Live in the rhythm of the Church Year.
Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
April 26, 2026
See TodayEaster 5
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
-
Acts 6:1–9, 7:2a, 51–60 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
- Psalm
-
Psalm 146 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:
8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
- Epistle
-
1 Peter 2:2–10 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
- Gospel
-
John 14:1–14 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
Easter 5
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Lord Jesus Christ Is the Way, the Truth and the Life
The risen Lord Jesus alone is “the way, and the truth, and the life,” and we come “to the Father” only through Him (John 14:6). God is thus “glorified in the Son,” and those who believe in Him will do the works of Christ because He goes to the Father for us (John 14:12–14). Stephen, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5) and “doing great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8), did the works of Christ. When he was falsely accused and put to death, he “gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). Fixing his hope there, he commended his spirit to the Lord Jesus and prayed for his murderers. In the same way, all the baptized are called to follow the example of Christ Jesus by faith. Though He was “rejected by men” in the sight of God, He is “chosen and precious” (1 Peter 2:4). He is the chief cornerstone of the Father’s “spiritual house,” and we are built upon Him as “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5).
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 May 3, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Heavenly Father, through the power of Christ’s resurrection You adopt all who believe in Him. Receive us as Your newborn children and nourish our faith through the pure spiritual milk of Your Word, that we may dwell in Your presence forever. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Send laborers into Your harvest, Lord. Preserve Your ministers among us devoted to Your Word and to prayer. Give many servants to Your Church, that neither the preaching nor the care of Your people may fall into neglect or disregard. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, help parents to raise up their children to know You as their help and hope, that they may not put their trust in princes in whom there is no salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, Your power brought all things into being and still preserves what You have made. Bless Donald, our president; the Congress of the United States; _____________, our governor; and all elected and appointed civil servants. Lead them to honor You and Your purpose, establishing order and justice, encouraging virtue, and protecting all life. Give them wisdom and moderation to lead for the well-being of the nation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of glory, Your Son declared Himself to be the way, the truth and the life. Bless all who have requested our prayers [especially _____________]. May Christ Himself be their way of salvation, their truth amid doubt and their life amid death. Grant them a sure and steadfast hope in the good news that He has prepared a place for them with You, where pain and sickness are no more and all things are made new. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, in Christ You have made us a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people for Your possession. Preserve Your people in the one true faith, and grant that all who come to the Supper this day might do so with repentant hearts that thankfully receive Your Son’s body and blood. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, we thank and praise You for Your servant Stephen, whom Your Son has received into His glory. May we imitate him in faith and love to speak Your truth with boldness, forgiving those who sin against us as Christ forgave His persecutors from the cross. When our last hour comes, let us fall asleep in Him and be born into eternal life, for the sake of Him who was born into our flesh to redeem it, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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 May 3, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all God’s adopted children in Christ, that they would long for the pure spiritual milk of the Word, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the ministers of the Word, that they may be devoted to their task and to prayer; and for many servants in God’s Church, that neither the preaching nor the care of His people may fall into neglect, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For parents, that they would raise up their children to know Christ as their help and hope, and not put their trust in princes in whom there is no salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For good government; for Donald, our president; the Congress of the United States; _____________, our governor; and all civil servants, that they may honor the holy God, establishing order and justice, encouraging virtue, and protecting all life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who have requested our prayers, [especially _____________,] that the Father of glory, whose Son declared Himself to be the way, the truth and the life, would give them a sure and steadfast hope in Him who has prepared a place for them where pain and sickness are no more and all things are made new, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, God’s chosen race, royal priesthood and holy nation, that He would preserve us by this Sacrament in true faith as the people of His own possession, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In thanksgiving for Stephen, whom Christ has received into glory, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith and love in imitation of the Church’s first martyr, that we may speak Christ’s truth with boldness, forgive those who persecute us, and fall asleep in Jesus, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
To Him 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 633 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Easter 5 (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 912 Christ Is Our Cornerstone
- Distribution LSB 622 Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared
- Distribution LSB 648 Glorious Things of You Are Spoken
- Closing LSB 950 Splendor and Honor
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.