Fourth Sunday of Advent	December 20, 2026
Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. With your great might, give us your help, that whatever is hindered by our sins may be speedily accomplished by your grace; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
1When the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” 4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” 8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
16‘“And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”
Psalm 89:1-5 [19-29] 
1Your love, O Lord, forever | will I sing;*
	from age to age my mouth will pro- | claim your faithfulness.
2For I am persuaded that your love is estab- | lished forever;*
	you have set your faithfulness firmly | in the heavens.
3“I have made a covenant with my | chosen one;*
	I have sworn an oath to Da- | vid my servant:
4‘I will establish your | line forever,*
	and preserve your throne for all | generations.’”
5The heavens bear witness to your won- | ders, O Lord,*
	and to your faithfulness in the assembly of the | holy ones;
19[You spoke once in a vision and said to your | faithful people:*
	“I have set the crown upon a warrior and have exalted one chosen out | of the people.
20I have found Da- | vid my servant;*
	with my holy oil have I a- | nointed him.

21My hand will | hold him fast*
	and my arm will | make him strong.
22No enemy | shall deceive him,*
	nor any wicked man | bring him down.
23I will crush his | foes before him*
	and strike down | those who hate him.”
24My faithfulness and love shall | be with him,*
	and he shall be victorious | through my name.
25I shall make his domin- | ion extend*
	from the Great Sea | to the River.
26He will say to me, ‘You | are my Father,*
	my God, and the rock of | my salvation.’
27I will make | him my firstborn*
	and higher than the kings | of the earth.
28I will keep my love for | him forever,*
	and my covenant will stand | firm for him.
29I will establish his | line forever*
	and his throne as the | days of heaven.”]
Psalm 89:1-5 [19-29] (ESV)
1I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant:
4‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” 
5Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
[19Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said: “I have granted help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him,
21so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.
22The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him.
23I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
24My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.
29I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.]

Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27
25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — 27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy — the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Next Week’s Readings:
Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 111; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40