Sunday, 18 October 2020

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings are laid out as for the continuous form of the lectionary. Alternative related readings (OT and psalm only) are below. Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading.

General

All my hope on God is founded (StF 455)
Heaven shall not wait (StF 701)
Pray for the Church, afflicted and oppressed (StF 711)
The God who sings (StF 714)

Exodus 33: 12-23

Father, I place into your hands (StF 519)
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty (StF 11)
Immortal, invisible, God only wise (StF 55)
May the glory of the Lord fill his temple (StF 31)
Rock of Ages, cleft for me (StF 434)
We cannot bear the full light of your glory (website only)

Psalm 99

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah (StF 465)
King of kings, majesty (StF 331)
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (StF 83)
Rejoice, the Lord is King! (StF 335)
The Lord is king (StF 821) (Psalm 99) responsive reading
Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim (StF 340)

1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10

A charge to keep I have (StF 658)
For all the saints who showed your love in how they lived (StF 746)
God beyond our dreams, you have stirred in us a memory (StF 496)
Have you heard God’s voice; has your heart been stirred? (StF 662)
Here am I, Lord (StF 552)
Now I have found the ground wherein sure my souls anchor may remain (StF 561)
O thou who camest from above (StF 564)
What shall we offer our good Lord (StF 671)

Matthew 22: 15-22

The Revd Andrew Murphy has included hymns "that remind us to 'Give to God what belongs to God' or that challenge us about our stewardship of money - for example Marjorie Dobson's "A rich young man . . .", which speaks of the wise use of money and of showing loving care with 'open-hearted giving'.

A rich young man came seeking (StF 243)
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow (StF 317)
God of justice, Saviour to all (StF 699)
Jesus, all for Jesus (StF 555)
Jesus calls us!  O'er the tumult (StF 250)
Lord, I lift your name on high (StF 332)
Lord, you have come to the seashore (StF 558)
Show me how to stand for justice (StF 713)
Teach me, my God and King (StF 668)
We have nothing to give that didn't first come from your hand (StF 670)
We turn to you, O God of every nation (StF 720)

Alternative related readings:

Isaiah 45: 1-7

Before the world began, one Word was there (StF 101)
Be still and know that I am God, and there is none beside me (StF 19)
Immortal, invisible, God only wise (StF 55)
O come, O come, Immanuel (StF 180)
O worship the King, all-glorious above (StF 113)
Praise to the God who clears the way (StF183)
The God who sings a new world into being shows the way (StF 714)

Psalm 96: 1-9 (10-13)

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

He’s got the whole world in his hand (StF 536)
O sing to the Lord (StF 42)
Our God is an awesome God (StF 62)
You shall go out with joy (StF 487)

The Revd Phillip Poyner writes:

Throughout the ages there are situations when faithful people have found themselves in irreconcilable conflict between obedience to government and obedience to God. We need to stand alongside the persecuted Church and protest when citizens’ rights are undermined, especially the poor.

Furthermore, Christians today are often tempted or pressured to “pay cash with no paperwork”, or in other ways deprive Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs of tax. Paper tax returns have to be submitted by the end of October, so the Gospel reading is topical at this time each year.

When read alongside Isaiah 45, we are reminded that God has often worked through political leaders whether Cyrus, or the Roman empire (which, despite its persecution of Christians, historians have also argued eased communication for the rapid spread of Christianity, e.g. to Thessalonica the fellowship to whom Paul wrote very early in his ministry.

If the Exodus reading is preferred, the following comments of Henry McKeating may be helpful: “[Moses] will not be allowed to see the face of God, but may look at his retreating back. Perhaps this is a parable of all human experience of God. . . Many of our encounters with God are recognised as such only in retrospect. . . so that we can trust that [God’s presence] will be there in what lies ahead.” Perhaps this offers reassurance to the persecuted or unjustly treated, and ourselves.