15th Sunday after Pentecost
September 6, 2026
Loving God and loving neighbor here in central Vermont
and to the ends of the earth—all to the glory of God.
We Welcome Our Visitors to Red Door Church!
Prelude
Rebekah Barnes
Welcome and Announcements
σ Listen for upcoming events and ways you can get involved.
Pastor Josh
Call to Worship—Based on Psalm 149
σ Confess what you believe about the Christian faith.
Pastor Josh
L: God calls us to worship and we respond. Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!
C: Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
L: Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
C: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
Opening Prayer
σ Invite God to work in you as you worship today.
Pastor Josh
Worship Songs
σ Join with the congregation in praise to God.
The Puopolos
Lord I Need You
Verse 1
Lord I come I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
And without You I fall apart
You’re the one that guides my heart
Chorus 1
Lord I need You oh I need You
Ev’ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
Verse 2
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Bridge
So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus You’re my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus You’re my hope and stay
Chorus 2
Lord I need You oh I need You
Ev’ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
You Are My King
Verse
I’m forgiven
Because You were forsaken
I’m accepted
You were condemned
I’m alive and well
Your Spirit is within me
Because You died
And rose again
Chorus
Amazing love
How can it be
That You my King
Would die for me
Amazing love
I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor You
In all I do I honor You
Ending
You are my King
You are my King
Jesus You are my King
Jesus You are my King
Scripture Meditation—Ezekiel 33:7-11
σ Hear a reading from the Scriptures that relates to the sermon text.
Megan Moore
7 “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
10 “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ 11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Congregational Prayer
σ Join together in prayer and lift your concerns to our gracious God.
Pastor Josh
The Lord’s Prayer
σ In closing, pray the words that Jesus taught us to pray.
Congregation
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 forever. Amen.
Scripture Reading—Matthew 18:15-35
σ Read this portion of God’s word.
Pastor Josh
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
L: The grass withers and the flower fades.
C: But the word of our God will stand forever.
Sermon
σ Hear God’s word proclaimed and explained.
Pastor Josh Moore
Communion
The Elders
Song of Response—We Will Dance
σ Respond to the preaching of the word with song.
The Puopolos
Verse 1
Sing a song of celebration
Lift up a shout of praise
For the bridegroom will come
The glorious One and oh
We will look on His face
We’ll go to a much better place
Chorus
And we will dance on the streets that are golden
The glorious bride and the great Son of Man
From ev’ry tongue and tribe and nation
We’ll join in the song of the Lamb
Verse 2
Dance with all your might
Lift up your hands and clap for joy
For the time’s drawing near
When He will appear
And oh we will stand by His side
A strong pure spotless bride
Bridge 1
Sing aloud for the time of rejoicing is near
The risen King our groom is soon to appear
The wedding feast to come is now near at hand
Lift up your voice proclaim the coming Lamb
Bridge 2
And we will dance on the streets that are golden
And we will dance on the streets that are golden
Benediction
σ Receive a parting blessing as you go into the world for Christ.
Pastor Josh
Postlude
House