THE CALENDAR

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THE CALENDAR

ADVENT (purple or blue)
First Sunday of Advent to the Fourth Sunday of Advent

CHRISTMAS SEASON (white or gold)

Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day)
First Sunday after Christmas Day
New Year's Eve or New Year's Day
Epiphany of the Lord

SEASON AFTER THE EPIPHANY (ORDINARY TIME; green)
First Sunday after the Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord; white)
Second Sunday after the Epiphany to the Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany
Last Sunday after the Epiphany (Transfiguration Sunday; white)

LENT (purple; red as an alternative for Holy Week)
Ash Wednesday
First Sunday in Lent to the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Sixth Sunday in Lent (Passion/Palm Sunday)
Monday of Holy Week
Tuesday of Holy Week
Wednesday of Holy Week
Holy Thursday+
Good Friday+ (no color)
Holy Saturday+ (no color)

+ The Great Three Days from sunset Holy Thursday to sunset Easter Day are a unity – the climax of the Christian year.
EASTER SEASON (white or gold)
Resurrection of the Lord (Easter Eve, Easter Day, Easter Evening)
Second Sunday of Easter to the Sixth Sunday of Easter
Ascension of the Lord
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Day of Pentecost (red)

SEASON AFTER PENTECOST OR ORDINARY TIME (green)
First Sunday after Pentecost (Trinity Sunday; white)
Second Sunday after Pentecost to the Twenty–sixth Sunday after Pentecost
All Saints (white)
Thanksgiving (red or white)
Last Sunday after Pentecost (Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday; white)

CALENDAR FOR DATING EASTER AND RELATED HOLY DAYS

Year	Ash Wednesday	Easter Day	Day of Pentecost	First Sunday of Advent
2013	February 13	March 31	May 19	December 1
2014	March 5	April 20	June 8	November 30
2015	February 18	April 5	May 24	November 29
2016	February 10	March 27	May 15	November 27
2017	March 1	April 16	June 4	December 3
2018	February 14	April 1	May 20	December 2
2019	March 6	April 21	June 9	December 1
2020	February 26	April 12	May 31	November 29

REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY, UNITED METHODIST VERSION

The Revised Common Lectionary (1992) is a calendar and table of suggested scripture readings for a three–year cycle. The readings for each Sunday and holy day—typically one each from the Old Testament, Epistles, and Gospels—are meant for the weekly service of worship on the Lord's Day. It provides a systematic approach to the use of Scripture in worship.

The lectionary follows the outline of the Christian year. In it the Church celebrates the central mystery of our faith: the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. The foundation is the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, on which we recall Christ's triumph over sin and death. Each year there are two Christ–centered cycles: Advent–Christmas–Epiphany and Lent–Easter–Pentecost. In each cycle, days of preparation (Advent and Lent) are followed by days of celebration (Christmas–Epiphany and Easter–Pentecost).

The lectionary is a tool for voluntary use in planning and leading worship. Its widespread use by United Methodists as well as other Christians testifies to its value in helping congregations hear the whole message of Scripture.

The following lectionary is based on the Revised Common Lectionary, with selections made on the basis of United Methodist needs and traditions, including the use of the Psalter from The Common Lectionary, as it appears in The United Methodist Hymnal. Other denominations may use other options. The Revised Common Lectionary is the best possible table of lessons at this time of publication. Through the life of this book of worship, this lectionary may be amended. Future program resources of TheUnited Methodist Church will describe these changes when appropriate.

