Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together

The Week of Dec 14 – Dec 21, 2025

Preparing for the Fourth Sunday in Advent 

December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)

Scripture: Isaiah 22:22

Prayer: O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death.

Meditation: Read Galatians 3:22-24 and John 10:7-10. What doors have been opened and what rescue has been given to us?

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (357, verse 5)

December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-2

Prayer: O Dayspring, splendor of light everlasting: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Meditation: Read Is. 60:1-2. What does the Messiah bring with Him when He comes? What was, and is now, the condition of the world to which He comes? Read Luke 1:78-79. What do you think of when you see the word “sunrise”? What other great events, besides the coming of Christ, might be described as “sunrise”?

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (357, verse 6)

December 22: O Rex gentium (O King of Nations)

Scripture: Isaiah 28:16-17

Prayer: O King of Nations, the ruler they long for, the cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save us all, whom you formed out of the clay.

Meditation: Who doesn’t long for something or someone that can bring about unity at work, at home, among the nations, or within their own heart? Why does the description of Jesus in Isaiah 28:16-17 satisfy this longing like no one else can?

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (357, verse 7)          

December 23: O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel)

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Prayer: O Emmanuel, our King and our Lord, the anointed for the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Meditation: Read Exodus 13:17-22. How was the Lord “with” His people in the Exodus? What do you think was the significance of “cloud” and “fire”? In what ways does our Lord stay with us now (Luke 24:28-35; John 8:31-32)? What ransom did our Lord pay (Matt. 20:28)?

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (357, verse 1)

When the Latin titles of the Great “O” Antiphons are put together and read backward, they form the phrase “ERO CRAS,” which translated means, “Tomorrow, I will come.”

December 24: Rejoice! Emmanuel has heard your prayers! Come to the Divine Service to hear the angels announce the Good News of great joy that Christ the Savior is born!

Learning the Faith by Heart

Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together

The Week of Dec 14 – Dec 21, 2025

Preparing for the Fourth Sunday in Advent 

Hymn of the Week: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (357)

GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: God Loves Me Dearly (392:ALL)

GLCA Catechism Memory: Apostles’ Creed Second Article + OT Books (Job to Jeremiah)   

Bible Verse Memory: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” – Matthew 1:23

Monday: Catechism Bible Story – The Good Shepherd (John 10, Ps 23)  

Who has Jesus put in your life to shepherd you in the faith? When or through what activities do you hear Jesus speaking through these people? When did Jesus lay down His life for you? What do you have as a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection? We often hear about Jesus our Good Shepherd and read Psalm 23 at funerals. What is your favorite part of this Psalm? Rejoice that Jesus cares for you always!

Tuesday: Holy Gospel – Matthew 1:18–25

Jesus’ person and work is wrapped up in His titles and names. He is called “Emmanuel” because He is “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). He is called, “Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). What do the other names or titles for Jesus tell you about who He is and what He was born to do? 

Wednesday: Midweek Advent Service – “Advent Songs of Salvation”  

Last week we sang the Benedictus with St. Zechariah. This week, we’ll be singing the Nunc Dimittis with St. Simeon. In preparation for the service read Luke 2:22-32. Simeon’s Advent Song confesses that in Christ, God’s salvation has come. Having seen and held Him, Simeon is ready to depart in peace. How does receiving the gift of Jesus’ Body and Blood in the Sacrament prepare us to receive Him when He comes on the Last Day?

Thursday: See “The Great “O” Antiphons: Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together for December 18 (O Adonai) 

 Friday: See “The Great “O” Antiphons: Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together for December 19 (O Radix Jesse)

The Order of Meditation and Prayer

The sign of the cross + may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

Invocation 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Verse of the Week 

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” – Matthew 1:23

Catechism Memory 

  What is the 2nd Article of the Apostles’ Creed?

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and dead.

What does this mean? (Part 1)

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.

Bible Reading for the Day (From Upcoming Readings for Sun, Portals of Prayer, or other Daily meditation)

             This is the Word of the Lord. 

             Thanks be to God. 

Apostles’ Creed 

I believe in God the Father Almighty…

Hymn of the Week  

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (357)

Family Prayers 

  For___________________, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.  

Lord’s Prayer

The Great “O” Antiphons

Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together

 In Preparation for Christmas  

The Great “O” Antiphons

         Around the ninth century or so, the tradition developed for the Church to voice her Advent longing with prayers addressed to Christ using titles for Him given to us in the book of Isaiah. These prayers, called antiphons, would be said or sung before and after their singing of the Magnificat – Mary’s Advent song of joyous hope that we still sing in Evening Prayer. Beginning on Dec. 17, each night had its own special antiphon. Eventually these antiphons would become the basis of the hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (LSB 357). These antiphons will be the basis of our daily prayers this week.

December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom) 

Scripture: Isaiah 11:2-3a

Prayer: O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, mightily ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

Meditation: What does Solomon say in Proverbs 1:2-7 about the value of wisdom? Read 1 Cor. 1:18-31. What is the great wisdom (v.23)? How does that wisdom seem to the world? What comes with having the wisdom that is Christ (v. 30)?

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (357, verse 2)  

December 18: O Adonai (O Adonai, “O Mighty Lord”)

Scripture: Isaiah 11:3b-5

Prayer: O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.

Meditation: With an outstretched arm, Adonai redeemed Israel from their bondage in Egypt (Exodus 6:6). “In the fulness of time,” Adonai came to redeem you! Read Galatians 4:4-5. What has Jesus redeemed you from with His outstretched arm?

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (357, verse 3)

December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1,10

Prayer: O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us.

Meditation: Have you ever felt like you have no life left in you? As though you’ve been cut down or used up? Remember that it was out of a dead stump (a family tree that had been cut down) that God raised up new life. Read 2 Cor. 5:17. How have you been grafted into the tree of life?

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (357, verse 4)