Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
February 8, 2026
See TodayEpiphany 5
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 58:3–9a (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 112:1–9 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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1 Cor. 2:1–12 (13–16) (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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Matt. 5:13–20 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Epiphany 5
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Righteousness of Christ
Jesus warns that “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20), but He also calls His imperfect people “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13, 14). That’s because the Lord Jesus came not to abolish the Law or the prophets, “but to fulfill them” (Matt. 5:17) in perfect faith and love. Since He does and teaches all of God’s commandments, He is “called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19). God manifests His “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” in “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2–4), and through the preaching of the Gospel He gives His “secret and hidden wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:7). Christ gives this perfect righteousness to His people, and it leads them to true fasting, which is “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free” (Is. 58:6) and “to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house” (Is. 58:7).
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
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 February 8, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Give counsel and aid, O Lord, for Your people cry to You in weakness and in need. Bless and prosper Your Church according to Your purpose, that she may be salt and light, giving bold witness to the redemption You have provided in Jesus Christ and giving shape to Your love by showing compassion to all in need. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless our Synod, her congregations and schools, her pastors, teachers, deaconesses, musicians and all her faithful servants. Bless all preparations for the coming convention this summer, especially those gathering nominations for elected office. Send laborers into Your harvest and sustain those whom You have sent, that they may be faithful and steadfast in their work. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, give Your blessing to our homes, to husbands and wives, to the children in their care, and to extended family. Guide us to serve each other in love. Make our homes places of blessing and peace where Your Word is spoken, forgiveness is shown and love is demonstrated in word and deed. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, according to Your wisdom You establish rulers of this age for a time. Remember Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; and all those You have placed in authority, that they might fulfill their duties with wisdom. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, give healing to the sick, relief to the suffering, comfort to the grieving and peace to the dying [especially _____________]. According to Your will, deliver them from their afflictions, sustain them in their struggles and give them patience in their adversities. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, in Christ Your righteousness goes before us and Your glory is our rearguard. Answer our pleas for mercy this day in the gift of Christ’s body and blood, and prepare all those who commune to receive Him worthily and joyfully. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, endow us with the mind of Christ by the work of Your Spirit, that we do not dismiss Your gifts as folly, but judge and discern all things according to Your wisdom. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
All these things we pray, O Lord, in confidence of Your mercy. Supply us with all things needed and beneficial to us and to our faith, and keep from us all things harmful, that we may rest our fears in You and be granted a clear conscience and peace; through Jesus Christ, 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 February 8, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For counsel and aid for those who cry to the Lord in weakness and in need, that the Lord would bless and prosper His Church so that she may be salt and light, giving bold witness to the redemption provided in Jesus Christ and giving shape to God’s love by showing compassion to all in need, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our Synod, her congregations and schools, her pastors, teachers, deaconesses, musicians and all her faithful servants, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Synod convention this summer and those who are making preparations, especially those gathering nominations for elected office, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our homes, husbands and wives, the children in their care and extended family, that the Lord would guide us to serve each other in love; and that our homes would become places of blessing and peace where God’s Word is spoken, forgiveness is shown and love is demonstrated in word and deed, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the rulers of this age whom God has placed in authority, that they may fulfill their duties in wisdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick, the suffering, the grieving and the dying, [especially _____________,] that they would receive healing, relief, comfort and peace according to the Lord’s will; and that they would be delivered from their afflictions, sustained in their struggles and be granted patience in their adversities, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who commune this day, that Christ, whose righteousness goes before us and whose glory is our rearguard, would visit His people at the altar with grace and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the mind of Christ, that we would not dismiss His gifts as folly, but judge and discern all things according to His wisdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
All these things we pray, O Lord, in confidence of Your mercy. Supply us with all things needed and beneficial to us and to our faith, and keep from us all things harmful, that we may rest our fears in You and be granted a clear conscience and peace; through Jesus Christ, 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 578 Thy Strong Word Did Cleave the Darkness
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Epiphany 5 (Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 167 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 825 Rise, Shine, You People
- Distribution LSB 583 God Has Spoken by His Prophets
- Distribution LSB 873 Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies
- Closing LSB 832 Jesus Shall Reign
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.