Pew Sheet, Sunday the 5th of October 2025. The 16th Sunday after Trinity

Each of today’s readings is a call to remain constant in our faith no matter how fearful, difficult, or tempting the world, or our individual circumstances may seem. In the Psalm, David encourages his listeners not to fret or worry about the actions of those who do evil, reminding them that they too will wither away and fade as the grass one day along with their evil deeds. Paul too, urges his protégé Timothy in a last letter written from his prison cell in Rome shortly before being martyred on the orders of the Emperor Nero (circa AD 67), to keep the flame of faith alive. In doing so, he reminds Timothy of the faith which his mother and grandmother had shared with him, of which he, Timothy, was now the torch bearer; not only on their behalf, but of Paul as well who, by ceremonially laying hands upon Timothy’s head before their separation, had passed on the role of making the Gospel known to Timothy, no matter how difficult or dangerous a task that might be.

Timothy doubtless felt entirely unworthy of the task bequeathed to him by Paul, but Paul reminds him that he does not do this in his own strength, but in the strength of the Holy Spirit, who will give him the courage (power), love, and discipline to do just that, no matter what trials he may face in doing so. I have no doubt that at times, Timothy would have had to ask God to increase his faith in the face of danger and opposition, just as Jesus’ disciples did in today’s Gospel reading, so that he may ‘guard the good deposit’ – or treasure – which had been entrusted to him, enduring hardship, and remembering that he stands in a long line of believers (his mother and grandmother included), whose faith he now guarded and was responsible for spreading within and beyond the small Christian community he was serving.

Who among us has not prayed that same prayer or variations of it: ‘Lord, give me more faith’, ‘Make my faith stronger’, or ‘Help me to overcome by doubts’ at some time or other? If we have not done so, then perhaps our faith is not as precious to us as we first thought, so that we have a ‘take it or leave it’ approach to our Christian discipleship – unless of course, our faith is stronger even than the faith of Christ’s apostles who knew him intimately, which I doubt very much to be the case for any of us.

The measure of faith, however, is not how much we have, but who or what we place our faith in. Jesus’ answer to his disciples, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed...’ shows us that it is not the size of our faith but its object which matters. The Psalmist reminds his listeners to, ‘Trust in the Lord... Delight yourself in the Lord... Commit your way to the Lord... Be still before the Lord,’ as the means by which they could overcome their own fretfulness or worry, and Paul tells Timothy to, ‘rekindle’ - or fan - the gift of God which is faith itself, so that he would not succumb to those who would oppose him or the Gospel message. Jesus reminds his disciples that even the smallest amount of faith, when entrusted into the powerful hands of God can do mighty things, so that it is our obedience, as good and faithful servants who labour out of a healthy sense of duty rather than for reward which matters more than anything, for we are all called to be faithful in the small things in life and trust God for their outcome, rather than be showy extroverts who are boastful about their achievements or indeed, how much faith we have!

When the disciples asked Jesus to give them a showier and more powerful expression of their faith – albeit perhaps for good reason, Jesus pointed them instead towards their duty of obedient service based on a quiet trust in God’s character, which is faithful, active, and patient, rather than something loud and showy, since a faith borne out of quiet trust is likely to be more resilient and enduring than that which burns too brightly, and might consequently burn out too quickly. This is the faith which can overcome any adversity and can stand even in the presence of the wicked, for it is built on hope, trust, endurance, and Godly humility, rather than our own strength or ability. Let us then, be like that good servant, simply doing what our master has called us and expects us to do. To be faithful and to trust in Him. Don’t worry about being ‘spectacular’ but be obedient and faithful in the small things, for that is usually all that God asks of us.

Collect

Lord of creation, whose glory is around and within us, open our eyes to your wonders, that we may serve you with reverence, and know your peace at our lives’ end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Psalm 37:1-9

Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers,
for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. Refrain from anger and forsake wrath. Do not fret, it leads only to evil.
For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy, my beloved child.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did, when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day the deposit I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”^, and the Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of amustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me; put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’?

Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”

Post Communion Prayer

Almighty God,
you have taught us through your Son that love is the fulfilment of the law. Grant that we may love you with our whole heart, and our neighbours as ourselves, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday (William Tyndale, Bible Translator and Reformation Martyr, 1536)

Bell ringing at 7.30pm in St Laurence. Contact Jan on 07835 461361.

Tuesday

Zoom Morning Prayer at 9am. Meeting ID: 539 3978774 Password: TuaR0T or contact Sue on [email protected] (The 0 in R0T is a zero not an ‘O’)

Evening Home Groups, contact Jo on 07803 942 687.

Wednesday

Morning Coffee from 10.00 am in the St Laurence Rooms/Great Horwood Village Hall followed by Midweek Holy Communion at 12 noon in St Laurence’s.

Thursday (Robert Grossteste, Bishop of Lincoln, Philosopher and Scientist, 1253)

Daytime Home Group, contact Jo on 07803 942 687.

Friday (Paulinus, Bishop of York, Missionary, 644)

Junior Choir, 6.30pm in St Laurence, followed by full Choir Practice at 7.30pm.

Pastoral Care: Email: [email protected] or call 07305 271 148.

Desperately needed: one or two people who can spare a couple of hours each month helping to deliver Winslow Parish News to subscriber’s homes – and someone willing to act on our behalf as a Governor at Winslow CofE School.