Lectionary 04/10/2026
- Proper 22 /Ordinary 27 - Year A
Lectionary Readings
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Gazing on the Gospels Year A - Proper 22 Year A
Gazing on the Gospels Year A - Proper 22 Year A
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
Proper 22 - Year A Meditation on Matthew 21: 33-46 Gaze, not on this story, but another scene of attack, that will take place a little later in Matthew’s Gospel, when the violence predicted here against the son and heir finally takes place. Gaze as the ‘tenants’ approach him in G…
Lent for Everyone Year A - Thursday: Fourth Week in Lent Year A
Lent for Everyone Year A - Thursday: Fourth Week in Lent Year A
by SPCK - N T Wright
WEEK 4: THURSDAY Matthew 21.23 – 46; focused on 21.33 – 45 I was taking a service in a local church when this passage was the second reading. Over at the side of the church was a family with a three-year-old boy who appeared to be playing with his toys, taking no notice of the se…
Twelve Months of Sundays Year A - Proper 22 Year A
Twelve Months of Sundays Year A - Proper 22 Year A
by SPCK - N T Wright
Ordinary Time - Proper 22 Exodus 20.1–4, 7–9, 12–20 Philippians 3.4b–14 Matthew 21.33–46 The parable of the wicked tenants tells the story of Israel in such a way as to highlight Jesus’ own work and fate as the plot’s denouement. But, as with many parables, and many great non-bib…
Lectionary Reflections Year A - Proper 22 Year A
Lectionary Reflections Year A - Proper 22 Year A
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Lectionary reflections - Year A Ordinary Time Proper 22 Isaiah 5.1–7 Philippians 3.4b-14 Matthew 21.33–46 The people listening to the story of the vineyard would have responded to it on a number of different levels. Some of them would have recognized this vineyard from Isaiah 5 a…
If all the world could live as one
If all the world could live as one
by Andrew Pratt
If all the world could live as one If all the world could live as one respecting each and every need, to be as neighbours sharing all, then God’s commands could be our creed. Much less a law to bind and tie, but more descriptive of the life we share in common care and love, where…
Rule, rule, rules
Rule, rule, rules
by Marjorie Dobson
Rules, rules, rules. Rules, rules, rules. Rules that are sensible. Rules that are practical. Rules to protect the vulnerable. Rules to check criminal behaviour. Rules to promote a right sense of living. Rules to encourage discipline. Rules to keep society on an even keel. Rules t…
The silent language of the stars
The silent language of the stars
by Andrew Pratt
The silent language of the stars The silent language of the stars, each shining constellation, all speak of God to those who see the beauty of creation. They speak with lightening clarity, give every indication to those who look through eyes of faith, of cosmic evolution. Verse …
Psalm 80: 7-15 for today
Psalm 80: 7-15 for today
by Marjorie Dobson
Psalm 80: 7-15 for today We used to believe that this was a Christian country. We used to be thankful that we were not living in a place where our religion was persecuted. We used to feel safe and secure inside our churches and chapels. We used to feel that people respected us fo…
Once a prophet pictured Israel
Once a prophet pictured Israel
by Andrew Pratt
Once a prophet pictured Israel Once a prophet pictured Israel, like a vineyard, overgrown, no more fruitful, judged and broken, left to ruin, overthrown. In the tone hear disappointment in the prophet’s call and cry, seeing bloodshed wound his nation, justice now a living lie. Ve…
Confrontation
Confrontation
by Marjorie Dobson
Confrontation Arrogant, exclusive, toffee-nosed, know-it-alls are a prime target for ridicule – and on the receiving end of plenty of it. But do they care? Not much. Usually they can easily retreat into their exclusivity, surround themselves with those of like minds and justify t…
One after another we wait on the warnings
One after another we wait on the warnings
by Andrew Pratt
One after another we wait on the warnings One after another we wait on the warnings, one after another the prophets cry out; our ears are unhearing we go on regardless ignoring the pleadings while feigning our doubt. The story is old as the faith that we follow, through each gene…
Why put our faith in transient things
Why put our faith in transient things
by Andrew Pratt
Why put our faith in transient things Why put our faith in transient things, satanic mills of industry, the wealth that we accumulate, or even churches' history? The rites that we revere and praise, the hymns we sing, the prayers we pray, the actions we see as divine were human …
Ticking the boxes
Ticking the boxes
by Marjorie Dobson
