The readings for each Sunday are chosen, not at the whim of the vicar but by the church at large so that, with some small exceptions most churches, whether Roman Catholic or Church of England – and including some free churches as well – use the same readings on any given Sunday. The readings set have been chosen partly to draw our attention to particular seasons – Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and Easter – but partly also so that we can hear each biblical voice at some length following the order in the Bible. There are three readings and a psalm set (though for reasons of time we at South Creake normally only use two). The first reading is from the Old Testament, the Second mostly from the Letters in the New Testament and the last from a Gospel. Each year, at the main service, the Gospel reading will be taken from a particular gospel writer. In the year beginning with Advent 2008 and for most of 2009 churches will be following St Mark’s gospel. This means that we can hear the gospel, not as a series of unconnected stories but coming to know how one of the evangelists tells his story and how, therefore, he understood the Lord Jesus and his mission. St Mark’s is the shortest of the gospels – his account lacks any birth stories – so some Sundays are given over to St John’s gospel, which doesn’t have year of its own. In 2007-8 we heard St Matthew, whose gospel is longest and includes the Sermon on the Mount. In 2009-10 we shall hear St Luke, who, while he includes parts of the Sermon on the Mount uniquely tells us of Christ’s parables of the Prodigal son and the Good Samaritan. Even apart from the inclusion of different stories, each has his point of view expressed by how he wrote. The New Testament outside the gospels, mostly comprises St Paul’s letters but also includes the story of the early church, the Acts of Apostles, and the book of the Revelation. It is much harder to follow one book throughout. However, Acts is always heard at some length during the Sundays of Easter, and in the Sundays after Trinity Sunday we shall hear much of St. Paul’s Second letter to the Corinthians, followed by the whole of the letter to the Ephesians from July, the letter of James in August and September after which we shall hear a chapter or two of Hebrews. The Old Testament is considerably longer than the New and is usually chosen so as to fit in with the gospel, though it is possible – outside the major seasons – to stick with a particular book, the books of Samuel and Kings, Esther and Job this year. Finally, if you come and join us on a Sunday you will be able to follow the Readings without difficulty. We issue a sheet with the three set readings printed on it so that your ability to find your way around the Bible will not be tested. You can take it home and meditate on it if you wish. |
