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December 28, 2025
See TodayThe Holy Innocents
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Jer. 31:15–17 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. 16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
- Psalm
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Psalm 54 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?
1 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
4 Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.
6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.
7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
- Epistle
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Rev. 14:1–5 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
- Gospel
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Matt. 2:13–18 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
The Holy Innocents
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
“A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children” (Jer. 31:15). Herod rages and sends to kill all boys two years and younger (Matt. 2:16), desperate to destroy the newborn King of kings. The Church remembers these innocent victims as martyrs. They died for the One who came to die for them. This dark commemoration bears witness to the cruelty of sinful men and the world’s hatred of Christ, who has sanctified our fragile life even from His conception and birth. But the boy who escaped Bethlehem’s bloody streets unscathed went on to face thorns, nails and spear for them and for us. He is the Lamb whose name is written with the Father’s name on the foreheads of His baptized saints (Rev. 14:1). By His death, He has redeemed an inheritance for Himself and brought peace at last by His blood. On the fourth day of Christmas, we sing “a new song” of the Lamb, of Christ the true martyr, whose death testifies that our redemption is won. We “follow the Lamb wherever he goes” (Rev. 14:3, 4), for He will bring our tears to an end.
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
Reviewed Introit, Gradual and Verse citations have not yet been published in the Toolbox for this service.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for December 28, 2025 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Almighty God, as the Holy Innocents suffered in the wake of Herod’s rage, so do martyrs of all ages continue to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. Strengthen Your children who face trials and danger because of their faith in Christ. Preserve them from evil, and comfort the families of all who die in His name. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Blessed Lord, You have given us hope and established us in the peace of Christ, our Savior. Give Your Church boldness to speak the message of the cross and empty tomb without fear. Raise up faithful pastors to serve us in Your name, and call many to service in the Church here and throughout the world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father in heaven, You have honored and consecrated the home by the birth and life of Your beloved Son. Instill in Your people a godly love and reverence for their families, and enrich our lives together by Your Word and promise. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You are the author of life. Protect life from its natural beginning to its natural end. Grant Your protection to the unborn and to mothers with child. Keep safe both mother and child during childbirth. Grant comfort and Your grace to those who suffer miscarriage or the death of a child. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy One of Israel, have mercy on our nation. Give us good and faithful rulers who will govern after Your good pleasure. Give us comfort and a right understanding of Your rule in this world, that we would not be deceived to think earthly powers will last forever, but have confidence in You alone. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, hear us for the sake of all who cry to You in their need. Heal the sick, relieve the suffering, comfort the mourning and guide the dying to peace in Christ [especially _____________]. Restore them with Your abundant grace, and according to Your will deliver them from all their troubles. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, You sent Your Son into our flesh to share our human life, die our death and rise for our justification. As He comes to us again in His Sacrament, make us worthy homes for His saving presence. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, grant that we may remain steadfast and immovable in faith, and that we may endure to the day of Christ’s coming. Reunite us with those who have gone before us and now rest from their labors, and grant that we may live in Your eternal presence and sing Your praise without end; 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 28, 2025 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For fortitude in the face of martyrdom, that God would strengthen all who suffer trials and danger because of their faith in Christ, preserve them from evil, and comfort the families of all who die in His name, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, that the Lord would raise up faithful pastors to serve in His name and speak boldly the message of the cross; and that God would call many to service in the Church here and throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the families of God’s people, that our homes may be blessed and our life together sanctified by the life of Jesus, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the protection of life from its natural beginning to its natural end; for the special protection of the unborn, mothers with child, and the safekeeping of mother and child during childbirth; and for the comfort of God’s grace to those who suffer miscarriage or the death of a child, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation, that its rulers would be good and faithful, governing after God’s good pleasure; and for its citizens, that having a right understanding of God’s rule in this world, they would not be deceived to think earthly powers will last forever, but have confidence in Him alone, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick, suffering, mourning and dying, [especially _____________,] that they would be restored by God’s abundant grace and delivered from all their troubles, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That the Son of God, who came once in His blessed incarnation, would again reveal His saving presence in His Holy Sacrament, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord, grant that we may remain steadfast and immovable in faith, and that we may endure to the day of Christ’s coming. Reunite us with those who have gone before us and now rest from their labors, and grant that we may live in Your eternal presence and sing Your praise without end; 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 969 Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for The Holy Innocents (One-Year and Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 170 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
LSB 764 When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for The Holy Innocents (One-Year and Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 170 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 765 God Moves in a Mysterious Way
- Distribution LSB 517 By All Your Saints in Warfare
- Distribution LSB 764 When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love
- Closing LSB 725 Children of the Heavenly Father
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.