Ticking the boxes (two characters. Interviewer (I) and respondent (R). Only props needed are clipboard and pen for the interviewer, who ticks boxes as the questions are answered.) I. Good morning. If you have a few minutes to spare, I’d like to ask you a few questions. We’re doin…
Imagining the Lectionary: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Proper 22A/Ordinary 27A)
Imagining the Lectionary: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Proper 22A/Ordinary 27A)
by David Perry
Imagining the Lectionary: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Proper 22A/Ordinary 27A) Reflection accompanying image “rusty handrail against blue sky”. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10) Being at the seaside and perman…
Lent for Everyone Mark Year B - Sunday: Week 3 in Lent Year B
Lent for Everyone Mark Year B - Sunday: Week 3 in Lent Year B
by SPCK - N T Wright
Lent for Everyone Mark Year B WEEK 3: SUNDAY... ...A couple of years ago I found myself in New York at the time when the Museum of Modern Art was hosting an exhibition of Claude Monet’s ‘Waterlily’ paintings. I hadn’t realized how enormous they were, or just how abstract the shap…
Paul for Everyone The Prison Letters - Warning: Don't Trust the Flesh
Paul for Everyone The Prison Letters - Warning: Don't Trust the Flesh
by SPCK - N T Wright
Warning: Don’t Trust in the Flesh Philippians 3.1-6 If you saw a movie advertisement which highlighted the word FLESH, you would know what it meant. Pornography, no doubt. Graphic sexual scenes, quite likely. Or at least that’s what they would want you to think, to try to lure yo…
Paul for Everyone The Prison Letters - Gaining the Messiah
Paul for Everyone The Prison Letters - Gaining the Messiah
by SPCK - N T Wright
Gaining the Messiah Philippians 3.7-11 A story is told of the great nineteenth-century Anglican pastor, poet and theologian John Keble. As a young don in Oxford in the early years of the century, he held at one stage the office of college bursar. Few clergy then, or now for that …
Matthew for Everyone Part 2 - The Parable of the Tenants
Matthew for Everyone Part 2 - The Parable of the Tenants
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Parable of the Tenants Matthew 21.33-46 I had a dream last night, and the frustrating thing is that I can’t remember what it was about. I know that when I woke up it seemed very important; indeed, so important that I wanted to write it down, but I didn’t have the time. By the…
LWPT Meditations - Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A
LWPT Meditations - Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A
by Susan Thorne
Meditation - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Psalm 19 Matthew 21: 33-46 Today’s lectionary passages begin with the Ten Commandments which enshrined God’s Law for the Israelites (Exodus 20) When God gave his chosen people this Law, it was for their g…
Exodus and Leviticus - A Rule of Life
Exodus and Leviticus - A Rule of Life
by SPCK - John Goldingay
A Rule of Life EXODUS 20: 1- 21 As a seminary professor in England, it was my task to ask the students who were my particular pastoral responsibility about their rule of life. The idea of a rule of life had become popular, though maybe the idea was more popular than actually keep…
Exodus and Leviticus - Be Holy as I am Holy
Exodus and Leviticus - Be Holy as I am Holy
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Be Holy as I am Holy LEVITICUS : 19: 1- 18 Today’s newspaper reports on the release from a detention center in Iraq of a twenty-seven-year-old man, after eighteen months there. He was given a letter to say that his case had been concluded and the occupation authorities had decide…
New Testament Wisdom for Everyone - Chasing On To The Finish
New Testament Wisdom for Everyone - Chasing On To The Finish
by SPCK - N T Wright
4 THE PATH OF THE DISCIPLE CHASING ON TO THE FINISH Philippians 3: 12-16 The athletics match had reached a critical stage. One of the final races was left to be run: the 440 yards (the old version of today’s 400 metres). The athletes were bunched together as they came to the firs…
The Living God - Creator of heaven and earth
The Living God - Creator of heaven and earth
by SPCK - Alister McGrath
Creator of heaven and earth 4 One of my favourite stories from the classical age concerns the Greek philosopher Aristippus (c. 435 –c. 356 bc), who found himself shipwrecked on the Aegean island of Rhodes. He had no idea where he was. Was this strange place uninhabited? Would he …
Rhythms of remembering - Ordinary Time - Monday Morning Prayer
Rhythms of remembering - Ordinary Time - Monday Morning Prayer
by SPCK - Hannah Ward & Jennifer Wild
ORDINARY TIME - Monday Morning Prayer Blessed are you, O God, source of all wisdom and understanding. O powerful Wisdom, you encircle all that is, holding everything together in one life-giving path. Hildegard of Bingen...
