Live in the rhythm of the Church Year.
Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
December 7, 2025
See TodayAdvent 2
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
-
Isaiah 11:1–10 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
- Psalm
-
Psalm 72:1–7 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
A Psalm for Solomon.
1 Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.
2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
- Epistle
-
Rom. 15:4–13 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
- Gospel
-
Matt. 3:1–12 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Advent 2
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
By the Preaching of Repentance, We Are Prepared for the Coming of the Lord
“John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent’” (Matt. 3:1–2). His preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins prepared people for the coming of Christ into the world. St. John’s work was historically complete with the incarnate advent of Jesus, but his vital ministry continues in preaching Law and Gospel. The Son of God has come in the flesh, “a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots” (Is. 11:1), and continues to bear the fruits of righteousness. His good tree of the cross is “a signal for the peoples” (Is. 11:10), by which He calls the nations to repentance. “With the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips” (Is. 11:4), He slays the wicked and brings the dead to life, making sons of Abraham out of lifeless stones. So also the “root of Jesse” comes to us, “even he who arises to rule the Gentiles” (Rom. 15:12), that “we might have hope” and be filled “with all joy and peace in believing” (Rom. 15:4, 13).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series A (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
Source: LCMS Three-Year Series (A) 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 December 7, 2025 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Merciful God, You remember Your covenant forever, for a thousand generations. Teach us to remember Your wondrous works and seek Your strength and presence continually. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, the voice of Your prophet broke the silence to prepare the way for Your Son. Give Your people the courage to speak Christ to the nations and teach those still in darkness and death about His gift of light and life. Keep us from being ashamed of the Gospel or intimidated by the opinions of others. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, You give Your Word to the Church for encouragement and instruction in endurance. Continue to instruct us by Your Word, that we may abound in hope. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You preserved Jesse’s faithful line by the incarnation of Your Son. Give families and individuals strength to faithfully fulfill their vocations to love and forgive one another, that we may be trained up in Your fear, love and trust. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, Your Son rules over creation with justice and righteousness. Endow those in authority with the desire and ability to protect the innocent, punish the wicked and work for the common welfare. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, St. John spoke the promise of healing to the broken and wounded. Give to all afflicted in body or mind the riches of Your grace, healing according to Your will, and grace to carry them through the day of their trouble. [We pray especially for _____________.] Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, and make ready the way of Your only begotten Son, who comes to us this day in His true body and precious blood for the forgiveness of our sins. May all who feast upon Him do so in repentance and faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us all things needful and keep from us all things harmful to us and to our salvation, that with confidence in Your will, we may say “amen” to our prayers and live in contentment and peace; 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 A 2025–2026 (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 December 7, 2025 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For God’s covenant people, that He would teach them to remember His wondrous works and to seek His strength and presence, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For courage to speak Christ to the nations and to teach those still in darkness and death about His gift of light and life; and that God would keep us from being ashamed of His Gospel or intimidated by the opinions of others, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who grow in the faith, that God’s Word of encouragement and instruction in endurance would cause them to abound in hope, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For families, that they would faithfully fulfill their vocations to love and forgive one another, even as they grow in the fear, love and trust of the Lord, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For civil authorities, that they would govern with justice and righteousness as leaders appointed by God to protect the innocent, punish the wicked and work for the common welfare of all, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those afflicted in body or mind, [especially _____________,] that they would receive the riches of God’s grace, healing according to His will, and grace to carry them through the day of trouble, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune this day, that their hearts would be stirred up to make ready the way of the Lord Jesus, who comes in His body and blood, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us all things needful and keep from us all things harmful to us and to our salvation, that with confidence in Your will, we may say “amen” to our prayers and live in contentment and peace; 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 A 2025–2026 (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 344 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
The LCMS study identifies this as the Hymn of the Day for the Second Sunday in Advent in Series A, B and C.
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day Studies for Advent — Three-Year Lectionary (revised Dec. 21, 2021), pp. 3–4 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry — Historical TLH Edition
Historical text notice: This is the public-domain text from TLH 63, not the Lutheran Service Book 344 text. Wording and stanza form may differ.
1. On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings.
2. Then cleansed by ev’ry Christian breast
And furnished for so great a Guest.
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.
3. For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.
4. Lay on the sick Thy healing hand
And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face
Till beauty springs in every place.
5. All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
Whose advent sets Thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.
TLH 63
Text: Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3
Author: Charles Coffin, 1676–1749
Translator: John Chandler, 1806–1876 (stanzas 1–3); unknown (stanzas 4–5)
Tune: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 63; Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal (1942), pp. 51–52 (opens in a new tab). Public domain. Project Wittenberg permits distribution, copying and printing.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 348 The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
- Distribution LSB 636 Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness
- Distribution LSB 354 Arise, O Christian People
- Closing LSB 346 When All the World Was Cursed
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series A 2025–26 (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.