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December 21, 2025
See TodayAdvent 4
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 7:10–17 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 24 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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Rom. 1:1–7 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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Matt. 1:18–25 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Advent 4
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
God’s Word Is Fulfilled for Us in the Flesh and Blood of Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary
The Fourth Sunday in Advent turns our attention toward the Nativity of Our Lord. With the blessed Virgin Mary, we await the coming of the Christ, her Son, conceived in her womb by the Word and Spirit of God. This fulfillment of the sign once given to the house of David, that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son” (Is. 7:14), is now given to us in the Gospel. It declares that salvation is by His grace alone, entirely His work and a free gift. It also is the way and means by which the Lord our God is Immanuel, “God with us.” The almighty and eternal Son of God is conceived and born of Mary, and is thus “descended from David according to the flesh” (Rom. 1:3–4). He comes in this way to save us with His own flesh and blood; wherefore, He is called “Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). As Joseph received this sign in faith and immediately “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Matt. 1:24), we also live by faith in this Holy Gospel.
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 21, 2025 — Responsive Form
O God, You have kept Your Word and delivered to us Your own Son by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin. Guide us so that we may rejoice in the Word made flesh and in the redemption He has won by His holy life, life-giving death and resurrection. Bless all pastors, that they may faithfully preach and teach this Gospel. Open the hearts of young men to hear and heed Your call to the ministry. Bless all church workers in their various vocations, that they may serve us well in Your name. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy Lord, You promised the virgin-born Son to reluctant King Ahaz, and in the fullness of time the Word became flesh. Open our hearts and strengthen our faith gladly to receive Your Son in the signs where He is present: not in signs of our own choosing, but in the Holy Word and Sacraments. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You raised up Joseph, a man honorable and just, to be the guardian and earthly father to Your Son. Give all earthly fathers wisdom, patience, pride of duty and, above all, faith and loyalty to Your Word, that knowing Your true Guardianship, they may head their households with godly forbearance. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You do not bear with the tiresome flattery and unbelief of kings and rulers forever. Have mercy on us, Lord, and spare our nation. Clear away all empty shows of piety and renew genuine faith in the Virgin’s Son, that His coming at the last may not be a sign against us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
You are the giver of every good gift, O Lord, and You care for us in all our needs of body, mind and spirit. Give healing to the sick, relief to the suffering, peace to the dying and comfort to those who mourn [especially _____________ and those we name in our hearts]. According to Your gracious will, sustain them all by Your grace, and give them patience and courage as they await the unfolding of Your healing grace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Grant, Holy Father, that all who eat today of this feast of joy may find in the Savior’s body and blood a blessed foretaste of the feast to come, for the strengthening of their faith and the growth of their love. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we give You thanks for Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is the Dayspring from on high and the splendor of light everlasting. By His coming in the flesh and by His blessed Word, enlighten our hearts with the Gospel, enlighten the hearts of those who sit in the darkness of unbelief with the light of saving faith, and enlighten those who dwell in the shadow of death with the certain hope of the resurrection through Him. Grant that, as we recall with thanksgiving His advent in the flesh, we may always confess Him and remain watchful for His advent in glory at the Last Day; through the same 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 21, 2025 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all pastors, that they may faithfully preach and teach the Gospel; for the hearts of young men to be opened to hear and heed the Lord’s call to His ministry; and for all church workers in their various vocations, that they may serve us well in God’s name, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith and humility to receive the virgin-born Son of God in the signs where He is promised to be found: His Holy Word and Sacraments, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For fathers, that like Joseph, they may be honorable and just men; that God would give them wisdom, patience, pride of duty and, above all, faith and loyalty to His Word; and that, knowing the heavenly Father’s true Guardianship, they may head their households with godly forbearance, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation and its rulers, that the Lord would bear patiently with this land despite its tiresome flattery and unbelief; that God would clear away all empty shows of piety; and that He would renew genuine faith in the Virgin’s Son, that His return may not be a sign against us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For healing for the sick, relief to the suffering, peace to the dying and comfort to those who mourn, [especially _____________ and those we name in our hearts,] that they would be sustained in all adversity and given patience and courage as they await the unfolding of the Lord’s healing grace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who eat today this feast of joy, that in the Savior’s body and blood we may be granted a blessed foretaste of the feast to come for the strengthening of our faith and the growth of our love, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we give You thanks for Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is the Dayspring from on high and the splendor of light everlasting. By His coming in the flesh and by His blessed Word, enlighten our hearts with the Gospel, enlighten the hearts of those who sit in the darkness of unbelief with the light of saving faith, and enlighten those who dwell in the shadow of death with the certain hope of the resurrection through Him. Grant that, as we recall with thanksgiving His advent in the flesh, we may always confess Him and remain watchful for His advent in glory at the Last Day; through the same 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 357 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
The LCMS studies identify this as the Hymn of the Day for the Fourth Sunday in Advent in the One-Year Lectionary and Series A, B and C.
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day Studies for Advent — One-Year and Three-Year lectionaries (revised 2021), pp. 7–8 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel — Historical TLH Edition
Historical text notice: This is the public-domain text of The Lutheran Hymnal 62, not the Lutheran Service Book 357 text. Wording and stanza form may differ.
1. Oh, come, Oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
2. Oh, come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
3. Oh, come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
4. Oh, come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home:
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
by unknown author, c. 1100; Translated by John M. Neale, 1818-1866
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 62; text as printed in The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal (1942) (opens in a new tab). Public domain. Project Wittenberg permits distribution, copying and printing.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 338 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
- Distribution LSB 618 I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table
- Distribution LSB 900 Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love
- Closing LSB 361 O Little Town of Bethlehem
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.