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March 15, 2026
See TodayLent 4
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 42:14–21 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Psalm
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Psalm 142 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Epistle
-
Eph. 5:8–14 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Gospel
-
John 9:1–41 or John 9:1–7, 13–17, 34–39 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read John 9:1-41 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read John 9:1-7, 13-17, 34-39 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
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Lent 4
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
By His Word of the Gospel, Jesus Calls Us Out of the Darkness into His Marvelous Light
The Lord is grieved by the spiritual blindness of His people, yet in mercy He does not forsake them. He restrains His anger and keeps His peace, until He opens their ears and eyes to hear and see Him. “For his righteousness’ sake,” He magnifies His Word and makes it glorious in the coming of Christ Jesus (Is. 42:21). Jesus turns “the darkness before them into light” (Is. 42:16) because He is “the light of the world” (John 9:5). The incarnate Son of God does the works of His Father and displays the divine glory in His own flesh “while it is day,” until that night “when no one can work” (John 9:4). By the washing of water with His Word, He opens the eyes of the blind and grants rest to the weary. Therefore, though “at one time you were darkness,” now “you are light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8). By our Baptism into Christ, we live in the eternal day of His resurrection, wherein He shines upon us. As often as we fall back into the darkness of sin, He calls us by the Gospel to “awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead” (Eph. 5:14).
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 ESV 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 15, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Great Physician, enlighten our eyes by Your blessed Gospel, and hide us in Your shelter in the day of trouble. Provide a home in Your Church for those cast out by this world, and unite them with us in the pure confession of Your name. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of glory, You have gathered Your Church and sanctified us in Your truth. Guide and direct Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; and _____________, our circuit visitor. Preserve all vacant congregations, send laborers into Your harvest and sustain those whom You have sent. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty Father, uphold in mercy all authorities, especially parents and the civil servants of our nation. Strengthen our homes, and keep families firm in the Christian faith. Preserve us from wickedness, and uphold order and justice for a peaceful life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You have promised that what we suffer does not condemn us, but instead displays Your glory. Sustain the afflicted in body or soul, [especially _____________,] that they would take heart, trust You for healing and find You even in the midst of their trials. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Blessed, O Lord, is everyone who is not offended by Your Christ. Give us faith to believe His blessed testament, seek His Holy Supper for the forgiveness of our sins, and confess Your truth with honest hearts in the communion of this altar. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, those who wait for Your salvation have the promise that You will not forsake them. Lead those who wander in darkness through rough places, that they would find the way of righteousness and not be put to shame. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
All these things, O heavenly Father, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, asking You to grant our prayers not for our sake but for His sake alone. Teach our hearts to be content with Your will and to trust that You will answer with what is best for us and at the right time for our need. 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 — 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 15, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church of God, that she, being enlightened by the Gospel, would be a home for those cast out by this world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, gathered and sanctified in God’s truth; for Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; and _____________, our circuit visitor, that they would be guided and directed in their tasks; and for all vacant congregations, that God would send laborers into His harvest and sustain those whom He has sent, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all authorities, especially parents and the civil servants of our nation, that God would strengthen homes and keep families firm in the Christian faith; and that He would preserve us from wickedness and uphold order and justice for a peaceful life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the afflicted in body or soul, [especially _____________,] that they would take heart, trust in Christ for healing and find Him even in the midst of their trials, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith to believe Christ’s blessed testament, seek His Holy Supper for the forgiveness of our sins, and confess His truth with honest hearts in the communion of this altar, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who wander in the darkness through rough places in this life, that they would wait on the salvation of the Lord and not be put to shame, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
All these things, O heavenly Father, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, asking You to grant our prayers not for our sake but for His sake alone. Teach our hearts to be content with Your will and to trust that You will answer with what is best for us and at the right time for our need. 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 — 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 571 God Loved the World So That He Gave
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Lent 4 (Series A, B and C) and Proper 6 (Series A).
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.
LSB 972 I Trust, O Christ, in You Alone
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Lent 4 (Series A, 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 551 When to Our World the Savior Came
- Distribution LSB 411 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
- Distribution LSB 841 O Son of God, in Galilee
- Closing LSB 918 Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer
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.