Versification is based on the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

YEAR A	YEAR B	YEAR C
Advent 2013, 2016, 2019	Advent 2014, 2017, 2020	Advent 2015, 2018, 2021

First Sunday of Advent

Isa 2: 1-5	Isa 64: 1-9	Jer 33: 14-16
Ps 122	Ps 80: 1-7, 17-19	Ps 25: 1-10
(UMN 845)	(UMH 801)	(UMH 756)
Rom 13:11-14	1 Cor 1:3-9	1 Thess 3:9-13
Mt 24:36-44	Mk 13:24-37	Lk 21:25-36

Second Sunday of Advent

Isa 11:1-10	Isa 40:1-11	Mal 3:1-4
Ps 72:1-7, 18-19	Ps 85:1-2, 8-13	Lk 1:68-79
(UMH 795)I	(UMH 806)	(UMH 208)
Rom 15:4-13	2 Pet 3:8-15a	Phil 1:3-11
Mt 3:1-12	Mk 13:24-37	Lk 21:25-36

Third Sunday of Advent

Isa 35:1–10	Isa 61:1–4, 8–11	Zeph 3:14–20
Lk 1:47–55 (UMH 199)	Ps 126 (UMH 847)	Isa 12:2–6
Jas 5:7–10	1 Thess 5:16–24	Phil 4:4–7
Mt 11:2–11	Jn 1:6–8, 19–28	Lk 3:7–18

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Isa 7:10–16	2 Sam 7:1–11, 16	Mic 5:2–5a
Ps 80:1–7, 17–19	Lk 1:47–55	Lk 1:47–55
(UMH 801)	(UMH 199)	(UMH 199)
Rom 1:1–7	Rom 16:25–27	Heb 10:5–10
Mt 1:18–25	Lk 1:26–38	Lk 1:39–45

Christmas Eve (A, B, and C)

Isa 9:2–7
Ps 96 (UMH 815)
Titus 2:11 –14
Lk 2:1–20

Christmas Day (A, B, and C)

Isa 52:7–10
Ps 98 (UMH 818)
Heb 1:1–4 (5–12)
Jn 1:1–14

First Sunday After Christmas Day

Isa 63:7–9	Isa 61:10–62:3	1 Sam 2:18–20, 26
Ps 148 (UMH 861)	Ps 148 (UMH 861)	Ps 148 (UMH 861)
Heb 2:10–18	Gal 4:4–7	Col 3:12–17
Mt 2:13–23	Lk 2:22–40	Lk 2:41–52

January 1—New Year (A, B, and C)

Eccl 3:1–13
Ps 8 (UMH 743)
Rev 21:1–6a
Mt 25:31–46

Epiphany of the Lord (January 6 or first Sunday of January; A, B, and C)

Isa 60:1–6
Ps 72:1–7, 10–14 (UMH 795)
Eph 3:1–12
Mt 2:1–12

Baptism of the Lord (First Sunday After the Epiphany; Sunday between January 7 and 13 inclusive)

Isa 42:1–9	Gen 1:1–5	Isa 43:1–7
Ps 29 (UMH 761)	Ps 29 (UMH 761)	Ps 29 (UMH 761)
Acts 10:34 –43	Acts 19:1 –7	Acts 8:14 –17
Mt 3:13–17	Mk 1:4–11	Lk 3:15–17, 21–22

Second Sunday After the Epiphany (Sunday between January 14 and 20 inclusive)

Isa 49:1–7	1 Sam 3:1–10 (11–20)	Isa 62:1–5
Ps 40:1–11	Ps 139:1–6, 13–18	Ps 36:5–10
(UMH 774)	(UMH 854)	(UMH 771)
1 Cor 1:1–9	1 Cor 6:12–20	1 Cor 12:1–11
Jn 1:29–42	Jn 1:43–51	Jn 2: 1–11

Third Sunday After the Epiphany (Sunday between January 21 and 27 inclusive)

Isa 9:1–4	Jonah 3:1–5, 10	Neh 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10
Ps 27:1, 4–9 (UMH 758)	Ps 62:5–12 (UMH 787)	Ps 19 (UMH 750)
1 Cor 1:10–18	1 Cor 7:29–31	1 Cor 12:12–31a
Mt 4:12–23	Mk 1:14–20	Lk 4:14–21

Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany (Sunday between January 28 and February 3 inclusive; if it is the Last Sunday After the Epiphany, see Transfiguration.)

