Looking into the lectionary - The Presbyterian pastor who won Jeopardy!

Matthew 22:34-46 22nd Sunday after Pentecost 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 25, 2026 We recently celebrated Pride here in the “Friendly City” of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Our congregation joined with others for the second annual ecumenical worship service the evening before Pride. This year, we had company. Standing on public sidewalks with big signs and a video camera, protestors were stationed close enough to church entrances to shout at participants. One protester asked a worship leader if he had read Leviticus 20:13. The leader, referencing Leviticus 19:19, responded by asking about the material of the protester’s clothing. For Leviticus 19:19 instructs: “You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your animals breed with a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; nor shall you put on a garment made of two different materials.” He told me, “I hope my brakes still work after the service!” That’s a frustrating thing about Leviticus in particular. Some of the laws are easy for us to embrace and promote. Justice is evergreen. Others we quickly brush aside. I’m comfortable in my cotton-blend shirt, petting my mixed-breed rescue dog, and I have no idea what is growing in my yard, but I guarantee there are more than two kinds of seed. How, then, shall we live? Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is generally accepted as the earliest New Testament writing in our canon. It is full of assurances of Paul’s love for that early church community, and his prayers that the people will be strengthened in love to love more completely. That love will lead the church to be blameless before God. Paul then goes on to encourage the Thessalonians to do even better in how they’re living and pleasing God — and by the way, here are a few more guidelines, while we’re at it. ... Thank you to this week's writer, Stephanie Sorge. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for October 18, 2026? You can find them here. We've got daily Advent devotionals and a long list of holiday liturgies to make your worship planning easier!

Order of worship — October 25, 2026, by Stephanie Sorge Harmful theology hiding in plain sight by Teri McDowell Ott Who is the Presbyterian pastor who won on ‘Jeopardy!’? by Rich Copley The Communion Table can be a place of healing by Julia Burkley

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... The church needs to meet young adults at their table Maggie Alsup learns from students that ministry with young adults begins not with perfect programs or invitations, but with consistent presence at the tables where they already gather. Here’s what to know about Pete Hegseth’s new Office of Religious Affairs A memo announcing the establishment of the Office of Religious Affairs said it would ‘oversee research, technology, and analytical tools to support and assess spiritual fitness, spiritual readiness, and spiritual resilience’ of soldiers. — Yonat Shimron and Jack Jenkins World Communion Offering empowers ministries of reconciliation in action Three stories illustrate the far-reaching impact of the PC(USA)’s newest Special Offering. — Emily Enders Odom Columbia launches redesigned MDiv program for fall 2027 The redesigned curriculum reduces the degree requirement from 90 to 77 credit hours while creating a more intentional, integrated learning experience. Board of Pensions launches resources and support for Post-Retirement Medical Plan transition Engagement opportunities are being offered over the next few weeks. — BOP What young adults are teaching the church about belonging Campus minister Mathew Frease has watched students build community across differences. What he’s seen challenges churches to rethink how people become seen, known and loved. Advent planning doesn’t have to mean sorting through dozens of books and resources on your own. In this recorded webinar, Amy Pagliarella offers ideas for churches, small groups and individuals.

Copyright © 2026 Presbyterian Outlook, All rights reserved.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for October 11, 2026

Revised Common Lectionary Readings (Three-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, October 11, 2026

First Reading Exodus 32:1-14 1When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2Aaron said to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a festival to the LORD.” 6They rose early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel. 7The LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; 8they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” 9The LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. 10Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.” 11But Moses implored the LORD his God, and said, “O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. 13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14And the LORD changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people. Psalm Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 1   Praise the Lord!           O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;           for his steadfast love endures forever. 2   Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord,           or declare all his praise? 3   Happy are those who observe justice,           who do righteousness at all times. 4   Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people;           help me when you deliver them; 5   that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,           that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,           that I may glory in your heritage. 6   Both we and our ancestors have sinned;           we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly. 19  They made a calf at Horeb           and worshiped a cast image. 20  They exchanged the glory of God           for the image of an ox that eats grass. 21  They forgot God, their Savior,           who had done great things in Egypt, 22  wondrous works in the land of Ham,           and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 23  Therefore he said he would destroy them —           had not Moses, his chosen one,      stood in the breach before him,           to turn away his wrath from destroying them. Second Reading Philippians 4:1-9 1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 2I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Gospel Matthew 22:1-14 1Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, October 12 and Sunday, October 18, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, October 12, 2026 - That all human trafficking would end.
• Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - That we rededicate ourselves to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
• Wednesday, October 14, 2026 - That we strengthen our global unity rather than casting blame and sowing divisions.
• Thursday, October 15, 2026 - That we decide to sacrifice some of our comforts for the sake of others.
• Friday, October 16, 2026 - That there'll be peace between Russia and Ukraine.
• Saturday, October 17, 2026 - That we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ by renewing our commitment to life.
• Sunday, October 18, 2026 - That God protect all civilians impacted by the conflict in Gaza.

