Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
How sweet are your words to my taste! they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Ordinary 29, 19th Oct 2025
Welcome sisters and brothers and peace be with you. MAY the words on my lips and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>
The musical introduction to my message this week is the opening of a 1986 song called “Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel. It is a deeply emotional and powerful song about hope, perseverance, and the human spirit’s ability to endure hardships. The song reflects the struggle of facing despair while being reassured by someone offering support and encouragement. Its poignant message resonates with the theme of the gospel today, Luke 18:1-8.<PAUSE>
Throughout the world, good people struggle to survive another day with inadequate food, clothing, shelter, water, medicine, or work. I used to know a man who fought, viciously, everyday with his need to drink; a woman who lived in fear of her husband’s violence; parents who have the overwhelming grief that followed the death of their child.
These are just some of the ‘unjust judges’ in life today. <PAUSE>
The unjust judge we hear about in Luke chapter 18 verses 1 to 8 wears many disguises in the world around us: prejudice, hatred, fear, the disease that won’t be healed, economic systems, death, grief, addiction. Regardless of the disguise the unjust judge neither fears God nor loves and respects people.
When we stand before one of these ‘unjust judges’, life can seem to be a massive burden, way too powerful, and totally overwhelming.
Like the widow in Jesus’ parable, all that we can do is lean on Jesus, day after day, and cry out in prayer.
That is the widow’s story in today’s parable, in today’s world, sometimes even in our own lives. Standing before an unjust judge in whatever disguise the judge comes. <PAUSE>
So what do we do when we have or see an unjust judge in our lives or the lives of others?
Some will get angry and fight back becoming as hardened and unjust as the judge himself. Some will give up and believe what the unjust judge says\does, believing that is the final reality of life and it will never get better.
Others will blame and accuse God of being the unjust judge and\or not removing him.
There are a few, however, who will discover and trust the widow’s faith.
“Pray always and do not lose heart,” Jesus says. That is the widow’s faith. Day after day she KEEPS SHOWING UP. Day after day she speaks of the injustice done to her. Day after day, IN PRAYER, she holds her pain before the judge, the world, and God.
To pray does not mean giving God a “to do” list and then sitting back expecting God to magically fix everything. To pray always means that we offer our cry to God and then we do whatever we can to bring about the change we seek trusting that God is already doing what God needs to do.
On a personal level - maybe that means we seek counselling or a support group. We feed the hungry. We offer compassion to the grieving. We speak and teach against hatred and prejudice. We strive for justice and peace. We make our case not just before God but WITH God.
We join God in answering our prayers.
Today, in this parable, Jesus teaches us that prayer is NOT about convincing God to do what we ask. That is NOT what it means to persevere in prayer.
God is nothing like the unjust judge. God sees our suffering. God hears our cries … “and will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night?” <PAUSE> … but when?
The widow’s faith always involves waiting. How long? When will it change? I don’t know. But I do know that waiting does not mean God is absent. Waiting does not mean God is uncaring. The widow does not wait on God, she waits with God.
To pray always is what keeps her from losing heart. It keeps her SHOWING UP day after day trusting that God sees her, hears her, and acts with her.
TO KEEP SHOWING UP, to pray always is what keeps us, in thought, word, and deed, present and in relationship with God so that when God does act, IN HIS TIME, we will be there. We keep “SHOWING UP”. I wonder how much of God’s life, love, compassion, forgiveness, healing we have missed on those days when we didn’t show up.
To KEEP SHOWING UP, to pray always is what insures we are present so that when the Son of Man comes he will find faith on earth. He will find us, the widows of the world who refused to let the unjust judge in our lives, and in the lives of others, have the final say.
So go live like the widows God knows you to be … KEEP SHOWING UP! KEEP PRAYING! NEVER GIVE UP! BELIEVE! BE POSITIVE! HAVE FAITH … AND YOU WILL RECEIVE GOD’S PROVISION.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Hidden and mysterious God, we seek You in our darkness and our unknowing, so come to us with tender love as we raise before you our prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.
(LONGER pause for silent, personal reflection)
Father God, as faith community leaders spend time in prayer and preparation, fill them with divine inspiration and revelation, so that when they speak, it will be Your word which comes in power to challenge, convict and empower. As they plan for the future, let them be led by you.
(Short Silence) Lord, hear our prayer : and let our cry come to you
Mighty God, we pray for all who carry civic and political responsibilities throughout the world. Help the leaders of the nations put aside all selfish ambition as they seek to be the instruments of Your will for humanity and carry out Your desire for the welfare of all people which will culminate in glory to You and in happier human lives.
(Short Silence) Lord, hear our prayer : and let our cry come to you
Compassionate God, Your love for humanity was revealed in Jesus, whose earthly life began in the poverty of a stable and ended in the pain and isolation of the cross.
We hold before you those who are homeless and driven to beg and sleep outside on the street. Draw near and comfort them in spirit and bless all those individuals and organisations who work to provide for them.
(Short Silence) Lord, hear our prayer : and let our cry come to you
Living God, where there is sickness turn weakness into strength, suffering into compassion, sorrow into joy, and pain into comfort.
Help all who suffer in the presence of ‘unjust judges’ to trust in Your goodness and hope in Your faithfulness, even in the middle of their suffering. Let them be filled with patience and joy in Your presence as they wait for Your healing touch.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China, in Germany, in the Czech Republic, in Syria and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
In Your goodness and mercy, grant them health of body, soundness of mind and peace of heart.
We thank You for those who have come through illness and are on the road to recovery and also for those facing the reality that there is little light at the end of their earthly tunnel.
(Short Silence) Lord, hear our prayer : and let our cry come to you
Everlasting God, we remember all those who have gone before, walked the same path that we tread, and, by their example, encouragement, wise words and teaching led others into your Kingdom and so we offer our grateful thanks for lives well and faithfully lived.
May Your light shine on them for ever and our lives be richer because of their memory.
We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed sister Lydia (Venezuela) and our brother Hank (USA).
May all the faithful departed now rest in peace as they most surely have risen in glory.
(Short Silence) Lord, hear our prayer : and let our cry come unto you
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, hear our prayer : and let our cry come to you
Faithful God, Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Thank You that we can live in Your light and walk in Your truth. May the things that You have revealed and thoughts that we have shared dwell in our hearts and stir us to action.
(Short Silence) Lord, hear our prayer : and let our cry come to you
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
