LCMS Calendar

Fourth Sunday in Advent
2023-12-24 00:00 - 11:59 (America/Chicago) | MO
The Fourth Sunday in Advent will be commemorated on Sunday morning, Dec. 24, 2023.
To attend a worship service, visit locator.lcms.org/church to find a local Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregation. Enter your zip code and click “Search” to see a list of area churches, service times, and contact information.
If you are homebound, traveling, or otherwise unable to attend a service in person, KFUO Radio airs worship services throughout the church year. Visit KFUO.org to view the schedule and listen to services.
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Liturgical colors for the Fourth Sunday in Advent
Blue or violet adorns the altar during Advent. Advent, a season of repentance, waiting and watching, looks forward in hope. Our Christian faith rests on the hope that Christ, who came in the flesh in history to accomplish our salvation, will also return in the same way to be our judge on the last day and bring us into eternal life.

Three-Year Series B Lectionary
Scripture readings

2 Sam. 7:1–11, 16
Psalm 89:1–5 (19–29)
Rom. 16:25–27
Luke 1:26–38

Lectionary summary
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).

One-Year Series Lectionary
Scripture readings

Deut. 18:15–19
Psalm 111
Phil. 4:4–7
John 1:19–28 or Luke 1:39–56

Lectionary summary
John the Baptizer Points Everyone to the Messiah
The coming of God in all His unveiled power at Mount Sinai was terrifying to the people of Israel. The thundering voice of the Lord puts sinners in fear of death (Deut. 18:15–19). God, therefore, raised up a prophet like Moses — the Messiah, the Christ. God came to His people veiled in human flesh. The skies poured down the Righteous One from heaven; the earth opened her womb and brought forth Salvation (Introit) through the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord (Luke 1:39–56). The fruit of her womb is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the One whose sandal strap John was not worthy to loose (John 1:19–28). In Jesus we are delivered from fear and anxiety. In Him alone we have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:4–7).

Media kits
The LCMS has produced media kits for congregations to use in reaching out to their communities. The free, downloadable resources are designed to allow congregations to add invitations and local details about worship services. Congregations are invited to use these resources to advertise service information or simply to generate opportunities for pastoral conversations in the community.
View media kits

LCMS Worship

lcms.org/worship

Worship planning resources

Subscribe to monthly resources email

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Christmas Day
2023-12-25 | MO
Christmas Day is celebrated on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. The Festival of the Nativity of our Lord is the traditional way of saying Christmas Day, on which Christians celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus.
To attend a worship service, visit locator.lcms.org/church to find a local Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregation. Enter your zip code and click “Search” to see a list of area churches, service times, and contact information.
If you are homebound, traveling, or otherwise unable to attend a service in person, KFUO Radio airs worship services throughout the church year. Visit KFUO.org to view the schedule and listen to services.
Find church near me

Liturgical color for Christmas Day
White, the color of purity and completeness, adorns the altar to commemorate the Nativity of Our Lord. In His light we see light, and by Him “though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” Christ’s incarnation and His resurrection, His Gospel and its message to all nations are cause for our rejoicing. His purity before His Father becomes our purity. White reinforces this message of joy.
White is the appointed color for the 12 days of Christmas, Epiphany (Jan. 6), and the first Sunday following it, which is observed as the Baptism of Our Lord. In all, white serves as the best festive color for the church year.

Three-Year Series B Lectionary
Scripture readings for Christmas Day

Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 2
Hebrews 1:1-6 (7-12)
John 1:1–14 (15-18)

Lectionary summary
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.

One-Year Series Lectionary
Scripture readings for Christmas Day

Exodus 40:17-21; 34-38
Psalm 2
Titus 3:4-7
John 1:1-14 (15-18)

Lectionary summary
The Living and Life-Giving Word of God Dwells among Us in the Flesh
In the beginning God created all things through His Word, His Son. But man fell into sin, and with man all creation was cursed. Therefore, God spoke His Word again, this time into the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle of our human nature (Ex. 40:17-21, 34-38). “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1-14). The Son of God took on our flesh and blood and died on the cross in order that we might receive the right to become the children of God through faith. Baptized into Christ’s body, we are made partakers of a new Genesis, “the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4–7). In Christ, the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man has truly appeared.

