For each week, the RCL website has added scriptural reflections based on a featured art image, as well as RCL prayers for worship.
What are the terms of use for the Lectionary?
What are the terms of use for the Lectionary?
Copyright permission for this project has been received:
- Lectionary selections are reprinted from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings copyright © 2005. Consultation on Common Texts, Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Reproduced by permission.
- Scripture texts are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
- Prayers are reproduced from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.
- Art images are from the Art in the Christian Tradition database, a project sponsored by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library and the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, a division of the Heard Library, 2007.
- To reference this website, the following structure may be used: The Revised Common Lectionary. Vanderbilt Divinity Library. https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/. 2008.
The lectionary selections, scripture texts, and prayers may be freely used for non-profit purposes by worship leaders, teachers, and others in the Church and educational communities. Extensive portions of the NRSV may not be quoted without permission from the holder of copyright as stated above. Please contact us if you have questions.
The art images and accompanying descriptions may be freely used for non-profit purposes by worship leaders, teachers, and others in the Church and educational communities. They are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike 3.0 License. In short: you are free to use and to share the file for non-commercial purposes under the conditions that you appropriately attribute it, and that you distribute it only under a license compatible with this one. For other use, please contact the Divinity Library Reference Staff with your request.
Permission guidelines for publication projects using the RCL can be found here: Publication Permissions.
- First reading
- Acts 4:5-12
- Psalm
- Psalm 23
- Second reading
- 1 John 3:16-24
- Gospel
- John 10:11-18
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.
