The Congregation at Prayer

For the Seventh Week of Easter (May 18-23, 2026)

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

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: John 7:37b-38 – “Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #497 “Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord”

Hymns for Sunday: 498, 497, 913, 501, 650, 596

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

Monday: Psalm 25:1–15

What do we ask the Lord not to remember? What do we want Him to remember? What causes Him to do both of these?

Tuesday: Joel 3:1-5

What promise does God give to His people? What will He do to His enemies? Should this cause us to rejoice, repent, or both?

Wednesday: Ezekiel 19:1-9

How are the princes of Israel and the nations like lions? What were they doing? Who were they consuming? Jesus is called the “lion of Judah” – what and who did He come to devour?

Thursday: Numbers 11:24–30

How does this event foreshadow what happened on Pentecost?

Friday: Acts 2:1–21

What did God want everyone in Jerusalem that day to know and believe? What did He do to accomplish that? 

Saturday: John 7:37–39

What is “living water?” Where is it for us? How do we get it? What does it do for us?

The Catechism - The Creed: The Second Article [part 1]: And [I believe] in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

Collect for the Week: O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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 keyboardists and musicians.

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

+ God’s blessing, guidance, wisdom, and provision for the Lutheran Church Extension Fund.

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