Mic 6:1–8	Deut 18:15–20	Jer 1:4–10
Ps 15 (UMH 747)	Ps 111 (UMH 832)	Ps 71:1–6 (UMH 794)
1 Cor 1:18–31	1 Cor 8:1–13	1 Cor 13:1–13
Mt 5:1–12	Mk 1:21–28	Lk 4:21–30

Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany (Sunday between February 4 and 10 inclusive; if it is the Last Sunday After the Epiphany, see Transfiguration.)

Isa 58:1–9a (9b –12)	Isa 40:21–31	Isa 6:1–8 (9–13)
Ps 112:1–10	Ps 147:1–11, 20c	Ps 138
(UMH 833)	(UMH 859)	(UMH 853)
1 Cor 2:1–12 (13–16)	1 Cor 9:16–23	1 Cor 15:1–11
Mt 5:13–20	Mk 1:29–39	Lk 5:1–11

Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany (Sunday between February 11 and 17 inclusive; if it is the Last Sunday After the Epiphany, see Transfiguration.)

Deut 30:15–20	2 Kings 5:1 –14	Jer 17:5–10
Ps 119:1–8 (UMH 840)	Ps 30 (UMH 762)	Ps 1 (UMH 738)
1 Cor 3:1–9	1 Cor 9:24–27	1 Cor 15:12–20
Mt 5:21–37	Mk 1:40–45	Lk 6:17–26

Seventh Sunday After the Epiphany (Sunday between February 18 and 24 inclusive; if it is the Last Sunday After the Epiphany, see Transfiguration.)

Lev 19:1–2, 9–18	Isa 43:18–25	Gen 45:3–11, 15
Ps 119:33–40	Ps 41	Ps 37:1–11, 39–40
(UMH 840)	(UMH 776)	(UMH 772)
1 Cor 3:10–11, 16–23	2 Cor 1:18–22	1 Cor 15:35–38, 42–50
Mt 5:38–48	Mk 2:1–12	Lk 6:27–38

Eighth Sunday After the Epiphany (Sunday between February 25 and 29 inclusive; if it is the Last Sunday After the Epiphany, see Transfiguration.)

Isa 49:8–16a	Hos 2:14–20	Isa 55:10–13
Ps 131 or Ps 62:5–12	Ps 103:1–13, 22	Ps 92:1–4, 12–15
(UMH 787)	(UMH 824)	(UMH 811)
1 Cor 4:1–5	2 Cor 3:1–6	1 Cor 15:51–58
Mt 6:24–34	Mk 2:13–22	Lk 6:39–49

Transfiguration Sunday (Last Sunday After the Epiphany) Readings for Transfiguration are used on the Sunday prior to Ash Wednesday.

Ex 24:12–18	2 Kings 2:1 –12	Ex 34:29–35
Ps 99 (UMH 819)	Ps 50:1–6 (UMH 783)	Ps 99 (UMH 819)
2 Pet 1:16–21	2 Cor 4:3–6	2 Cor 3:12–4:2
Mt 17:1–9	Mk 9:2–9	Lk 9: 28–36 (37–43)

Ash Wednesday (A, B, and C)

Joel 2:1 –2, 12–17
Ps 51:1–17 (UMH 785)
2 Cor 5:20b –6:10
Mt 6:1–6, 16–21

First Sunday in Lent

Gen 2:15–17; 3:1–7	Gen 9:8–17	Deut 26:1–11
Ps 32 (UMH 766)	Ps 25:1–10 (UMH 756)	Ps 91:1–2, 9–16 (UMH 810)
Rom 5:12–19	1 Pet 3:18–22	Rom 10:8b –13
Mt 4:1–11	Mk 1:9–15	Lk 4:1–13

