Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
May 31, 2027
See TodayProper 4
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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Deut. 5:12–15 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. 13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: 14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. 15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 81:1–10 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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To the chief Musician upon Gittith, a Psalm of Asaph.
1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
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- Epistle
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2 Cor. 4:5–12 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
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- Gospel
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Mark 2:23–28 (3:1–6) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? 27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
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Proper 4
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
Christ Jesus Is the Sabbath Rest that Remains for the People of God Forevermore
The Lord brought the sons of Israel out of Egypt “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,” in order to give them rest (Deut. 5:15). When He commanded them to “observe the Sabbath day,” therefore, it meant not doing “any work” but resting in His works (Deut. 5:12, 14). So has the same Lord, Jesus Christ, come in the flesh to fulfill the Law and to become our Sabbath Rest. As David “entered the house of God,” and not only “ate the bread of the Presence” but “also gave it to those who were with him” (Mark 2:26), the Lord Jesus entered the Holy of Holies as our great High Priest, in order to feed us with His flesh as the true bread of the Presence of God. As “lord even of the Sabbath,” He works “to do good,” to heal and “to save life” (Mark 2:28; 3:2, 4). He brings us out of sin and death and gives us rest in His own crucified and risen body. Though it is given “in jars of clay,” the life of Jesus is thereby manifested in our bodies (2 Cor. 4:7–11).
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
- Gradual (seasonal)
- Psalm 145:3, 5b, 6b (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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 June 2, 2024 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
God of all light and power, You shine upon Your creatures and eradicate all darkness that lies within them. Destroy the darkness our sin has caused in our lives. Help us to shine the light of Your grace and truth. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of glory, You have gathered Your Church and sanctified us in Your truth. Guide and direct Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; and _____________, our circuit visitor. Preserve all vacant congregations, send laborers into Your harvest and sustain those whom You have sent. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless the fields and orchards with good weather, that all people may be well supplied and filled with an awareness of Your mercies. Grant that we may show forth grateful and generous hearts within Your Church and in the world around us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You have established all authorities on the earth. Bless all public servants, especially Joseph, our president, and _____________, our governor, that they would fulfill their offices with wisdom and compassion. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, be the strength and song of those who are afflicted in body or mind, [especially _____________,] as well as all who suffer in our midst. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give repentance and faith to all who receive our Lord’s body and blood today, that in the unity of a true confession, they may receive it for the forgiveness of their sins. 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 June 2, 2024 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the faithful gathered here, that God would shine upon us and destroy the darkness our sin has caused in our lives, and thereby help us to shine the light of His grace and truth, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, gathered and sanctified in God’s truth; for Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; and _____________, our circuit visitor, that they would be guided and directed in their tasks; and for all vacant congregations, that God would send laborers into His harvest and sustain those whom He has sent, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For awareness of God’s mercies that are new each day, that we may show forth grateful and generous hearts in the Church and the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For good weather, that we and all people may be well supplied, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all public servants, especially Joseph, our president, and _____________, our governor, that they would fulfill their offices with wisdom and compassion, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who are afflicted in body or mind, [especially _____________,] as well as all who suffer in our midst, that the Lord would be their strength and song, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune this day, that they would receive our Lord’s body and blood in repentance and faith for the forgiveness of sins and in the unity of a true confession, 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 906 O Day of Rest and Gladness
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Proper 4 (Series B).
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 849 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
- Distribution LSB 621 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
- Distribution LSB 594 God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It
- Distribution LSB 903 This Is the Day the Lord Has Made
- Closing LSB 906 O Day of Rest and Gladness
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.