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Exploring the Revised Common

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 ?

Lists of readings for Sundays, feast days and

Earliest example– 4th century (Athanasius)

Multiple versions, but general agreement on major feast days (Christmas, Epiphany, , Pentecost, )

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 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 – one per year with John interspersed

Distribution of the Scriptures

Year A Year B Year C Festival Seasons Matthew Mark Luke John (John 6) Patriarchs David Elijah-Elisha Prophets and Moses and Exilic prophets 1&2 Cor, 1&2 Cor, 1 Cor, Gal., I Peter, Romans, Romans, Col., Heb., Johannine, Phil., I Ephesians, Phm, I&2 Revelation Thess. James, Heb. Tim 2 Thess What Readings Are Related When?

Advent-Christmas Season -Trinity All readings relate to All readings relate to each other, focus each other, focus gospel gospel

After Baptism of the Lord: After Trinity: OT/Gospel related Semi-continuous (only OT/Psalm relate) or (complementary), Complementary Epistle semi-continuous (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

• • Patriarchs and Moses Two Major Cycles and “ Time” -Christmas Cycle Lent-Easter Cycle

• Advent: Beginning with the • Lent: Learning to Live the end Way (Catechesis) • Easter Season: The Mystery • Christmas Season: The of Resurrection (Mystagogy Mystery of Incarnation and Ministry Formation)

• 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 • 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 • Christ the King/Reign of Christ

All texts relate to each other Primary focus on , 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 )

For each day: Old 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 ’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