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August 24, 2026
See TodayProper 16
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 51:1–6 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Psalm
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Psalm 138 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Epistle
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Rom. 11:33–12:8 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Gospel
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Matt. 16:13–20 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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Proper 16
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Lord Jesus Christ Is the Son of the Living God
Jesus asked His disciples: “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15). The question is also put to us: Who do you say that He is? Flesh and blood do not reveal this to us, but by the ministry of the Gospel, the Father in heaven reveals His Son to us on earth, who has become flesh and suffered death for our salvation. Thus, we believe and confess that He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). As He died for our transgressions and was raised for our justification, He looses us from all our sins and preserves our life within His Church, against which even “the gates of hell shall not prevail” (Matt. 16:18–19). His salvation is forever, and His righteousness “will never be dismayed” (Is. 51:6). He comforts us with the Gospel in His Church, so that “joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song” (Is. 51:3). Therefore, “according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Rom. 12:3), we also offer ourselves “as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Rom. 12:1) through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
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
- Introit
- Psalm 2:6–7 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab); Psalm 117
- Gradual (seasonal)
- Psalm 34:9, 19 (read in ESV 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 23, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
O Lord, bestow upon us Your riches and wisdom. Grant us increasing knowledge of You through Your Word, and help us to trust in Your grace and favor. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, give the Church and all her servants grace to fulfill the ministries to which You have committed them. Grant each of us the strength to confess Christ boldly before the world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of compassion, Abraham was only one when You called him, but You blessed and multiplied him. Protect mothers with child, and equip fathers to lead and raise their households in Your fear and love. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, bless and guide our president, Congress, governor and all civil leaders, that they may faithfully pursue peace and unity in the realm. Give also to all judges and magistrates wisdom and the grace to pursue justice with mercy. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, our God, You are our life and our length of days. Sustain and strengthen those who suffer sickness and affliction, [especially _____________,] and comfort all who mourn [especially _____________] with the promise of everlasting life in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Righteous Lord, lead us to repentance and faith, that we might not think more highly of ourselves than is right, but set our hearts and minds on the things of God. Prepare us to receive the blessed gifts of our Lord’s table, by which You preserve us holy and blameless in Christ until He comes again. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful God, You have redeemed us in Christ and declared us righteous and holy in Him. Graciously grant that we may offer You our very selves as living sacrifices, that we may glorify You in all we think, say and do. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Be merciful to us, O Lord, and hear our prayers. Grant to us the grace of Your Holy Spirit, that we may be led into all truth and be steadfast in the confession of Christ; through 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 — 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 23, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the riches and wisdom of the Lord; for knowledge of the Lord through His Word; and for trust in His grace and favor, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, that all servants of the Church may fulfill the ministries committed to them; and that we may each boldly confess Christ before the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all families, that even as God blessed and multiplied Abraham, all mothers with child might be protected and all fathers equipped to lead and raise their households in the fear and love of God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our president, Congress, governor and all civil leaders in their pursuit of peace and unity; and for all judges and magistrates in their pursuit of justice with mercy, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the suffering, [especially _____________,] that the Lord, our life, would sustain and strengthen them; and for those who mourn, [including _____________,] that the Lord would console them with the promise of everlasting life in Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For repentance and faith as we approach the Lord’s table, that we may not think more highly of ourselves than is right, but set our hearts and minds on the things of God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all believers, that we may offer the Lord our very selves as living sacrifices, redeemed in Christ and declared righteous and holy, so that we may glorify God in all we think, say and do, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Be merciful to us, O Lord, and hear our prayers. Grant to us the grace of Your Holy Spirit, that we may be led into all truth and be steadfast in the confession of Christ; through 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 — 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 645 Built on the Rock the Church Shall Stand
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Proper 16 (Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 169 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 647 Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head
- Distribution LSB 575/576 My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
- Distribution LSB 539 Christ Is the World’s Redeemer
- Closing LSB 909 Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
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.