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January 11, 2026
See TodayFirst Sunday after Epiphany
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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1 Kings 8:6–13 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. 7 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. 8 And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
12 Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 13 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 50:1–15 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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A Psalm of Asaph.
1 The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
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- Epistle
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Rom. 12:1–5 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
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- Gospel
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Luke 2:41–52 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
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First Sunday after Epiphany
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
The Glory of the Lord Returns to the Temple in the Boy Jesus
In the days of Solomon, the Lord dwelt among His people in the temple. The glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord in the form of a cloud (1 Kings 8:6–13). Now Jesus, who is the glory of the Lord in the flesh, enters the temple to show that He Himself is the everlasting temple and dwelling place of God (Luke 2:41–52). Our young Lord, true man, subject to Mary and Joseph, reveals Himself also to be true God, whose father is not Joseph but the Almighty Father in heaven. Jesus does this at the time of the Passover. For He came to be the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Even as He was found by His parents after three days, so He would later rise from the dead on the third day that the favor of God might rest also upon us. It is by these mercies of God that we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God through Christ (Rom. 12:1–5).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — One-Year Lectionary (opens in a new tab). Used by permission. These pages may be reproduced for congregational use only. Commercial reproduction, or reproduction for sale of this work or any portion of this work, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Scripture quoted in the summary is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introit, Gradual and Verse
Source: LCMS One-Year Series Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Collect
Historical Collect — First Sunday after Epiphany
O LORD, we beseech Thee mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy people who call upon Thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (Baltimore, 1893), Introits and Collects for the Church Year (opens in a new tab). Public-domain text (published 1893), transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of the Princeton Theological Seminary Library copy.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for January 11, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
O Lord, You have redeemed us in Christ and declared us righteous and holy in Him. Graciously grant that we may offer You our very selves as living sacrifices, that we may glorify You in all we think, say and do. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, prosper Your Church. Bless Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; _____________, our pastor(s); all church workers; and those preparing for vocations in Your service. Make them wise unto salvation and faithful in all the duties and responsibilities assigned to them for our benefit. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You have adopted us into Your family through Holy Baptism. Renew the fathers of Your Church after Your own likeness, that they would proclaim Your faithfulness to the next generation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Omnipotent Lord, all the might of man is nothing before You. Bless all who serve in government, as first responders, in disaster relief and in the armed forces. Give them compassionate hearts for service, and lead them by Your Word to know and do what is right and in accordance with Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, You sent Your Son as the Servant who preserves the bruised reed and the faintly burning wick. Hear us on behalf of those in need of healing and deliverance [including _____________]. Provide healing, restoration and justice according to Your good and gracious will, and grant that we rejoice in Your Son’s everlasting faithfulness toward us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, give us grateful hearts as we approach Your Son’s table, that we would receive the blessing of Christ’s body and blood to our benefit and manifest in our daily lives the righteousness of faith. Hasten the day when all earthly divisions cease and we will be one people in doctrine and fellowship. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You raised Your Son from the dead, never to die again. We give thanks to You for all the saints whom You kept in their baptismal grace in life and in death. As You have granted us to be born again by water and the Spirit, preserve our lives in Christ by Your Word and Supper, that we would rejoice with all the faithful in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Prayers of the Church for January 11, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all believers, that we may offer the Lord our very selves as living sacrifices, redeemed in Christ and declared righteous and holy, so that we may glorify God in all we think, say and do, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who serve the Church, especially Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; _____________, our pastor(s); and those preparing for vocations in the Lord’s service, that God would make them wise unto salvation and faithful in all the duties and responsibilities assigned to them for our benefit, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all Christian fathers, that renewed by the Lord’s loving fatherhood, they would proclaim His faithfulness to the next generation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who serve in government, as first responders, in disaster relief and in the armed forces, that God would give them compassionate hearts for service and lead them by His Word to know and do what is right and in accordance with His will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those in need of healing and deliverance, [including _____________,] that God would provide healing, restoration and justice according to His good and gracious will; and that He would cause us to rejoice in the everlasting faithfulness of Christ, His Servant, who preserves the bruised reed and the faintly burning wick, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For grateful hearts, that we would receive the blessing of Christ’s body and blood to our benefit and manifest in our daily lives the righteousness of faith; and that God would hasten the day when all earthly divisions cease and we will be one people in doctrine and fellowship, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Almighty God, You raised Your Son from the dead, never to die again. We give thanks to You for all the saints whom You kept in their baptismal grace in life and in death. As You have granted us to be born again by water and the Spirit, preserve our lives in Christ by Your Word and Supper, that we would rejoice with all the faithful in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 410 Within the Father’s House
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for First Sunday after Epiphany (One-Year), Christmas 2 (Series A) and Second Sunday after Christmas (Series B and C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 167 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 402 The Only Son from Heaven
- Distribution LSB 403 O Savior of Our Fallen Race
- Distribution LSB 396 Arise and Shine in Splendor
- Distribution LSB 632 O Jesus, Blessed Lord, to Thee
- Closing LSB 409 Hail, O Source of Every Blessing
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — One-Year Lectionary Series 2025–26 (opens in a new tab). Hymn numbers and titles only; hymn texts are not reproduced. Reproduction for individual, church or school use does not require permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.