For each week, the RCL website has added scriptural reflections based on a featured art image, as well as RCL prayers for worship.
How is the Revised Common Lectionary structured - why are there two sets of readings after Pentecost?
How is the Revised Common Lectionary structured - why are there two sets of readings after Pentecost?
The RCL offers a three-year cycle with four readings for every Sunday in the Church Year. These readings are:
- A Lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures (or Acts during the Season of Easter)
- A Psalm
- A Lesson from the Epistles or Acts
- A Lesson from the Gospels
After Pentecost during Ordinary Time, there are two sets of Hebrew Bible readings. One set progresses semi-continuously through the Patriarchal/Exodus narratives (Year A), the Monarchial narratives (Year B), and the Prophets (Year C). The other set is related thematically, or is complementary, to the gospel lections for those dates. The Hebrew Bible lections during the rest of the year are thematically related to the gospel lections, which are in turn connected to the seasons of the Church Year. Additional readings are provided for special feast days.
- First reading and Psalm
- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
- Psalm 24
- Alternate First reading and Psalm
- Amos 7:7-15
- Psalm 85:8-13
- Second reading
- Ephesians 1:3-14
- Gospel
- Mark 6:14-29
NEW RCL WEBSITE: The new RCL website will be launched on July 15th! It features easily accessible lectionary readings in NRSVue, links to thousands of art images for reflection, lectionary prayers, worship resources, and other features, all in a beautifully presented new interface. With this update, we hope you'll find it even easier to interact with the lectionary. As always, let us know what you think.
UPDATED IMAGES IN SLIDESHOW FORMATS: We continue to update and refresh the PowerPoint and PDF slideshow files. These contain selected texts from each of the Sunday Lectionary readings along with reflective images. Since the images have copyright release for non-commercial use, the slideshows may be freely used in worship and educational settings. The slideshows are also linked via the "SLIDES" links in the box on the right of the scripture text pages. We are interested in your feedback; please contact us with your questions or comments.
BLACK AND WHITE ILLUSTRATIONS: We are now offering black and white art images for each Sunday or Special Day that are specially modified for use in print materials, online worship, or church websites. They are designed for reflection upon the Gospel reading. The only restriction for using the images is that they are identified and used for non-commercial purposes. Please offer feedback, as we continue to develop this tool.
DAILY LECTIONARY READINGS: Daily readings expand the range of biblical reading in worship and personal devotion by providing daily citations for the full three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect on and digest what they heard in worship. You can also find the readings by looking for the "DAILY" link on the Sunday and Special Days scripture text pages. It is in the box on the right side of the screen.
PRINT PDF FORMATS: We offer a wide variety of printable formats that arrange the Lectionary readings for use as a handout, bulletin insert, or Bible study tool. The print PDFs are also linked via the "PRINT PDF" link in the box on the right of the scripture text pages. Please offer feedback, as we continue to develop these tools.
CALENDARS: We offer a calendar feature for Google Calendar, iCal, and Outlook. Just click on the "calendar" icon in the top right corner of any page.
During the Season after Pentecost, the Revised Common Lectionary offers two sets of parallel readings. The first set of "semicontinuous" OT readings follows major stories/themes, beginning in Year A with Genesis and ending in Year C with the later prophets. "Complementary" OT readings follow the historical tradition of thematically pairing the OT reading with the Gospel reading. Whichever approach is chosen at the beginning of Pentecost, the intent is for the remaining Season after Pentecost readings to follow the same approach. In addition, both sets of readings sometimes offer alternate options (indicated by italics): readings that may be used with, or in place of, the standard reading. Finally, note that the psalms for each Sunday after Pentecost are intended to be paired with a particular OT reading (either semicontinuous or complementary).
