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[F] Circumcision and Name of Jesus
[F] Circumcision and Name of Jesus
January 1, 2025
Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Numbers 6:22–27\rPsalm: Psalm 8; antiphon: v. 9\rEpistle: Galatians 3:23–29\rGospel: Luke 2:21\rIntroit: Psalm 40:6–8; antiphon: 40:16\rGradual: Hebrews 8:10; 10:17\rVerse: Matthew 1:21\r\rThe Lord Jesus Comes in the Flesh to Fulfill the Law for Us and Save Us from Our Sins\r \rCircumcision is the covenant God made with Abraham and his seed. It sealed God’s promises and blessings in the flesh, but also signified the burden of the Law. When the Lord Jesus came in the flesh to redeem His people, He subjected Himself to the Law, in order to fulfill the Law and release all men from its captivity. “He was called Jesus” (Luke 2:21) because He came to save His people from their sins. He would shed His blood on their behalf, as He did already when “he was circumcised” (Luke 2:21). As He also sacrificed Himself upon the cross, you are “justified by faith” in His blood (Gal. 3:24). Therefore, “you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:29), not by the circumcision of your flesh, but in the flesh and blood of Christ Jesus, the true seed of Abraham. “Baptized into Christ,” you belong to Him and are clothed and covered by His righteousness (Gal. 3:27). Holy Baptism is the true circumcision made without hands, by which the Lord Jesus puts His name on you and blesses you (Num. 6:22, 27).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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Pastors' Study Group in Plano
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Second Sunday after Christmas
Second Sunday after Christmas
January 5, 2025
Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Genesis 46:1–7\rPsalm: Psalm 77:11–20; antiphon: v. 13\rEpistle: 1 Peter 4:12–19\rGospel: Matthew 2:13–23\rIntroit: Psalm 8:1, 4–6; antiphon: v. 2\rGradual: Psalm 106:47; Isaiah 63:16b\rVerse: Psalm 145:21\r\rJesus Is the Perfect Israel\r \rIsrael and all his family went and dwelt in Egypt (Gen. 46:1–7). God made a great nation of him there, but that nation would prove unfaithful to the Lord. Therefore, the New Israel came. In fleeing the murderous Herod, our young Lord goes to Egypt (Matt. 2:13–23), that the prophecy might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my Son” (Hos. 11:1). Jesus brings to perfection what old Israel could not. He is the faithful Israel, the embodiment of the people of God. He offers His perfect and holy life in place of our own. He submits Himself to persecution and suffering in order to save us. Therefore, we should not think it strange when we who are in Christ experience trials because of the faith (1 Pet. 4:12–19). Rather, we rejoice to share in Christ’s sufferings, knowing that we will also share in His glory.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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Pastor Off
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The Epiphany of Our Lord
The Epiphany of Our Lord
January 6, 2025
Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Isaiah 60:1–6\rPsalm: Psalm 24; antiphon: v. 7\rEpistle: Ephesians 3:1–12\rGospel: Matthew 2:1–12\rIntroit: Psalm 72:1–2, 10–11; antiphon: Liturgical Text\rGradual: Isaiah 60:6b, 1\rVerse: Matthew 2:2b\r\rThe Lord God Is Manifested in the Incarnate Son\r \rThe Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. In that respect, it is a “Thirteenth Day” of Christmas; and yet, it also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. While Christmas has focused on the Incarnation of our Lord—that is, on God becoming flesh—the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. For the Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Is. 60:1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth—not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Eph. 3:8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (Matt. 2:5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word, to find and worship Him within His Church (Is. 60:3–6). With gold they confess His royalty; with incense, His deity; and with myrrh, His priestly sacrifice (Matt. 2:11).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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First Sunday after the Epiphany
First Sunday after the Epiphany
January 12, 2025
Color: White\r\rOld Testament: 1 Kings 8:6–13\rOld Testament: Joshua 3:1–3, 7–8, 13–17\rOld Testament: Isaiah 42:1–7\rPsalm: Psalm 50:1–15; antiphon: v. 15\rEpistle: 1 Corinthians 1:26–31\rEpistle: Romans 12:1–5\rGospel: Luke 2:41–52\rGospel: Matthew 3:13–17\rIntroit: Psalm 100; antiphon: Isaiah 6:1; Revelation 19:6\rGradual: Psalm 72:18, 3\rVerse: Psalm 100:1–2a\r\rThe Glory of the Lord Returns to the Temple in the Boy Jesus\r \rIn the days of Solomon, the Lord dwelt among His people in the temple. The glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord in the form of a cloud (1 Kings 8:6–13). Now Jesus, who is the glory of the Lord in the flesh, enters the temple to show that He Himself is the everlasting temple and dwelling place of God (Luke 2:41–52). Our young Lord, true man, subject to Mary and Joseph, reveals Himself also to be true God, whose father is not Joseph but the Almighty Father in heaven. Jesus does this at the time of the Passover. For He came to be the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Even as He was found by His parents after three days, so He would later rise from the dead on the third day that the favor of God might rest also upon us. It is by these mercies of God that we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God through Christ (Rom. 12:1–5).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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Installation of Church Officers
