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October 18, 2026: Twenty-first after Pentecost

Rev Brian Goodings

Sunday, October 18, 2026

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October 18, 2026

Twenty-first after Pentecost

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings
Director of Music: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Reader: Heather Dickson

Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics.
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.

Scripture for meditation
Render therefore unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and unto God the things that are God’s.
(Matthew 22:21 King James Version)

We Gather

PRELUDE: Some Favourite Hymns – C. Burton

A Stewardship Second
Remember that people of faith have been the key to some of the most incredible changes in our society. How does your faith call you to be a changemaker?

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE

RESPONSE: VU #278 “In the Quiet Curve of Evening” (v.1)
In the quiet curve of evening,
in the sinking of the days,
in the silky void of darkness, you are there.
In the lapses of my breathing,
in the space between my ways,
in the crater carved by sadness, you are there.
You are there, you are there, you are there.

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFER SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTof the LAND
Grace United Church is committed to a living faith of love and justice. We celebrate diversity in all forms. We welcome everyone and affirm our welcome to people of all gender identities and sexual preferences.
In gratitude and respect, The United Church of Canada gathers, worships, and works on Indigenous lands across Canada.

CALL to WORSHIP (adapted from Oscar Romero)
O God we prefer a church that doesn’t provoke any crisis
A Gospel that is “nice” and doesn’t unsettle
A Word from you that doesn’t upset the status quo
Your blindness that overlooks our sins
A faith of our own convenience and making.
But your gospel blazes the world we inhabit
Christ is courageous and proclaims “Good News” even when we don’t really want to hear it.
How else could we find Your Way that leads us from meaninglessness to true life in you?

*OPENING HYMN: MV #127” I Saw the Rich Ones”
1. I saw the rich ones I saw what they gave
the widow who offered two pennies she’d saved
and I saw she was smiling I knew she was glad
and I wondered because she gave all that she had
Refrain:
But with God the world is turned upside down
the poor are embraced and the lost they are found
Let’s work for a world where all people are free
where it’s good to feel good about God
loving you and me.

2. I saw Zacheus, a sinner they said
but to his house I saw Jesus go to break bread
and I knew something special had happened that day
when Zacheus gave half of his riches away
Refrain:
But with God the world is turned upside down
the poor are embraced and the lost they are found
Let’s work for a world where all people are free
where it’s good to feel good about God
loving you and me.

3. The men in the vineyards were grumbling one day
I knew they weren’t happy with what they’d been paid
for the ones who came later were paid just the same
as the workers who greeted the dawn when they came
Refrain:
But with God the world is turned upside down
the poor are embraced and the lost they are found
Let’s work for a world where all people are free
where it’s good to feel good about God
loving you and me.

Lighting the Children’s Lantern

Theme Conversation: Prosperity Gospel

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Epistle 1^st Thessalonians 1: 1-10 (Faith and example)
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantlyremembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you,because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy from the Holy Spirit,so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it.For they report about us what kind of welcome we had among you and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true Godand to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Gospel Matthew 22:15-22 (taxes)
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said.So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality.Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?”They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away.

RESPONSE: VU #299 “Teach Me, God, to Wonder” (v.1)
Teach me, God, to wonder, teach me, God, to see;
let your world of beauty capture me.
Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,
life be celebrated, joy you give.

CHOIR ANTHEM: Sing a New Song - S. Pethel

SERMON: “Cash for Life” Rev. Brian Goodings

PASTORAL & LORD’S PRAYER: (VU #914)

*HYMN: VU #218 “We Praise You, O God”
1. We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
in grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
we bless your holy name, glad praises we sing.

2. We worship you, God of our mothers and fathers,
through trial and tempest, companion and guide.
When perils o’ertake us, you will not forsake us,
but faithful to your promise, you walk by our side.

3. With voices united our praises we offer
and gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise.
Our sins now confessing, we pray for your blessing,
to you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
What you say to God matters. How you share your faith matters. What you give in response to God’s generosity matters—not just to you, not just to those who receive your gifts, but to God. God longs for us to be generous, as a sign of our love for God, for neighbour, and for all creation. Let us give like it matters.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Generous God, we give our gifts with all the faith that we possess. This is what we believe: that you provide, that you redeem, that you care. May our gifts be used to share this good news with the world. Amen.

Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Donate”
or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca
or phone: 519-599-2438 to arrange a cheque pick-up, or an e-transfer.
Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
or Offering Plate at the back of the sanctuary.

Tap your debit card at the door of the church, or Donate to Grace United Church Thornbury through CanadaHelps.org. Our account is set up with them now and it is easy to register. Tax receipts are given automatically at the time of giving. Care, Prayer, Share

DEDICATION HYMN: MV #191 “What Can I Do?” (2x)
What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*Hymn: VU #242 “Let All Things Now Living”
1. Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
to God our Creator triumphantly raise;
who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
by guiding us on to the end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us, pure light goes before us,
a pillar of fire shining forth in the night;
till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,
as forward we travel from light into Light.

2. By law God enforces, the stars in their courses
and sun in its orbit obediently shine;
the hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
the depths of the ocean proclaim God divine.
We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
with glad adoration a song let us raise:
till all things now living unite in thanksgiving,
to God in the highest, hosanna and praise.

*COMMISSIONING

*Benediction: “Go Now In Peace”
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day,
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true,
Know God will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there, *within, around, above.
Go now in peace, in faith and in love.
Amen, amen, amen.
*alternate words: watching from above