What is a Lectionary?
A lectionary is a pattern for reading Scripture. It offers a three-year cycle, with the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke providing the basis of each cycle. Selections from John are read during Eastertide in each year. The lectionary doesn’t read straight through the Bible. Instead it is used as a guide in services of worship across denominations, it is a useful tool for choosing and sequencing Scripture readings and related music and liturgy for weekly worship.
The Revised Common Lectionary is built around the seasons of the Church Year, and includes four lections for each Sunday, as well as additional readings for major feast days. During most of the year, the lections are: a reading from the Hebrew Bible, a Psalm, a reading from the Epistles, and a Gospel reading. During the season of Easter, the Hebrew Bible lection is usually replaced with one from the Acts of the Apostles. The lections from the Hebrew Bible are sometimes chosen from the Apocrypha.
The gospel readings for each year come from one of the synoptic gospels according to the following pattern:
- Year A - Matthew
- Year B - Mark
- Year C - Luke
(Adapted from Vanderbilt Divinity Library, "Frequently Asked Questions," The Revised Commons Lectionary, https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/faq2.php)
How to Find Scripture Content in ATLASerials Using The Text This Week
- The Text This WeekThe Text This Week offers resources related to the Revised Common Lectionary, including links to articles in ATLASerials (which is provided to alumni of CTS at no cost).
Resources for Preaching
- African American Lectionary This link opens in a new windowThe African American Lectionary was designed to offer a collection of scripture readings and resources specifically with the African American Christian faith community and historically African American churches in mind.
- MLK50 Lenten LectionaryThe National Civil Rights Museum, located at the historic Lorraine Motel in Memphis,TN offers this worship planning resource for ministers, musicians and worship planners as a part of the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Reverend Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.
- Revised Common Lectionary This link opens in a new windowThe Revised Common Lectionary is a three-year cycle of weekly lections used to varying degrees by the vast majority of mainline Protestant churches in Canada and the United States.
- The Lectionary PageLiturgical calendar adapted for Episcopal Worship.
- The Online Book of Common PrayerPrayer book used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism.
- Revised Common Lectionary (ELCA)Lectionary and worship resources from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
- Revised Commons Lectionary (PCUSA)There are two distinct lectionaries provided on this site: the two-year Daily Lectionary from the Book of Common Worship and the three-year Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) for Sundays and festivals; be sure you select the appropriate one.
- SAMUELSAMUEL is a sermon preparation resource designed for use with the Revised Common Lectionary produced by the the United Church of Christ.
- Working PreacherWorking Preacher is a resource developed by Luther Seminary. The site offers exegetical material geared to the weekly lectionary (Preach This Week for RCL, Evangelio, and Narrative Lectionary preachers).
- Worship Resources from the United Church of ChristWorship resources created by UCC pastors, scholars and musicians to enrich congregational worship.
- Worship Resources from the United Methodist ChurchFind resources for weekly services including liturgy, music suggestions, prayers and sermon starters as well as ideas for special services and those in settings outside the church.