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where is the lectionary blog headed?
A lot of readers have been asking both what will happen with the lectionary blog in light of the Episcopal Church's move to the Revised Common Lectionary, and also in light of what's going on in my life. When I started the blog at the beginning of Advent 2003, I committed to blogging through the entire lectionary cycle, and at the beginning of Advent this year I will have fulfilled that commitment -- but I'm having far too much fun to stop. Writing each week on the readings and hearing your feedback has, I think, made me a better preacher, and hearing stories from people around the world about your congregations, ministries, and use of what you find here has encouraged and inspired me.
So I plan to keep blogging the lectionary. When I started this blog, I used the Episcopal Church's lectionary mostly because that's what was used in the parish where I worked, but I have no particular attachment to that lectionary otherwise, so while our last General Convention resolved to move fully to the RCL at the beginning of Advent 2007, I see no reason not to start blogging the RCL at the beginning of Advent 2006, and God willing and the people continuing to find it useful, I'll plan to blog all three years of the RCL.
Finally, I want to say thank you to all who have been supporting this site with donations, purchases from Amazon.com and Toddy Coffee. I'm particularly grateful for the boost these things give me now that I'm paying seminary tuition! I'm also grateful for and honored by the notes I get from readers -- your prayers and encouragement have buoyed me for the last three years, and I look forward to hearing from you whenever you feel moved to write.
Blessings,
Dylan
August 5, 2006 in Administrivia, Personal Notes | Permalink
Comments
Best of luck on your move to EDS. I am delighted you will continue your blog; you often have interesting and helpful insights. And, knowing that you will begin using the RCL on Advent Sunday this year, I plan to switch our parish lectionary accordingly.
Best wishes,
David Ames (EDS,'66, '84)
Posted by: David Ames | Aug 7, 2006 6:17:16 PM
Sarah, first of all, thanks so much for your blog -- it is a regular "stop" during my sermon preparation.
Second, I wanted to comment on the change to the RCL. When I came to Christ Church in 2003, we were in the course of using the RCL on an "test" basis. Recently, our interim rector put us back on the BCP lectionary (mostly, I gather, because all her past sermons were based on it). I must say that the difference is quite stark, especially regarding the OT reading. Last summer, before the interim arrived and while we were still using the RCL, I was preaching every Sunday. Because of the structure of the RCL's OT choices, I was able to "preach thru" the stories of the patriarchs and matriarchs! So many parishioners were pleased and inspired -- some confessed they hadn't heard these stories since they were children.
Take the recent BCP OT selections -- they are a disjointed series of prophetic snippets taken completely out of their context. There is no flow to speak of. Two weeks ago it was Elijah and Elisha, suddenly this week we are at Mt. Sinai? Woah! Whiplash!
I will enjoy walking thru the great Tanakhic narratives when we go back to the RCL. I have always loved story over theology, so I consider it a treat!
Thanks again!
The Rev. Scott Russell
Episcopal Campus Minister at Virginia Tech
Posted by: Scott Russell | Aug 12, 2006 1:08:40 PM
Sarah, first of all, thanks so much for your blog -- it is a regular "stop" during my sermon preparation.
Second, I wanted to comment on the change to the RCL. When I came to Christ Church in 2003, we were in the course of using the RCL on an "test" basis. Recently, our interim rector put us back on the BCP lectionary (mostly, I gather, because all her past sermons were based on it). I must say that the difference is quite stark, especially regarding the OT reading. Last summer, before the interim arrived and while we were still using the RCL, I was preaching every Sunday. Because of the structure of the RCL's OT choices, I was able to "preach thru" the stories of the patriarchs and matriarchs! So many parishioners were pleased and inspired -- some confessed they hadn't heard these stories since they were children.
Take the recent BCP OT selections -- they are a disjointed series of prophetic snippets taken completely out of their context. There is no flow to speak of. Two weeks ago it was Elijah and Elisha, suddenly this week we are at Mt. Sinai? Woah! Whiplash!
I will enjoy walking thru the great Tanakhic narratives when we go back to the RCL. I have always loved sustained story over thematic theological "snippets", so I consider it a treat!
Thanks again!
Posted by: Scott Russell | Aug 12, 2006 1:10:03 PM
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