Rhythms of remembering - Christmas - Friday Morning Prayer
Rhythms of remembering - Christmas - Friday Morning Prayer
by SPCK - Hannah Ward & Jennifer Wild
CHRISTMAS - Friday Morning Prayer RHYTHMS of Remembering Blessed are you, O God: glimpsed in a baby. Joyful is the dark, holy, hidden God, rolling cloud of night beyond all naming, Majesty in darkness, Energy of love, Word-in-Flesh, the mystery proclaiming. Brian Wren...
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - Bring Back! Come Back!
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - Bring Back! Come Back!
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Bring Back! Come Back! Psalm 80 It’s nearly three hundred years since the First Great Awakening, a revival of religious life in Britain and even more in the British colonies in America a few decades before the War of Independence. This First Great Awakening was mostly a movement …
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Mountains
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Mountains
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Mountains For some strange reason, human beings connect mountains with God. In many ancient religions, worship took place on the ‘high places’. Even today, we talk of ‘mountain-top experiences’, despite having left behind the notion that mountains are closer to God’s supposed dwe…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Conflict between the Teacher and Israel
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Conflict between the Teacher and Israel
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Conflict between the Teacher and Israel Matthew 8—23 The intrusion of substantial non-narrative material in these sermons inhibits the movement of the plot. This mixture of Jesus’ ministry and his teaching produces a more measured air; instead of the breathless dash of Mark’s bou…
the greatest prayer - Our Father in Heaven
the greatest prayer - Our Father in Heaven
by SPCK - John Dominic Crossan
2 Our Father in Heaven Our Father which art in heaven . . . Our Father in heaven . . . Matthew 6:9, NRSV Her name was Babatha and she lived in Maoza, on the southern tip of Israel’s Dead Sea coast. She was illiterate, wealthy, and financially very competent, moving easily within …
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Proper 22 (27) - Year A
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Proper 22 (27) - Year A
by Andrew Pratt and Marjorie Dobson
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 22(27) - Year A Hymn: God is love, let heaven adore him or The silent language of the stars (based on Psalm 19) Prayer: God of every shining constellation Hymn: I come with joy, a child of God (I come with joy to meet my Lord) or We nee…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Revelation of the Law at Mount Sinai
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Revelation of the Law at Mount Sinai
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Revelation of the Law at Mount Sinai (Exod. 19–24) While the Israelites are encamped in the wilderness of Sinai, YHWH reveals the law to Moses at Mount Sinai, and Moses reports to the Israelites. In most cases, “Israelites” refers to both male and female Israelites, but women are…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book I (Pss. 1-41)
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book I (Pss. 1-41)
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Book I (Pss. 1-41) Book I opens, in Psalm 1, with words encouraging faithful meditation upon the Torah. The book continues in Psalm 2 with words of warning to the nations and their rulers to recognize the God of Israel as king over all. The psalms are framed (1:1 and 2:11) with t…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The True Circumcision
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The True Circumcision
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
“The True Circumcision” (Phil. 3:3) In his passionate plea to watch out for opponents of the gospel (3:2–3), particularly any possible opponents who preach the necessity of circumcision, Paul prepares the Philippians to counter false teaching (literally, “the mutilation,” 3:2) by…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book III
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book III
