ADVENT 3 YEAR A Sunday 14 December 2025
FIRST READING Isaiah 35.1–10
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
2 and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
PSALM OR CANTICLE
Either Psalm 146.4–9
R Happy are they
who have the God of Jacob for their help.
or
R Come, Lord, and save us.
4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help!
Whose hope is in the Lord their God;
5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas,
and all that is in them;
who keeps his promise for ever;
6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed,
and food to those who hunger. R
7 The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
8 The Lord loves the righteous;
the Lord cares for the stranger;
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked. R
9 The Lord shall reign for ever,
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Alleluia! R
Or Luke 1.46b–55
R My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
46 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
47 My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 For he has looked with favour on his lowly servant;
from this day all generations will call me blessèd.
49 The Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name. R
50 He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
51 He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in their conceit. R
52 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and the rich he has sent away empty. R
54 He has come to the help of his servant, Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy.
55 The promise he made to our forebears:
to Abraham and his children for ever. R
SECOND READING James 5.7–10
A reading from the letter of James.
7 Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.
The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth,
being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
8 You also must be patient.
Strengthen your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is near.
9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another,
so that you may not be judged.
See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved,
take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
GOSPEL Matthew 11.2–11
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing,
he sent word by his disciples
3 and said to Jesus,
‘Are you the one who is to come,
or are we to wait for another?’
4 Jesus answered them,
‘Go and tell John what you hear and see:
5 the blind receive their sight,
the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
and the poor have good news brought to them.
6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’
7 As they went away,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:
‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?
A reed shaken by the wind?
8 What then did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in soft robes?
Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
9 What then did you go out to see?
A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.”
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women
no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’
ADVENT 3 YEAR A
FIRST READING Isaiah 35.1–10
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
2 and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
PSALM OR CANTICLE
Either Psalm 146.4–9
R Happy are they
who have the God of Jacob for their help.
or
R Come, Lord, and save us.
4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help!
Whose hope is in the Lord their God;
5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas,
and all that is in them;
who keeps his promise for ever;
6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed,
and food to those who hunger. R
7 The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
8 The Lord loves the righteous;
the Lord cares for the stranger;
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked. R
9 The Lord shall reign for ever,
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Alleluia! R
Or Luke 1.46b–55
R My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
46 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
47 My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 For he has looked with favour on his lowly servant;
from this day all generations will call me blessèd.
49 The Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name. R
50 He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
51 He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in their conceit. R
52 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and the rich he has sent away empty. R
54 He has come to the help of his servant, Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy.
55 The promise he made to our forebears:
to Abraham and his children for ever. R
SECOND READING James 5.7–10
A reading from the letter of James.
7 Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.
The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth,
being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
8 You also must be patient.
Strengthen your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is near.
9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another,
so that you may not be judged.
See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved,
take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
GOSPEL Matthew 11.2–11
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing,
he sent word by his disciples
3 and said to Jesus,
‘Are you the one who is to come,
or are we to wait for another?’
4 Jesus answered them,
‘Go and tell John what you hear and see:
5 the blind receive their sight,
the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
and the poor have good news brought to them.
6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’
7 As they went away,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:
‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?
A reed shaken by the wind?
8 What then did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in soft robes?
Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
9 What then did you go out to see?
A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.”
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women
no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’
ADVENT 4 YEAR A
FIRST READING Isaiah 7.10–16
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
10 The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,
11 ‘Ask a sign of the LORD your God;
let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.’
12 But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask,
and I will not put the LORD to the test.’
13 Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David!
Is it too little for you to weary mortals,
that you weary my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son,
and shall name him Immanuel.
15 He shall eat curds and honey by the time
he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good,
the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.’
PSALM Psalm 80.1–7, 16–18
R Restore us, O God of hosts;
show the light of your countenance and we shall be saved.
1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock;
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your strength and come to help us. R
[ 3 Restore us, O God of hosts;
show the light of your countenance
and we shall be saved. ]
4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision of our neighbours,
and our enemies laugh us to scorn. R
[ 7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
show the light of your countenance
and we shall be saved. ]
16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand,
the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
17 And so will we never turn away from you;
give us life, that we may call upon your name. R
[ 18 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
show the light of your countenance
and we shall be saved. ]
SECOND READING Romans 1.1–7
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle,
set apart for the gospel of God,
2 which he promised beforehand
through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
3 the gospel concerning his Son,
who was descended from David according to the flesh
4 and was declared to be Son of God with power
according to the spirit of holiness
by resurrection from the dead,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
5 Through Christ we have received grace and apostleship
to bring about the obedience of faith
among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name,
6 including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all God’s beloved in Rome,
who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
GOSPEL Matthew 1.18–25
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
18 The birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man
and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace,
planned to dismiss her quietly.
20 But just when he had resolved to do this,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
‘Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,
for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son,
and you are to name him Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.’
22 All this took place
to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,’
which means, ‘God is with us.’
24 When Joseph awoke from sleep,
he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him;
he took her as his wife,
25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;
and he named him Jesus.
CHRISTMAS DAY 25 December
Any of the following sets of readings may be used on the evening of Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day.
Set III should be used at some service during the celebration.
CHRISTMAS, SET I YEARS A B C
FIRST READING Isaiah 9.2–7
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness –
on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
PSALM Psalm 96
R To you is born this day a saviour;
who is Christ the Lord.
or
R Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the whole earth.
2 Sing to the Lord and bless his name;
proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations
and his wonders among all peoples. R
4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
he is more to be feared than all gods.
5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols;
but it is the Lord who made the heavens.
6 O the majesty and magnificence of his presence!
O the power and the splendour of his sanctuary! R
7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples;
ascribe to the Lord honour and power.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name;
bring offerings and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
let the whole earth tremble before him. R
10 Tell it out among the nations: ‘The Lord is king!
he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.’
11 Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it;
let the field be joyful and all that is therein. R
12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the Lord when he comes,
when he comes to judge the earth.
13 He will judge the world with righteousness
and the peoples with his truth. R
SECOND READING Titus 2.11–14
A reading from the letter of Paul to Titus.
11 The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,
12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions,
and in the present age to live lives
that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope
and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.
14 He it is who gave himself for us
that he might redeem us from all iniquity
and purify for himself a people of his own
who are zealous for good deeds.
GOSPEL (Short or long reading) Luke 2.1–14, (15–20)
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus
that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration
and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 All went to their own towns to be registered.
4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
to the city of David called Bethlehem,
because he was descended from the house and family of David.
5 He went to be registered with Mary,
to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
6 While they were there,
the time came for her to deliver her child.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son
and wrapped him in bands of cloth,
and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them,
‘Do not be afraid; for see –
I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
who is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign for you:
you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth
and lying in a manger.’
13 And suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host,
praising God and saying,
14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
[ 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
‘Let us go now to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us.’
16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the child lying in the manger.
17 When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child;
18 and all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
as it had been told them. ]