Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
December 25, 2026
See TodayChristmas Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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Isaiah 52:7–10 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 2 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
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- Epistle
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Heb. 1:1–6 (7–12) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
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- Gospel
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John 1:1–14 (15–18) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
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Christmas Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
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.” For 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 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 25, 2023 — Responsive Form
Lord, all the ends of the earth will see Your salvation. Lift our hearts to hope and joy in the celebration of our Savior’s birth, that we would manifest this joy in witness to the world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless churches, schools and every place where the good news of God-in-our-flesh is taught. Guide our hearts to discern the voice of truth from error. Lead us to know and confess with all joy the good news of our Savior, that those who hear may rejoice with us and the holy angels to worship Christ, the newborn King. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, You have comforted Your people and bared Your holy arm for our salvation. Preserve those threatened by persecution for the sake of Christ. Grant courage, comfort and peace to those who suffer danger or violence. 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.
Lord, the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. Give peace to the troubled in mind and heart. Deliver them from the taunts and temptations of the evil one. Enable us to help them with compassion. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mercifully grant healing, relief, comfort and peace to all the sick, to those who suffer, to the dying and to those who grieve [especially _____________]. Bless doctors, nurses, all medical professionals and caregivers in their service of aid and comfort. Let all rejoice in the good news of Christ, our light and salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, You graciously give us everything we need. Teach us generosity for the work of Your kingdom. Accept the tithes and offerings we return to You, through which we display before the world our trust in Your provision and goodness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father, the great love that laid Your Son in a manger also lays His flesh and blood before us in bread and wine. Grant us grace to bow our hearts before Him with all those in heaven and on earth who adore Him, that we may receive His forgiveness and life with repentance and joy. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, in the birth of Your Son You have called people from every time and place into His Body, the Church. We give You thanks for the believers who went before us, especially who were with us in Christmases past and who now live with You. Grant us sure confidence in Your promise of resurrection and eternal life, and bring us with them at last into Your presence; 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 25, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord would lift our hearts to hope and joy in the celebration of our Savior’s birth; and that we would manifest this joy in witness to the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For churches, schools and every place where the good news of God-in-our-flesh is taught, that the voice of truth may be discerned from all error so we may know and confess with joy the good news of our Savior, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord would preserve those threatened by persecution for the sake of Christ and grant them courage, comfort and peace, 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.
That the Lord would give peace to those troubled in mind and heart, deliver them from the taunts and temptations of the evil one, and enable us to show them compassion, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord would grant healing, relief, comfort and peace to all the sick, suffering, dying and those who grieve [especially _____________]; that the Lord would bless doctors, nurses, all medical professionals and caregivers in their service; and that all would rejoice in the good news of Christ, our light and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That the Lord would teach us generosity for the work of His kingdom; that we would return to Him tithes and offerings; and that by them, we may display before the world our trust in His provision and goodness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all communicants, that we may receive the great love of God, which laid His Son in a manger and now lays His flesh and blood before us in the Sacrament; and that we may bow our hearts before Him with all those in heaven and on earth who adore Him, receiving His forgiveness and life with repentance and joy, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, in the birth of Your Son You have called people from every time and place into His Body, the Church. We give You thanks for the believers who went before us, especially who were with us in Christmases past and who now live with You. Grant us sure confidence in Your promise of resurrection and eternal life, and bring us with them at last into Your presence; 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 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 367 Angels from the Realms of Glory
- Distribution LSB 621 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
- Distribution LSB 403 O Savior of Our Fallen Race
- Distribution LSB 383 A Great and Mighty Wonder
- Closing LSB 388 Go Tell It on the Mountain
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.