Live in the rhythm of the Church Year.
Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
April 2, 2026
See TodayEaster Day
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
-
Acts 10:34–43 or Jer. 31:1–6 (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 Acts 10:34-43 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 Jeremiah 31:1-6 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
- Psalm
-
Psalm 16 (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 Psalm 16 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
- Epistle
-
Col. 3:1–4 (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 Colossians 3:1-4 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
- Gospel
-
Matt. 28:1–10 (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 Matthew 28:1-10 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
Easter Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Victory of Christ Crucified Is Given to You in the Preaching of His Resurrection
Every Sunday is the Lord’s day, the day of His resurrection, “after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week” (Matt. 28:1). In the Divine Service, the Church enters upon the eternal “eighth day.” The Lord Jesus, “who was crucified,” who “has risen, as he said” (Matt. 28:5–6), is the firstborn from the dead and the firstfruits of the new creation. Because “you have died” with Him in Holy Baptism, “you have been raised with Christ” and “your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1, 3). The Lord Jesus has become our God, as surely as He is “the God of all the clans of Israel,” and we now belong to His people (Jer. 31:1). In this, He “shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34), but “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43). As “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power” and “raised him on the third day,” He also raises us up and pours out His Spirit upon us through the Gospel (Acts 10:38, 40).
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
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 April 5, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord God, on this glorious day, fill Your people with a holy fear at the resurrection of Your Son, that we would tremble no longer before the grave but rejoice and live in the truth of Your power to save. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, as You once chose apostles to proclaim the resurrection, so open the mouths of Your pastors and people to declare His praises to all who will hear. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, lead Your people in Your steadfast love, and guide them in strength to Your holy abode. Sanctify our homes. Be the companion of those who live alone. Make our households places where Your wisdom and grace are found. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power. Grant that all in authority would govern according to Your will, maintaining order and curbing evil, that we may live in peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful God, have mercy on the sick and those in any need [especially _____________]. Let the dawning light of the new creation in Christ sustain them in faith. In accord with Your will, grant them renewed health — a foretaste of their eternal healing in Him. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, give us joy in Your Son’s great victory feast as He shares it with us from this altar. In the eating of His true body and the drinking of His precious blood in faith, overcome our sin by His forgiveness and swallow up our death in His life, that we may be glad and rejoice in His salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We praise Your holy name, O Lord, for all Your servants who have departed this life in faith. We pray that You will not abandon us to Sheol but that, when we awake in the resurrection of all flesh, Your presence will give us joy. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, heavenly Father, You have not let Your Holy One see corruption, but have raised Him in triumph from the dead, never to die again. Therefore, our hearts are glad and we rejoice, for our flesh also dwells secure. Since You have set Him at Your right hand, lead us to set His resurrection before us at all times, that His path of life and the fullness of joy in His presence may be known to us, until we come also to the eternal pleasures at His right hand, forevermore; for You, O Father, with the Son and the Holy Spirit are 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 April 5, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For a holy fear at the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, that we would tremble no longer before the grave but rejoice and live in the truth of His power to save, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sharing of the Gospel, that God who chose the apostles first to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus would open the mouths of His pastors and people to proclaim Christ crucified and raised again, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our homes, that God would be the companion of those who live alone and fill every household with His wisdom and grace until He guides us to His holy abode, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all in authority, that they would govern humbly as those placed in their positions by the risen Christ who is glorious in power, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick and those in any need, [especially _____________,] that the dawning light of the new creation in Christ would sustain them in faith; and that, according to God’s will, they would be granted renewed health as a foretaste of their eternal healing in Him, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For joy in Christ’s great victory feast as He shares it with us from this altar, that He would overcome our sin by His forgiveness and swallow up our death in His life through the eating and drinking of His true body and blood in faith, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all the faithful, that at the resurrection of all flesh we might awaken in joy to the Lord’s presence, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord, heavenly Father, You have not let Your Holy One see corruption, but have raised Him in triumph from the dead, never to die again. Therefore, our hearts are glad and we rejoice, for our flesh also dwells secure. Since You have set Him at Your right hand, lead us to set His resurrection before us at all times, that His path of life and the fullness of joy in His presence may be known to us, until we come also to the eternal pleasures at His right hand, forevermore; for You, O Father, with the Son and the Holy Spirit are 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 458 Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for The Resurrection of Our Lord (Day) (One-Year) and Easter Day (Series A, B and C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 168 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 463 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Alleluia
- Distribution LSB 461 I Know That My Redeemer Lives
- Distribution LSB 474 Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen
- Closing LSB 462 All the Earth with Joy Is Sounding
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.