Lectionary 06/01/2026
- The Epiphany - Years A, B & C
Lectionary Readings
Related Products
With secrecy diplomacy
With secrecy diplomacy
by Andrew Pratt
Epiphany year A Matthew 2: 1 - 12 Hymn: With secrecy, diplomacy With secrecy, diplomacy, King Herod made his quest; the threat must, duly, be contained, till then he would not rest. We sing the song of every child who ever has been born; we sing our song for all the w…
Magi - like butterflies emerging in the cold
Magi - like butterflies emerging in the cold
by Andrew Pratt
Epiphany year A Matthew 2: 1-12 Hymn: Magi – Like butterflies emerging in the cold Like butterflies emerging in the cold, incongruous strangers punctuate this birth; while snow and frosted windows paint the scene and God in human flesh has come to birth... Andrew Pratt (born 1…
The days of Christmas ring and play
The days of Christmas ring and play
by Andrew Pratt
Epiphany Year A Matthew 2: 1-12 Hymn: The days of Christmas ring and play The days of Christmas ring and play, yet in another time and day wise students of the midnight sky, observed a change and questioned ‘why?’... Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, …
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Magi visit Jesus
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Magi visit Jesus
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Magi Visit Jesus Matthew 2.1-12 I was convinced it was a helicopter. It was a dark night, and a bright light was shining just above the nearby town. Surely, I thought, the police must be out looking for a criminal; or perhaps there had been an accident. We had just come from …
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Epiphany Year C
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Epiphany Year C
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The Epiphany Isaiah 60.1–6 Ephesians 3.1–12 Matthew 2.1–12 The wise men have always had enormous appeal. Everything about them has been elaborated in poetry and story. They have become kings; they have been depicted as representing youth, maturity and old age; they have been give…
We gather in this holy space
We gather in this holy space
by Andrew Pratt
We gather in this holy space. We pray in penitence and awe. Your spirit moves within this place, we bow, as we have done before. Your law is written on each heart, your love will penetrate each soul, you bring through music, thought and art a covenant to make us whole. Verses 3-4…
All the glory of the cosmos
All the glory of the cosmos
by Andrew Pratt
All the glory of the cosmos bleeds its brilliance through the darkness, light emerges, shadows shorten, sign and hope of people's pardon. Nations gather in communion, cov’nant grace and hope of union, lift your eyes for God is with us, bringing hope through Christ's forgiveness. …
Prayer: Waiting in the dark
Prayer: Waiting in the dark
by Marjorie Dobson
Prayer: Waiting in the dark Waiting in the dark for a dreaded dawn, when news may be of death and destruction; how we long to defer the light. Waiting in the dark for an anxious day when difficult decisions must be made that may change life forever; how we long to discern the lig…
Reflection/Drama: Psalm 72 for today
Reflection/Drama: Psalm 72 for today
by Marjorie Dobson
Reflection/drama: Psalm 72 for today (can be read by several voices, but will work best with at least two) ‘He will judge in righteousness. He will defend the afflicted. He will save the children of the needy. He will crush the oppressor. He will be like showers watering the eart…
Justice? Justice? Call for justice
Justice? Justice? Call for justice
by Andrew Pratt
Justice? Justice? Call for justice in this crazed demented world? Where is righteousness uncovered? Where are grace and love unfurled? God we need your simple conscience to inform the words we say, child like eyes unmasked, perceiving mothers grieving day by day. Verses 3-4 follo…
The dawn of a mystery, the presence of riches
The dawn of a mystery, the presence of riches
by Andrew Pratt
The dawn of a mystery, the presence of riches, for Christ is among us and love ends our fear, the good news of grace is now ours for the asking, a new day is rising, salvation is near! In past generations the promise was hidden, but now we can read it and see with our eyes divine…
Drama/dialogue: Eastern strangers
Drama/dialogue: Eastern strangers
by Marjorie Dobson
Drama/dialogue: Eastern strangers (A piece for two voices. The first one reads straight to the audience, as if ignoring the interruptions. The second interacts with the audience, letting them in on the comments and questions. Only in the last three lines do the two speakers relat…
Frightened Herod, wandering strangers
Frightened Herod, wandering strangers
by Andrew Pratt
Frightened Herod, wandering strangers, children make the tableau real. As we watch with eyes of wonder, come, God, make your presence real. In the midst of celebration, heralding a royal birth, help us grow in understanding, Christ among us, come on earth. Verse 3 follows Tune:…
First in our hearts
First in our hearts
by Michael Docker
First in our hearts, we would praise as the magi Praised as they saw all your glory around; First of the ones who are born into freedom, Through you we offer the love we have found. First of the days when the world found its freedom We come to worship on this day of all; First in…
Imagining the Lectionary: Open Hands (Epiphany)
Imagining the Lectionary: Open Hands (Epiphany)
by David Perry
Imagining the Lectionary: Open Hands (Epiphany) Reflection accompanying images “Hands that offer hands that receive ” and “Hands that offer hands that receive bw ” The vision of God's glory which we celebrate at Epiphany is a story of extravagant open-handedness which brings the …
Meditation - The Epiphany Year C
Meditation - The Epiphany Year C
by David Middleton
Meditation – The Epiphany Year C Matthew 2: 1-12 Wise men came from the East … I wonder where they came from? I wonder who they were? Did they know each other? Did they meet on the way?... Created by david Midleton on behalf of LWPT (Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust) for mo…
Paul and the Faithfulness of God - The Story Retold :Conclusions
Paul and the Faithfulness of God - The Story Retold :Conclusions
by SPCK - N T Wright
Part 1: PAUL AND HIS WORLD PAUL AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD Chapter TWO LIKE BIRDS HOVERING OVERHEAD: THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL (ii) The Continuous Story (e) The Story Retold: Conclusions This brief summary of multiple retellings of Israel’s story as a whole or in par…
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Epiphany - Year A
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Epiphany - Year A
by Andrew Pratt and Marjorie Dobson
Full Service- Epiphany - Year A Call to Worship Hymn: Prayer: Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 Hymn: Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 Magi Sermon idea - Eastern strangers Hymn: Prayer: Hymn: Blessing Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, www.stainer.co.uk. Please …
Times and Seasons - Significant gifts for the child of the manger
Times and Seasons - Significant gifts for the child of the manger
by Andrew Pratt
Significant gifts for the child of the manger, the riches of ages we fathom and find. Imagine the scene, those who knelt are arising, the print of this moment ingrained on each mind. And where will they go now? And where will they wander, these seers who have followed a star thro…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Where is he who is born King of the Jews?
