The Congregation at Prayer

For the Week of Ash Wednesday (February 16-21, 2026)

Invocation: In the Name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: Romans 5:19 – “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #656 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”

Hymns for Sunday: 656, 422, 561, 620, 562, 424, 544

Readings for the Week: [The readings for Thursday-Saturday are the Scriptures for this coming Sunday.]

Monday: Joel 2:12-19

What is the Lord calling His people to do? How? Who was included? What confidence do we have to do this?

Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10

What does it mean to “receive the grace of God in vain?” Have you done this? How? Why? How can we avoid doing this?

Wednesday: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

What’s the difference between being righteous before others and righteous before God? Why do we care so much what others think of us? What really matters?

Thursday: Genesis 3:1-21

Once their eyes were opened, Adam and Eve could not unsee what they had done. So what do their Father do for them? What did they now need to see and hear? How do we need the same?

Friday: Romans 5:12-19

How was Jesus like Adam? How was Jesus unlike Adam? What do we inherit from Adam? What do we inherit from Jesus?

Saturday: Matthew 4:1-11

What were satan’s three temptations? How did Jesus answer them? Why did that work? How can we do the same?

The Catechism - The Ten Commandments: The Third Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

Collect for the Week: O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Prayers:  Please pray for . . .

+ yourself and for all in need (remembering especially those on our prayer list).

+ God’s blessing, wisdom, and guidance for our congregation’s Building Committee.

+ the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti, for God’s wisdom, blessing, guidance, and provision.

+ God’s blessing, guidance, and wisdom for our Synod president, Matthew Harrison.

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer from the Catechism.

Now joyfully go about your day (or to bed) in good cheer, child of God!

Collect for the Week © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.

Lutheran Service Book Hymn License: 110019268