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May 31, 2026
See TodayThe Holy Trinity
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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Isaiah 6:1–7 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 29 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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A Psalm of David.
1 Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
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- Epistle
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Rom. 11:33–36 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
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- Gospel
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John 3:1–15 (16–17) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
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The Holy Trinity
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
The Holy Trinity Reveals Himself to Sinners
When Isaiah beheld the glory of the Lord, he cried out “Woe is me!” For the sinner cannot stand in the presence of a holy God and live (Is. 6:1–7). But God the Father lifted up His Son Jesus for us on the cross, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This eternal life of Christ is given us according to the Holy Spirit’s good pleasure in Baptism. “Unless one is born [again] of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). To sinners in fear of death, the messengers of God place on our lips the living body and blood of Christ and speak His words of absolution, “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” (Is. 6:7). Having received forgiveness and life from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit, we join with the angels in praising the blessed Trinity, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!” (Is. 6:3). “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33–36).
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
- Antiphon
- liturgical text
- Gradual
- Song of the Three Children, 32–34
- Verse
- Song of the Three Children, 29
Source: LCMS One-Year Series Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Collect
Historical Collect — The Festival of the Trinity
ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, Who hast given unto us, Thy servants, grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, 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 31, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord of hosts, Your ways are inscrutable and Your judgments unsearchable. Through Your Word, give us an ever-growing understanding of the depths of Your riches, wisdom and knowledge, that we may glorify You forever. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus, came to teach us the way of truth. Sustain all pastors in this sacred calling. Give them patience to teach the faith to all who question the way of salvation, and raise up teachers of righteousness in every generation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, as You have delivered us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Your Son, help us to walk in a manner worthy of Him. Bless the floor committees who prepare the work of our Synod Convention, that all they decide may be guided by Your Word and undertaken in prayer and that Your good and gracious will be done among us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Blessed Father, You have established marriage and sanctified the home to be a place of blessing and love. Give to parent and child the courage to love as You have loved us. Unite them in their common life by Your Spirit to know Jesus and serve Him. Bless the single with chastity, comfort the widowed, protect the orphan and defend the helpless. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord of hosts, You sit enthroned as King forever. Bless [_____________ and] all who rule us in Your stead with wisdom and understanding, that truth and justice may prevail in our land and lawlessness may be kept at bay. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, uphold [_____________ and] all who suffer in our midst by Your truth, that since You are at their right hand, they cannot be shaken. Gladden their hearts, cause their tongues to rejoice and make their flesh dwell in hope. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, Nicodemus was led by the word of Jesus to the cross, and from the cross he received the body of Jesus. Grant us faith like his to trust Your Word and receive Christ’s body and blood in the Holy Sacrament for forgiveness, life and salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we poor sinners confess that in our flesh dwells no good thing. If we are left to ourselves, we will die in sin, since that which is born of flesh is flesh and cannot see the kingdom of God. Grant us, we implore You, Your grace and mercy and, for the sake of Jesus Christ, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to regenerate us, that we may firmly believe the forgiveness of sins according to Your promise in Baptism and daily increase in Christian love and good works, until at last 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 31, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For an ever-growing understanding of the depths of God’s riches, wisdom and knowledge through His Word, that we may glorify Him forever, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all pastors, that they would patiently teach the faith to all who question the way of salvation, in this and every generation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the floor committees who prepare the work of our Synod’s Convention, that they would walk in a manner worthy of Christ and be guided by God’s Word throughout their labors, so that the Lord’s good and gracious will may be done among us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For parents and children, that they would be given the courage to love as God has loved us and be united in their common life by the Holy Spirit to know Jesus and serve Him; and that the Lord would bless the single with chastity, protect the orphan and defend the helpless, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [_____________ and] all who rule us, that the Lord, enthroned as King forever, would bless them with wisdom and understanding, that truth and justice may prevail in our land and lawlessness may be kept at bay, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [_____________ and] all who suffer in our midst, that the Lord of hosts would uphold them in the truth that, since He is at their right hand, they cannot be shaken; and that He would gladden their hearts, cause their tongues to rejoice and make their flesh dwell in hope, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith to hear the word of Jesus; to trust in His death on the cross; and to receive His body and blood for forgiveness, life and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we poor sinners confess that in our flesh dwells no good thing. If we are left to ourselves, we will die in sin, since that which is born of flesh is flesh and cannot see the kingdom of God. Grant us, we implore You, Your grace and mercy and, for the sake of Jesus Christ, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to regenerate us, that we may firmly believe the forgiveness of sins according to Your promise in Baptism and daily increase in Christian love and good works, until at last 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
Hymn of the Day — Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest (LSB 498 or 499)
Lutheran Service Book 498 or 499
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for The Holy Trinity (One-Year) and Holy Trinity (Series A, B and C). This record preserves the appointment identity only; it does not reproduce the Lutheran Service Book hymn text.
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 504 Father Most Holy
- Distribution LSB 621 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
- Distribution LSB 876 O Blessed, Holy Trinity
- Distribution LSB 506 Glory Be to God the Father
- Closing LSB 505 Triune God, Be Thou Our Stay
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.