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Where is he who is born King of the Jews?
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Where is he who is born King of the Jews? Infancy narratives, Matthew 1—2 Mark begins with ‘the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ’, but Matthew picks another key word – genesis: ‘the book of the generation (biblos geneseos) of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham’ (1.…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Fulfilment of the law and the prophets
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Fulfilment of the law and the prophets
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Fulfilment of the law and the prophets Second, this new Teacher of Israel fulfils scripture repeatedly during the opening chapters, and Jesus uses scripture to defeat Satan in the wilderness. Matthew has about sixty references or quotations from the Old Testament – three times as…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The Teacher's vindication
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The Teacher's vindication
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
The Teacher’s vindication The Resurrection, Matthew 28 This atmosphere of supernatural intervention openly visible to all continues into Matthew’s resurrection account, as does his desire to tie up the loose ends and explain the difficulties. While Mark ends with a characteristic…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - From four gospels back to one Jesus
Four Gospels, One Jesus - From four gospels back to one Jesus
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
From four gospels back to one Jesus This basic unity of story outline within the plurality of portraits brings us to the second set of questions regarding the relationship of the four images to the search for the historical Jesus: what continuity is there between Jesus himself an…
Walking Backwards to Christmas - Chapter 4 Casper
Walking Backwards to Christmas - Chapter 4 Casper
by SPCK - Stephen Cottrell
Chapter 4 Casper After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ . . . When they saw that the star had s…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Jerusalem's Hopeful Future
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Jerusalem's Hopeful Future
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Jerusalem’s Hopeful Future (Isaiah 60: 1-22; 62: 1-12; 66: 7-13) Chapters 60–62 at the center of Third Isaiah echo language and themes of Second Isaiah most closely. Chapter 60 addresses Jerusalem much as Isaiah 49 had, directing her eyes to see her children coming from afar and,…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Infancy Narrative
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Infancy Narrative
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Book II (Psalms 42-72) Book II of the Psalter, like Book I, contains many lament psalms. But unlike Book I, not all of the psalms are attributed to David. The Korahites, who were, according to the book of Chronicles, temple singers during the reigns of David and Solomon, mix thei…
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Epiphany - Years ABC
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Epiphany - Years ABC
by Andrew Pratt and Marjorie Dobson
Epiphany - Years ABC Service Contents: Hymn: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning or Bright morning maker, as your sun breaks through Reading: Psalm 72:1–7; 10-14 Prayer: At this time of New Year Hymn: Lord for the years or Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, Reading:…
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - In the beginning
50 Praise, Pray and Play Sessions - In the beginning
by BRF - Rona Orme
Whether the first chapter of Genesis is presented as giving a literal account of God creating the earth or as an early explanation of how things began, most children are fascinated by this story. Many children will have heard the Jewish and Christian creation story in RE, alongsi…
Isaiah for everyone - An Invitation to Imagination and Hope
Isaiah for everyone - An Invitation to Imagination and Hope
by SPCK - John Goldingay
An Invitation to Imagination and Hope I was exchanging messages with a Pentecostal friend yesterday, the Feast of Pentecost, and was amused when he observed that oddly “we don’t really celebrate Pentecost in the Assemblies of God.” I don’t know whether his Pentecostal church has …
52 Reflections on Faith - Light: Standing in the river
52 Reflections on Faith - Light: Standing in the river
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
Light:Standing in the river One evening as I sit in my study, reading by a table lamp, a wasp hovers overhead for a moment, then makes for the light bulb. Finding the bulb hot, it moves to the inside of the shade and settles in the warm glow of the light…
52 Reflections on Faith - Epiphany: The fourth wise man
52 Reflections on Faith - Epiphany: The fourth wise man
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
Epiphany: The fourth wise man The feast of the Epiphany on 6 January is a celebration of the ‘manifestation’ or ‘shining’ of Christ to the Gentiles. In the Eastern churches it’s also Christmas Day. The baptism of Christ is another closely associated feast. In the Western imaginat…
The Womens' Bible Commentary - Third Isaiah
The Womens' Bible Commentary - Third Isaiah
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Third Isaiah The last eleven chapters, set in Jerusalem after the return from exile, further Zion’s story while developing a variety of themes from previous chapters. Not only does personified Zion continue, but other themes of interest, such as inclusion and justice, both human …
glimpses of glory - The Epiphany - Year C
glimpses of glory - The Epiphany - Year C
by SPCK - David Adam
The Epiphany Lord of light and love, let the radiance of your presence be a light to our path and a guide on our journey. Banish from us all deeds of darkness, that we may come into your presence and walk before you as children of light; through him who is the light of the world,…
Fresh Thoughts For Sunday - Fresh Thoughts for Sunday Issue 253