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 NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
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1Comfort, comfort my people,says your God.2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,and proclaim to herthat her hard service has been completed,that her sin has been paid for,that she has received from the Lord’s handdouble for all her sins.3A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness preparethe way for the Lorda;make straight in the deserta highway for our God.b4Every valley shall be raised up,every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level,the rugged places a plain.5And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”6A voice says, “Cry out.”And I said, “What shall I cry?”“All people are like grass,and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.7The grass withers and the flowers fall,because the breath of the Lord blows on them.Surely the people are grass.8The grass withers and the flowers fall,but the word of our God endures forever.”9You who bring good news to Zion,go up on a high mountain.You who bring good news to Jerusalem,clift up your voice with a shout,lift it up, do not be afraid;say to the towns of Judah,“Here is your God!”10See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,and he rules with a mighty arm.See, his reward is with him,and his recompense accompanies him.11He tends his flock like a shepherd:He gathers the lambs in his armsand carries them close to his heart;he gently leads those that have young.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 85 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
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For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.1You, Lord, showed favor to your land;you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2You forgave the iniquity of your peopleand covered all their sins.a3You set aside all your wrathand turned from your fierce anger.4Restore us again, God our Savior,and put away your displeasure toward us.5Will you be angry with us forever?Will you prolong your anger through all generations?6Will you not revive us again,that your people may rejoice in you?7Show us your unfailing love, Lord,and grant us your salvation.8I will listen to what God the Lord says;he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly.9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,that his glory may dwell in our land.10Love and faithfulness meet together;righteousness and peace kiss each other.11Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,and righteousness looks down from heaven.12The Lord will indeed give what is good,and our land will yield its harvest.13Righteousness goes before himand prepares the way for his steps.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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- Epistle
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2 Peter 3:8–14 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
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8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.a11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.b That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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- Gospel
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Mark 1:1–8 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
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1The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,a the Son of God,b 2as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:“I will send my messenger ahead of you,who will prepare your way”c—3“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way for the Lord,make straight paths for him.’ ”d4And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you withe water, but he will baptize you withf the Holy Spirit.”Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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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.