After Pentecost | Sunday 13 Sep 2026
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O God, because without you
we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
“Lord, how often should I forgive someone
who sins against me? Seven times?”
(Matthew 18:21)
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There’s a wideness in God’s mercy / Belfast Cathedral Choir / Granta Vale Churches, St Mary’s, Weston Colville
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OT Reading: Genesis 50:15-21 (NLT)
50:15 But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said.
+ So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.
+ But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
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Psalms: Psalm 103 – Poor Bishop Hooper – Psalm 103 (Live)
bless the lord oh my soul
let all that’s within me
bless the lord
don’t forget his benefits who forgives all your sin
who heals your diseases who pulls you up from the pit
who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion
who satisfies oh satisfies you
slow to anger and abounding in love
he hasn’t dealt with our offense as our sins would deserve
for as high as the heavens are above the earth
so great his love for those who fear him
bless the lord oh my soul
let all that’s within me
bless the lord
just as a father has compassion on his children
so the lord has compassion on those who fear him
as far as east is from the west he’s removed our sin
for his love is everlasting everlasting
bless the lord oh my soul
let all that’s within me
bless the lord
as for man his days are grass
like a flower that’s gone when the wind has passed
but the lovingkindness of the lord goes on
everlasting for those who fear him
and his righteousness to children’s children
for those who keep his covenant obey his commandments
the lord has established his throne in heaven
bless the lord his angels and his hosts
with them bless the lord oh my soul
bless the lord oh my soul
let all that’s within me
bless the lord
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NT Reading: Romans 14:1-12 (NLT)
The Danger of Criticism
14:1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
14:5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
14:10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’”
14:12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
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At the Name of Jesus – ILP music
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Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:15-20 (NLT)
Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor
18:21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
+ “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
18:23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
+ “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
+ “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
+ “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
18:31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
18:35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
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Lovingkindness – Matt Redman, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Keith & Kristyn Getty
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Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession:
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
+ We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
+ For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Declaration of Pardon:
Friends: Believe the Good News of the Gospel.
+ In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Give us, O Lord, steadfast hearts, which no unworthy thought can drag down; unconquered hearts, which no tribulation can wear out; upright hearts, which no unworthy purpose can tempt aside. Bestow upon us understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and faithfulness that finally may embrace you. Amen. | Thomas Aquinas
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and keep us in eternal life.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 