THEOLOGICAL CLUE

The liturgical function of this Sunday is that, practically, it becomes a kind of Octave of Christmas. As the first Sunday in the twelve days of the Christmas season, it continues the celebration of Jesus' incarnation with more of the details of the Christmas story, and encourages the church to worship the Messiah who has come in the name of the Lord. The homiletical clue, from the very nature of the Sunday's purpose and readings, is to tell the story more completely and with more depth, so that it will be clear to the church that God broke into the world to save his people at any cost. What he has begun in Jesus' birth will be completed according to plan, for he is the God and Father of all.

The Prayer of the Day (LBW) 
A reworked collect that highlights the incarnation…