a tree planted by water we need not fear when the heat comes.
We need not be anxious about anything –
So, may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
guard our hearts and our minds, this day and always.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Musical suggestions

God Welcomes All (GWA) is the new supplement to Church Hymnary Fourth Edition. This exciting new collection features over 200 hymns and songs in a wide range of styles by writers from Scotland and around the world.

The full music and words-only versions are now available; and digital resources, including the expansion of the existing Church of Scotland music website, will be published in due course, with streaming functions and further information on each song; backing tracks; and lyric videos. God Welcomes All is available to order from https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9781786225573/god-welcomes-all

Our online music resource is on the Church of Scotland website; you can listen to samples of every song in the Church Hymnary 4th edition (CH4) and download a selection of recordings for use in worship. You will also find playlists for this week and liturgical seasons and themes on the Weekly Worship and Inspire Me tabs.

You can find further musical suggestions for this week in a range of styles on the Songs for Sunday blog from Trinity College Glasgow.

God Welcomes All

• GWA 117 – "How can we worship Caesar's cross" – refers to the Gospel passage.
• GWA 148 – "I will sing a song of love" – A song that responds to God's steadfast love with joyful praise. It echoes the call of Psalm 96 to "sing to the Lord a new song" and reminds us that worship begins with God's love for us.
• GWA 155 – "Let all creation sing before the Lord" – Draws directly on the language and imagery of Psalm 96, inviting the whole of creation to join in praising God. A fitting opening or closing hymn celebrating God's reign over all the earth.
• GWA 205 – "Sing to God from every city" – Celebrates God's people worshipping from every place and every community. It resonates particularly well with the Priority Areas context, reminding us that God's praise rises from every neighbourhood, regardless of wealth or circumstance, and reflecting Isaiah's vision of God's kingdom reaching beyond every boundary.

CH4

• CH4 111 – "Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!" – A classic hymn of praise reflecting the holiness and majesty of God, echoing Psalm 99's repeated refrain, "Holy is he."
• CH4 128 – "How shall I sing that majesty" – A thoughtful hymn that celebrates the greatness of God, complementing both Psalm 99 and Isaiah 45 as they proclaim God's sovereignty.
• CH4 132 – "Immortal, invisible, God only wise" – Affirms God's eternal rule and wisdom, picking up Isaiah's declaration, "I am the Lord, and there is no other."
• CH4 133 – "Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud" – Explores the many ways God reveals God's character, inviting worshippers to reflect on the God who cannot be confined to one image or description.
• CH4 134 – "Bring many names" – Celebrates the richness of God's character and reminds us that no single image can fully describe the God who calls us into relationship.
• CH4 154 – "O Lord my God!" (How great thou art) – A joyful hymn of praise that responds to God's greatness and creative power, particularly appropriate alongside Isaiah 45.
• CH4 204 – "I am the Church! You are the Church!" – Reminds us that our identity is found not in buildings but in being God's people, reflecting Paul's encouragement to the church in Thessalonica.
• CH4 254 – "O God, we bear the imprint of your face" – Perhaps the strongest hymn for Matthew 22, exploring what it means to bear God's image and therefore belong to God.
• CH4 356 – "Meekness and majesty" – Explores the paradox of Christ's humble kingship, offering a different perspective on power and authority.
• CH4 437 – "He is exalted" – A simple chorus celebrating God's reign and holiness, making a natural response to Psalm 99.
• CH4 457 – "All hail the power of Jesus' name" – Declares Christ's lordship over every earthly authority, resonating with Jesus' teaching about ultimate allegiance.
• CH4 458 – "At the name of Jesus" – Celebrates the name above every name, reminding us that our loyalty belongs first to Christ.
• CH4 558 – "Lord, I lift your name on high" – A joyful response of praise celebrating God's saving work and calling us to wholehearted worship.
• CH4 742 – "Rejoice in God's saints" – Links naturally with 1 Thessalonians as Paul gives thanks for a community whose faith is lived out in everyday life.
• CH4 748 – "As stars adorn the night-veiled sky" – Celebrates faithful disciples whose lives shine with God's light, echoing Paul's gratitude for the witness of the Thessalonian church.

Mission Praise

• MP 447 – "Lord, you are more precious than silver" – A gentle reflection on where we place true value, fitting naturally with Matthew 22 and the question of what we treasure most.
• MP 454 – "Majesty" – An expression of awe before the risen and reigning Christ, reminding us that worship belongs to God alone.
• MP 1036 – "Blessed be your name" – A powerful response to the theme of trust, declaring God's faithfulness in times of both abundance and hardship.
• MP 1267 – "Come, people of the risen King" – Celebrates the joy of belonging to Christ and encourages God's people to worship together with thankful hearts.
• MP 1385 – "Your Name" – Focuses on the greatness and power of God's name above every other name.

Reflecting on our worship practice

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the way we worship has changed and we need to reflect on the changing or newly established patterns that emerged and continue to emerge as a result of the disruption.

We can facilitate worship for all by exploring imaginative approaches to inclusion, participation and our use of technologies in ways that suit our contexts. This is not an exhaustive list, but some things we could consider are:

• Framing various parts of the worship service in accessible language to help worshippers understand the character and purpose of each part. This is essential for creating worship for all (intergenerational worship) that reflects your community of faith.
• Holding spaces for reflection and encouraging prayer to be articulated in verbal and non-verbal ways, individually and in online breakout rooms.
• In online formats the effective use of the chat function and microphone settings encourages active participation in prayer, e.g. saying the Lord's Prayer together unmuted, in a moment of ‘holy chaos'.
• While singing in our congregations is still restricted, we can worship corporately by using antiphonal psalm readings, creeds and participative prayers.
• Using music and the arts as part of the worship encourages the use of imagination in place of sung or spoken words.
• Use of silence, sensory and kinaesthetic practices allow for experience and expression beyond regular audio and visual mediums.

The following questions might help you develop a habit of reflecting on how we create and deliver content and its effectiveness and impact, and then applying what we learn to develop our practice.

• How inclusive was the worship?
  Could the worship delivery and content be described as worship for all/ intergenerational?
  Was it sensitive to different "Spiritual Styles"?
• How was the balance between passive and active participation?
• How were people empowered to connect with or encounter God?
  What helped this?
  What hindered this?
• How cohesive was the worship?
  Did it function well as a whole?
  How effective was each of the individual elements in fulfilling its purpose?
• How balanced was the worship?
  What themes/topics/doctrines/areas of Christian life were included?
• How did the worship connect with your context/contemporary issues?
  Was it relevant in the everyday lives of those attending and in the wider parish/ community?
  How well did the worship connect with local and national issues?
  How well did the worship connect with world events/issues?
• What have I learned that can help me next time I plan and deliver worship?

Useful links

You can listen to samples of every song in the Church Hymnary 4th edition (CH4) and download a selection of recordings for use in worship in our online hymnary.

You are free to download, project, print and circulate multiple copies of any of this material for use in worship services, bible studies, parish magazines, etc., but reproduction for commercial purposes is not permitted.

Please note that the views expressed in these materials are those of the individual writer and not necessarily the official view of the Church of Scotland, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly.