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Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
May 1, 2026
See TodayEaster 4
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Acts 2:42–47 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 23 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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1 Peter 2:19–25 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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John 10:1–10 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Easter 4
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus Christ Is Our Good Shepherd
Although we “were straying like sheep,” the Lord Jesus Christ has willingly suffered and died for us, bearing our sins “in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24–25). We are healed by His wounds (1 Peter 2:24), and in His resurrection He gathers us to Himself as our Good Shepherd, by whose righteousness we “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Now through other shepherds whom He calls and sends in His name, He guards and keeps us in the green pastures of His Church, leading us beside the quiet waters of our Baptism and spreading the feast of His table before us. Since He has called us by the Gospel to be His own dear sheep, we also “hear his voice” and “know his voice” (John 10:3–4) in the faithful preaching of His Gospel, and we follow Him by faith. When we receive His Gospel, we have the abundant life and common unity of the entire flock under one Good Shepherd, in “the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship” and in “the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).
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 26, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Loving Father, Your Son is the great Shepherd of the sheep, who faithfully gathers His flock to Himself in the pastures of the Church. Grant us steadfast faith to hear His voice and follow Him, even through the valley of the shadow of death, that we may receive our portion in His abundant life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, bestow the gift of Christ’s wisdom and tenderness upon all who are called to shepherd the souls of Your people. Teach believers everywhere to receive their pastors as a gift from You and to follow Christ, the Good Shepherd. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, hear our prayers for all Christian homes. Preserve all married couples in love and faithfulness [especially _____________]; strengthen all parents for their task as teachers of the faith; uphold the unmarried honorable and unashamed in their station; and with good deeds in every home, let the ignorance of foolish people be put to silence by Your divine institution. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty Shepherd, You hold in Your hands all the might of man, and You hold accountable those who would govern Your people. Grant to us good government and leaders who will honor Your purpose, protect Your people, serve the cause of justice and defend our liberty. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Author of life, You gather us together in the fellowship of Christ and His apostolic Word and so lead us to intercede for one another in every need. Hear our prayers for the Church and for the world [especially for _____________]. Work by Your mercy for their good now and eternally, and add to our number those who are being saved, until You bring us to the day when we will rest eternally in Your safekeeping. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of glory, You have promised to prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies and to fill our cup of salvation to overflowing. Bless all who receive the Sacrament at this altar this day, that even amid sin, death and the devil, Your goodness and mercy may follow us all the days of our lives, and we may dwell in Your house forever. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, in Your name Your Son purchased us with His own most holy blood, and He now leads us through the gate of death to our eternal home with You. As the sheep of His fold, inspire us to hear His voice gladly and to follow Him steadfastly through every tribulation. 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 — 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 26, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For steadfast faith to hear the voice of our great Shepherd, that passing through the valley of the shadow of death we may receive our portion in His abundant life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all pastors, that God would bestow Christ’s wisdom and tenderness upon those called to shepherd the souls of His people, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all believers, that they would receive their pastors as gifts from the Lord, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all Christian homes, that by good deeds the ignorance of foolish people may be put to silence before God’s divine institution; for all married couples, [especially _____________,] that God would preserve them in love and faithfulness; for all parents, that God would strengthen them as teachers of the faith; and for the unmarried, that God would uphold them honorable and unashamed in their station, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who would govern the people of the Church, that they would be held accountable and honor the purpose of the Good Shepherd as they protect His people and serve the cause of justice and liberty, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For _____________, that God would work by His mercy for their good now and eternally; for readiness to intercede for one another since we have been gathered together in the fellowship of Christ and His apostolic Word; and for the proclamation of the Gospel, that God would be pleased to add to our number those who are being saved, until He brings us all rest eternally in His safekeeping, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who eat of Christ’s body and blood this day, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins, that even amid sin, death and the devil, the Lord’s goodness and mercy would follow us all the days of our lives and we would dwell in His house forever, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Holy Spirit in rich measure, that hearing and following Christ, our Shepherd, we would pass through every tribulation to our eternal heavenly home, 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 — 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 709 The King of Love My Shepherd Is
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Third Sunday of Easter (One-Year) and Easter 4 (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.
The King of Love My Shepherd Is — Historical TLH Edition
Historical text notice: This is the public-domain text of The Lutheran Hymnal 431, not the Lutheran Service Book 709 text. Wording and stanza form may differ.
1. The King of Love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
2. Where streams of living water flow,
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.
3. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me
And on His shoulder gently laid
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
4. In death’s dark vale I fear no ill,
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
5. Thou spreadst a table in my sight,
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And, oh! the transport of delight
With which my cup o’erfloweth.
6. And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever!
by Henry W. Baker, 1821-1877
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 431 (opens in a new tab). Public domain. Project Wittenberg permits distribution, copying and printing.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 864 Shepherd of Tender Youth
- Distribution LSB 710 The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want
- Distribution LSB 711 Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us
- Closing LSB 740 I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb
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.