A lectionary is a list of scripture readings appointed for worship on a given day or occasion. Lectionaries were known and used in the fourth century, where major churches arranged the Scripture readings according to a schedule which follows the calendar of the church’s year. This practice of assigning particular readings to each Sunday and festival has continued through the history of the Christian Church.
The Methodist Church in Britain uses the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), which was developed in the 1980s and revised in 1992. It is now used throughout the world by many Christian denominations. It contains a three-year cycle of biblical readings that run through the Church Year, beginning at the start of Advent.
On November 29, 2020 we begin the second year of the cycle, Year B. The complete list of Principal Services for Year B (beginning Advent 2020) is available here (downloadable PDF). This runs through to the Sunday before Advent in 2021.
Mike Peck, a member in our circuit, provides some lectionary reflections for the upcoming Sunday; these are usually available on Monday mornings. You can read them here.
The lectionary readings for Sundays are arranged in a three-year cycle that is planned around the four gospels in the New Testament. Each Sunday has a gospel reading, and Old Testament reading, an Epistle reading and a Psalm.
- Year A is the year of Matthew
- Year B is the year of Mark
- Year C is the year of Luke
Extracts from the Gospel of John are read each year, especially around Christmas, Lent and Easter. Additional readings from John are included in the year of Mark (Year B), whose Gospel is shorter than the others. The sequence of Gospel readings is designed to assist God’s people in to a deeper understanding of Christ and a stronger faith in him. Readings are grouped around the birth, baptism, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Each year of the lectionary cycles beings on the First Sunday of Advent.
- Year A begins on the first Sunday of Advent in 2019, 2022, 2025 etc.
- Year B begins on the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, 2023 , 2026 etc.
- Year C begins on the first Sunday of Advent in 2021, 2024, 2027 etc.
What about the Old Testament (Hebrew scriptures)? For about half of the year, the Old Testament & Psalm readings are designed to complement the Gospel reading. Following Trinity Sunday until Christ the King Sunday, there are two options for selecting readings from the Old Testament.
- EITHER the “sequential” or “semi-continuous” track of readings. Genesis through Judges is read in Year A, the story of the kings of Israel in Year B, and the prophets in Year C. The Psalm then compliments this reading.
- OR the “thematic” or “related” readings where the Old Testament & Psalm readings are designed to complement the Gospel reading.
As well as readings for Sundays, there are also the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings providing weekday readings that relate to the RCL Sunday readings.
You can find additional information and resources by clicking on the following links:
Methodist List of Readings for Year B
Singing the Faith Lectionary Team on the Methodist Website
Consultation on Common Texts (who created the Revised Common Lectionary)