Gospel Lesson Plans
The Gospels appointed for these two Sundays after Christmas offer a fitting conclusion to Advent’s mystery of “both/and” time. The first Sunday is from John’s Gospel a mystery-laced view of the divinity of Jesus, “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” The second Sunday is a very human story of the little boy Jesus. Just as Jesus was both human and divine, we also balance two worlds: the world in which we do our day to day tasks — a world mostly unaware of its true potential — and our life in Christ: “from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16)
Old Testament Lesson Plans
These two Sundays after Christmas bring joy in the church as we are rejoicing that Jesus has come to live among us. The candle in the center of the Advent wreath is the Christ Candle, reminding us that Light of the World has come into the world.
| Day | Gospel | Gospel Lesson Plan | Old Testament/Acts Lesson | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Sunday after Christmas | December 27 | Isaiah 61:10-62:3 John 1:1-18 | The Word Became Flesh | Joy to the World |
| Second Sunday after Christmas | January 3 | Jeremiah 31:7-14 Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 | Boy in the Temple | God's Great Love |