The Congregation at Prayer

For the Week of Pentecost 16 (September 14-19, 2026)

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

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: Philippians 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #555 “Salvation unto Us Has Come”

Hymns for Sunday: 555 (1-5), 555 (6-10), 634, 742, 696, 829

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

Monday: John 12:20–33

Today is Holy Cross Day. How does Jesus talk about His cross? What does He call His crucifixion? Why? How is Jesus’ death like a seed? What now grows from Him?

Tuesday: Luke 7:11-17

When Jesus meets death, who wins? How is this story a preview of Jesus’ own death? How is it a preview of yours?

Wednesday: Psalm 27:1-9

How does faith conquer fear? What is our faith in? How can we be sure our faith is right? Where is our confidence?

Thursday: Isaiah 55:6-9

How do we seek the Lord? Where is He found? How does He reveal His thoughts and ways to us?

Friday: Philippians 1:12–14, 19–30

What does Paul mean when he says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain?” Have you ever thought that? Why? Where do we turn at just such times?

Saturday: Matthew 20:1-16

Why is it so easy to grumble about others? Why so hard to be content for ourselves? How can we do better with that?

The Catechism - The Lord’s Prayer: The Sixth Petition: And lead us not into temptation. What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

Collect for the Week: Lord God, heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; 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, strength, and guidance for Pastor Douthwaite.

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

+ God’s blessing, guidance, and provision for the Lutheran Bible Translators.

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