Parkend and Viney Hill Churches
The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
13th September 2026
15th Sunday after Trinity
Introduction
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
(If a candle is lit)
Grace, mercy and peace
from God the Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with us.
The prayer of preparation
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
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 penitence
God the Father forgives us in Christ
and heals us by the Holy Spirit.
Let us therefore put away all anger and bitterness,
all slander and malice,
and confess our sins to God our redeemer.
(cf Ephesians 4.30, 32)
A moment to reflect
May the Father forgive us
by the death of his Son
and strengthen us to live
in the power of the Spirit all our days.
Amen.
Gloria
Glory to God!
our hearts to you we raise,
Joy and peace on earth,
in highest heaven praise!
Songs of adoration
Lord to you we bring,
Praising your great goodness,
Father, heavenly king.
Glory to God!
our hearts to you we raise,
Joy and peace on earth,
in highest heaven praise!
Son of the Father,
bearing this world’s sin,
Lamb of God, have mercy,
grant us peace within.
You, O Christ are holy,
you alone are Lord,
With the Holy Spirit,
evermore adored.
Glory to God!
our hearts to you we raise,
Joy and peace on earth,
in highest heaven praise!
Collect
God,
who in generous mercy
sent the Holy Spirit
upon your Church
in the burning fire of your love:
grant that your people may be fervent
in the fellowship of the gospel
that,
always abiding in you,
they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Readings
Genesis 50.15-21
Psalm 103.1-13
Romans 14.1-12
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
one God, who was, and who is, and who is to come,
the Almighty.
Reading – Matthew 18.21-35
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen
Intercessions
We bring before God all of our concerns and thanksgivings, our desires and our needs.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Peace
Peace to us from God our heavenly Father.
Peace from his Son Jesus Christ who is our peace.
Peace from the Holy Spirit, the life giver.
The peace of the triune God be always with us.
Lord Jesus,
you made yourself known in the breaking of the bread
I love you above all things
and I desire you to receive my soul:
since I cannot at this moment receive Communion,
come at least spiritually into my heart;
I embrace you as if you were already there
and unite myself wholly to you,
never let me be separated from you.
Amen
The blessing
God the Holy Trinity make us strong in faith and love,
defend us on every side,
and guide us in truth and peace,
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
be among us and remain with us always.
Hymn: Like a mighty river flowing