Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
December 31, 2026
See TodayNew Year's Eve
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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Isaiah 30:(8–14) 15–17 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: 9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. 15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. 17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 90:1–12 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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A Prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
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- Epistle
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Rom. 8:31b–39 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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- Gospel
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Luke 12:35–40 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
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New Year's Eve
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
The Lord Comes by Way of the Cross to Serve Us at His Table in Peace
When we despise the Lord’s Word “and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them” (Is. 30:12), we face catastrophe. Our idolatry “is smashed so ruthlessly” (Is. 30:14), so that we are called to repentance. The Lord calls us by the cross, “like a signal on a hill” (Is. 30:17), to return to Him and rest in His salvation. For “he who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all” graciously provides us with all good things in Him (Rom. 8:32). Since “Christ Jesus is the one who died,” who is risen from the dead and seated at God’s right hand, “interceding for us” (Rom. 8:34), “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). It is in that hope that we live “like men who are waiting for their master” (Luke 12:36). He daily awakens us by His preaching of repentance, raises us by His Word of forgiveness and keeps our lamps burning by the grace of His Gospel. He comes to us by way of the cross, in order to bless us and serve us at His table in peace.
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
Reviewed Introit, Gradual and Verse citations have not yet been published in the Toolbox for this service.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for December 31, 2023 — Responsive Form
Lord God, eternal Father and Giver of every good gift, we commit to Your mercy the year now ending. Forgive us our sins where we have done wrong, work in our hearts true repentance and faith, and redeem us from all the evil of this past year. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You have shown us hard times and exposed many idols among us; yet, if we are faithless, Christ remains faithful and will not deny Himself. Help our unbelief, that we may know nothing can separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You have preserved this congregation in the faith for another year. We give You thanks for Your blessing and guidance. Grant that, by Your grace, we may continue to serve You in this place. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, preserve our preaching and teaching so it is faithful to Your Word. Ensure that Your Holy Sacraments are administered according to Your commands and promises, and help us to reach out in love to our community. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, we commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. Until You bring this life on earth to an end, guard and guide us by Your strong arm. Lead us according to Your Word, and renew in us clean hearts that trust You and show love toward our neighbors. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, hear our prayers for our nation and its government. Preserve our republic, we implore You. Give health and competence to those who serve in positions of authority [especially _____________]. Protect those who serve in the line of danger for our safety, and give peace in our time. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, we give thanks to You for the many mercies and gifts You showered upon us this past year. You have given life, healed and comforted. You have provided for our spiritual and physical well-being. You take care of us every day. All this You have done, not because of any merit in us, but only out of Your love for us in Jesus, our Savior. Comfort and sustain Your children who suffer from sickness, need or affliction. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, strengthen all who commune at this altar, that the body and blood of Christ would keep them in the one, true faith to life everlasting. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You neither slumber nor sleep as You keep watch over us, while our eyes ever grow heavy with sleep. Have compassion on our weak flesh and pour out Your Spirit upon us, that in faith we would stay dressed for action with our lamps burning until our Master comes. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, abide among us in this new year with Your Holy Spirit, that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, 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 31, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the year now ending; for what has been done wrongly; for the evils and hurts endured; for hard times and the idols God has exposed among us; and for unbelief, yet in confidence that, if we are faithless, Christ remains faithful and will not deny Himself, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In thanksgiving for this congregation and the Lord’s preservation for another year; and for His preservation in the year to come, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For His blessing and guidance; for the preservation of faithful preaching and teaching in this place; for the Sacraments administered according to His command and promise; and that we may continue in His service and reach out in love to our community, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the year to come, that God would guard and guide us by His strong arm; that He would lead us according to His Word; that He would renew in us clean hearts that trust Him and show love to our neighbors; and that we would commend this and all time to the Lord’s blessing and love, until He brings this life on earth to an end, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation and its government, that God would be pleased to preserve our republic; for those who serve in positions of authority, [especially _____________,] that God would give them health and competence; for those who serve in the line of danger; and for peace in our time, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In thanksgiving for the many gifts showered upon us this past year; for life, healing and comfort; and for spiritual and physical well-being, all of which God has given not because of merit in us, but out of His love in Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who suffer from any sickness, need or affliction, that in the coming year God would provide comfort, preservation and relief from their ills, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who commune at this altar, that the body and blood of Christ would keep them firm in the one, true faith to life everlasting, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For spiritual watchfulness, that we would be ready to open the door for our Master when He returns and knocks, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, abide among us in this new year with Your Holy Spirit, that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, 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 899 Across the Sky the Shades of Night
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for New Year's Eve (One-Year and Series A, B and C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 170 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Across the Sky the Shades of Night — Historical TLH Edition
Historical text notice: This is the public-domain text of The Lutheran Hymnal 110, not the Lutheran Service Book 899 text. Wording and stanza form may differ.
1. Across the sky the shades of night
This New Year’s Eve are fleeting.
We deck Thine altar, Lord, with light,
In solemn worship meeting;
And as the year’s last hours go by,
We raise to Thee our earnest cry,
Once more Thy love entreating.
2. Before the cross subdued we bow,
To Thee our prayers addressing,
Recounting all Thy mercies now,
And all our sins confessing;
Beseeching Thee this coming year
To keep us in Thy faith and fear
And crown us with Thy blessing.
3. And while we pray, we lift our eyes
To dear ones gone before us,
Safe home with Thee in Paradise,
Whose peace descendeth o’er us;
And beg of Thee, when life is past,
To reunite us all at last
With those who’ve gone before us.
4. We gather up in this brief hour
The memory of Thy mercies:
Thy wondrous goodness, love, and power
Our grateful song rehearses;
For Thou hast been our Strength and Stay
In many a dark and dreary day
Of sorrow and reverses.
5. In many an hour when fear and dread,
Like evil spells, have bound us
And clouds were gathering overhead,
Thy providence hath found us.
In many a night when seas ran high,
Thy gracious presence, drawing nigh,
Hath made all calm around us.
6. Then, 0 great God, in years to come,
Whatever may betide us,
Right onward through our journey home
Be Thou at hand to guide us;
Nor leave us till at close of life
Safe from all perils, toil, and strife,
Heaven shall enfold and hide us.
by James Hamilton, 1819-?
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 110; text as printed in The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal (1942) (opens in a new tab). Public domain. Project Wittenberg permits distribution, copying and printing.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 899 Across the Sky the Shades of Night
- Distribution LSB 726 Evening and Morning
- Distribution LSB 390 Let Us All with Gladsome Voice
- Distribution LSB 818 In Thee Is Gladness
- Closing LSB 880 Now Rest beneath Night’s Shadow
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.