Looking into the lectionary - Worship resources for December 28

Matthew 2:13-23 First Sunday of Christmas December 28, 2025 Matthew 2:13-23 provides a jarring gospel lesson just three days after Christmas Day! During the past week, congregations have heard about shepherds and the swaddling clothes, wise men and the star. King Herod killing babies usually doesn’t make it into the Christmas pageant. We frequently turn our eyes away from what has been called the shadow side of the Christmas story. In my presbytery’s discussion of Matthew 2:13-23 for an Advent Bible study, one pastor honestly admitted, “I’m very uncomfortable thinking about preaching about this story, especially the part about Herod killing all of the babies. It’s just such a hard text!” And yet, as this part of Matthew’s Christmas story reminds us, our savior comes to us amid sorrow and innocent suffering. Candler School of Theology professor and pastor Fred Craddock preached in “The Hard Side of Epiphany,” “Exit the women of Luke; in come the men of Matthew. Exit the stable; now it’s a king’s palace. Exit the shepherds; in with the wise men from the east. Exit the angels; in comes Herod. Exit Mary; enter Rachel. Exit lullaby; enter the scream: ‘I heard a voice in Ramah. It was Rachel weeping for her children.’” God’s providence How do you preach from this difficult text three days after Christmas Day? One fruitful way is to explore the theme of God’s providence suggested by Matthew’s allusion to the stories of Moses and the Exodus. With the story of Jesus’s sojourn in Egypt, Mathew recalls the Exodus of God’s people from Egypt and gives us a hint about what is to come for this baby boy. This baby, threatened with death, will be obedient to God’s will as the Messiah. Jesus’s life of obedience to God’s will is foreshadowed by this difficult story about the suffering of the innocents. Jesus’s deference translates into our salvation (“You are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 2:21) While King Herod was on his murderous rampage and his offspring were fighting for power after his death, King Jesus fulfilled God’s ancient promise of the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of all the world. That’s the good news on the Sunday after Christmas and for every day. Christmas has just begun While the Sunday after Easter is traditionally called Low Sunday, the same description can be used for the Sunday after Christmas Day. For many people, Christmas is already over for another year and it’s time to go back to the “real world.” That’s not always such a positive thing, what with the steady news of suffering, death, injustice and weeping. The truth, of course, is that God came among us in the baby in the manger, right smack dab in the middle of our real world, which is full of people willing to hurt others to keep their own power, just like Herod. But the good news of the church is that Christmas has just begun — and Christmas doesn’t ignore the real world. ... Thanks to this week's writer, Philip Gladden. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for December 21, 2025? You can find them here. Order of worship — December 28, 2025 by Philip Gladden Top 10 Presbyterian news stories of 2025 by Presbyterian Outlook  A prayer for courage and hope in the new year by Karie Charlton Christmas Eve resource bundle: “Naming hope” by Teri McDowell Ott Horizons – The Gift of the Woman who was Poor, Mark 12 by Rosalind Banbury Longest night service: A liturgy of light and hope by Rae Watson IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... The top Outlook book recommendations of 2025 Discover the titles that most engaged Presbyterian Outlook readers, from theology and memoir to devotionals and cultural commentary. Lost, Hidden, Small: Finding the Way of Jesus Where We Never Think to Look Discover the grace found in smallness. "Lost, Hidden, Small" invites us to follow Jesus not through striving, but through trust, surrender and delight, writes Amy Pagliarella. Come, Lord Jesus: A prayer of invitation In this prayer, John Wurster repeatedly calls, ‘Come, Lord Jesus,’ inviting Christ’s presence, justice, love and hope into every corner of our lives and the life of the church. Ka: Finding God in the ruins Chris Burton explores how Ka’s music uncovers beauty, truth and divinity in the hardest corners of life. Austin Seminary receives $10M grant to establish the Arc of Ministry Center The Lilly Endowment grants Austin Seminary $10 million to engage high school and college students in vocational exploration. — Austin Seminary Ghost Ranch Announces New Conservation Partnership to Protect Landscapes & Vistas Made Famous by Georgia O’Keeffe  Ghost Ranch and the Presbyterian Foundation join local and state groups to protect Northern New Mexico land, water and wildlife. — Ghost Ranch and Presbyterian Foundation In Minneapolis, clergy mobilize to manage ICE raids targeting Somali immigrants Preparing for ICE agents' presence in the city, an interfaith coalition shared best practices for dealing with law enforcement at houses of worship. —  Fiona André and Ulaa Kuziez