Historically, both ancient Jews and ancient Christians have kept a common cycle of daily and weekly Scripture readings to be used by the whole community of believers. This is usually called a “common lectionary.” Although churches affiliated with Mennonite Church USA do not promote the Revised Common Lectionary as the only suitable scripture calendar for worship and preaching, we recognize the importance of this ecumenical calendar. For additional information see here.

The goal of lectionary readings is unity - wherever in the world you might be worshipping, the people of God are reflecting and preaching on the same Words of God. This lectionary not only creates a sense of community with the larger Church, but it keeps the Church in an annual rhythm of worship.

The discipline of preaching from the lectionary ensures that the preacher does not preach only from his or her favorite texts, but rather engages the whole council of God from all of Scripture. The Revised Common Lectionary (there is also a daily devotional lectionary) offers four readings for each Sunday from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the Epistles, and the Gospels. When all four are read in worship, the majority of Scripture will be covered in three years.

What is the Common Lectionary?