Author Description

The first section of the book contains the readings for the Principal Feasts and Holy Days, set out for Years A, B, and C. Within each year, the Readings, Collects, and Post Communion Prayers are set out in full, even when they are common to all three years there is no need for constant pageturning to find the necessary material. As a further aid to easy use, the Collects and Post Communions appear alongside the Readings for the day, and not in a separate section. For most Sundays and all Festivals, this means that all the material for the day flows as a single section, again avoidingthe distraction of constant page turning.In Ordinary Time, where the Collects and Post Communions relate to the Day, and the Readings to the date, a Table precedes the period, followed by the prayers, and finally the Readings. The Tables and onpage crossreferences make the task of linking the appropriate material together asstraightforward as possible. During Ordinary Time after Trinity Sunday, two strands of Readings are available, clearly identified on each day as Continuous and Related.In addition to the complete texts for the principal service of the day, this section also includes Biblical references for the Second and Third Services.The second section contains all the material needed for the Festivals and certain of the Lesser Festivals, together with the Principal Feast of the Annunciation, and also Corpus Christi, the latter in recognition of the authority given to observe the day as a Festival. Again, everything needed forthe day appears together.The third section contains all the Collects and Post Communions for other Commemorations. References only for the appropriate readings are also given.The NRSV Anglicized Edition has been selected as the version of the Bible most appropriate for this edition of the Lectionary. When the translators were working on the text, a critical factor was that it should be appropriate for use in public worship. The widespread adoption of the translation inChurches of all traditions is a testimony to the success of this policy.The Psalms are based on the translation developed by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in an Anglicized form. This was especially created with liturgical use in mind, and is more appropriate than the NRSV when the Psalms are to be sung. Psalm responses have not been provided, asthe use of these is optional, and local usage varies considerably.All verse numbers have been retained in the text to assist the congregation in finding material, especially when it is referred to by the preacher.Further aids to the user are provided in the introductory matter, where a Reader's Guide gives clear notes on how to use the Lectionary. A further feature is an Index of Readings at the end of the book, which will be particularly useful for preachers. Throughout the book, clear rubrics in adistinctive typeface give extra guidance on the use of the material.The Common Worship Lectionary has been printed on carefully selected Bible paper, resulting in a compact volume that is easy to handle. The opacity of the paper minimizes the distracting problem for the reader of 'showthrough'. It is bound in a durable and very attractive dark blue material with agrained leather appearance, elegantly blocked in gilt foil. The front cover has ample space to add the name of the Church should this be required. Two ribbon markers are provided to assist with those occasions when material is needed from more than one location, and also to help with the rapidlocation of material from one week to the next.