Live in the rhythm of the Church Year.
Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
November 26, 2026
See TodayThanksgiving Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Deut. 8:1–10 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Remember the Lord Your God
8:1 “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.
(ESV)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 67 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Make Your Face Shine upon Us
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
67:1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!(ESV)
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- Epistle
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Phil. 4:6–20 or 1 Tim. 2:1–4 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Phil. 4:6–20
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
God’s Provision
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(ESV)
1 Tim. 2:1–4
Pray for All People
2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
(ESV)
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- Gospel
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Luke 17:11–19 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
(ESV)
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Thanksgiving Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
We Praise God for Sustaining Life in and through His Word
The nation resounds with thanksgiving for the earth’s bountiful harvest, crops of wheat and grains, all beneath the canopy of God’s almighty care. But “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3). The Church is the vessel through which the Word of God penetrates the world with its Law and Gospel. It is this divine Word that proclaims Jesus as the sole source of life, health and wholeness. It is Jesus who heals lepers with His Word: “Go and show yourselves to the priests” (Luke 17:11–19). Of the 10 cleansed, only one expresses thanksgiving back to Jesus. But true gratitude proceeds from a heart sustained by faith. Jesus bids this one Samaritan to “rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” So also, we are sent from the Divine Service, bolstered in our faith by baptismal and Eucharist blessing to be thankful in our circumstances of plenty and hunger, abundance and need (Phil. 4:6–20).
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
Reviewed Introit, Gradual and Verse citations have not yet been published in the Toolbox for this service.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for November 23, 2023 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Gracious God, You give life to the seed, rain to the plant and fruit to the harvest. Receive our thanks for the rich bounty the earth has provided and for the daily bread that supplies all we need for this body and life. Teach us to be generous with Your gifts, willingly sharing with those in need. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, since we do not live by bread alone but by every Word that comes out of Your mouth, bless those who proclaim Your Word, that we may hear it and live. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, be gracious to husbands and wives, parents and children. Bless them and make Your face shine upon them, that they may know Your saving power and make Your truth known on the earth to the coming generation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, bless Joseph and all who hold high positions among us, that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, guard in Christ Jesus the hearts and minds of [_____________ and] all who suffer in our midst. Grant them health in accord with Your perfect will, and give them Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Help us, O Lord, to receive the great Thanksgiving feast of Your Son’s body and blood with repentant and thankful hearts, recognizing all Your benefits toward us in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We give You thanks, O God, for the saints who have gone before us, in whose lives Your great faithfulness is shown. Grant us faith like theirs, which trusts in Your enduring Word, that we also may be found faithful by the next generation of believers. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, teach us the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need, helping us to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, 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 2022–2023 (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 November 23, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For grateful hearts and generosity of spirit, that God would receive our thanks for the rich bounty the earth has provided and for the daily bread that supplies all we need for this body and life; and that He would teach us to be generous with His gifts, willingly sharing with those in need, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those the Lord has sent to preach the Gospel, that we who do not live by bread alone may hear the Word that comes from the mouth of God and live, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For husbands and wives, parents and children, that the Lord would bless them, make His face shine upon them and make known to them His saving power, that they in turn may make His truth known on the earth to the coming generation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Joseph and all who hold high positions among us, that God would bless them and that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [_____________ and] all who suffer in our midst, that the Lord would grant them health in accord with His perfect will and guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who partake in the great Thanksgiving feast of Christ’s body and blood, that with repentant and thankful hearts we may recognize all His benefits toward us in Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For a legacy of faith, that just as we look to the saints who have gone before us, we, too, may be found faithful by the next generation of believers, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For contentment in our Lord’s care, that we may learn the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need, able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, 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 2022–2023 (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 785 We Praise You, O God, Our Redeemer, Creator
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Thanksgiving Day (One-Year and Series A, B and C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 171 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer, Creator — Historical TLH Edition
Historical text notice: This is the public-domain text of The Lutheran Hymnal 568, not the Lutheran Service Book 785 text. Wording and stanza form may differ.
1. We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring;
We lay it before Thee, We kneel and adore Thee,
We bless Thy holy name, glad praises we sing.
2. We worship Thee, God of our fathers, we bless Thee;
Through life’s storm and tempest our Guide hast Thou been;
When perils o’ertake us, Escape Thou wilt make us,
And with Thy help, O Lord, our battles we win.
3. With voices united our praises we offer,
To Thee, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise.
Thy strong arm will guide us, Our God is beside us,
To Thee, our great Redeemer, fore’er be praise.
by unknown; Translated by Julia B. Cady Cory, 1882-
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 568; text as printed in The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal (1942) (opens in a new tab). Public domain. Project Wittenberg permits distribution, copying and printing.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 893 Sing to the Lord of Harvest
- Distribution LSB 894 For the Fruits of His Creation
- Distribution LSB 789 Praise and Thanksgiving
- Closing LSB 895 Now Thank We All Our God
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.