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December 25, 2025
See TodayChristmas Dawn
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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Micah 5:2–5a (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 80:1–7 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,you who lead Joseph like a flock.You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,shine forth 2before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.Awaken your might;come and save us.3Restore us, O God;make your face shine on us,that we may be saved.4How long, Lord God Almighty,will your anger smolderagainst the prayers of your people?5You have fed them with the bread of tears;you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.6You have made us an object of derisiona to our neighbors,and our enemies mock us.7Restore us, God Almighty;make your face shine on us,that we may be saved.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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- Epistle
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Titus 3:4–7 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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Luke 2:(1–14) 15–20 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Christmas Dawn
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
The Birth of the Good Shepherd Is Proclaimed to the Shepherds
The first ones to visit the infant Lord Jesus are lowly shepherds (Luke 2:15–20), for Christ came that the last may be first and that the humble may be exalted. Furthermore, Jesus Himself came to be a shepherd, the Good Shepherd who would lay down His life for the sheep. “He shall stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord” (Micah 5:2–5). The babe in the manger whom the shepherds worship is He “whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” For in Christ Jesus, conceived and born of Mary, “the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared” (Titus 3:4). Like Mary, let us keep and ponder in our hearts these things that God has revealed to us through His Word. And like the shepherds, let us glorify and praise God for all the things we have heard and seen in Christ His Son.
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — One-Year Lectionary (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 One-Year Series Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Collect
A verified Collect has not yet been published in the Toolbox for this service.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church are not yet available locally for this service.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 375 Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Christmas Dawn (One-Year and Series A, B and C).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 167 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.