Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
November 30, 2026
See TodayAdvent 1
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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Isaiah 64:1–9 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,that the mountains would tremble before you!2As when fire sets twigs ablazeand causes water to boil,come down to make your name known to your enemiesand cause the nations to quake before you!3For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.4Since ancient times no one has heard,no ear has perceived,no eye has seen any God besides you,who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.5You come to the help of those who gladly do right,who remember your ways.But when we continued to sin against them,you were angry.How then can we be saved?6All of us have become like one who is unclean,and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;we all shrivel up like a leaf,and like the wind our sins sweep us away.7No one calls on your nameor strives to lay hold of you;for you have hidden your face from usand have given us over toa our sins.8Yet you, Lord, are our Father.We are the clay, you are the potter;we are all the work of your hand.9Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord;do not remember our sins forever.Oh, look on us, we pray,for we are all your people.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 80:1–7 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,you who lead Joseph like a flock.You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,shine forth 2before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.Awaken your might;come and save us.3Restore us, O God;make your face shine on us,that we may be saved.4How long, Lord God Almighty,will your anger smolderagainst the prayers of your people?5You have fed them with the bread of tears;you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.6You have made us an object of derisiona to our neighbors,and our enemies mock us.7Restore us, God Almighty;make your face shine on us,that we may be saved.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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- Epistle
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1 Cor. 1:3–9 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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- Gospel
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Mark 11:1–10 or Mark 13:24–37 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Mark 11:1–10
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”4They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,“Hosanna!a”“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”b10“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”Mark 13:24–37
24 “But in those days, following that distress,“ ‘the sun will be darkened,and the moon will not give its light;25 the stars will fall from the sky,and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’a26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that itb is near, right at the door. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alertc! You do not know when that time will come. 34It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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Advent 1
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
The Lord Jesus Comes in Meekness and Humility to Save Us
Although we pray that God “would rend the heavens and come down” (Is. 64:1), that He would take vengeance against our enemies, we ourselves “have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Is. 64:6). We have continued in our sins for “a long time, and shall we be saved?” (Is. 64:5). Yet, the Lord does not punish us in anger. He comes in voluntary meekness and humility to save us by His grace. Just as He once came into Jerusalem to sacrifice Himself for us upon the cross (Mark 11:4–8), He still comes to His Church with the fruits of His Passion. By His ministry of the Gospel, we are “enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge,” and so He will “sustain you to the end” (1 Cor. 1:5, 8). Although “heaven and earth will pass away,” His words “will not pass away” (Mark 13:31). As He sends disciples to call us to Himself in the fellowship of His Church, so will He “send out the angels” to gather us and all of His elect “from the ends of the earth” to Himself in heaven forever (Mark 13:27).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series B (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 (B) 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 December 3, 2023 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Gracious Lord, sustain Your saints to the end as we enter another Church Year. Encourage the preachers of Your Word and all who hear, that the testimony about Christ may be confirmed among us as we wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give boldness and faithfulness to Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; and all pastors in Christ. Renew the faith and quicken the love of all Christians, that we may be enriched in all speech and knowledge. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, grant Your blessing to all marriages and keep all husbands and wives faithful to each other. Guide them as they care for the children entrusted to them. Bestow Your loving care upon all children who have suffered abuse or neglect, as well as upon all who open their homes to children in foster care. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, behold our nation and its leaders and protect our armed forces, taking them under Your care and blessing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Visit us in Your compassion, O Lord. Deliver the sick from their infirmity, the troubled from their afflictions, the grieving from their sorrow and the dying from their fear [especially _____________]. May all who cry to You receive grace according to Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, entered Jerusalem to shouts and cheers of joy. Grant that we may be stirred by the Word and Sacraments to rejoice anew, now and at His second advent. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, You have made us glad to enter into Your presence to hear the good news of our Savior and receive Your gifts. Preserve Your Church against all her enemies, and lead us to walk in Your ways and to follow Your paths, that when Jesus returns in His glory we may welcome Him with glad hosannas; 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 B 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 December 3, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Lord’s grace and peace as we enter another Church Year, that God who is faithful would confirm the testimony about Christ among us as we wait for His revealing, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; and all pastors in Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord would renew the faith and quicken the love of all Christians, that we may be enriched in all speech and knowledge, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the blessing of marriage and the faithfulness of husbands and wives; for the children entrusted to their care; for the loving care of children who have suffered abuse or neglect; and for those who open their homes to children in foster care, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation, its leaders and our armed forces, that God would take them under His care and let His blessing rest upon them, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick, troubled, grieving and dying, that they may receive grace according to God’s merciful will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who await the second advent of Christ, that their shouts of “hosanna” might be answered now through Word and Sacrament and soon by Jesus’ return, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Gracious Father, You have made us glad to enter into Your presence to hear the good news of our Savior and receive Your gifts. Preserve Your Church against all her enemies, and lead us to walk in Your ways and to follow Your paths, that when Jesus returns in His glory we may welcome Him with glad hosannas; 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 B 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
LSB 332 Savior of the Nations, Come
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for First Sunday in Advent (One-Year) and Advent 1 (Series A, B and C).
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 340/1 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
- Distribution LSB 331 The Advent of Our King
- Distribution LSB 354 Arise, O Christian People
- Distribution LSB 350 Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come
- Closing LSB 334 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series B 2023–24 (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.