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The Baptism of Our Lord
The Baptism of Our Lord
January 12, 2025
Color: White\r\rOld Testament: Joshua 3:1–3, 7–8, 13–17\rOld Testament: Isaiah 42:1–7\rPsalm: Psalm 85; antiphon: v. 9\rEpistle: 1 Corinthians 1:26–31\rGospel: Matthew 3:13–17\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 26–28; antiphon: Liturgical Text; Psalm 89:20\rGradual: Psalm 72:18–19\rVerse: Psalm 143:10\r\rIn His Baptism, Jesus Takes His Place with Sinners\r \rOur Lord Jesus is baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:13–17). He partakes of a baptism for sinners in order that He might be our substitute and bear the judgment we deserve. In the water, Jesus trades places with us. Our sin becomes His sin. His righteousness becomes our righteousness. Our glory, therefore, is in “Christ Jesus, who became to us . . . righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:26–31). Jesus is the “chosen” One sent from the Father to release us from the prison house of sin and death (Is. 42:1–7). Baptized into Christ, we also become the chosen ones, beloved of the Father. We cross the Jordan with Jesus (Joshua 3) through death into the promised land of new life with God.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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[F] The Confession of St. Peter
[F] The Confession of St. Peter
January 18, 2025
Color: White\r\rFirst Reading: Acts 4:8–13\rPsalm: Psalm 118:19–29; antiphon: v. 26\rEpistle: 2 Peter 1:1–15\rGospel: Mark 8:27—9:1\rGospel: Mark 8:27–35\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 119:46\rGradual: 2 Corinthians 4:5a, 13c; 1 Peter 4:11b; Psalm 113:3\rVerse: Mark 8:35\r\rLosing Ourselves in the Confession of the One Name of Salvation\r \rSt. Peter speaks for all disciples when he confesses, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29). This confession is the bedrock of the Church, which Christ Himself builds (Matt. 16:18), for “this Jesus,” the stone rejected by earthly builders, “has become the cornerstone” (Acts 4:11). This was a scandal even to Peter. The Christ must suffer, be rejected, be killed “and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31), for through this work of salvation received by faith, God’s “precious and very great promises” are granted, “so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Wherever Jesus is the Christ, His disciples deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him (Mark 8:34). They have been cleansed from their former sins and increase in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love, effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5–9). All who trust in Jesus, the Christ of Peter’s confession, will save their life, though for His sake they lose it (Mark 8:35). “For there is no other name … by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
January 19, 2025
Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: Exodus 33:12–23\rOld Testament: Amos 9:11–15\rPsalm: Psalm 111; antiphon: v. 9\rPsalm: Psalm 67; antiphon: v. 1\rEpistle: Romans 12:6–16\rEpistle: Ephesians 5:22–33\rGospel: John 2:1–11\rIntroit: Psalm 66:1–5, 20; antiphon: v. 4; 92:1\rGradual: Psalm 107:20–21\rVerse: Psalm 148:2\r\rJesus’ First Miracle Reveals God’s Glory\r \rThe coming of the Messianic kingdom means the restoration of creation. The sign of this restoration is that “the mountains shall drip sweet wine” (Amos 9:11–15). When the elements of a fallen creation fail and run short at a wedding feast, our Lord Jesus steps in to restore creation and miraculously changes water into an abundance of the very best wine (John 2:1–11). With this sign, Christ manifests His glory. The “back” of God (Ex. 33:12–23) is revealed to those who believe. The hour will come when Jesus will again manifest His glory by taking creation’s curse into His own body to release us from its power. The Bridegroom will give His life for the Bride (Eph. 5:22–32), and from His side will flow water and blood, the holy sacraments by which she is cleansed and made one with Him. Through this sacrificial love of Christ we are enabled to “love one another with brotherly affection . . .” and to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom. 12:6–16).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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[F] St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor
[F] St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor
January 24, 2025