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, October 4, 2026

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: Even though life can seem threatening and overwhelming, Isaiah 40:10 reminds us that we don’t need to be afraid: Don’t be afraid. I am with ...

Sunday's Message (His Presence - “I am with you.”)

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message (His Presence - “I am with you.”): Even though life can seem threatening and overwhelming, Isaiah 40:10 reminds us that we don’t need to be afraid: Don’t be afraid. I am with ...

Looking into the lectionary - When ruling elders preside at Communion 🍷

Matthew 22:15-22 21st Sunday after Pentecost 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 18, 2026 As Christians, we live with one foot in our world and one foot in the kingdom of God. We are called to act as citizens of the kingdom of God, a kingdom that doesn’t run on greed, popularity or hierarchy. But we also live in our world with traditions, rules and experiences that run counter to kingdom living. We are called to share what we have in abundance, making sure that everyone has enough. Yet, we are not fully confident that others would be as generous with us if the tables suddenly turned. We are called to have mercy and not judge others based on worldly definitions of worthiness. Yet, our world champions the independent spirit that can pull themselves up by their bootstraps. We are called to live lives intertwined with others. Yet, we wonder if this is the worst group project ever. In Matthew 22:15-22, the Herodians and the Pharisees, two groups that generally did not get along, come together to face a common enemy. Both factions are very concerned about Jesus’s influence and seek to trap him. By asking him about taxes, Jesus will either champion the ways of the Roman Empire, risking his popularity with the Jewish population who disfavored the taxes, or champion the ways of the kingdom of God, putting him at odds with the Roman authorities. Perhaps you have felt this tug before as well. Do you live according to the rules you’ve learned on Sunday, even if that makes living comfortably and getting ahead in the world Monday through Saturday more difficult? How much do you resist your community’s rules for an ideal life that sometimes seems so out of reach? How much do you push back against the community practices or governmental policies when they seem out of line with Christian discipleship? First, it is important to note that Jesus recognizes the trap set for him. This is not an easy question for him or for us. As Christians who straddle these two kingdoms, we must be mindful about our answers. ... Thank you to this week's writer, Rae Watson. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for October 11, 2026? You can find them here. A practical guide to new and noteworthy Advent resources for worship, small groups, congregations and individual devotion. Today at 1 pm ET!  Register to receive the recording.

Order of worship — October 18, 2026, by Rae Watson You have youth. They just aren’t in your pews. by Phillip Blackburn What are our worship songs teaching us? by Shea Watts When ruling elders preside at Communion by Joel Moody

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... The Communion Table can be a place of healing Julia Burkley offers another perspective on Communion and eating disorders, reflecting on how the table became a place of safety, sustenance and healing in her own recovery. What do youth want and need from the church?  Three young Presbyterians speak with clarity and hope about belonging, authenticity, faith, doubt, community and the future of the church. —  Alex Wells, Sabrina Wilson, and Gracie Varn Fighting hunger one grant at a time Presbyterian Hunger Program approves $1.2 million in funding for life-sustaining work. — Darla Carter Board of Pensions launches resources and support for Post-Retirement Medical Plan transition Engagement opportunities are being offered over the next few weeks. — BOP A new season at UPSem: Entering class grows 45% Union Presbyterian Seminary is welcoming a growing student body this fall as students begin a new academic year across its Richmond and Charlotte campuses. — UPS Haitian pastors in Ohio and many others face deportation with end of Temporary Protective Status The Trump administration terminated TPS for both Haiti and Syria this summer. — Layton Williams Berkes Two educators on the future of lay ministry Christy Williams and Brittany Porch reflect on the shrinking path for nonordained Christian educators and youth workers — and what the PC(USA) risks when it fails to invest in those called to faith formation. Pre-order our Advent 2026 devotional!

Copyright © 2026 Presbyterian Outlook, All rights reserved.