21 August 2026

The most dramatic liturgical changes have taken place within the Roman Catholic Church since Vatican II. Not only was the orientation of the priest and the language of the liturgy changed but the importance of the Word and its relationship to the Sacrament was celebrated.

‘In the services a richer, more varied and more appropriate reading of Holy Scripture should be introduced.’ said the Sacrosanctum Concilium. In addition, ’The ministry of preaching is to be performed properly and with greatfidelity.’ This new emphasis led to the production of a three year lectionary replacing an annual cycle which didn’t include the Old Testament.

The American Presbyterians incorporated a version of this lectionary into their ‘Worship Book’ (1970). By contrast our ‘Book of Common Order’ (1979) contained a two year lectionary created by the Joint Liturgical Group. By the time Common Order (1994) was produced, we had embraced the three year cycle too.

The ‘International Commission on English in the Liturgy’ stated that ‘The use of the Sunday lectionary of the Roman liturgy, with minor adaptations, by major separated churches has given it unexpected and providential ecumenical dimension…’

It is a remarkable achievement that on any given Sunday, we are united with  other denominations in our exploration of the Bible. There are deficiencies expressed by those who adhere to the Westminster Directory’s suggestion that ‘ordinarily, where the reading in either Testament endeth on one Lord’s day, it is to begin the next.’  But the Kirk allows   freedom  to exit the lectionary at will!