Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
December 6, 2026
See TodayAdvent 2
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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Isaiah 40:1–11 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 85 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
1 LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
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- Epistle
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2 Peter 3:8–14 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
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- Gospel
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Mark 1:1–8 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
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Advent 2
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
You Are Prepared through Repentance for the Coming of the Lord
“The gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1) begins when John the Baptist appears and comes “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). As the prophet Isaiah had written, John is the messenger of the Lord, sent before His face to prepare His way. To this day, the ministry of the forerunner continues in the preaching of the Law and the Gospel and in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. By these ways and means, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Is. 40:5), and the Good Shepherd “will gather the lambs in his arms” (Is. 40:11). He speaks “tenderly to Jerusalem,” and He comforts His people by pardoning their iniquity (Is. 40:1–2). What is more, He promises “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Repent, therefore, and humble yourself as you wait for His coming in peace (2 Peter 3:14), because He “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
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 10, 2023 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved! As You led Joseph like a flock, so now by Your Son lead us into straight paths. Bring us out of the bondage of our sins, and plant us securely in Your eternal promises. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, You sent John the Baptist to herald the coming Messiah and proclaim a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. In these latter days, You send pastors to proclaim the same repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and through them lead Your people to trust in Your salvation. Look with kindness upon all pastors, that they may be diligent and faithful heralds of Your beloved Son. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of all comfort, Your Word alone endures forever. The nations of the world come and go before You, even kings and rulers are like grass before Your breath. Preserve us from placing our trust in princes and mortal men. Give us rulers who will rule after Your good pleasure, keeping order and protecting life, that we may live peaceably in godly quietness and honesty. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, to our prayers [especially for _____________]. Give healing, courage and perseverance to all who cry to You, that they may find comfort in Your enduring Word and the certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life with Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father, we know that You are not slow in keeping Your promises. We thank You for Your patience. Do not take Your Spirit from us when we stray from Your commandments, but convict us of our sin and draw us back to You in repentance. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, You invite us again to Your table to receive the medicine of immortality in the body and blood of Christ, Your Son. May we receive this Sacrament rightly, that with faith strengthened and sins forgiven our lives may be lived in holiness and godliness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, as we in the Church on earth wait for the coming of Your Son, we remember all the saints who have gone before us and now rest in Your presence. Keep us safe in Your arms until You gather Your people together in the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells. 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 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 10, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord’s face would shine on us, that we may be saved; and that Christ would lead us in straight paths as He once led Joseph like a flock, bringing us out of the bondage of our sins and planting us securely in His eternal promises, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For diligent and faithful pastors, that like John the Forerunner, they would preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins and herald the Messiah, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For us and our fellow citizens, that God would preserve us from placing our trust in princes and mortal men who come and go like grass before His breath; for our nation, that God would give rulers who will rule after His good pleasure, keeping order and protecting life; and for godly quietness and honesty, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick and sorrowing, that the Shepherd of Israel would give ear to their need [especially _____________]; and for healing, courage and perseverance to all who cry out to God, that they may find comfort in His enduring Word and the certain hope of the resurrection, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Lord’s patience and His Spirit, that when we have strayed from His commandments we may be drawn back to Him in repentance, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune this day, that we may receive this Sacrament rightly as Christ’s true medicine of immortality; and that, with faith strengthened and sins forgiven, we may live in holiness and godliness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In the memory of the saints before us who rest in the Lord’s presence, and for the Church on earth awaiting the coming of Christ, that God would preserve us both until He gathers us to Himself in the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, 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 344 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
The LCMS study identifies this as the Hymn of the Day for the Second Sunday in Advent in Series A, B and C.
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day Studies for Advent — Three-Year Lectionary (revised Dec. 21, 2021), pp. 3–4 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry — Historical TLH Edition
Historical text notice: This is the public-domain text from TLH 63, not the Lutheran Service Book 344 text. Wording and stanza form may differ.
1. On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings.
2. Then cleansed by ev’ry Christian breast
And furnished for so great a Guest.
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.
3. For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.
4. Lay on the sick Thy healing hand
And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face
Till beauty springs in every place.
5. All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
Whose advent sets Thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.
TLH 63
Text: Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3
Author: Charles Coffin, 1676–1749
Translator: John Chandler, 1806–1876 (stanzas 1–3); unknown (stanzas 4–5)
Tune: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 63; Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal (1942), pp. 51–52 (opens in a new tab). Public domain. Project Wittenberg permits distribution, copying and printing.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 343 Prepare the Royal Highway
- Distribution LSB 596 All Christians Who Have Been Baptized
- Distribution LSB 818 In Thee Is Gladness
- Distribution LSB 347 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
- Closing LSB 336 Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending
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.