The Lectionary for Sundays is arranged in a three-year cycle, in which
Year A always begins on the First Sunday of Advent in years evenly
divisible by three. (For example, 1977 divided by 3 is 659 with no
remainder. Year A, therefore, begins on Advent Sunday of that year.)
The Psalms and Lessons appointed for the Sundays and for other major
Holy Days are intended for use at all public services on such days, except
when the same congregation attends two or more services. Thus, the
same Lessons are to be read at the principal morning service, whether the
Liturgy of the Word takes the form given in the Holy Eucharist, or that of
the Daily Office.
When the same congregation is present for Morning or Evening Prayer,
in addition to the Eucharist, the Lessons at the Office may be selected
from one of the other years of the three-year Sunday cycle, or from the
Lectionary for the Daily Office. The Psalms at such Offices are normally
those appointed in the Office Lectionary; but, when desired, the Psalm
cited in the selected Sunday Proper may be used instead.
In this Lectionary, the selections from the Psalter are frequently cited in a
longer and shorter version, usually from the same Psalm. The longer
version is particularly appropriate for use at the Office, the shorter version
when the Psalm is sung between the Lessons at the Eucharist. The selections
may be further lengthened or shortened at discretion.
When an alternative Lesson is cited, it is sometimes identical with a
Lesson appointed for the same day in the Daily Office Lectionary.
In the opening verses of Lessons, the Reader should omit initial
conjunctions which refer only to what has preceded, substitute nouns for
pronouns when the referent is not otherwise clear, or else prefix to the
Reading some such introduction as, "N. said (to N.)."
Any Reading may be lengthened at discretion. Suggested lengthenings are
shown in parentheses.
888 Lectionary