Color: White\r\rFirst Reading: Acts 16:1–5\rPsalm: Psalm 71:15–24; antiphon: v. 6\rEpistle: 1 Timothy 6:11–16\rGospel: Matthew 24:42–47\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: 1 Timothy 6:12a, b\rGradual: Ezekiel 34:11, 12b; Jeremiah 23:4a, b\rVerse: 1 Timothy 1:15a, b\r\rSt. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor\r \rOur Master, Jesus Christ, “is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44). He sets the servants of His Word as the watchmen and overseers of His household (Matt. 24:45). He commands them to keep, guard and “fight the good fight of the faith” entrusted to them (1 Tim. 6:12), “each according to his ability” (Matt. 25:15). Just as Christ “made the good confession” before Pilate (1 Tim. 6:13), so His servants stand before the Church and the world, and by their preaching the Lord strengthens faith and grants increase to His Church (Acts 16:5), the “pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). St. Timothy, Paul’s friend and son in the faith, is an example of such a faithful and wise servant, set over the household of God in Ephesus to nourish in “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11). The Lord still appoints men like Timothy to bear fruit that will abide (John 15:16), so that the whole household may confess and bear witness to the One “who gives life to all things” (1 Tim. 6:13).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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[F] The Conversion of St. Paul
[F] The Conversion of St. Paul
January 25, 2025
Color: White\r\rFirst Reading: Acts 9:1–22\rPsalm: Psalm 67; antiphon: v. 5\rEpistle: Galatians 1:11–24\rGospel: Matthew 19:27–30\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 119:46\rGradual: Ephesians 4:8b, 11, 12b; 2:19a, c\rVerse: Acts 9:15b\r\rGod’s Enemies Are Conquered by the Revelation of Grace in Christ\r \rChrist brings about a great reversal in St. Paul. “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” (Gal. 1:23). The enemy of the Gospel becomes its foremost preacher, and the last of the apostles becomes the first (Matt. 19:30). Paul is God’s “chosen instrument … to carry [His] name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). The conversion of Paul is only a more dramatic example of what God does in revealing Christ to us. The bondage of our sin makes saving faith impossible. “I believe that I cannot … believe” (Small Catechism, Third Article of the Creed). But even this is no obstacle for our Lord’s grace in Christ and the Holy Spirit’s power through the Gospel. Baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit, and hearing the Word of Christ, our ears are opened and our spiritual blindness is lifted (Acts 9:17–19). It is dangerous to be a traitor to Christ’s enemies — “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16) — but everything that is left behind is “rubbish” compared to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:8) and the eternal life that we, with St. Paul, will at last inherit (Matt. 19:29).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
January 26, 2025
Color: Green\r\rOld Testament: 2 Kings 5:1–15a\rPsalm: Psalm 110:1–4; antiphon: v. 2a\rEpistle: Romans 12:16–21\rEpistle: Romans 1:8–17\rGospel: Matthew 8:1–13\rIntroit: Psalm 97:1, 10–12; antiphon: vv. 6, 9\rGradual: Psalm 102:15–16\rVerse: Psalm 97:1\r\rJesus Came for Gentiles, Too\r \rThe Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile (Rom. 1:8–17). Even in the Old Testament, the Gentiles were beneficiaries of God’s saving power. Though unimpressed at first with the Word of God, a Syrian commander is persuaded to receive that Word, and in the water he is cleansed and brought to faith in the God of Israel (2 Kings 5:1–15a). Evil is overcome by good (Rom 12:16–21). So also in the New Testament, a Roman centurion demonstrates great and humble faith in the Lord (Matt. 8:1–13). All he needs is the Word of Christ, for he trusts that Jesus’ Word of healing has authority to accomplish what it says. And indeed it does. The centurion’s faith is praised by our Lord above that of any Israelite. For the last shall be first, and the first last. Apart from faith in Christ, there is no salvation—not even for a Jew—but only weeping and gnashing of teeth.\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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[F] St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor
[F] St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor
January 26, 2025
Color: White\r\rFirst Reading: Acts 20:28–35\rPsalm: Psalm 71:1–14; antiphon: v. 17\rEpistle: Titus 1:1–9\rGospel: Luke 10:1–9\rIntroit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Titus 3:4–5a\rGradual: Ezekiel 34:11, 12b; Jeremiah 23:4a, b\rVerse: Titus 2:11\r\rSt. Titus, Pastor and Confessor\r \r“Faith,” the “knowledge of the truth” and the “hope of eternal life” are manifested daily among us in His Word through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ Jesus (Titus 1:1–3). The times seem desperate: “Fierce wolves” are among us, “not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29), and “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). The Lord, however, is diligent to build and care for the Church, “which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). We are not to fear, but rather to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest” (Luke 10:2). Send us faithful laborers! Preserve all pastors and teachers, that they “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught” so that they, like St. Titus, “may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9)! Give us ears to hear their preaching in repentance and faith. Preserve them from falsehood, greed and unholy living. We commend them to You and the Word of Your grace (Acts 20:32), that “when the chief Shepherd appears,” (1 Peter 5:4) He may declare, “Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21).\r\rLectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
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