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March 1, 2026
See TodayLent 2
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Gen. 12:1–9 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 121 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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Rom. 4:1–8, 13–17 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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John 3:1–17 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Lent 2
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Word of the Gospel Opens the Eyes of Faith and Fixes Them on Christ Jesus
The Lord called Abram (Abraham) to leave his home and go to a land that God would show him. He also promised to make of Abram “a great nation,” to bless him and make his name great as a blessing to “all the families of the earth” (Gen. 12:2–3). “Abram went, as the Lord had told him” (Gen. 12:4), and in Canaan “he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord” (Gen. 12:8). He “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). Here the grace of God is manifested, that He “justifies the ungodly” (Rom. 4:5), not by works of the Law, but through faith in His promises. He removes all of our sins and lawless deeds through Jesus Christ, the offspring of Abraham in whom all the Lord’s promises are realized. This forgiveness of sins is the Word of the Gospel, the voice of the Holy Spirit, which “gives life to the dead” (Rom. 4:17). It opens the eyes of faith to behold Christ Jesus, the Son of Man lifted up on the cross, “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14–15).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series A (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
- Gradual (seasonal)
- Hebrews 12:2 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
Source: LCMS Three-Year Series (A) Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
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.
O God, You have graciously given us a new birth in the waters of Holy Baptism. Sustain our faith in You and turn us from the old things of the flesh, that we would fix our eyes on the Son of Man through faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, Your Son, Jesus, came to teach us the way of truth. Sustain all pastors in this sacred calling. Give them patience to teach the faith to all who question the way of salvation, and raise up teachers of righteousness in every generation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You made Your servant Abraham the father of us all through faith, and You have given all fathers the calling of Abraham to hand down the Gospel of Christ. Fill their hearts with the words of Christ, and remember them according to Your great mercy. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, You have established rulers and earthly authorities to protect us. Bless Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; the Congress of the United States; the legislature of this state; and all who make, administer and judge our laws. Help us to preserve our liberty and use its gift wisely in the pursuit of justice and for the welfare of all people. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You sent forth Your own Son to heal and give everlasting life. By Your Word and Spirit, lift up Your people from their sorrows. Heal them according to Your gracious will, and deliver them from the pain of death to eternal life. [Hear us, we pray, especially for _____________.] Sustain them in their afflictions, comfort them in the hour of death and raise up the dead according to Your gracious promise. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Righteous Lord, Nicodemus was led by the word of Jesus to the cross, and from the cross he received the body of Jesus. Grant us faith like his to trust Your Word and receive Christ’s body and blood in the Holy Sacrament for forgiveness, life and salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, You gave Abraham the promise of many descendants. Give us faith, that we may delight in this promise, delivered through the ages and kept in Christ, our Savior. Equip us with Your Spirit to be bold and unwavering witnesses, carrying Your name and Your Gospel to every place and people. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 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 faith to fix our eyes on the Son of Man and to turn from the things of the flesh, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all pastors, that they would patiently teach the faith to all who question the way of salvation, in this and every generation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all fathers, who are given the calling to hand down the faith, that their hearts would be filled with the words of Christ; and that they would show forth His mercy, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; the Congress of the United States; the legislature of this state; and all who make, administer and judge our laws, that we would preserve our liberty and use its gift wisely in the pursuit of justice and for the welfare of all people, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the people of God in their sorrows and sicknesses, [especially _____________,] that Christ would sustain them in their afflictions, comfort them in the hour of death and raise up the dead according to His gracious promise, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith to hear the word of Jesus; to trust in His death on the cross; and to receive His body and blood for forgiveness, life and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith, that like Abraham we may delight in the Lord’s promise kept in Christ; and for the Holy Spirit, that we may witness to His name and carry His Gospel to every place and people, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 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 708 Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity (One-Year), Lent 2 (Series A, B and C) and Proper 21 (Series C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 167, 169, 170 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 915 Today Your Mercy Calls Us
- Distribution LSB 429 We Sing the Praise of Him Who Died
- Distribution LSB 571 God Loved the World So That He Gave
- Closing LSB 702 My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series A 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.