Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
April 4, 2027
See TodayEaster 3
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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Acts 3:11–21 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 4 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.
1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
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- Epistle
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1 John 3:1–7 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
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- Gospel
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Luke 24:36–49 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them. 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
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Easter 3
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
The Preaching of Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins Makes Us Pure
The risen Lord Jesus taught His disciples “that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead” and “that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:46–47). Therefore, St. Peter preaches repentance and forgiveness to the people of Jerusalem. As he proclaims that Jesus fulfilled all that “God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets” (Acts 3:18), he also convicts the people of their sin, because they “delivered over and denied” this Lord Jesus and “killed the Author of life.” Yet God “glorified his servant Jesus” and raised Him from the dead (Acts 3:13–15). St. Peter calls the people to repent, so that their “sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20). Through this forgiveness of sins and by faith in this forgiveness, the Father shows His love for us in order that “we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1). Thus, we hope in Him and are made pure even “as he is pure,” because “he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin” (1 John 3:3, 5).
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 April 14, 2024 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord God, in Your presence we find fullness of joy, and by Your right hand, Christ Jesus, You win and deliver peace forevermore. In the midst of this world’s sins and sorrows, give us peace in the knowledge of His salvation and confident hope in the resurrection of the dead. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, by the incarnation of Your Son and the reconciliation of His cross, You have made us Your children and gathered us into Your Holy Church. Sustain the preaching of Your Holy Word and its message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name among us and all the nations of the world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give peace, Lord, to our homes and enliven them by Christ’s resurrected life. Let the forgiveness of sins reign among husbands and wives, parents and children. Assure those who live alone that they, too, are Your children, upheld by Your right hand. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, preserve our nation and its leaders, especially Joseph, our president, and _____________, our governor. Preserve order and decency in this fallen world by their hands and restrain the sins and deceptions of the lawless, that we may practice righteousness while awaiting the eternal peace promised in Christ’s wounds alone. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of all comfort, You have compassion on those who are afflicted. Remember and have mercy on [_____________ and] all those in need of Your healing and deliverance. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Your Son’s crucifixion all sins have been blotted out. Send us now the blessed refreshment of His bodily presence in the Sacrament of the Altar, and make us fit partakers in repentance for the forgiveness of our sins. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 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 April 14, 2024 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In thanksgiving for the constant presence of Christ with His Church, in which we find fullness of joy; in praise of God’s right hand, Christ Jesus, whose resurrected body has won peace forevermore; and for a lively hope in the resurrection of the dead, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church and her members, now made children of God through the incarnation of Christ and the reconciliation of His cross, that God would preserve the preaching of His Holy Word and its message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name among us and all the nations of the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our homes, that Christ would give them peace and enliven them with His resurrected life; that He would cause the forgiveness of sins to reign among husbands and wives, parents and children; and that He would assure those who live alone that they, too, are His children, upheld by His right hand, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation and its leaders, especially Joseph, our president, and _____________, our governor; that God would preserve order and decency in this fallen world by their hands; and that He would restrain the sins and deceptions of the lawless so we may practice righteousness while awaiting that eternal peace found only in Christ’s wounds, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For help and healing, that the God of all comfort would have compassion on [_____________ and] all who are afflicted, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune, that Christ, who has blotted out our sins by His crucifixion, would send us the blessed refreshment of His bodily presence in the Sacrament of the Altar and make us fit partakers in repentance for the forgiveness of our sins, 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 483 With High Delight Let Us Unite
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Fourth Sunday of Easter (One-Year) and Easter 3 (Series A, B and C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 168 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 633 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
- Distribution LSB 476 Who Are You Who Walk in Sorrow
- Distribution LSB 505 Triune God, Be Thou Our Stay
- Distribution LSB 474 Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen
- Closing LSB 482 This Joyful Eastertide
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.