Divergence on the Lectionary – Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C

First Reading Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 (Omitted verses in italics) And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C

First Reading Isaiah 62:1–5 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – First Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C

First Reading Isaiah 43:1–7 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Second Sunday after Christmas, All Years

First Reading Jeremiah 31:7–14 For thus says the LORD: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of […]
Christmas Week

There are a lot of different sets of lections that may be used this week. We have the three different sets for Christmas and then the lections for the First Sunday after Christmas. I thought it might be helpful to pull all those sets of lessons together (with links to each page) so that you […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C

First Reading Micah 5:2–5a (The remainder of verse 5 in italics) But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Third Sunday of Advent, Year C

First Reading Zephaniah 3:14–20 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

First Reading Baruch 5:1-9 Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem,and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God;put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting;for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven.For God […]
Divergence on the Lectionary, 1 Advent, Year C

First Reading Jeremiah 33:14–16 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 29 (Christ the King), Year B (tracks one and two)

First Reading (track one) 2 Samuel 23:1–7 Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: “The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 28 B (track one)

First Reading 1 Samuel 1:4-20 (vv. 1-3 and 21-28 included in italics) There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 27, Year B (track one)

First Reading Ruth 3:1–5, 4:13–17 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – All Saints, Year B

First Lesson Isaiah 25:6–9 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 25, Year B (track one)

First Reading Job 42:1-6, 10-17 (omitted verses in italics) Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 24, Year B (track one)

First Reading Job 38:1–7, [34-41] optional verses bracketed below Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. “Where were you when I laid the foundation […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 23, Year B (track one)

First Reading Job 23:1-9, 16-17 (omitted verses in italics) Then Job answered and said: “Today also my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill […]