Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
November 15, 2026
See TodayProper 28
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Zeph. 1:7–16 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
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7Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,for the day of the Lord is near.The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;he has consecrated those he has invited.8“On the day of the Lord’s sacrificeI will punish the officialsand the king’s sonsand all those cladin foreign clothes.9On that day I will punishall who avoid stepping on the threshold,awho fill the temple of their godswith violence and deceit.10“On that day,”declares the Lord,“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,wailing from the New Quarter,and a loud crash from the hills.11Wail, you who live in the market districtb;all your merchants will be wiped out,all who trade withc silver will be destroyed.12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lampsand punish those who are complacent,who are like wine left on its dregs,who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing,either good or bad.’13Their wealth will be plundered,their houses demolished.Though they build houses,they will not live in them;though they plant vineyards,they will not drink the wine.”14The great day of the Lord is near—near and coming quickly.The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter;the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.15That day will be a day of wrath—a day of distress and anguish,a day of trouble and ruin,a day of darkness and gloom,a day of clouds and blackness—16a day of trumpet and battle cryagainst the fortified citiesand against the corner towers.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
- Psalm
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Psalm 90:1–12 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
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Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Psalm 90:1-12 in NIV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
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- Epistle
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1 Thess. 5:1–11 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
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Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 in NIV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
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- Gospel
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Matt. 25:14–30 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
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14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,a each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.28 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
Proper 28
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
God’s Gift of Forgiveness Engenders Our Forgiveness of Others
The Day of the Lord is “near and hastening fast,” and it will be “a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation” (Zeph. 1:14, 15). The Lord will search out and punish “the men who are complacent” concerning His Word, “who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud” (Zeph. 1:9, 12). Then all their works and efforts will be for nothing: “Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them” (Zeph. 1:13). But those who fear, love and trust in the Lord are “good and faithful” stewards of His property (Matt. 25:21). They live by faith in His free gift of forgiveness, and they multiply His goods in the loving forgiveness of their neighbor, and “the master of those servants” settles His accounts with them by the gracious reckoning of His Gospel (Matt. 25:19). Likewise, “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9). Therefore, let us also “put on the breastplate of faith and love” in our dealings with one another (1 Thess. 5:8).
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 November 19, 2023 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord God, enter not into judgment with Your servants, for no one living is righteous before You. Have mercy on those haunted by guilt and shame, and faithfully convince them of Your grace and holiness for them in Christ Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Teach us to do Your will, for You are our God. Strengthen pastors to meditate on all You have done and proclaim Your Word in its truth and purity, that Your good Spirit may lead us on level ground, holy and righteous before You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father in heaven, You have made us children of the light and of the day. Bless our homes, especially parents as they teach their children Your ways, that Your people may walk as those armored in faith, love and salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, a nation that despises You will be as a sacrifice to others, for it has rejected You as its strength and shield. Grant repentance in our land, that our laws may be just, our transactions honest and our love for others fervent. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, give ear to our pleas on behalf of the afflicted [including _____________]. For Your name’s sake, preserve their life and grant them healing according to Your will. In Your righteousness, strengthen their faith through all trials and bring their souls out of trouble. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, You have not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Until the day of His coming in glory, grant that we may welcome Him at the altar, even as we are welcomed to Him, receiving His body and blood for our forgiveness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of life, Your Son died for us so that, whether awake or asleep, we might live with Him. Receive our thanks for Your kindness to all who have died in the faith. Comfort those who mourn with the consolation that all who die in Christ live with Him forever. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of grace, preserve us from the temptation to consider You a hard and unmerciful master. Keep us mindful that You give us every good thing in abundance, most of all a place in Your household; for the sake of Your Son, 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 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 19, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those haunted by guilt and shame, that God would not enter into judgment with His servants, but faithfully convince them of His grace and holiness for them in Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For pastors, that God would strengthen them to meditate on all He has done and proclaim His Word in its truth and purity; and that God’s good Spirit may lead us on level ground, holy and righteous before Him, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our families, that as children of the day, we may be blessed to learn the Father’s ways and stand vested in the armor of His faith, love and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For national repentance, that our laws may be just, our transactions honest and our love for others fervent, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the afflicted, [including _____________,] that for His name’s sake, God would preserve their lives and bring their souls out of trouble, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For a right reception of Christ’s body and blood, that since He has destined us not for wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ, God would give us penitent hearts that welcome His grace and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For God’s kindness to those who died in the faith, let us give thanks to the Lord; and that He would comfort all who mourn with the assurance that, whether we are awake or asleep, Christ has died that we might live with Him, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
God of grace, preserve us from the temptation to consider You a hard and unmerciful master. Keep us mindful that You give us every good thing in abundance, most of all a place in Your household; for the sake of Your Son, 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 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 508 The Day Is Surely Drawing Near
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Proper 28 (Series A, B and C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 169, 170 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 785 We Praise You, O God
- Distribution LSB 663 Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray
- Distribution LSB 667 Saints, See the Cloud of Witnesses
- Closing LSB 783/784 Take My Life and Let It Be
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.