Above: The Cover of The Book of Common Worship–Provisional Services, in full, The Book of Common Worship–Provisional Services and Lectionary for the Christian Year (1966)
Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor
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The official recommendation of a lectionary in mainstream American Presbyterianism began during the twentieth century. The first Book of Common Worship, (that of 1906), lacked a lectionary. The Book of Common Worship (Revised) (1932) contained something one might call a lectionary, if one is feeling generous of spirit. The Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., while considering a merger(never consumated, obviously) with The Episcopal Church in the 1940s, stepped up its game with The Book of Common Worship (1946), which contained a two-year lectionary from The Church of Scotland. The successor volume, The Book of Common Worship–Provisional Services (1966), offered a different two-year cycle. The Worshipbook–Services (1970) contained a three-year lectionary based on the revised Roman Catholic lectionary of 1969. The revision of the hymnal in 1972 and the merger of The Worshipbook–Services with the new hymnal in 1972 resulted in The Worshipbook–Services and Hymns. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), formed via merger in 1983, adopted the Common Lectionary (1983) then the Revised Common Lectionary (1992), with the latter being present in the Book of Common Worship (1992).
The American Presbyterian lectionary of 1966-1970 was a Trinitarian-themed experiment. Scottish pastor Allan McArthur had, in 1956, proposed organizing the church year according to the Holy Trinity. The Season of God the Son spanned Advent-the Sunday after the Ascension. The Season of God the Holy Spirit began with Pentecost Sunday and lasted for a maximum of 19 Sundays. The Season of God the Father started on the first Sunday in October and continued for eight Sundays through the end of the church year.
During the Season of God the Holy Spirit the lectionary reminded churchgoers of ways God speaks–via the prophets and the church. The lectionary also asked worshipers to think about the communion of saints, missions, the forgiveness of sins, and everlasting life.
During the Season of God the Father the lectionary helped churchgoers be mindful of the natural world, humankind, family life, renewal, the divine covenant, and providence.
My goal is to use the experimental lectionary as a means of studying the Bible. Therefore, I offer all the blog posts that will flow from this abandoned lectionary here at BLOGA THEOLOGICA, without dates affixed, unlike as I would if I were writing at the three main devotional weblogs I maintain. I offer the germane posts of the glory of God and for the edification of those who read them.
Pax vobiscum!
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
OCTOBER 17, 2018 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF JULIA WARD HOWE, U.S. ABOLITIONIST
THE FEAST OF BIRGITTE KATERINE BOYE, DANISH LUTHERAN POET, PLAYWRIGHT, HYMN TRANSLATOR, AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF JOHN BOWRING, ENGLISH UNITARIAN HYMN WRITER, SOCIAL REFORMER, AND PHILANTHROPIST
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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