Second Sunday in Lent

Gen 12:1–4a	Gen 17:1–7, 15–16	Gen 15:1–12, 17–18
Ps 121 (UMH 844)	Ps 22:23–31 (UMH 752)	Ps 27 (UMH 758)
Rom 4:1–5, 13–17	Rom 4:13–25	Phil 3:17–4:1
Jn 3:1–17	Mk 8:31–38	Lk 13:31–35

Third Sunday in Lent

Ex 17:1–7	Ex 20:1–17	Isa 55:1–9
Ps 95 (UMH 814)	Ps 19 (UMH 750)	Ps 63:1–8 (UMH 788)
Rom 5:1–11	1 Cor 1:18–25	1 Cor 10:1–13
Jn 4:5–42	Jn 2:13–22	Lk 13:1–9

Fourth Sunday in Lent

1 Sam 16:1–13	Num 21:4–9	Josh 5:9–12
Ps 23	Ps 107:1–3, 17–22	Ps 32
(UMH 754 or 137)	(UMH 830)	(UMH 766)
Eph 5:8–14	Eph 2:1–10	2 Cor 5:16–21
Jn 9:1–41	Jn 3:14–21	Lk 15:1–3, 11b –32

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Ezek 37:1–14	Jer 31:31–34	Isa 43:16–21
Ps 130 (UMH 848)	Ps 51:1–12 (UMH 785)	Ps 126 (UMH 847)
Rom 8:6–11	Heb 5:5–10	Phil 3:4b –14
Jn 11:1–45	Jn 12:20–33	Jn 12:1–8

Passion/Palm Sunday (Sixth Sunday in Lent)

Liturgy of the Palms

Mt 21:1–11	Mk 11:1–11	Lk 19:28–40
Ps 118:1–2, 19–29	Ps 118:1–2, 19–29	Ps 118:1–2, 19–29
(UMH 839)	(UMH 839)	(UMH 839)

Liturgy of the Passion

Isa 50:4–9a	Isa 50:4–9a	Isa 50:4–9a
Ps 31:9–16 (UMH 764)	Ps 31:9–16 (UMH 764)	Ps 31:9–16 (UMH 764)
Phil 2:5–11	Phil 2:5–11	Phil 2:5–11
Mt 26:14–27:66	Mk 14:1–15:47	Lk 22:14–23:56
or Mt 27:11–54	or Mk 15:1–39 (40–47)	or Lk 23:1–49

Monday of Holy Week (A, B, and C)

Isa 42:1–9
Ps 36:5–11 (UMH 771)
Heb 9:11–15
Jn 12:1–11

Tuesday of Holy Week (A, B, and C)

Isa 49:1–7
Ps 71:1–14 (UMH 794)
1 Cor 1:18–31
Jn 12:20–36

Wednesday of Holy Week (A, B, and C)

Isa 50:4–9a
Ps 70 (UMH 793)
Heb 12:1–3
Jn 13:21–32

Holy Thursday (A, B, and C)

Ex 12:1–4 (5–10) 11–14
Ps 116:1–4, 12–19 (UMH 837)
1 Cor 11:23–26
Jn 13:1–17, 31b –35

Good Friday (A, B, and C)

Isa 52:13–53:12
Ps 22 (UMH 752)
Heb 10:16–25
Jn 18:1–19:42

Easter Vigil
The number of readings may vary, but Exodus 14 and at least two other readings from the Old Testament should be used in addition to the New Testament readings.

Old Testament Readings and Psalms (A, B, and C)

Gen 1:1–2:4a Isa 55:1–11	Isa 55:1-11
Ps 136:1–9, 23–26 or Ps 33 (UMH767) Isa 12:2–6	Isa 12:2-6
Gen 7:1–5, 11–18; 8:6–18; 9:8–13 Ezek 36:24–28	Ezek 36:24-28
Ps 46 (UMH 780)	Ps 42 (UMH 777)
Gen 22:1–18 Ezek 37:1–14	Esek 37: 1-14
Ps 16 (UMH 748)	Ps 143 (UMH 856)
Ex 14:10–31; 15:20–21
Ex 15:1b –13, 17–18

