Liturgical Moment of the Week: The Readings

By Fr. Brian+

Lay persons appointed by the celebrant should normally be assigned the

reading of the Lessons which precede the Gospel, and may lead the

Prayers of the People.

So go the instructions from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP: 354) concerning who reads the Bible during the worship service. I wanted to show you these instructions as an example that much of our service is directed by the BCP. That is what makes us distinctly Anglican. 

The readings - also called the lessons - form the major part of the first half of the worship service, referred to as The Liturgy of the Word. This section includes the reading of God’s Word, the sermon, the Nicene Creed, the prayers of the people, and the confession and absolution. After exchanging the peace, we move on to the second half, the Liturgy of the Sacrament.

The readings rotate based upon the lectionary cycle. The same or similar lectionary is used by the Roman Catholics and other Protestant churches. Readings complement the church calendar and are beautifully appointed to highlight the right truths at the right times. In Easter we read about the resurrection while at Christmas the birth of the Baby.

It has been said that Episcopalians read more of God’s Word in the worship service than any other church in the world. If that’s true, it suggests that you, Episcopalians, are as familiar with God’s Word as any other Christians.

Is that true in your experience?

Like much of the liturgy, the more you focus with your mind on the words being read, the more your heart will engage with God during the service, and afterward.

When I announce that it is time for the readings, I usually say, “please be seated for the reading of God’s Word.” It’s not the newspaper we are reading, or a blog post. It’s not a transcript for a podcast or audio book from the New York Times Bestsellers List. It’s God’s Word.

By the way, the Bible is the bestselling book of all time, and every year. Do you see it on the popular best selling lists? No. Why not? Why would the world not want the world to know that God’s Word is the most popular book being bought and sold?

Well, in our church, we read the most popular book of all time, the most popular book of 2025: the Holy Bible.

What a privilege it is to have God’s Word, to cherish God’s Word, to respect God’s Word, to read God’s Word, and to listen to God’s Word.

Next time I say, “please be seated for the reading of God’s Word,” turn up the volume of your hearts and minds to see what the Lord God has to say to you.