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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 NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 51:1–12 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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1 Peter 4:7–11 (12–14) (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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John 15:26–16:4 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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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.