Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
May 6, 2027
See TodayAscension Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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Acts 1:1–11 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 47 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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Eph. 1:15–23 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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Luke 24:44–53 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Ascension Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
The Ascended Lord Jesus Is with Us Always in His Church on Earth
After He rose from the dead, the Lord Jesus presented Himself alive to the apostles, “appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). When He ascended to the right hand of the Father, He did not orphan His Church, but He fills all things in heaven and on earth and gives gifts to His disciples. Even now, through His Church, He continues “to do and teach” (Acts 1:1), preaching “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24:47), even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Though the cloud hid Jesus from the sight of His disciples then, and He remains hidden from sight even now, He remains with His people through His Gospel and Sacraments. He comes to us by the word of His apostles, by the promise of His Father and by the power of the Holy Spirit, whom He pours out upon “the church, which is his body” (Eph. 1:22–23). In this Holy Christian Church, we bless God and worship Christ with joy, for in His Church He blesses us with forgiveness, lifts us up in His hands and seats us with Himself “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:20).
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 May 9, 2024 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Father of glory, since Your Son has gone up with a shout and the sound of a trumpet, open our lips to sing praises to our King and live confidently in His victory. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of glory, Your Son has commanded us to go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation. Bless the proclamation of Your Church, that many may believe, be baptized and be saved. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of glory, give us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts to look forward in the hope to which You have called us in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of glory, You put all things under the feet of Your incarnate Son when You seated Him in power at Your right hand. Bless [_____________ and] all who make, administer and enforce our laws. Let the Gospel have free course among us and be preached to the joy and edification of Your people. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of glory, You have raised Your Son from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places. Let His blessing rest upon [_____________ and] all who suffer or grieve, that they may be sustained in their trials and granted His comfort and healing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of glory, You gave Your incarnate Son to the Church as head over all things. Enliven us by the Holy Communion of His body and blood to live in Him as His Body, the Church, and the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and 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 May 9, 2024 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For lips to sing praises to our King; and for confidence to live in His victory, drawing from His ascension on high, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the proclamation of the Church as she goes into all the world and to the whole creation with the Gospel, that many may believe, be baptized and be saved, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Christ, that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened with the hope to which He has called us in Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [_____________ and] all who make, administer and enforce our laws, that the Father who has put all things under the feet of Christ would bless them and let His Gospel have free course to the joy and edification of His people, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [_____________ and] all who suffer or grieve, that they may be sustained in their trials and receive comfort and healing from Christ, who is seated in the heavenly places, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who eat Christ’s body and blood this day, that they may be enlivened to live in Him as His Body, the Church, the fullness of Him who fills all in all, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and 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 491 Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for The Ascension of Our Lord (One-Year) and Ascension Day (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 493 A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing
- Distribution LSB 492 On Christ’s Ascension I Now Build
- Distribution LSB 832 Jesus Shall Reign
- Distribution LSB 494 See, the Lord Ascends in Triumph
- Closing LSB 840 Christ High-Ascended, Now in Glory Seated
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.