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Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
August 2, 2026
See TodayProper 13
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 55:1–5 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
- Psalm
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Psalm 136:1–9 (23–26) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
- Epistle
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Rom. 9:1–5 (6–13) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
- Gospel
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Matt. 14:13–21 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Proper 13
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
Christ Jesus, the Living Bread from Heaven, Feeds the Children of God
By the Gospel of “the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever” (Rom. 9:5), we are “the children of God” (Rom. 9:8), “not because of works but because of him who calls” (Rom. 9:11). Therefore, “listen diligently” and “hear, that your soul may live.” By His sacrificial death in His flesh and blood, He has made “an everlasting covenant” for us. Since He now calls us to Himself, we come to Him “and eat what is good, and delight … in rich food” (Is. 55:2–3). He has come with divine compassion to save us from sin and death and to feed us with Himself. As our Lord Jesus once took bread, “said a blessing,” broke the loaves, “and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds” (Matt. 14:18–19), He also now takes bread, blesses it by His Word to be His very body, and distributes it to His Church by the hand of His called and ordained servants. Just as “they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces,” there is more than enough for His whole Church to eat and to be satisfied (Matt. 14:20).
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
- Gradual (seasonal)
- Romans 11:33, 36 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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 August 2, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Gracious Lord, You have made us children of the promise on account of Your Son. Let Your promises continue to go to the ends of the earth, and incline the ears of all to You, that their souls may live. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
You call us to come to You and be satisfied, O Lord. Bless pastors, church workers and all the baptized, that their service to You may be faithful and fruitful. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, Your Son miraculously fed the 5,000 and satisfied them. We thank You for all You provide to support our bodies and lives, especially our homes and families. Make us content with what You give, that we may not covet or turn elsewhere for what comes from Your hand alone. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father, daily You bless us with abundance and freedom. Bless those who defend us from our enemies, who serve us in government and who protect us in our communities. Be with our president, Congress, governor, and our judges and magistrates, that they may discern the right path and lead us with honor and integrity. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, visit us in Your compassion. Deliver the sick from their infirmity, the troubled from their afflictions, the grieving from their sorrow and the dying from their fear [especially _____________]. May all who cry to You receive grace according to Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, as Your Son fed the crowd with bread and meat, so also today He feeds us His body and blood. Let us receive these worthily, trusting in Your promise of forgiveness, that we may be strengthened in faith toward You and in love toward others. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, Your steadfast love and mercy are forever, but our faith is daily tested and tempted. Give us strength and endurance, that we may not despair but have confidence in Your sufficient grace within Your Word and Sacraments. 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 August 2, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all unbelievers, that the Lord might incline their ears to Him so that they, too, might become children of the promise on account of His Son, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For pastors, church workers and all the baptized, that they may serve faithfully the Lord who has called them to His service, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In gratitude for all God provides for our bodies and lives, especially our homes and families; and that we might not covet or turn elsewhere for what comes from His hand alone, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who serve us in government and protect us in our communities, that they may discern the right path and lead us with honor and integrity, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick, troubled, grieving and dying, that they may receive grace according to God’s merciful will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For worthy reception of Christ’s body and blood, fed as Christ fed the crowd with bread and meat, that we may trust in the promise of forgiveness and be strengthened in faith and love, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For strength and endurance, that we may not despair but have confidence in our Father’s steadfast love, 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 642 O Living Bread from Heaven
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Proper 13 (Series A).
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 641 You Satisfy the Hungry Heart
- Distribution LSB 625 Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread
- Distribution LSB 633 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
- Closing LSB 774 Feed Thy Children, God Most Holy
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.