Second Reading and Psalm (A, B, and C)
Rom 6:3–11
Ps 114 (UMH 835)

Gospel Reading

Mt 28:1–10 Mk 16:1–8 Lk 24:1–12

Easter Day

Acts 10:34 –43	Acts 10:34 –43	Acts 10:34-43
Ps 118:1–2, 14–24	Ps 118:1–2, 14–24	Ps 118:1–2, 14–24
(UMH 839)	(UMH 839)	(UMH 839)
Col 3:1–4	1 Cor 15:1–11	1 Cor 15:19–26
Jn 20:1–18	Jn 20:1–18	Jn 20:1–18
or Mt 28:1–10	or Mk 16:1–8	or Lk 24:1–12

Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14 a, 22–32	Acts 4:32 –35	Acts 5:27 –32
Ps 16 (UMH 748)	Ps 133 (UMH 850)	Ps 150 (UMH 862)
1 Pet 1:3–9	1 Jn 1:1–2:2	Rev 1:4–8
Jn 20:19–31	Jn 20:19–31	Jn 20:19–31

Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14 a, 36–41	Acts 3:12 –19	Acts 9:1 –6 (7–20)
Ps 116:1–4, 12–19	Ps 4	Ps 30
(UMH 837)	(UMH 741)	(UMH 762)
1 Pet 1:17–23	1 Jn 3:1–7	Rev 5:11–14
Lk 24:13–35	Lk 24:36b –48	Jn 21:1-19–

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:42 –47	Acts 4:5 –12	Acts 9:36 –43
Ps 23	Ps 23	Ps 23
(UMH 754 or 137)	(UMH 754 or 137)	(UMH 754)
1 Pet 2:19–25	1 Jn 3:16–24	Rev 7:9–17
Jn 10:1–10	Jn 10:11–18	Jn 10:22–30

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Acts 7:55 –60	Acts 8:26 –40	Acts 11:1 –18
Ps 31:1–5, 15–16	Ps 22:25–31	Ps 148
(UMH 764)	(UMH 752)	(UMH 861)
1 Pet 2:2–10	1 Jn 4:7–21	Rev 21:1–6
Jn 14:1–14	Jn 15:1–8	Jn 13:31–35

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 17:22 –31	Acts 10:44 –48	Acts 16:9 –15
Ps 66:8–20 (UMH 790)	Ps 98:1(UMH 818)	Ps 67 (UMH 791)
1 Pet 3:13–22	1 Jn 5:1–6	Rev 21:10, 22–22:5
Jn 14:15–21	Jn 15:9–17	Jn 14:23–29

Ascension of the Lord (A, B, and C)

These readings may also be used on the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

Acts 1:1 –11
Ps 47 (UMH 781)
Eph 1:15–23
Lk 24:44–53

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Acts 1:6 –14	Acts 1:15 –17, 21–26	Acts 16:16 –34
Ps 68:1–10, 32–35	Ps 1	Ps 97
(UMH 792)	(UMH 738)	(UMH 816)
1 Pet 4:12–14; 5:6–11	1 Jn 5:9–13	Rev 22:12–14, 16–17, 20–21
Jn 17:1–11	Jn 17:6–19	Jn 17:20–26

Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1 –21	Acts 2:1 –21	Acts 2:1 –21
Ps 104:24–34, 35b	Ps 104:24–34, 35b	Ps 104:24–34, 35b
(UMH 826)	(UMH 826)	(UMH 826)
1 Cor 12:3b –13	Rom 8:22–27	Rom 8:14–17
Jn 7:37–39	Jn 15:26–27; 16:4b –15	Jn 14:8–17 (25–27)

Lectionary continued . . .

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Copyright: “Revised Common Lectionary, United Methodist Version” adapted from The Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 The Consultation on Common Texts. Psalms taken from The Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1983 The Consultation on Common Texts.