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March 1, 2026
See TodaySecond Sunday in Lent
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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Gen. 32:22–32 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 121 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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A Song of degrees.
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
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- Epistle
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1 Thess. 4:1–7 or Rom. 5:1–5 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 Thess. 4:1–7
1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
Rom. 5:1–5
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
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- Gospel
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Matt. 15:21–28 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
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Second Sunday in Lent
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
Holding God to His Word
Jacob wrestled with God; he would not let Him go until he received a blessing from Him (Gen. 32:22–32). So it was with the Canaanite woman. Though Jesus seemed to ignore and reject her, she continued to call upon His name and look to Him for help (Mt. 15:21–28). Even when the Lord called her a little dog, she held on to Him in faith and would not let Him wriggle out of His words: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” This Gentile woman shows herself to be a true Israelite, who struggles with God and man in Christ and prevails. “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire” (Mt. 15:27–28). This is the sanctifying will of God (1 Thess. 4:1–7)—to test your faith in order that it may be refined and strengthened. For tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope. And hope in Christ does not disappoint (Rom. 5:1–5).
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 — Second Sunday in Lent (Reminiscere)
O GOD, Who seest that of ourselves we have no strength; Keep us both outwardly and inwardly; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; 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 March 1, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Shepherd of Israel, You disdain nothing that You have made. Create in us new and contrite hearts, that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, we would receive Your absolution with true penitence. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, preserve all pastors in Christ, especially Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; and _____________, our circuit visitor. Renew in this congregation and among all Your saints faith to cling to You in adversity, boldness to oppose the devil and resist the flesh, and compassion to serve one another in love. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our Father, You have adopted us into Your heavenly family as brothers of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Teach us, after the example of Jacob and Esau, to overcome brotherly strife in persistent prayer and with humility. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, give steadfastness and wisdom to our leaders, especially Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; and all congressmen, judges and civil servants. Grant peace between nations and a spirit of humility and concord to our citizens. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You hear the cries of the severely oppressed and bless them with healing in Your appointed season. Comfort those who wait on You [especially _____________]. Increase their faith, and bring them through their trials. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, though it is not right to give the children’s bread to dogs or to cast pearls before swine, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. Receive us in Your mercy and enable all who commune to make the good confession, both of our sin and of You, our only Savior, that we may receive Your true body and blood for the forgiveness of all our sins. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, You watch over the ways of Your people and call us to please You. Lead us to control our bodies and to flee all immorality, that we might show a godly witness in this world and adorn Your Gospel with a holy life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, inasmuch as the adversary continually afflicts us and as a roaring lion walks about, seeking to devour us: We implore You for the sake of the suffering and death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit and to strengthen our hearts by Your Word, that our enemy may not prevail over us, but that we may evermore abide in Your grace and be preserved unto everlasting life; through the same 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 March 1, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For new and contrite hearts, that we may receive God’s absolution while lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretched estate, yet in the confidence that He disdains nothing He has made and forgives the sins of those who are penitent, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church and all pastors in Christ, especially Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; and _____________, our circuit visitor; for this and every congregation; and for faith to cling to Him in adversity, boldness to oppose the devil and resist the flesh, and compassion to serve one another in love, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For hearts eager to overcome brotherly strife among us, that after the example of Jacob with Esau, we would make peace with one another through persistent prayer and humility, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our leaders, especially Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; and all congressmen, judges and civil servants, that God would grant them steadfastness and wisdom; and for peace between nations and a spirit of humility and concord among our citizens, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who await the healing of the Lord, [especially _____________,] that God would hear their cries and grant healing in His appointed season, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune, that God would receive us in His mercy and enable us to make the good confession, both of our sin and of Him, our only Savior; and that, though it is not right to give the children’s bread to dogs, He would lead us to approach Him in faith to eat from our Master’s table, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For self-control to flee all immorality, that we might show a godly witness in this world and adorn the Gospel with a holy life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, inasmuch as the adversary continually afflicts us and as a roaring lion walks about, seeking to devour us: We implore You for the sake of the suffering and death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit and to strengthen our hearts by Your Word, that our enemy may not prevail over us, but that we may evermore abide in Your grace and be preserved unto everlasting life; through the same 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 615 When in the Hour of Deepest Need
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Second Sunday in Lent (One-Year) and Proper 15 (Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 167, 168, 169 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 505 Triune God, Be Thou Our Stay
- Distribution LSB 618 I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table
- Distribution LSB 420 Christ, the Life of All the Living
- Distribution LSB 745 In God, My Faithful God
- Closing LSB 734 I Trust, O Lord, Your Holy Name
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.