The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) was designed to provide some flexibility in the choice of readings for use in Sunday worship. It follows the general principle that the OT Reading is followed by a corresponding Psalm. There is always an Epistle and a Gospel Lesson.
During the Seasons of Advent-Christmas-Epiphany, Lent-HolyWeek-Easter-Pentecost, all four lessons relate to each other in one fashion or another. The Gospel is the controlling Lesson.
During "Ordinary Time" (Sundays after Epiphany and Sundays After Pentecost) there is an exception. The Epistle is unlinked from the Gospel Lesson and follows its own stream. This was already a feature in the Roman Lectionary and the corresponding Protestant Lectionaries that preceded the Common Lectionary and the RCL.
The Common Lectionary took the process one step further and introduced a separate stream of OT-Psalm Readings. This was well-received by some denominations, who wanted the flexibility of preaching a series on the OT Lessons quite separate from the Epistle or Gospel. But it didn't meet the approval of Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran denominations.
The Revised Common Lectionary attempted to re-address this issue by providing two sets of OT-Psalm Readings during Ordinary Time. This led to acceptance by Lutheran and Anglican denominations of the RCL, as well greater acceptance by other churches that up to this time had not adopted the ABC-style Lectionary.
Here's the scheme of RCL readings for the Remaining Church Year.
During the season after Pentecost the minister or preacher has the opportunity to:
(i.) Preach a series of OT lessons and related Psalms (see 1st set below);
(ii.) Preach a series based on the Epistle;
(iii.) Or preach the Gospel, with its associated OT Reading
and related Psalm (see 2nd set below).When choosing your OT-Psalm readings use either but not both sets.
July 4, 2004 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Psalm 30 or Isaiah 66:10-14 and Psalm 66:1-9 Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
July 11, 2004 Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82 or Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Psalm 25:1-10 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37
July 18, 2004 Amos 8:1-12 and Psalm 52 or Genesis 18:1-10a and Psalm 15 Colossians 1:15-28 Luke 10:38-42
July 25, 2004 Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85 or Genesis 18:20-32 and Psalm 138 Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19) Luke 11:1-13
August 1, 2004 Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43 or Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21
August 8, 2004 Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 or Genesis 15:1-6 and Psalm 33:12-22 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Luke 12:32-40
August 15, 2004 Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 or Jeremiah 23:23-29 and Psalm 82 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56
August 22, 2004 Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 71:1-6 or Isaiah 58:9b-14 and Psalm 103:1-8 Hebrews 12:18-29 Luke 13:10-17
August 29, 2004 Jeremiah 2:4-13 and Psalm 81:1, 10-16 or Proverbs 25:6-7 and Psalm 112 Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 Luke 14:1, 7-14
September 5, 2004 Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 or Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Psalm 1 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33
September 12, 2004 Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 and Psalm 14 or Exodus 32:7-14 and Psalm 51:1-10 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10
September 19, 2004 Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9 or Amos 8:4-7 and Psalm 113 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13
September 26, 2004 Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 or Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Psalm 146 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31
October 3, 2004 Lamentations 1:1-6 and Lamentations 3:19-26 or Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 and Psalm 37:1-9 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Luke 17:5-10
October 10, 2004 Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 and Psalm 66:1-12 or 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c and Psalm 111 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Luke 17:11-19
October 17, 2004 Jeremiah 31:27-34 and Psalm 119:97-104 or Genesis 32:22-31 and Psalm 121 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 Luke 18:1-8
October 24, 2004 Joel 2:23-32 and Psalm 65 or Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 and Psalm 84:1-7 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14
October 31, 2004 Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 and Psalm 119:137-144 or Isaiah 1:10-18 and Psalm 32:1-7 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 Luke 19:1-10
October 31, 2004 (Reformation Day) Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 46 Romans 3:19-28 John 8:31-36
November 1, 2004 (All Saints Day) Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Psalm 149 Ephesians 1:11-23 Luke 6:20-31
November 7, 2004 Haggai 1:15b-2:9 and Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98 or Job 19:23-27a and Psalm 17:1-9 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 Luke 20:27-38
November 14, 2004 Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12 or Malachi 4:1-2a and Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19
November 21, 2004 Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Luke 1:68-79 or Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Psalm 46 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43
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