How are the Bible readings chosen for church?
Daily lessons, Communion readings and the Psalter follow distinct arrangements. Find the right part of the Prayer Book for the service you are preparing.
You look up a Bible reading online, then hear something different at church. One possible explanation is that the lists belong to different services or different lectionaries. A lectionary is a table of appointed readings.
At Christ Church North Adelaide, Morning and Evening Prayer follow the traditional 1662 lectionary. Later revised tables should not be substituted for it.
Which part of the Prayer Book do I need?
- Morning and Evening Prayer: the lessons
- These offices each include two Bible readings, traditionally called lessons. The calendar and tables of lessons tell you where to read. Check the provision for the day, including any proper lessons appointed for the occasion.
- Holy Communion: the Epistle and Gospel
- Look in the section headed Collects, Epistles and Gospels. These readings follow the Sundays and holy days of the Church year. They are a different arrangement from the daily-office lessons.
- The Psalms
- The Psalter has its own monthly pattern for Morning and Evening Prayer, with proper psalms appointed for certain days. The headings within it help you find the portion. Its translation is the Prayer Book Psalter, which can differ from the Psalms in your Bible.
A useful first check
Suppose you are preparing for Evening Prayer. Start by identifying the office and the date. Find the evening lessons in the parish’s traditional table; then find the appointed psalms separately. Do not turn to the Communion Gospel simply because it is printed under the name of that Sunday.
For the order of the office itself, see our introduction to Morning Prayer at home. It explains the practical use of the book and how to obtain help with CCNA’s lectionary.
Why the edition matters
A volume can contain the 1662 services alongside a later lectionary. The editors of the 1662 International Edition explain the later changes to the tables. The words 1662 on a cover or website are therefore not enough to identify its daily readings.
If your list differs from the parish’s, check the table before assuming you have made a mistake. When using CCNA’s Daily Offices recordings, choose the intended date and office rather than relying on playlist order.
