Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
February 22, 2026
See TodayLent 1
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Gen. 3:1–21 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Psalm
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Psalm 32:1–7 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Epistle
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Rom. 5:12–19 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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- Gospel
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Matt. 4:1–11 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
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Lent 1
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
Jesus’ Righteous Obedience to the Father Leads to the Justification of All
Following His Baptism, Jesus is “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1). As He takes upon Himself the curse of our sin and sets Himself against our enemy, He trusts His Father’s voice and waits upon His Father’s hand for all things. The devil questions His sonship, but the beloved and well-pleasing Son remains faithful and lives “by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Jesus patiently suffers hunger in His mortal flesh and returns to the dust whence man was taken, and by His pain He brings forth food for all the children of men (Gen. 3:18–19). By the sweat of His brow, we eat the fruit of His cross, even as our nakedness is covered by His righteousness. Although all people live in bondage to death through the trespass of the first man, Adam, all the more “have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many” (Rom. 5:15). His righteous obedience “leads to justification and life for all men” (Rom. 5:18).
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
- Gradual (seasonal)
- Hebrews 12:2 (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 February 22, 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, in the midst of this life we are beset by many temptations. Fix our eyes on our Lord Jesus, who bore temptation for us and resisted to the point of death, and bring us through the evils of this fallen world to dwell with You forever. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desire that they turn from evil and live. Give pastors courage to warn of sin and death. Give all Christians strength to defend that message. Turn sinners to life by the proclamation of Christ, who delivers from all unrighteousness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, preserve all catechumens and their teachers, all children and their parents, and every Christian home from the assaults of the evil one. As Your Son overcame Satan in the desert by the Word of God, so also give us the victory through Christ and His Word. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, You have established earthly authorities to punish evil and praise those who do good. Grant our rulers humble hearts to resist the allure of power and to worship You alone. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, though we deserve nothing of Your kindness, You have shown Yourself to be the strength of the weak, the healer of the sick and the hope of those who mourn. Hear us on behalf of those who are troubled in mind or body, the dying and those who grieve [especially _____________]. Sustain them through their afflictions and pain, heal them according to Your gracious will and deliver them at the last to everlasting life in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You covered the shame of our first parents with animal skin and thereby foreshadowed the perfect sacrifice of Your Son’s blood by which we are cleansed and clothed. Give us the garments of repentance and faith, that we may receive Your Son’s body and blood for the forgiveness of all our sins. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, though You gave us stewardship of Your good creation, we love the gifts more than the giver. Save us from trusting in our possessions more than in Your Son. Teach us to use what You have provided to help those in need and to relieve the poor, the unemployed and the oppressed. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, You have given us a refuge from the world in the Body of Christ. Protect us from all evils of body and soul, that we would find rest in this life and eternal rest in Your heavenly embrace; 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 — 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 22, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith to follow our Lord Jesus and resist temptation, that we would come through this fallen world to dwell with Him forever, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For a faithful proclamation of truth, that God would embolden pastors to warn of sin and death and give all Christians strength to defend that message; and that sinners would be turned to life through the proclamation of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all catechumens and their teachers, all children and their parents, and every Christian home, that God would preserve us from the assaults of the evil one and, as Christ overcame Satan in the desert by the Word of God, give us the victory through Him and His Word, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those with worldly authority, that they would resist the allure of power and would worship God alone, punish evil and praise those who do good, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those troubled in mind or body, the dying and those who grieve, [especially _____________,] that in their afflictions and pain the Lord would sustain and heal them according to His will and deliver them at last to everlasting life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune, that God, who once covered the sin of our first parents with animal skin, foreshadowing Christ’s perfect sacrifice by which we are cleansed and clothed, would give us the garments of repentance and faith to receive Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of all our sins, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In gratefulness for God’s good creation and His gifts, that we may be good stewards of all that He has given and be preserved from trusting in our possessions more than in Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, You have given us a refuge from the world in the Body of Christ. Protect us from all evils of body and soul, that we would find rest in this life and eternal rest in Your heavenly embrace; 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 — 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
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.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 424 O Christ, You Walked the Road
- Distribution LSB 561 The Tree of Life
- Distribution LSB 572 In the Shattered Bliss of Eden
- Closing LSB 422 On My Heart Imprint Your Image
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.