Gospel Lesson Plans
The world – that played Christmas carols all through the penitential season of Advent – has packed away the ornaments, taken down the Christmas trees, and has moved on to after-Christmas sales. We gaze in wonder at the gift shimmering before us that we have barely unwrapped, let alone begun to understand. God among us – the Word made flesh. So we make the only response we can: we celebrate! We keep the greens in the church and sing the Christmas carols. We are being nurtured for the work that will be given us to do.
Old Testament Lesson Plans
The presents are all unwrapped. We’ve feasted, celebrated, visited, worshipped and enjoyed – yet, Alleluia, Christmas is still with us. The season of Christmas stretches on for 12 whole days as we absorb the wonder of Christ’s incarnation and as we wait with expectancy for the Magi to arrive. However, just as we were being hurtled through Advent by a society that wanted Christmas too soon, we are similarly being pushed to take down the tree and move on towards a Happy New Year by a society that is done with this season and ready for the next. As Christians, we know that the rejoicing has only just begun and so we steep in the wonder of the incarnation a bit longer – our New Year, that of Advent, has already passed and so we can walk these 12 days with joy, awe, and thanksgiving for the gift of God with Us.
| Year B | Day | Scripture | Gospel Lesson Plan | Old Testament/Acts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Sunday after Christmas Day | Sunday between December 26 and January 1 | Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Luke 2:22-40 | Celebration – A Child Among Us | Praise Will Spring Up Like Flowers |
| Second Sunday after Christmas Day(A, B, C) | Sunday between January 2 and January 5 | Jeremiah 31:7-14 Matthew 2:1-12 | Where is the Child | Coming Home |