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community scripture way |
discipleship
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Based on the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, 2007-2008 The csw is a daily reading way, designed to complement the weekly Sunday readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. It is adapted (with much thanks) from the organization of Gloria Wall. This is the first of a three year cycle, a span over which the entire Bible will be read. Again, since the goal is community in Christ, the readings are centered around the weekly passages to be read in worship together each week. Most weeks, these readings will be read on Monday, and then again in their contexts throughout the week, to prepare for worship together on Sunday. Readings that are not in the lectionary are interspersed throughout the way. The lectionary often has optional readings; these are included throughout (though they may or may not be read during the worship gathering). Often, Saturday is a repeat of Monday or a refresher for the following day (Sunday). Saturday might be used as a catch-up day as well. The way corresponds with the various seasons and holy-days of the liturgical church year. A couple of these days have readings for both the morning and the evening. Various colors of the church year help separate the seasons (click here for more information on liturgical colors). To maintain order and save space, the books of the Bible have been abbreviated. Most Bibles include a chart of abbreviations in the beginning that will help you figure out abbreviations you may not recognize. It’s important to remember that this is a way, not the end. The end is not to read the scripture. The end is to live in community in Christ. The scripture readings lead us to that. So one should not get overly obsessive with reading the readings to the point that the when a day is missed, failure sets in. On the other hand, humans are creatures of habit, and establishing a pattern of reading will be important to be able to make reading scripture a regular part of one’s daily life, which will take time and discipline. If you miss a day, just go on with the next day. Catch up when you can, but if and when you get too far behind, just start fresh on the current day. This way is best used in with a prayerful heart. All the while, know that you are being prayed for, that you are reading the same passages together with the local community, and that each and every week, tens of thousands of followers of Christ around the world are reading the same passages that you are. May the Spirit of God bring us together! |
