Exploring the Revised Common Lectionary
Exploring the Revised Common Lectionary Presented by Taylor Burton-Edwards Director of Worship Resources General Board of Discipleship, The United Methodist Church Chair, The Consultation on Common Texts Copyright 2014, The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Congregations may reproduce this presentation for educational purposes. For any other purposes, contact [email protected] for permissions.
What Are Lectionaries? Lists of readings for Sundays, feast days and daily office Earliest example– 4th century (Athanasius)
Multiple versions, but general agreement on major feast days (Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, Holy Week) Collation but some regional differences remain through Trent (1560s)
Common Lectionaries Trent completes regularization of lectionaries for the West (1560s) Cranmer develops lectionary for England, and other reformers for their faithful By 17th century– Rome + multiple Protestant versions, with agreements on many holy days 1960s – Vatican II and the Common Texts/Common Lectionary projects -- Consultation on Common Texts
Why a Revised Common Lectionary Common Lectionary published 1983 for trial use. With feedback from 2 cycles of use, CCT sought… To expand the amount and scope of the Bible covered in three years Amount– lengthened readings, added coverage of books Scope– more stories about women, the poor, and the outcast than any before To provide for both complementary and semi-continuous readings To reflect historic lectionary traditions better
The Sunday Texts First Lesson: OT or Acts (Easter Season) Psalm: As a response to the first lesson Epistle Gospel– one per year with John interspersed
Distribution of the Scriptures Year A
Year B
Year C
Festival Seasons
Matthew
Mark (John 6) David
Luke
John
Patriarchs and Moses 1&2 Cor, Romans, Phil., I Thess.
Elijah-Elisha and Exilic prophets 1&2 Cor, 1 Cor, Gal., Romans, Col., Heb., Ephesians, Phm, I&2 James, Heb. Tim 2 Thess
Prophets
I Peter, Johannine, Revelation
What Readings Are Related When? Advent-Christmas Season All readings relate to each other, focus gospel
Lent-Trinity All readings relate to each other, focus gospel
After Baptism of the Lord: OT/Gospel related (complementary), Epistle semi-continuous
After Trinity: Semi-continuous (only OT/Psalm relate) or Complementary (OT/Gospel relate)
The Season after Pentecost: Semi-Continuous Choose ONE stream or switch streams (For example: Year A)
• Gospel
• Matthew
• Epistle
• I&2 Cor, Rom, Phil, I Thess
• Old Testament
• Patriarchs and Moses
Two Major Cycles and “Ordinary Time” Advent-Christmas Cycle
Lent-Easter Cycle
• Lent: Learning to Live the Way (Catechesis) • Easter Season: The Mystery of Resurrection (Mystagogy and Ministry Formation) Ordinary Time
• Advent: Beginning with the end • Christmas Season: The Mystery of Incarnation
• • •
After Epiphany: “Training the midwives” After Pentecost: “Supporting the ministers” Numbering system to locate propers anchored to culmination of previous season
Scripture Focus in Christian Year • Advent– The second coming of Christ • Christmas Season– God becoming flesh and dwelling among us • After Epiphany– Early ministry of Jesus • Lent – Preparing for baptism • Holy Week– Last days of Jesus • Easter Season– Seven weeks of “mystagogy” celebrating resurrection and Spirit (doctrinal training, ministry discernment) • After Pentecost– Teaching/Ministry of Jesus, life 10as Church, Patriarchs/Kings/Prophets
Major Feast Days in Ordinary Time • • • • •
Baptism of the Lord Transfiguration Trinity All Saints Christ the King/Reign of Christ
All texts relate to each other Primary focus on the gospel, OT and Epistle complementary as during major festal cycles
Sunday to Sunday: Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings Related to Sunday rather than daily office lectionary (2 year cycle, focus on Psalms)
For each day: Old Testament, New Testament and a Psalm Monday-Wednesday– Readings relate to previous Sunday Thursday to Saturday– Readings lead into upcoming Sunday Readings available as book (Augsburg Fortress), online download (http://www.commontexts.org/publications) or in devotional guide (A Disciple’s Journal)
