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April 26, 2026
See TodayFourth Sunday of Easter
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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Isaiah 40:25–31 or Lam. 3:22–33 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 147:1–11 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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1 Peter 2:11–20 or 1 John 3:1–3 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 John 3:1–3
1See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,a we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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- Gospel
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John 16:16–22 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Fourth Sunday of Easter
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
Those Who Wait on the Lord Shall Rejoice
The people of God are pilgrims and sojourners in this world, looking ahead to a destination yet to come (1 Peter 2:11–20). Though we are now children of God, the fullness of what we shall be has not yet been revealed (1 John 3:1–3). We are those who wait on the Lord. “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lam. 3:25). Jesus tells us that the wait is just a little while. “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” (John 16:16). Though you must experience sorrow for a time, though you must live as strangers in a world that is at enmity with Christ, yet your sorrow will be turned to joy when He returns. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Is. 40:31). The little while of weeping shall be replaced with an eternity of rejoicing in the presence of Christ the crucified and risen Savior. “And no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).
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 — Third Sunday after Easter (Jubilate)
ALMIGHTY God, Who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord 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 April 26, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Merciful Lord, You have shown us a generous heart and taught us it is more blessed to give than to receive. Accept our gratitude for Your mercies and tender care in time of need. Receive now the gifts of our hands with our voices raised in thanksgiving and praise. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Preserve Your Church, O Lord, from every sorrow and mockery of the enemy. In this little while between Christ’s resurrection and our own, do not let the threats of persecution, loss or discomfort turn us from the joy and confidence of His redemption. Sustain all preachers faithful to their calling, all confessors steadfast in their trials, and all Christians firm in the faith for life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of comfort, give hope to Your people in the midst of this world of death and despair. Put Your Spirit within us to believe, to live and to serve according to Your promises and commands. Lead our homes to confess our confidence in Your power to raise the dead — now and at the Last Day. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, it is Your will that every human institution exercise the authority You give from above to punish those who do evil and praise those who do good. Give us good government, under which we may honor everyone, love the brotherhood and fear God. Above all, let our subjection be offered always for Your sake as sojourners and exiles in this world, and if we must endure suffering, let it be borne mindful of You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, on the day when this little while ends, we will ask nothing. Now, in every need, we are bold to ask everything in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Mediator. Hear our supplications and intercessions for every need [especially _____________]. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, grant grace to all who approach Your holy altar today, that they would receive this sacramental mystery worthily, the new testament of our divine Redeemer, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, You have heard the cries of Your people. You have delivered the martyr from defeat and the saints to everlasting life. Wipe away the tears from Your grieving people. Raise us to joy in the promise of the resurrection and the life death cannot steal. We acknowledge before You the saints who love You and serve You faithfully. We pray that You would bring us with them into the joy of Your presence forevermore. 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 April 26, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In thanksgiving for God’s mercies and tender care, which are new every morning, and that He would receive the offerings of our hands and voices, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, that God would preserve her from every sorrow and mockery of the enemy; that in this little while between Christ’s resurrection and our own, the threats of persecution, loss or discomfort would not turn us from the joy and confidence of His redemption; and that He would sustain all preachers faithful to their calling, all confessors steadfast in their trials, and all Christians firm in the faith for life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For hope in the midst of this world of death and despair; that God would put His Spirit within us to believe, to live and to serve according to His promises and commands; and that He would lead our homes to confess confidence in His power to raise the dead — now and at the Last Day, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For every human institution, that according to God’s will, each would exercise the authority He gives from above to punish those who do evil and praise those who do good; for good government, under which we may honor everyone, love the brotherhood and fear God; and for us, that our subjection would be offered always for Christ’s sake as sojourners and exiles in this world, and that any suffering we must endure would be borne mindful of Him, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In supplication and intercession for every need, [especially for _____________,] asking for everything in the name of Christ, our Mediator, until the Last Day when we will ask for nothing, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who approach God’s holy altar today, that He would grant them grace to receive this sacramental mystery worthily, the new testament of our divine Redeemer, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In thanksgiving for the saints who love and serve the Lord faithfully, and that God would bring us with them into the joy of His presence forevermore, wiping away the tears of His grieving people and raising us to joy in life that death cannot destroy, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
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.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 483 With High Delight Let Us Unite
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Fourth Sunday of Easter (One-Year) and Easter 3 (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 483 With High Delight Let Us Unite
- Distribution LSB 602 The Gifts Christ Freely Gives
- Distribution LSB 737 Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing
- Distribution LSB 488 He Is Arisen! Glorious Word
- Closing LSB 818 In Thee Is Gladness
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.