THE LECTIONARY: Drawing the Church Together

Beginning this fall, our Sunday School classes, for all ages, will be using a lectionary-based curriculum.  To understand the meaningfulness of the curriculum chosen, it might be helpful to review just what the “Lectionary” is.

The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) is a plan for the Bible readings used at Sunday worship.  Three lessons plus a psalm are designated for each Sunday, the first from the Old Testament (or Acts during Easter), the second from an epistle or Revelation and the third from one of the four gospels.  The RCL is the result of the work done by the Consultation on Common Texts, a group started in the 1960’s and made up of representatives from approximately 20 denominations.  In 1983 the group published the Common Lectionary and in 1992 the Revised Common Lectionary.  The lectionary is intended to bring a consensus among participating churches concerning the readings for the Church year, providing a uniform and common pattern of biblical proclamation for Christians around the world.

Constructed on a three-year cycle, the lectionary covers the reading of much of the Old Testament and almost all of the New Testament every three years.  In Year A (which begins on the First Sunday in Advent in years divisible by three), Matthew’s gospel is read; in Year B, Mark’s gospel; and in Year C, Luke.  The Gospel of John is used during all three years on festival days, during Holy Week and the Easter season.

Our Sunday School classes will be using the “Living the Good News” curriculum.  Every Sunday, at every age level, “Living the Good News” shares a common focus drawn from the lectionary readings for the day.  Because all age levels explore at least one common Bible reading each week, family members can discuss their discoveries together at home.  In addition, parish members can explore the scriptures used in the Sunday liturgy and, week by week, participate in the rhythms of the Church year—Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.

Immersion in a lectionary-based curriculum joins us with Christian believers throughout history and around the world.  On any given weekend, as we gather for worship and Sunday School, we know that around the globe our larger Christian family gathers to hear the same stories and to proclaim the same truths.  Our lectionary-based liturgical and educational experience joins us with saints of all places and ages—the unified, celebrating the Body of Christ.

The repetitive nature of the three-year lectionary cycle means you need not feel compelled to learn everything there is to know about any given reading.  The growing child, the questioning adolescent and the maturing adult each encounter these scriptures again and again at progressive stages of understanding.

Our basic Christian beliefs and the sacraments flow from the Church’s scripture.  The Bible, as proclaimed through the Church’s liturgy, guides our journey into greater faith.  Regularly sharing in reflection and discussion with others on the same path can energize and sustain us along our journey. 

Excerpts from “Living the Good News”Leaders Guide.  Morehouse Education Resources