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May 17, 2026
See TodaySeventh Sunday of Easter
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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Ezek. 36:22–28 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 51:1–12 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
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- Epistle
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1 Peter 4:7–11 (12–14) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
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- Gospel
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John 15:26–16:4 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
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Seventh Sunday of Easter
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
The Spirit of Truth Bears Witness to Jesus
The Spirit of Truth bears witness to Jesus, who is the truth. But the world does not receive the truth. It loves its own and hates those who are of the truth. Just as Jesus was scorned, so is His Church. “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). Yet it is by Jesus’ suffering and death that we are saved. Therefore we rejoice to share in His sufferings, that we may also share in His resurrection glory (1 Pet. 4:7–14). Through the ministry of the Spirit of Truth, we are cleansed from the deceit of our idols and given a new heart and a new spirit, the heart and Spirit of Christ (Ezek. 36:22–28). He now works in us fervent, self-giving love for one another, love which covers a multitude of sins, “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11).
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 — Sunday after Ascension (Exaudi)
ALMIGHTY, Everlasting God; Make us to have always a devout will towards Thee, and to serve Thy Majesty with a pure heart; through Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, 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 May 17, 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, You have given boldness to Your children through the resurrection of Your Son from the dead. Free us from fear of the world, its temptations, its ways and its power, and fix our eyes on Christ alone, that we may be faithful to Him even to death. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, strengthen Your Holy Church to give witness to Christ, to bear persecution and to live in the confidence that if You are for us nothing can separate us from You. Strengthen the ministers of Your Holy Church [especially _____________]. Send laborers into Your harvest, and sustain those You have sent. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You blot out transgressions and wash away iniquity. Sustain the families of Your Church, that husbands, wives and children would be cleansed from their sins and live together in peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, You have shown Your face to us in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Answer those who cry out in His name [including ________________]. Be their stronghold, and preserve them unto eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, fill us with joy as we approach Your altar to receive the body and blood of Christ. Give us the peace that surpasses understanding, the gladness no man can take from us, and the hope that does not fade away. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, You promised the land of Canaan to our fathers of old. Now You promise a new creation to all Your saints. In their fellowship, sanctify us to do Your will in this life and at last to receive eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we give You thanks that through Your Holy Spirit You have appointed us to bear witness to Your dear Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Since the world cannot endure this testimony and persecutes us in every way, encourage and comfort us, we implore You, that we would not be offended by these crosses, but continue steadfast in Your testimony and be found always among those who know You and Your Son until we obtain eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the 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 May 17, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For boldness among God’s children through the resurrection of Christ from the dead; for freedom from fear of this world, its temptations, ways and power; and that God would fix our eyes on Jesus alone, keeping us faithful to Him even unto death as we anticipate the resurrection, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Holy Church, that she would be strengthened to give witness to Christ, to bear persecution and to live in the confidence that since Christ is for us nothing can separate us from Him; and for the ministers and missionaries of the Church, [especially _____________,] that God would send laborers into His harvest and sustain those He has sent, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all the families of God’s Church, that husbands, wives and children would be cleansed from their sins and live together in His peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [____________ and] all who cry out in the name of Jesus, that as their stronghold, God would preserve them through their trials and into eternal life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who receive the body and blood of Christ, that they would have the peace that surpasses understanding, the gladness that no man can take from them, and the hope that does not fade away, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That as God has sanctified His saints of old, so He would sanctify us also and bring us with them into eternal life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we give You thanks that through Your Holy Spirit You have appointed us to bear witness to Your dear Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Since the world cannot endure this testimony and persecutes us in every way, encourage and comfort us, we implore You, that we would not be offended by these crosses, but continue steadfast in Your testimony and be found always among those who know You and Your Son until we obtain eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the 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 539 Christ Is the World’s Redeemer
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Seventh Sunday of Easter (One-Year) and Easter 7 (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 539 Christ Is the World’s Redeemer
- Distribution LSB 473 Our Pascal Lamb, That Sets Us Free
- Distribution LSB 490 Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won
- Distribution LSB 769 Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ
- Closing LSB 822 Alleluia! Let Praises Ring
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.