Each Sunday at Christ Church, we hear a series of readings from Scripture—what Anglicans traditionally call the Lessons. These readings aren’t chosen at random; they come from a carefully structured plan called the Lectionary, which guides the Church through most of the Bible over a three-year cycle.

We are currently in Year C, and when Advent arrives, we’ll turn the page to Year A. The beauty of the lectionary is that it ensures we hear the fullness of God’s Word—not just our favorite passages or familiar themes. It challenges preachers and congregations alike to engage with the whole story of Scripture and to hear God speaking in unexpected places.

Four Readings, One Story

Each Sunday’s worship includes four readings:

• A lesson from the Old Testament,
• A Psalm,
• A reading from the New Testament, and
• The Gospel.

Following ancient Christian custom, the Old Testament lesson is chosen to complement the theme of the Gospel reading, creating a rich dialogue between the Testaments.

About the Apocrypha

From time to time, a reading from the Apocrypha—books found in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) but not in the Hebrew Bible—appears in our lectionary. As Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles explains, “the Church doth read [these books] for example of life and instruction of manners, but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine.”

For this reason, when an Apocryphal lesson is read, the reader concludes simply with “Here ends the reading,” instead of the usual “The Word of the Lord.” It’s a subtle distinction that honors their value while recognizing their different status in our tradition.

The Gospel Procession

The Gospel reading holds a special place in the service—it is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. From the earliest days of the Church, Christians have stood in reverence as the Gospel is proclaimed. At Christ Church, the procession of the Gospel book from the altar into the midst of the congregation powerfully symbolizes the Good News coming from heaven to the people.

As St. John writes, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). When we see the Gospel read among the people, we are reminded that Christ himself came to dwell with us, bringing grace and truth into our midst.

A Note on the Psalter

One of the exciting features of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer is the restoration of the beloved Coverdale Psalter—a poetic English translation of the Psalms dating back to 1539 under King Henry VIII. This translation, crafted by Miles Coverdale, shaped Anglican worship for centuries.

In 1963, a committee that included literary giants T.S. Eliot and C.S. Lewis attempted a gentle modernization of the Coverdale Psalms. However, because cathedral musicians objected (since updating the Psalter would have required rewriting much of the choral music), the revision was never adopted.

The 2019 Prayer Book brings this rich heritage forward, recovering the lyrical 1963 version with slight modern updates for clarity and musicality—a perfect blend of beauty, tradition, and worship.

In every Sunday service, through these appointed Lessons, we participate in something larger than ourselves—the ongoing story of God’s redeeming love, read aloud and proclaimed in the gathered Church.