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December 25, 2025
See TodayChristmas Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 52:7–10 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 2 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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Heb. 1:1–6 (7–12) (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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John 1:1–14 (15–18) (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Christmas Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Living and Life-Giving Word of God Dwells Among Us in the Flesh
The Lord sends out His ministers of the Gospel to make disciples “of all the nations,” so that “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” The Lord has “bared his holy arm” in the incarnate Christ (Is. 52:7, 10). The child in the manger, born of the Virgin Mary, is the very Word of God, the only begotten Son of the Father, “whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Heb. 1:2). As “all things were made through him” (John 1:3), so are all things redeemed and made new in Him. In His body of flesh and blood, we behold “the radiance of the glory of God” (Heb. 1:3), “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). He dwells among us in peace, that we might have life and light and salvation in Him. For by His Word of the Gospel, we are born again as the children of God, bearing His name and sharing His eternal life.
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 25, 2025 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Father in heaven, with great joy and humble awe we acknowledge Your dear Son to be the Word made flesh. We rejoice that because He is now our brother, we have become Your sons and daughters through Baptism. Keep us, Your children, in true faith in You and in fervent love for one another. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Lord, be pleased to bless all pastors and work through their proclamation of Your Son to bring the good news of joy and salvation to all who hear them. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful God, as our families gather in this holy season, give us patience, that we may be slow to judge and quick to forgive. Comfort the lonely with Your presence, and help us extend the welcome of our homes and the friendship of Your grace. Make us mindful of those less fortunate, who celebrate this blessed feast in poverty and want, and teach us to be generous. Accept with our offerings the living sacrifice of our bodies to Your service and our voices in praise and thanksgiving. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of peace, look on the nations of this world. Give them a spirit of peace so that conflicts would cease, and reveal through the birth of Jesus Your great salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, guard and keep all who are sick, lonely, overwhelmed by grief or poor in spirit, [especially _____________,] that they may be comforted and healed according to Your good and gracious will. Let them look to Jesus Christ and be reminded that He is the light no darkness can overcome. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, humble our hearts in repentance and give us faith to receive with joy and thanksgiving the precious gift of Christ’s body and blood. Grant to Your Church unity of faith and harmony of life and practice. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, sustain those who suffer persecution for the name of Christ. Keep them firm in their faith as they bear witness to the light of the world, that they would never lose sight of their identity as the children of God. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear us, O Lord, for the sake of Your Son, the Word become flesh, the Savior of the nations, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God. 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 25, 2025 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
In thanksgiving and awe at the Word made flesh, that because He has become our brother we now are His sons and daughters through Baptism; and that God would keep us in true faith and fervent love toward each other, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all pastors, that God would work through their proclamation of Christ to bring the good news of joy and salvation to all who hear them, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For families who gather in this holy season, that they may have patience and be slow to judge and quick to forgive, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the lonely, that they may be comforted with Christ’s presence and we may extend to them the welcome of our homes and the friendship of His grace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those in poverty or want, that they may be helped; that God would increase our generosity; and that we would present our bodies as living sacrifices, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the nations of this world, that they would be given a spirit of peace, so that conflicts would cease and all would see in the birth of Jesus the salvation of our God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick, lonely, grieving and poor in spirit, [especially _____________,] that they may find comfort and healing in Jesus Christ, the light no darkness can overcome, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord would humble our hearts in repentance and give us faith to receive with joy and thanksgiving the precious gift of His body and blood; and that the Lord would grant to His Church unity of faith and harmony of life and practice, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who suffer persecution for the sake of Christ, that they would be kept firm in their faith as they bear witness to the light of the world; and that they would never lose sight of their identity as children of God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, O Lord, for the sake of Your Son, the Word become flesh, the Savior of the nations, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God. 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 382 We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Christmas Day (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.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 379 O Come, All Ye Faithful
- Distribution LSB 384 Of the Father’s Love Begotten
- Distribution LSB 621 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
- Closing LSB 387 Joy to the World
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.