The Lectionary Page

March 2017

April 2017

 May 2017

  June 2017

 July 2017

What are “Track 1” and “Track 2”?

The Revised Common Lectionary allows us to make use of either of these tracks, but once a track has been selected, it should be followed through to the end of the Pentecost season, rather than jumping back and forth between the two strands.

The first track of Old Testament readings (“Track 1”) follows major stories and themes, read mostly continuously from week to week. In Year A we begin with Genesis, in Year B we hear some of the great monarchy narratives, and in Year C we read from the later prophets.

A second track of readings (“Track 2”) follows the Roman Catholic tradition of thematically pairing the Old Testament reading with the Gospel reading, often typologically—a sort of foretelling of Jesus Christ’s life and ministry, if you will. This second track is almost identical to our previous Book of Common Prayer lectionary.

Within each track there may be additional readings, complementary to the standard reading; these may be used with the standard reading, or in place of it.

(credit to The Rev Dr. J. Barrington Bates)

A Note about Weekday Observances

In 2006, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church gave final approval to the observances of saints and martyrs found in Lesser Feasts and Fasts, 2006.

The General Convention of 2009 gave approval for trial use of Holy Women, Holy Men, intended as a replacement for Lesser Feasts and Fasts. It was expected that the General Convention of 2012 would either give Holy Women, Holy Men final approval or reject it. However, because a consensus opinion about Holy Women, Holy Men had not emerged, the Convention extended the trial period to 2015 and directed the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to continue revising Holy Women, Holy Men.

The General Convention of 2015 gave initial approval to a new document called A Great Cloud of Witnesses, replacing Holy Women, Holy Men. In the new document, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music presented seven criteria for adding commemorations to the calendar and recommended sixteen deletions from the calendar of Holy Women, Holy Men because those persons did not meet all of the seven criteria. The General Convention approved the criteria but not the deletions!

Lesser Feasts and Fasts, 2006 remains the last calendar of saints to be given final approval. Because of the general level of confusion about the lesser commemorations and the lack of agreement about what should be included, and because the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music envisions these commemorations as local observances in communities where the person being commemorated is already venerated and remembered, from January 2016 onward, the lesser commemorations will not be included on the main calendar.

You may access them by date through the Index to Lesser Feasts and Fasts and Newer Commemorations.

An alphabetical index is also available: Lesser Feasts and Fasts and Newer Commemorations, Alphabetical