Three-Year Lectionary

Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.

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July 5, 2026

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Proper 9

Three-Year Lectionary · Series A

First Reading: Zech. 9:9–12 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)

KJV Scripture text

⁹ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. ¹⁰ And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from river even to the ends of the earth. ¹¹ As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

¹² Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
Psalm: Psalm 145:1–14 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)

KJV Scripture text

David’s Psalm of praise.

¹ I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

² Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

⁵ I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

⁶ And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

⁷ They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

⁹ The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

¹⁰ All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.

¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

¹² To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

¹³ Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

¹⁴ The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
Epistle: Rom. 7:14–25a (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)

KJV Scripture text

¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵ For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. ¹⁶ If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. ¹⁷ Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. ¹⁹ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ²⁰ Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. ²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Gospel: Matt. 11:25–30 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)

KJV Scripture text

²⁵ At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. ²⁶ Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. ²⁷ All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Proper 9

Three-Year Lectionary · Series A

About this service

Jesus Christ, Our Savior, Is Our True Peace and Sabbath Rest

Though we have died with Christ in Holy Baptism, and we are raised to new life in Him, we find “another law waging war” in our body and life, that is, between our old Adam and the new man (Rom. 7:23). By the Spirit of Christ, we “desire to do what is right,” but we are not able to do so because “nothing good” dwells in our sinful flesh (Rom. 7:18). “Thanks be to God,” therefore, “through Jesus Christ our Lord,” who delivers us from “this body of death” (Rom. 7:24–25). We rejoice in Him, our gentle King, who comes “righteous and having salvation” (Zech. 9:9). He speaks peace to our embattled hearts, and by His blood of the New Testament He sets us “free from the waterless pit,” and He returns us to the stronghold of our Baptism (Zech. 9:10–12). Though we “labor and are heavy laden,” He calls us to Himself and gives rest to our souls through His free and full forgiveness (Matt. 11:28), not because we are “wise and understanding,” but by the “gracious will” of God the Father, whom “the Son chooses to reveal” in love (Matt. 11:25–27).

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

Introit: Psalm 91:2, 9–10 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
Antiphon: Psalm 91:1 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
Gradual (seasonal): Romans 11:33, 36 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
Verse: Matthew 11:28 (read in KJV 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 July 5, 2026 — Responsive Form

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

O God, Your Son, Jesus, invited us to take up His light and easy burden and so find rest for our souls. Keep us mindful of the eternal rest of salvation that is only found in the work of Christ, our only hope of eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord of heaven and earth, You have hidden things from the wise and understanding. Give to Your Church pastors who will faithfully proclaim the hidden things and make them known to us and our children. May Your Word continue to flourish in our congregation, and may we grow in faith and knowledge. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, fill our homes with Your Word and grace. Be the companion of those who are alone. Strengthen husbands and wives. Bless parents as they catechize their children. Let them all find refuge in You and so preserve them from every plague and evil. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, ruler of all nations, we thank You for the blessings You have bestowed upon the United States of America and her people for 250 years. We pray that You would grant her good and wise government and sustain her in peace and security, especially so that Your Holy Gospel may be confessed openly and received gladly by her people. Bless the celebrations of this milestone, that they may unite our country as a people and cause us to renew our commitment to the public good. Let all Christians give respect, honor and love where each is due, as servants of Christ in this world whose eternal citizenship is in heaven. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, be with all who are weary and heavy-laden with the tribulations of this life. Give comfort to [_____________ and] all who suffer illness. Console them with the knowledge that Your yoke is easy and Your burden light, and that in You they will find rest for their souls. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful Lord, You release Your people from the waterless pit by the blood of Your covenant. Bless all who receive Christ’s body and blood with penitent hearts, trusting in Your promises and a common confession of faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God 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 July 5, 2026 — Ektene Form

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

That we may find rest in the work of Christ alone, and be encouraged by the knowledge of eternal life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For pastors who faithfully proclaim the things that the Lord has hidden from the wise and understanding, that His Word would continue to grow and flourish in us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For our homes, that our heavenly Father would be the companion of those who are alone, the strength of husbands and wives, and the blessing of parents as they catechize their children; and that He would preserve our families from every plague and evil, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the United States of America as she celebrates 250 years of independence and nationhood, that God would grant her good and wise government and sustain her in peace and security, especially so that the Holy Gospel may be confessed openly and received gladly, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the celebrations of this milestone, that they may unite our country as a people and cause us to renew our commitment to the public good; and that all Christians would give respect, honor and love where each is due, as servants of Christ in this world whose eternal citizenship is in heaven, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those weary and heavy-laden with tribulations or illnesses, [especially _____________,] that they would be blessed with the knowledge of His easy yoke and light burden and find rest in the Lord, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those who receive the Sacrament, that with penitent hearts and a common confession of faith, they may be freed by the blood of His eternal covenant, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.

Hymn of the Day

LSB 699 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Proper 9 (Series A).

Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 168 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.

Suggested hymns

Entrance LSB 684 Come unto Me, Ye Weary
Distribution LSB 423 Jesus, Refuge of the Weary
Distribution LSB 618 I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table
Closing LSB 675 Oh, What Their Joy
Closing LSB 966 Before You, Lord, We Bow

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.

Browse LCMS Hymn of the Day lists and studies