The Table of Readings

The Revised Common Lectionary
adapted for use in the Church of Ireland

Introduction to the Lectionary

The Lectionary for the Principal Service on Sundays and Holy Days

This is the Revised Common Lectionary with minor adaptations. In each of the three years one of the synoptic gospels is read through as the Gospel reading, Matthew in Year A (beginning Advent Sunday 2016, 2019 et seq.), Mark in Year B (beginning Advent Sunday 2017, 2020 et seq.), Luke in Year C (beginning Advent Sunday 2018, 2021, et seq.). John is read on festivals and in seasons of all three years and in Year B where the shorter Gospel of Mark does not provide material for the whole year.

Epistle readings are drawn from the New Testament letters and are read semi-continuously:not every verse of every epistle, but so as to convey in a representative way the teaching of the apostles. While there is no attempt to link this reading with the Gospel reading except at festivals, there is a general significance in the relating of the choice of readings. For example, readings from Romans, the high point of Saint Paul’s theology, are appointed in the year in which Matthew, which contains more of Jesus’ teaching than the other synoptic gospels, is featured.

For seasons and festivals the Old Testament reading points to either the Gospel or the Epistle reading. Between the First Sunday after Trinity and the Sunday before Advent a choice is offered, which should be made and then adhered to for the whole year. Option 1 (indicated as continuous) is for semi-continuous reading, giving over three years a salvation-history view of the Old Testament presenting in particular the narrative material. Option 2 (indicated as paired) follows the pattern in the Roman Catholic and American Episcopal Church lectionaries where the Old Testament reading has a somewhat thematic linking relationship with the New Testament readings that follow, usually the Gospel reading. The Psalm is a reflection and response to the Old Testament reading.

It is recommended that all three readings be read.

Alternative Old Testament lessons in Eastertide have been provided in this table from the lectionary of the Episcopal Church of the USA.

A Lectionary for a Second Service

This has been prepared by the Church of England Liturgical Commission to supplement the Revised Common Lectionary. In this table some passages are included which differ from its provisions.

It also follows a three-year cycle and has been designed to complement the Revised Common Lectionary without conflicting with it.

It may be used at an Evening Service whether Evening Prayer, A Service of The Word, or Holy Communion. A Gospel reading for use when the service is Holy Communion is always provided when the New Testament reading is not from one of the gospels. (This is always indicated by the ‡ symbol.)

A Lectionary for a Third Service

This has also been prepared by the Church of England Liturgical Commission. It is designed for use by those who require a lectionary when Morning Prayer is said before the principal service of Holy Communion or where there is a tradition of two principal morning services for which separate lectionaries are desired. On Sundays after Trinity the readings (but not the psalms) are the same in all three years.

Festivals and Other Occasions

The table of readings provided for Festivals, and that for Other Occasions, were prepared by the Liturgical Advisory Committee in co-operation with the Church of England Liturgical Commission.

Readings from the Books called ‘Apocrypha’

On a few Sundays, and on certain Festivals, first readings are provided from the non-canonical books mentioned in Article 6 ‘which the Church doth read for example of life and instruction in manners, but yet doth not apply to them to establish any doctrine’. These are drawn from the books of Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus (the Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach), 1 Maccabees and Tobit. The passages chosen have a thematic relationship to either the Gospel or Epistle readings which follow. For each of such readings an alternative reading from the canonical books is provided. The words which may be said after a reading from the Apocrypha are usually, ‘Here ends the reading’.

Bible Versions – the Texts

Any version of the Bible from the versions approved by the House of Bishops may be used for the readings. Readings are ‘cited’ from the New Revised Standard Version (1989). Those using other versions will need to check and, if necessary, adjust. The citation of psalms has been adjusted to the versification of the Psalter in this book.

Extensions and Options

In this cycle of readings some passages have necessarily been abbreviated. When appropriate any reading may be lengthened. In some cases lengthening is suggested by the inclusion of verse numbers in brackets, in others readings may be lengthened at discretion.

On Sundays between The Epiphany and Ash Wednesday and between Trinity Sunday and Advent Sunday, while the authorised lectionary provision remains the norm, the minister may occasionally depart from the lectionary provision for sufficient pastoral reasons or for preaching and teaching purposes.

A Table of Epistles and Gospels

A table of epistles and gospels from the 1926 edition of the prayer book is given on pages 71-73. This may be used with Holy Communion One.

A Proper

This is a set of readings appointed for any particular Sunday or Holy Day. Those for Sundays in Ordinary Time are numbered from 0 to 29.