Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
December 20, 2026
See TodayAdvent 4
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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2 Sam. 7:1–11, 16 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, 5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? 8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: 9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, 11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 89:1–5 (19–29) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
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- Epistle
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Rom. 16:25–27 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
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- Gospel
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Luke 1:26–38 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
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Advent 4
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
The Lord Builds a House for David: Jesus Christ Who Comes in the Flesh
When King David “lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,” he piously supposed that he would build a house for God (2 Sam. 7:1–2). But the Lord would turn it around: He would establish a house for David and an everlasting throne. This He has done not only for David, but also for all His people, in the Son of David, Jesus Christ, “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary” (Apostles’ Creed). That holy child, the incarnate “Son of the Most High,” receives “the throne of his father David” and begins to reign “over the house of Jacob forever” (Luke 1:32–33). Having given Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, His body is the true and eternal temple of God in which His people have their own place of peace and rest. That is “the mystery that was kept secret for long ages” but is now “made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God” in order that we may have faith and life in Christ (Rom. 16:25–26).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series B (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 (B) 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 24, 2023 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
O Lord, our God, nothing is impossible with You. Grant us faith to believe Your Word and follow the example of Your servant Mary, to receive the miraculous gift of Your Son, our Immanuel. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Eternal God, Your Word has been sent forth into the world to the joy and edification of Your holy people. Encourage, comfort and strengthen all who hear it. Grant faith to those who do not know You, both here and abroad, that all peoples may sing to Your name and extol Your goodness. By the power of the Holy Spirit, fill all who hear Your Word with joy and peace in believing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, bless Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; and _____________, our pastor(s), that like the angel Gabriel, they may be faithful messengers of Your Good News. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, let Your favor rest upon all pregnant women and mothers of young children, that they may rejoice in the blessing of new life You give. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of lords, by the reign of Your Son You govern all things in heaven and earth. Raise up true Davids among us to govern our land in faithfulness and in humble strength to do Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, uphold [_____________ and] all who suffer in mind or body. Give them the knowledge of Christ, their Immanuel, who is with them in their trials. Grant them health and healing in accord with Your perfect will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, give us joy that as surely as Your Son was conceived in blessed Mary at Your Word, so He comes to abide in us also at Your Word in the blessed Sacrament. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; 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 B 2023–2024 (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 24, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith like that of the blessed Virgin Mary, God’s servant, who believed Gabriel’s Word and received the miraculous gift of God’s Son, our Immanuel, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Word of God, sent forth into the world to the joy and edification of His holy people, that by it many who do not know Christ may come to faith, be comforted and strengthened with us, and sing to His name and extol His goodness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; and _____________, our pastor(s), that like the angel Gabriel, they may be faithful messengers of His Good News, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all pregnant women and mothers of young children, that the Lord’s favor would rest upon them and that they may rejoice in the blessing of new life He gives, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That new Davids may arise among us to govern our land faithfully under Christ, the Lord of lords, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [_____________ and] all who suffer in mind or body, that Christ, our Immanuel, would be with them in their trials and grant health and healing in accord with His perfect will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune, that we would believe Christ comes to abide in us at His Word in the blessed Sacrament as surely as He was conceived in blessed Mary at God’s Word, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; 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 B 2023–2024 (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 356 The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
- Distribution LSB 332 Savior of the Nations, Come
- Distribution LSB 333 Once He Came in Blessing
- Distribution LSB 338 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
- Closing LSB 355 O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series B 2023–24 (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.