1st Sunday after Christmas 2025: December 28

The Christmas season continues as we celebrate the 1st Sunday after Christmas 2025. The joy of Christ’s birth still resonates in our hearts as we reflect on the profound mystery of the Incarnation—the Word made flesh who dwells among us. Today, we gather for a special celebration to honor Rev. Mary Davis on her last Sunday with us, exploring what it means to be children of God through faith in Christ.

Join us for Mass in the way that suits you best! You can worship with us in person, via Live Stream, through Video Replay, or as a Podcast.

If You Cannot Join Us In Person for the 1st Sunday after Christmas 2025!

We understand that you cannot always join us in person; that is why we offer you our:

Livestream/Playback

You can join us from the comfort of your location. The livestream starts at 8:50 AM with the organ prelude, and the service begins at 9:00 AM. As soon as the service is over, it will be available for replay.

Podcast

Did you know that we are available on all major platforms? Our podcast covers everything from the opening hymn to the sharing of the peace. You can also find it here as soon as it is produced.

The Collect for the 1st Sunday after Christmas 2025

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Readings for the 1st Sunday after Christmas 2025

Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Psalm 147:13-21

The Epistle: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7

23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian.

4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

The Gospel: John 1:1-18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Reflection on the Readings for the 1st Sunday after Christmas 2025

Join us as we reflect on the Word made flesh!

Old Testament – Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Isaiah’s voice expresses immense joy and gratitude. The prophet rejoices in God, who has clothed His people with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. He compares this divine dressing to a bride and groom preparing for their wedding day. This salvation is dynamic, like seeds sprouting in a garden. Righteousness and praise will flourish before all nations. The prophet declares that he will not rest until Jerusalem’s vindication shines as the dawn and her salvation burns brightly like a torch. God’s people will be given a new name and will become a crown of beauty in the Lord’s hand, symbolizing restoration and glory for all to see.

Psalm 147:13-21

This psalm celebrates God’s caring guidance for His people and all of creation. The psalmist calls upon Jerusalem and Zion to worship, recognizing that God has strengthened their defenses, blessed their children, and established peace within their borders. God’s word swiftly moves through creation, commanding the seasons—snow, frost, and hail come at His bidding and melt at His command. Most importantly, God has revealed His word, statutes, and judgments to Israel, a privilege not granted to other nations. This unique relationship between God and His people is a reason for praise and gratitude.

Epistle – Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7

Paul describes the significant change that took place with the arrival of Christ. Before faith in Christ, the law acted as a strict guardian, guiding and teaching God’s people. However, when the right moment came, God sent His Son, born of a woman and under the law, to free those who were held captive by it. The purpose of this redemption was to enable our adoption as God’s children. Because we are now His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, allowing us to cry out “Abba! Father!” and engage in a close, personal relationship with God. We are no longer slaves but children of God, and as His children, we are heirs to His promises.

Gospel – John 1:1-18

John’s majestic prologue takes us back to the very beginning, revealing that the Word was both with God and was God, serving as the agent of all creation and the source of life and light. This light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. John the Baptist testified to this light, though he was not the light himself. The true light entered the world, a world that did not recognize him, and his own people did not accept him. However, to all who received him and believed in his name, he granted the power to become children of God. Then comes the stunning declaration: the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, which is full of grace and truth. From his fullness, we have all received grace upon grace. While the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, who has revealed God to us.

The central theme of these readings is the Incarnation as the fulfillment of God’s promises and the source of our new identity. The joy that Isaiah proclaimed finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, the Word made flesh. Through Christ’s coming, we are no longer defined by the law but by grace. We are adopted as God’s children, given the Spirit to call God “Abba,” and become heirs to divine promises. As we continue to celebrate Christmas, we recognize that the light ignited in our hearts through the Incarnation is meant to shine forth in our lives, transforming us into bearers of God’s grace and truth in the world.