The Congregation at Prayer

For the Sixth Week of Easter (May 11-16, 2026)

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

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: Ephesians 1:22-23 – “He put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #494 “See, the Lord Ascends in Triumph”

Hymns for Sunday: 491, 494, 622, 492, 532, 493

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

Monday: Acts 1:12–26

What qualifications did Judas’ replacement need? Why? What would the apostles be doing? Why is this important?

Tuesday: 1 Peter 4:12–19; 5:6–11

Why do Christians suffer? What hope do we have in suffering? How can that help us rejoice when we suffer?

Wednesday: John 17:1–11

How did Jesus glorify His Father? How did the Father glorify Jesus? How are we glorified? How can we glorify God?

Thursday: Acts 1:1–11

How will Jesus “restore the kingdom to Israel?” How will the apostles play a role in that? When will God’s kingdom come?

Friday: Ephesians 1:15–23

To where did Jesus ascend? What is the “right hand of the Father?” What is Jesus doing there? For who?

Saturday: Luke 24:44–53

How do you think Jesus opening the Scriptures to the disciples helped them rejoice when He ascended? When we lack joy, how can the Scriptures lead us back to the joy we need?

The Catechism - The Creed: The First Article [part 3]: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. What does this mean? I believe that . . . He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

Collect for the Week: Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind and continually dwell there with Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 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 Church Technology Council.

+ the Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea), for God’s wisdom, blessing, guidance, and provision.

+ God’s blessing, guidance, wisdom, and provision for the Luther Academy.

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