A word for everyone.   There are four readings for each Sunday and perhaps you find it difficult to look at all of them: certainly they are not all read in worship.   However, it would be good if each week you sit down and read the gospel reading, the one printed last.   Maybe you could find the Psalm and use some words of it for a devotional thought or to lead you into prayer.   If you have time, you could then go on to the reading from the New Testament letters and the Old Testament lessons.   Even setting aside a quarter of an hour each week will help us all to understand more about what God continues to say to the Churches through the scriptures.

     Some folk have wondered why all the readings are printed in the Messenger.   There are four main reasons.

First, I am sure that knowing in advance what our worship will be based on helps us to prepare for our Sunday Services more carefully.   After all, hearing a reading in Church does not give us much time to reflect on its meaning for US before the Minister spends twenty minutes telling us what HE thinks it means!

Secondly, the material used for our children and young people – “Roots”  in Guernsey and Jersey – is based on these readings, so the whole Church family shares in the same thoughts and themes each week.   (So parents and grandparents should not need to ask “What did you do in Sunday School today?”   They could chat about what they learned, knowing the young people would have thoughts about similar things.   And, children, you could ask the adults “What did you do in Church today?”)

Thirdly, there are folk who, through illness, family commitments, or other duties cannot join in worship on a particular Sunday.   The readings help them to know what is happening in their Church and, even if absent, can join with us in prayerful reflection.   (The Jersey website is also a help with a thought and a prayer for each week!)

Finally, the readings come from something called the Revised Common Lectionary – an ecumenical scheme in which a section from the Old Testament, the Psalms, one of the Gospels and one of the Epistles, is chosen each week in a three year cycle.   This means that a Minister cannot just preach on his pet subject each week (though there will be times when he will!) but, much more important, this scheme of readings enables Church Members to focus on a wider range of Bible readings than they might choose for themselves.

Oh yes, there is a fifth reason.   And it is as important as the rest.   This is an ecumenical scheme, used by friends in the Methodist Church, the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church – as well as other local churches of different denominations.   (And by Churches in Canada, Australia etc…..)   This means that each Sunday, in our different ways and in our different Churches – many Christians throughout the world are sharing the same Bible Readings as a focus for worship.   Separated by buildings, by traditions and by miles, the use of the lectionary unites us with our brothers and sisters in many places and such unity must be a good thing.   Shouldn’t it?

Patrick