Media kits
The LCMS has produced media kits for congregations to use in reaching out to their communities. The free, downloadable resources are designed to allow congregations to add invitations and local details about worship services. Congregations are invited to use these resources to advertise service information or simply to generate opportunities for pastoral conversations in the community.
View media kits

LCMS Worship

lcms.org/worship

Worship planning resources

Subscribe to monthly resources email

Find church near me

Epiphany
2024-01-06 | MO
The Epiphany of our Lord will be commemorated on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.
After focusing on the Incarnation of our Lord — God becoming flesh — during the 12 days of Christmas, the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ.
To attend a worship service, visit locator.lcms.org/church to find a local Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregation. Enter your zip code and click “Search” to see a list of area churches, service times, and contact information.
If you are homebound, traveling, or otherwise unable to attend a service in person, KFUO Radio airs worship services throughout the church year. Visit KFUO.org to view the schedule and listen to services.
Find a church near me

Liturgical color for Epiphany
White is the appointed color for the 12 days of Christmas, Epiphany (Jan. 6), and the first Sunday following it, which is often observed as the Baptism of Our Lord. On high festive days when white is appointed, some churches also use gold.

Three-Year Series B and One-Year Series Lectionaries
Scripture readings for Epiphany

Isaiah 60:1–6

Ephesians 3:1–12

Matthew 2:1–12

Psalms

Series B — Psalm 72:1–11 (12–15)

One-Year Series — Psalm 24

Lectionary summary
The Lord God Is Manifested in the Incarnate Son
The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. In that respect, it is a “13th day” of Christmas, and yet it also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. Where 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 the 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).

LCMS Worship

lcms.org/worship

Worship planning resources

Subscribe to monthly resources email

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Million Dollar Life Match grant training webinars
2024-01-10 | MO
The LCMS Office of National Mission will host two online training sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 — the first at 2 p.m. CST and the second at 7 p.m. CST — for LCMS congregations and districts interested in applying for a Million Dollar Life Match grant.
Register

2 p.m. Zoom webinar

7 p.m. Zoom webinar

Learn more

Million Dollar Life Match grants

2024 National March for Life in Washington, D.C.
2024-01-19 12:00 - 15:00 | Washington, D.C., 12th and 14th Streets, Washington D.C., 20002, United States
Join us in Washington, D.C. for the 2024 March for Life on Friday, January 19, 2024. The rally begins at 12:00pm and the march begins at 1:00pm. The starting point will be between 12th and 14th Streets and continue on Constitution Avenue to the U.S. Capitol Building. More information to come.

Walk for Life West Coast 2024, 20th Anniversary Walk
2024-01-20 09:00 - 12:00 | MO
Make plans to join us on January 20, 2024 for the 20th anniversary of the Walk for Life West Coast. More details to come.

2024 Life March in Tucson, Arizona
2024-01-20 11:00 - 14:00 | Tucson, Arizona
The 2024 Life March in Tucson, Ariz. will take place on Saturday, January 20, 2024. Join us as we witness to the sanctity of life. More information is to come!

2024 Kansas March for Life in Topeka
2024-01-24 | Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 SE Eighth Ave., Topeka, KS, 66603, United States
The Kansas March for Life is Wednesday, January 24, 2024 in Topeka. The march begins at 12:00pm at the Topeka Performing Arts Center (214 SE Eighth Ave.) with the Rally for Life to follow. Join us in Topeka as we witness to the sanctity of life.

LCMS Board for International Mission meeting – Jan. 31, 2024
2024-01-31 | MO
The LCMS Board for International Mission is scheduled to meet on Jan. 31, 2024, via Zoom video conference call.
The Board for International Mission is charged with developing and determining policies in support of mission and ministry in foreign countries for the Office of International Mission.

Board for National Mission – February 2024 meeting
2024-02-01 08:00 - 17:00 | MO
The LCMS Board for National Mission is scheduled to meet on Thursday, February 1, 2024.
The Board for National Mission is charged with developing and determining policies for the coordination of and in support of district ministries which support congregations and schools.
Read more about the LCMS Board for National Mission.
