This Lectionary, which replaces that of the Book of Common Prayer (except for the psalms) began as an ecumenical project of several American and Canadian denominations. The Church of England and other provinces of the Anglican Communion have also adopted it.
While it doesn’t vary much from the BCP Lectionary it does have some new features;
• Semi-continuous reading of the great Old Testament narratives on the Sundays after Pentecost, much like the reading through of the gospels in one year.
• An option to use Old Testament lessons in harmony with the Gospel of the day, as in the current lectionary.
• Inclusion of stories of women and their role in salvation history, reading texts about women never previously used in the Sunday lectionary.
So, for the first time, when you go to parties with your Presbyterian, Methodist, disciples of Christ, Congregational, Reformed, and Lutheran and American Baptist friends you will be able to discuss the previous Sunday’s lessons with each other!!! In fact, if you have company from the Churches of Scotland or Wales, they can join in. And, since this lectionary was in part inspired by the Roman Catholic Lectionary produced by the Second Vatican Council, and roman Catholic scholars from the US and Canada participated in its development, those friends might also join in the conversation. Who says the church isn’t relevant??!!