For More Information • Consultation on Common Texts Website: http://www.commontexts.org/ • Questions about the Lectionary http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/faq2.php • GBOD Worship Website www.umcworship.org
What Are Lectionaries? Lists of readings for Sundays, feast days and daily office Earliest example– 4th century (Athanasius)
Multiple versions, but general agreement on major feast days (Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, Holy Week) Collation but some regional differences remain through Trent (1560s)
Common Lectionaries Trent completes regularization of lectionaries for the West (1560s) Cranmer develops lectionary for England, and other reformers for their faithful By 17th century– Rome + multiple Protestant versions, with agreements on many holy days 1960s – Vatican II and the Common Texts/Common Lectionary projects -- Consultation on Common Texts
Why a Revised Common Lectionary Common Lectionary published 1983 for trial use. With feedback from 2 cycles of use, CCT sought… To expand the amount and scope of the Bible covered in three years Amount– lengthened readings, added coverage of books Scope– more stories about women, the poor, and the outcast than any before To provide for both complementary and semi-continuous readings To reflect historic lectionary traditions better
The Sunday Texts First Lesson: OT or Acts (Easter Season) Psalm: As a response to the first lesson Epistle Gospel– one per year with John interspersed
Distribution of the Scriptures Year A
Year B
Year C
Festival Seasons
Matthew
Mark (John 6) David
Luke
John
Patriarchs and Moses 1&2 Cor, Romans, Phil., I Thess.
Elijah-Elisha and Exilic prophets 1&2 Cor, 1 Cor, Gal., Romans, Col., Heb., Ephesians, Phm, I&2 James, Heb. Tim 2 Thess
Prophets
I Peter, Johannine, Revelation
What Readings Are Related When? Advent-Christmas Season All readings relate to each other, focus gospel
Lent-Trinity All readings relate to each other, focus gospel
After Baptism of the Lord: OT/Gospel related (complementary), Epistle semi-continuous
After Trinity: Semi-continuous (only OT/Psalm relate) or Complementary (OT/Gospel relate)
The Season after Pentecost: Semi-Continuous Choose ONE stream or switch streams (For example: Year A)
• Gospel
• Matthew
• Epistle
• I&2 Cor, Rom, Phil, I Thess
• Old Testament
• Patriarchs and Moses
Two Major Cycles and “Ordinary Time” Advent-Christmas Cycle
Lent-Easter Cycle
• Lent: Learning to Live the Way (Catechesis) • Easter Season: The Mystery of Resurrection (Mystagogy and Ministry Formation) Ordinary Time
• Advent: Beginning with the end • Christmas Season: The Mystery of Incarnation
• • •
After Epiphany: “Training the midwives” After Pentecost: “Supporting the ministers” Numbering system to locate propers anchored to culmination of previous season
Scripture Focus in Christian Year • Advent– The second coming of Christ • Christmas Season– God becoming flesh and dwelling among us • After Epiphany– Early ministry of Jesus • Lent – Preparing for baptism • Holy Week– Last days of Jesus • Easter Season– Seven weeks of “mystagogy” celebrating resurrection and Spirit (doctrinal training, ministry discernment) • After Pentecost– Teaching/Ministry of Jesus, life 10as Church, Patriarchs/Kings/Prophets
Major Feast Days in Ordinary Time • • • • •
Baptism of the Lord Transfiguration Trinity All Saints Christ the King/Reign of Christ
All texts relate to each other Primary focus on the gospel, OT and Epistle complementary as during major festal cycles
Sunday to Sunday: Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings Related to Sunday rather than daily office lectionary (2 year cycle, focus on Psalms)
For each day: Old Testament, New Testament and a Psalm Monday-Wednesday– Readings relate to previous Sunday Thursday to Saturday– Readings lead into upcoming Sunday Readings available as book (Augsburg Fortress), online download (http://www.commontexts.org/publications) or in devotional guide (A Disciple’s Journal)
For More Information • Consultation on Common Texts Website: http://www.commontexts.org/ • Questions about the Lectionary http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/faq2.php • GBOD Worship Website www.umcworship.org
