Live in the rhythm of the Church Year.
Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
March 15, 2026
See TodayFourth Sunday in Lent
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
-
Ex. 16:2–21 or Isaiah 49:8–13 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NKJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
The Bible text provider reports that its usage allowance is exhausted. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Exodus 16:2-21 in NKJV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
The Bible text provider reports that its usage allowance is exhausted. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Isaiah 49:8-13 in NKJV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
- Psalm
-
Psalm 132:8–18 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NKJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
NKJV text is shown for one reading at a time. Show the Psalm in NKJV
- Epistle
-
Gal. 4:21–31 or Acts 2:41–47 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NKJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
NKJV text is shown for one reading at a time. Show the Epistle in NKJV
- Gospel
-
John 6:1–15 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NKJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
NKJV text is shown for one reading at a time. Show the Gospel in NKJV
Fourth Sunday in Lent
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
The Lord Feeds His People
The Lord provided bread from heaven for His people in the wilderness (Ex. 16:2–21). Now He who is Himself the living bread from heaven miraculously provides bread for the five thousand (John 6:1–15). This takes place near the time of the Passover, after a great multitude had followed Jesus across the sea, and when He went up on a mountain. Seen in this way, Jesus is our new and greater Moses, who releases us from the bondage of Mount Sinai and makes us free children of the promise (Gal. 4:21–31). Five loaves become twelve baskets—that is, the five books of Moses find their goal and fulfillment in Christ, whose people continue steadfastly in the doctrine and fellowship of the twelve apostles, and in the breaking and receiving of the bread of life, which is the body of Christ together with His precious blood, and in the prayers (Acts 2:41–47). So it is that God’s people “shall not hunger or thirst” (Is. 49:8–13). For He abundantly provides for us in both body and soul.
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 — Fourth Sunday in Lent (Lætare)
GRANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 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 15, 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 of mercy, although we merit only punishment, You give abundantly for every need. Through our Savior Jesus Christ provide us with every physical gift our bodies need in this earthly life, and every heavenly blessing our souls need in the life everlasting. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, after the holy example of Your Son, Jesus Christ, inspire all pastors to a devout care for their people and a continual desire to feed them with the bread of life. Awaken in the hearts of our congregations a mutual love for this faithful service in Your name. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, You blessed barren Sarah with Isaac, the child of promise, and brought salvation to the world through Christ, born of the Virgin Mary. Watch over the families of Your Church and comfort those families yet without children, that all together may find joy in their heavenly inheritance. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Grant Your mercy, O Lord, to all our leaders: to Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; all legislators and civil servants; those who work for the common good; those who must render judgment and impose punishment upon lawbreakers; and all who work for peace among the nations. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, our Shepherd, protect, comfort and guide all who call upon You in need [especially _____________]. Grant healing and peace, that they may continue to serve You with joy in this life and finally come to that good land in Your eternal kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You provided food from heaven for the Israelites during their days of wandering in the wilderness. So give us also the true food of heaven, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, that we may be sustained in our faith and in hope during our days of pilgrimage through the wilderness of this world until finally we behold Your glory with our own eyes. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You give daily bread to everyone without our prayer, even to all evil people. Bless the merciful works of Your Church for the poor and needy, that rooted in Christ’s love for us, we may reflect and share that love with others. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and 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 15, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For every physical gift our bodies need in this earthly life, and every heavenly blessing our souls need in the life everlasting, which come only through Christ Jesus apart from any merit or worthiness in us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all pastors, that they would serve their people devoutly and feed them with the bread of life; and for all congregations in their care, that they would receive this faithful service with thankful hearts, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the families of the Church, those blessed with children and those yet without, that they may treasure together their heavenly inheritance, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; and all legislators and civil servants; for those who work for the common good; for those who must render judgment and impose punishment upon lawbreakers; and for those who work for peace among the nations, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who call on God, our Shepherd, in their need, [especially _____________,] that He would protect, comfort and guide them; that they would receive His healing and peace and so continue to serve Him with joy in this life; and that, finally, they would come to that good land in His eternal kingdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune this day, that as God provided food from heaven for the Israelites during their days of wandering, so He would give us also the true food of heaven, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, to sustain us in faith and hope during our days of pilgrimage until at last we behold His glory with our own eyes, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the merciful works of Christ’s Church toward the poor and needy, that rooted in Christ’s love for us, we may reflect and share that love with others, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, 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 743 Jesus, Priceless Treasure
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Fourth Sunday in Lent (One-Year) and Proper 10 (Series B).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 167, 168 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 972 I Trust, O Christ, in You Alone
- Distribution LSB 625 Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread
- Distribution LSB 729 I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus
- Distribution LSB 774 Feed Thy Children, God Most Holy
- Closing LSB 672 Jerusalem the Golden
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.