Live in the rhythm of the Church Year.
Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
October 24, 2026
Reformation Day
· One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
-
Rev. 14:6–7 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
The Messages of the Three Angels
6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
(ESV)
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
- Psalm
-
Psalm 46 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah(ESV)
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
- Epistle
-
Rom. 3:19–28 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
(ESV)
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
- Gospel
-
Matt. 11:12–19 or John 8:31–36 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Matt. 11:12–19
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
(ESV)
John 8:31–36
The Truth Will Set You Free
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
(ESV)
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
Reformation Day
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
The Son of God Has Set Us Free from Sin and Death by His Grace
“Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus the incarnate Son, justifies us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His Kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). For He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by hearing the Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).
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
Reviewed Introit, Gradual and Verse citations have not yet been published in the Toolbox for this service.
Collect
Historical Collect — The Festival of the Reformation
O LORD God, Heavenly Father; Pour out, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit upon Thy faithful people, keep them steadfast in Thy grace and truth, protect and comfort them in all temptation, defend them against all enemies of Thy Word, and bestow upon Christ’s Church militant Thy saving peace; through the same 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 October 31, 2024 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Almighty God, we give You thanks and praise for all Your goodness and tender care, especially on this Reformation festival. Thank You for the gift of Your Son and for the revelation of Your will and grace. Implant Your Word in us, and give us fertile hearts to keep it and bring forth its good fruit in our lives. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of grace, keep us steadfast in Your Word, and prevent our wayward hearts from following false gospels that lead us away from You. Provide Your Church with faithful pastors who preach in purity and joy, that we are saved by Your grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty God, You have great power and yet You act with mercy. Teach those who lead us to use power rightly for the preservation of order, the accomplishment of justice, the protection of life and the defense of the weak. Give us wise, godly and faithful leaders who will follow Your commands and serve with integrity. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, remember all who face adversity of any kind [especially _____________]. Comfort them by Your Holy Spirit, that they would acknowledge their afflictions as the manifestation of Your fatherly will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You have given us the certainty of sins forgiven in Your Son, set forth as the propitiation by His blood to be received by faith. So lead us to eat and drink Your holy body and precious blood in repentance and faith, now and always. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Preserve Your Church, O Lord, and each of us as members of Christ’s Body, that we may not surrender the true Gospel for any reason, but be kept in this faith and fear throughout the days of our earthly pilgrimage, until that day when we and all Your people shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the reward You have prepared for us and all who have loved His appearing; 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 2023–2024 (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 October 31, 2024 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For thankful and steadfast hearts to receive God’s Word, that He would enable us to keep it and bring forth its good fruit in our lives, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For God’s goodness and tender care, especially on this Reformation festival, in thanksgiving for Christ, the revelation of His holy will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faithful hearts, that we would remain steadfast in the Word of God and never follow false gospels that lead us away from His truth; and for pastors who will preach with purity and joy that we are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who lead our land, that they would use power rightly for the preservation of order, the accomplishment of justice, the protection of life and the defense of the weak; and for wise, godly and faithful leaders who will follow the Lord’s commands and serve with integrity, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who face adversity of any kind, [especially _____________,] that our God would comfort them by His Holy Spirit, and that they would acknowledge their afflictions as the manifestation of His fatherly will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune, that in the worthy eating and drinking of the Sacrament they may have the certainty of forgiveness in Christ, who was set forth as the propitiation for our sins by His blood, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Preserve Your Church, O Lord, and each of us as members of Christ’s Body, that we may not surrender the true Gospel for any reason, but be kept in this faith and fear throughout the days of our earthly pilgrimage, until that day when we and all Your people shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the reward You have prepared for us and all who have loved His appearing; 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 2023–2024 (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 — A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (LSB 656 or 657)
Lutheran Service Book 656 or 657
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for First Sunday in Lent (One-Year), Reformation Day (One-Year and Series A, B and C) and Lent 1 (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, pp. 167, 171 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
LSB 555 Salvation Unto Us Has Come
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Septuagesima (One-Year), Reformation Day (One-Year and Series A, B and C) and Proper 20 (Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 167, 169, 171 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 656 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
- Distribution LSB 585 Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide
- Distribution LSB 556 Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice
- Distribution LSB 555 Salvation unto Us Has Come
- Distribution LSB 617 O Lord, We Praise Thee
- Closing LSB 655 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word and/or
- Closing LSB 777/78 Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord
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.