Live in the rhythm of the Church Year.
Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
September 20, 2026
See TodaySixteenth Sunday after Trinity
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
-
1 Kings 17:17–24 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. 22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
- Psalm
-
Psalm 30 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David.
1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
- Epistle
-
Eph. 3:13–21 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
- Gospel
-
Luke 7:11–17 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
Jesus Calls forth Life from Death
A large funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow is confronted by another large procession, Jesus and His followers. Death and Life meet face to face at the gate of the city (Luke 7:11–17). Filled with compassion, Jesus comes into direct contact with our mortality in order to overcome it. He touches the coffin and speaks His creative words of life, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Jesus does what is neither expected nor requested. For through Christ, God the Father “is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think” (Eph. 3:14–21). Jesus bore our death in His body that we may share in His resurrection. Even as Elijah stretched himself out three times over the Zarephath woman’s son (2 Kings 17:17–24), God stretched Himself out over us in the threefold application of His name in the baptismal water, breathing new and everlasting life into us. “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
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 — Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
LORD, we pray Thee, that Thy grace may always go before and follow after us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, 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 September 20, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Almighty God, You sent Your Son into the world to put an end to death. Keep us from losing heart in the face of sorrow, strengthen us with power through Your Holy Spirit, and help us to know the love of Christ, that through Him we will no longer weep. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, we ask You to raise up pastors, teachers, missionaries and servants for all church-work vocations. Bless church planters and new congregations, that they may endure. Bring hope and renewal to all struggling congregations and to the pastors who serve them. Do not let fear keep us from Your Word and Sacraments. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Faithful Father, when loss and heartache invade our homes and tempt us to doubt Your divine care, hear our cries and renew our faith and life in You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of life and death, You have given all things into the hands of Your Son. Inspire those who bear the sword in His stead to do so in faithfulness and love for their fellow man. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful God, in His compassion Your Son responded to the need of the widow of Nain and raised her son from death to life. Have mercy on all who are ill or receiving treatments [especially _____________]. Relieve them of their discomfort and grant them healing and recovery according to Your will, that they may glorify You in all things. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, You invite us again to Your table to receive the medicine of immortality in the body and blood of Christ, Your Son. May we receive this Sacrament rightly, that with faith strengthened and sins forgiven our lives may be lived in holiness and godliness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of hosts, Your saints in heaven now know as they are known and comprehend the fullness of Your love in Christ. Conduct our way through this fallen world to join them in Your heavenly presence. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. 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 — 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 September 20, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For confidence in Christ, who is risen to put an end to death, that we would not lose heart in the face of sorrow; that the Spirit would strengthen us with His power; and that we would know the love of Christ and through Him no longer weep, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all pastors, church planters and congregations, that they might receive hope, renewal and endurance from God; and that fear would never keep us from the Word and the Sacraments, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our homes, especially in times of loss and heartache, that hearing our cries, our faithful Father would bless us and renew our faith and life in Him, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who bear the sword and rule the nations in the stead of Christ, that they would do so faithfully, ever mindful of His authority over all things, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who are ill or receiving treatments, [especially _____________,] that they would be relieved of discomfort and granted healing and recovery according to God’s will, and so glorify Him in all things, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune this day, that they may receive this Sacrament rightly as Christ’s true medicine of immortality; and that, with faith strengthened and sins forgiven, they may live in holiness and godliness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For a faithful path through this fallen world, that we may join the saints in heaven, know as we are known and comprehend the fullness of the love of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. 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 — 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 758 The Will of God Is Always Best
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity (One-Year).
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 548 Thanks to Thee, O Christ, Victorious
- Distribution LSB 791 All People That on Earth Do Dwell
- Distribution LSB 754 Entrust Your Days and Burdens
- Distribution LSB 601 All Who Believe and Are Baptized
- Closing LSB 741 Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense
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.