Author: THERESA JACOBSON

First Sunday after Christmas	December 27, 2026
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature and be born of the Virgin Mary. Grant that we, having been redeemed and made your children by grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 
First Reading: Isaiah 61:10-62:3
^10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ^11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. 
^1For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. ^2The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. ^3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
Psalm 111
^1Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with | my whole heart,*
	in the assembly of the upright, in the | congregation.
^2Great are the deeds | of the Lord!*
	they are studied by all who de- | light in them.
^3His work is full of majes- | ty and splendor,*
	and his righteousness en- | dures forever.
^4He makes his marvelous works to | be remembered;*
	the Lord is gracious and full | of compassion.
^5He gives food to | those who fear him;*
	he is ever mindful | of his covenant.
^6He has shown his people the power | of his works*
	in giving them the lands | of the nations.
^7The works of his hands are faithful- | ness and justice;*
	all his command- | ments are sure.
^8They stand fast forev- | er and ever,*
	because they are done in | truth and equity.
^9He sent redemption to his people; he commanded his cove- | nant forever;*
	holy and awesome | is his Name.
^10The fear of the Lord is the begin- | ning of wisdom;*
	those who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise en- | dures forever.
Psalm 111 (ESV)
^1Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
^2Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
^3Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
^4He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
^5He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
^6He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
^7The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;
^8they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
^9He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!
^10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7
^4When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ^5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ^6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ^7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
^22When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, {Joseph and Mary} brought {Jesus} up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ^23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) ^24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” ^25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ^26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ^27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ^28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ^29“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; ^30for my eyes have seen your salvation ^31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ^32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” ^33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. ^34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ^35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” ^36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, ^37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ^38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. ^39And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ^40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
Next Week’s Readings:
1 Kings 3:4-15; Psalm 119:97-104; Ephesians 1:3-14; Luke 2:40-52