Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
September 19, 2027
See TodayProper 20
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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Jer. 11:18–20 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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18 And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings. 19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. 20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 54 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?
1 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
4 Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.
6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.
7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
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- Epistle
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James 3:13–4:10 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
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- Gospel
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Mark 9:30–37 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. 31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him. 33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
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Proper 20
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
Our Father Cares for His Children with the Gospel of His Son
The sinful heart is filled with “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” (James 3:14), which causes hostility, quarrels and conflicts, even among those who are fellow members of the Body of Christ. This should not be so! Rather, God “opposes the proud” with His Law, in order to humble them unto repentance; He “gives grace to the humble,” in order to exalt them by His Gospel of forgiveness (James 4:6–10). This true “wisdom from above” is found in the gentleness, mercy and peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself and sacrificed Himself for the salvation of sinners (James 3:17). He was “like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter,” committing Himself to God, His Father, “who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind” (Jer. 11:19–20). Therefore, “after three days,” His Father exalted Him by raising Him from the dead (Mark 9:31). In Holy Baptism, He takes disciples of all ages into His arms like little children. In receiving Him through repentance and faith in His forgiveness of sins, they receive from His Father a share in the glory of His cross and resurrection (Mark 9:36–37).
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 34:9, 19 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab), alt.
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 September 22, 2024 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Heavenly Father, You have taken us from all nations and united us in the Body of Your Son. Send Your Holy Spirit to rid Your children of all bitter jealousy, boasting and selfish ambition. Fill the baptized with Your wisdom, that we may lead peaceable lives with sincerity and love. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord of hosts, give our Synod’s leaders and all pastors the wisdom that comes down from above, that they may be peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere. Let them sow among us in peace, and grant a harvest of righteousness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Uphold this world in Your order. Preserve the Church and the preaching of Your Word against all enemies. Bless our homes, that parents and children may serve one another faithfully and grow in instruction and faith until life’s end. Give health and wisdom to all who serve in public office, that their authority may be exercised for the benefit of our people. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, in Your lovingkindness You do not abandon Your children to suffer alone but promise to care for all who call upon Your name. Bless the homebound, the lonely, the depressed and anxious, those preparing for surgery, the ill and the dying [and especially those who desire our prayers: _____________]. Comfort them in their distress, heal all their ills of body and soul, and grant them Your peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord of hosts, Your Son was cut off from the land of the living on the tree of the cross, that we might eat and drink the fruit of His body and blood and live forever. Grant that we may worthily receive His Supper in remembrance of Him. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father, grant that what we ask from You may not be squandered after our passions but sought rightly in faith, that we may receive them and put them into service for You and our neighbors. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into Your hands, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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.
Prayers of the Church for September 22, 2024 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church of Christ, that the Holy Spirit would rid us of all bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our Synod’s leaders and all pastors, that the Lord would give them the wisdom that comes down from above, making them peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere; and that they would sow among us in peace, yielding a harvest of righteousness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the world, that the Lord would uphold it in His order; for the Church, that she would be defended from all enemies; for our homes, that God would bless parents and children in service toward each other and faith until life’s end; and for the government, that God would grant all authorities health and wisdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the homebound, the lonely, the depressed and anxious, those preparing for surgery and the ill, [and especially those who desire our prayers: _____________,] that committing their cause to the Lord and submitting themselves to God, they may know His peace and receive His comfort and healing, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who commune, that we may worthily receive the body and blood of Christ — who was cut off from the land of the living for us on the tree of the cross — so that we may live forever, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For right faith and true prayers, that what we ask from God may not be squandered after our passions, but pressed into His service for our neighbors, 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 851 Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Proper 20 (Series B).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 169 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Lord of Glory, Who hast Bought Us — Historical TLH Edition
Historical text notice: This is the public-domain text of The Lutheran Hymnal 442, not the Lutheran Service Book 851 text. Wording and stanza form may differ.
1. Lord of Glory, who hast bought us
With Thy life-blood as the price,
Never grudging for the lost ones
That tremendous sacrifice;
And with that hast freely given
Blessings countless as the sand
To the unthankful and the evil
With Thine own unsparing hand;
2. Grant us hearts, dear Lord, to yield Thee
Gladly, freely, of Thine own;
With the sunshine of Thy goodness
Melt our thankless hearts of stone
Till our cold and selfish natures,
Warmed by Thee, at length believe
That more happy and more blessed
‘Tis to give than to receive.
3. Wondrous honor hast Thou given
To our humblest charity
In Thine own mysterious sentence,
“Ye have done it unto Me.”
Can it be, O gracious Master,
Thou dost deign for alms to sue,
Saying by Thy poor and needy,
“Give as I have given to you”?
4. Yes, the sorrow and the sufferings
Which on every hand we see
Channels are for tithes and offerings
Due by solemn right to Thee;
Right of which we may not rob Thee,
Debt we may not choose but pay,
Lest that face of love and pity
Turn from us another day.
5. Lord of Glory, who hast bought us
With Thy life-blood as the price,
Never grudging for the lost ones
That tremendous sacrifice,
Give us faith to trust Thee boldly,
Hope, to stay our souls on Thee;
But, oh! best of all Thy graces,
Give us Thine own charity.
by Eliza S. Alderson, 1818-1889
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 442; 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 473 Our Paschal Lamb, That Sets Us Free
- Distribution LSB 637 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord
- Distribution LSB 438 A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth
- Distribution LSB 725 Children of the Heavenly Father
- Closing LSB 730 What Is the World to Me
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.