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Book III (Pss. 73-89) Book III opens with “A Psalm of Asaph” (Ps. 73). Like the sons of Korah, Asaph was, according to the book of Chronicles, a temple singer during the reigns of David and Solomon. Fifteen of the seventeen psalms in Book III are attributed to Asaph and the sons …
clouds and glory - Proper 22 - Year A
clouds and glory - Proper 22 - Year A
by SPCK - David Adam
Proper 22 Year A Lord you have called us to know you, You have called us to love you, You have called us to serve you. Make us worthy of our calling. May we proclaim your power and your peace. May we rejoice in your light and in your love; Through Christ the living Lord. Amen…
The heavens declare
The heavens declare
by Diane Brennan
TIP- PowerPoint Slide Size- The ideal way to insert into PowerPoint is:- • Reduce the image size to 1024x768 pixels using your image editing software. (Will reduce image proportionally) • Insert as Picture in the normal way. • If needed fill the slide area by placing the image in…
52 Reflections on Faith - Seeing God: a way of life
52 Reflections on Faith - Seeing God: a way of life
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
Seeing God: a way of life Where do you ‘see God’? Where do you experience God? Where is God most real to you? There are probably particular times in your life when you sense God’s presence more than you normally do—special places where you feel close to God. You might have had a …
Traces of Glory Year B - Proper 19 - Year B
Traces of Glory Year B - Proper 19 - Year B
by SPCK - David Adam
Proper 19 O Lord, as Peter confessed you as Christ, give us boldness to proclaim your redeeming love and saving power in the world; may we be ready to beat the cross and give ourselves for others and the advancement of your kingdom; we ask this in your Name, Jesus our Lord, who w…
Traces of Glory Year B - Bible Sunday - Year B
Traces of Glory Year B - Bible Sunday - Year B
by SPCK - David Adam
Bible Sunday Father, we give you thanks for your holy word spoken of old by the prophets and apostles, for all that is written in the Scriptures, that is proclaimed by evangelists and preachers; we pray that we may heed your word and come to know the Word made flesh, even Jesus C…
The Act of Prayer Year C - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Year C
The Act of Prayer Year C - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Year C
by BRF - John Birch
Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C Opening prayer The preparations are in place, the excitement mounts and, for those who are travelling to visit families, arrangements are finalised, clothes sorted, gifts wrapped and labelled…
glimpses of glory - The Third Sunday of Epiphany - Year C
glimpses of glory - The Third Sunday of Epiphany - Year C
by SPCK - David Adam
The Third Sunday of Epiphany Lord as you have called us to share in your outreach of your love to the world, fill us with the power of your Spirit, that, in your strength and by your guidance, we may lead others to be aware of you, and live to your praise and glory, through Jesus…
The Act of Prayer Year C - Third Sunday of Epiphany Year C
The Act of Prayer Year C - Third Sunday of Epiphany Year C
by BRF - John Birch
Third Sunday of Epiphany Year C Opening prayer Lord God, we are here today to listen to your word, bring the prayers that are on our hearts and join together in fellowship. Speak to us through scripture, hymns, prayer and meditation…
The Act of Prayer Year C - Second Sunday of Lent Year C
The Act of Prayer Year C - Second Sunday of Lent Year C
by BRF - John Birch
Second Sunday of Lent Year C Opening prayer We come together to worship the God of Abraham, the God of Jacob and the God of David. We worship the one true God, creator of all, Lord of all, our strength and hope, our light and our salvation. We come together as family, joined by t…
The Act of Prayer Year C - Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year C
The Act of Prayer Year C - Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year C
by BRF - John Birch
Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C Opening prayer In our fellowship together, our singing and our prayer, we hear your voice whisper into our lives, ‘See, I am doing a new thing!’ God of new beginnings, grant us a new heart for worship, a new heart for your people, a new love for our ne…
