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The Lectionary



The Episcopal Church uses Scripture in worship in a very systematic way. The Sunday Lectionary is comprised of the three readings and Psalm assigned for each Sunday of the year over a three year cycle with a particular emphasis on a certain Gospel: Year A - Matthew, B - Mark, and C - Luke. Each Church Year begins on the first Sunday of Advent - four Sundays before Christmas. The Lectionary year changes on that Sunday for the following year. To determine what Sunday lectionary to use, you can simply calculate by adding the digits of the year together and if it divides evenly by 3, you are in Year C ("Year C, divide by 3"). So while the new lectionary begins at the end of 2021, we will consider the following year - 2022. Add the digits 2+0+2+2 = 6 and that divides evenly by 3, so this is Year C and we'll focus on the Gospel of Luke.


The Daily Office Lectionary is divided over two years (Year 1 and Year 2) and has Psalms for morning and evening prayer and three readings from the Hebrew Testament (Old Testament), New Testament, and Gospels. To determine whether to use Year 1 or Year 2, look at the last digit of the year starting on January 1st: if it's odd it's Year 1, and if it's even it's Year 2. As of the First Sunday of Advent, we'll be in Year 2.


Here are some lectionary resources for you:

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