52 Reflections on Faith - Paul: enthusiast for faith
52 Reflections on Faith - Paul: enthusiast for faith
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
Paul:enthusiast for faith If you get a chance to travel across Turkey or Greece ‘in the footsteps of St Paul’, you’ll learn a great deal about the man who spread Christianity around the Mediterranean world in the early years after Jesus…
glimpses of glory - The Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year C
glimpses of glory - The Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year C
by SPCK - David Adam
The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Passiontide begins) Almighty god, we give thanks for your great love towards us and the whole world, love revealed in our Lord, Jesus Christ, who by his death destroyed death, and who for us has opened the gates of glory. We pray that, sharing in the fel…
52 Reflections on Faith - Trinity Sunday: The circle of life
52 Reflections on Faith - Trinity Sunday: The circle of life
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
Trinity Sunday:The circle of life Probably the most popular icon of the Holy Trinity these days is the one by the Russian iconographer Andrei Rublev, which is displayed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. Reproduced widely, it has become very well known in recent years outside th…
52 Reflections on Faith - Icons: Looking through a window
52 Reflections on Faith - Icons: Looking through a window
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
Icons: Looking through a window Icons can be a very powerful aid to prayer. They’re mostly found in Greek, Russian and other Orthodox churches but in the last few decades they’ve started to appear in the UK in Anglican churches and cathedrals…
52 Reflections on Faith - The ten commandments: Doing what you like
52 Reflections on Faith - The ten commandments: Doing what you like
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
The ten commandments: Doing what you like The fourth-century North African bishop St Augustine once wrote, ‘Love and do what you will’, which is often rendered ‘Love God and do what you like.’ It sounds ideal— as if there were no moral requirements made of us as Christians…
The Women's Bible Commentary - A Series of Accusations
The Women's Bible Commentary - A Series of Accusations
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
A Series of Accusations That it is the elite men of Jerusalem who are the actual targets of Isaiah’s criticism becomes clear in the most explicit of the prophet’s accusations, a series of “woe” oracles detailing such atrocities as greedy accumulation of real estate at others’ exp…
Fresh Thoughts For Sunday - Fresh Thoughts For Sunday Issue 188
Fresh Thoughts For Sunday - Fresh Thoughts For Sunday Issue 188
by Twelvebaskets Ltd
A selection of commentary, reflection and prayer ideas from various Christian authors and the full bible texts from the NRSV for this week's lectionary. NOW INCLUDING SERIALISED BOOKS FROM SPCK AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BRF. Check below for details. Subscribe to Fresh Thoughts For S…
The Act of Prayer Year B - Second Sunday of Advent Year B
The Act of Prayer Year B - Second Sunday of Advent Year B
by BRF - John Birch
Second Sunday of Advent Year B Opening prayer As people walk by to purchase for those they love gifts that, in days to come, will fade from memory, within this place we gather in celebration of your loving gift to all of humankind…
Psalm 19 - the glory of |God
Psalm 19 - the glory of |God
by Colin Smith
This reflection/commentary is a very personal Psalm attributed to David who seeks to lift our Spirits. It is suitable as a short talk or sermon (1315 words) It strongly emphasises the beauty of the natural world. and Gods faithfulness, God's Laws are also seen as beautiful and s…
Mission - Sheep among wolves
Mission - Sheep among wolves
by Colin Smith
This short (1180 word) reflection/sermon explores the implications of Jesus's statement (Matthew 10.16) that he was sending his disciples out to be as sheep among wolves. Lessons for today's disciples are indicated. Also given are reassurances and advice derived from their expect…
Jesus the Light of the world