SSRA is based on the same three‑year programme of readings as Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), Common Worship Principal Service Lectionary (CW), and Lectionary for Mass (LFM), giving access to a vast range of lectionary‑based resources, both in print and online, for sermons, prayers, children’s work, and more
reading through one gospel and a series of epistles each year on a three‑year cycle
| Gospel | |||
| Year A | Year B | Year C | |
| 1 | Matthew | John | Luke |
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | Mark | ||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | |||
| 11 | |||
| 12 | |||
| 13 | |||
| 14 | |||
| 15 | |||
| 16 | |||
| 17 | John | ||
| 18 | |||
| 19 | |||
| 20 | |||
| 21 | |||
| 22 | Mark | ||
| 23 | |||
| 24 | |||
| 25 | |||
| 26 | |||
| 27 | |||
| 28 | |||
| 29 | |||
| 30 | |||
| 31 | |||
| 32 | |||
| 33 | |||
| 34 | John |
| Epistle | |||
| Year A | Year B | Year C | |
| 1 | Titus | Ephesians | Hebrews |
| 2 | 1 Corinthians | 1 Corinthians | 1 Corinthians |
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | 2 Corinthians | ||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | Romans | Galatians | |
| 10 | |||
| 11 | |||
| 12 | |||
| 13 | |||
| 14 | Colossians | ||
| 15 | Ephesians | ||
| 16 | |||
| 17 | |||
| 18 | Hebrews | ||
| 19 | |||
| 20 | |||
| 21 | |||
| 22 | James | ||
| 23 | Philemon | ||
| 24 | 1 Timothy | ||
| 25 | Philippians | ||
| 26 | |||
| 27 | Hebrews | 2 Timothy | |
| 28 | |||
| 29 | 1 Thessalonians | ||
| 30 | |||
| 31 | 1 Thessalonians | ||
| 32 | |||
| 33 | |||
| 34 | Ephesians | Revelation | Colossians |
Events or parables appearing in more than one gospel may appear only once in the three year cycle
An Old Testament reading each Sunday helps illustrate the gospel reading for the day
SSRA gives the Sundays of the main programme the numbers 1 to 34, with the name ‘Ordinary Time’, as in LFM
This serves to highlight the systematic reading of the gospel and epistles for the year across these 34 Sundays
Some lectionaries have different naming and numbering systems for the same 34 Sundays, variously calling them ‘Propers’, ‘after Epiphany’, ‘before Lent’, ‘after Trinity’, ‘before Advent’, and ‘of the Kingdom’ – sometimes with different definitions of Ordinary Time – but despite the different names, with very few exceptions, they are the same Sundays, with the same readings
from the entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (one week before Easter Day)
to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (seven weeks after Easter Day)
plus five weeks of readings in preparation (called Sundays of Lent)
and Trinity Sunday to reflect on it all - a total of fifteen Sundays
The primary theme of Lent is the joyful anticipation of the triumph of Easter, and this is reflected in the readings for the season; any penitential theme is secondary
| First Reading | Second Reading | Gospel | |
| Lent 1 | Year A fall, Year B flood, Year C salvation | Temptations of Jesus in the wilderness | |
| Lent 2 | The faith of Abraham | The Transfiguration | |
| Lent 3 | Readings from the history of Israel and the prophets | Salvation in Christ - readings from Saint Paul and Hebrews | Readings from John (and Luke in Year C) |
| Lent 4 | |||
| Lent 5 | |||
| Palm Sunday | The Passion of the Lord | ||
| Easter Day | The Resurrection | ||
| Easter 2 | The Acts of the Apostles - Year A: the early days in Jerusalem; Year B: the emerging inclusion of the gentiles; Year C: the ministry of Saint Paul | Year A: 1 Peter Year B: 1 John Year C: Revelation | Resurrection appearances including Year A road to Emmaus, Year B Jerusalem, Year C lakeside |
| Easter 3 | |||
| Easter 4 | Good Shepherd Sunday – readings from John 10 | ||
| Easter 5 | Preparing for Pentecost with Jesus’ teachings and prayers for the future church – different sections each year from John 13-17 | ||
| Easter 6 | |||
| Easter 7 | |||
| Pentecost | The day of Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit | ||
| Trinity Sunday | God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit | ||
to include the four Sundays of Advent, the twelve days of Christmas, and the visit of the Magi on 6 January, the Epiphany
the traditional start of the new church year
Readings are also provided for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Ascension Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day
As more and more denominations have adopted what is essentially the same lectionary, each has enriched the range of available material by adding its own variations and additional options. As a result, the various editions of what is essentially the same lectionary are not always 100% compatible.
In selecting from the options and variations on offer, SSRA consistently prioritises the systematic reading of the gospels and epistles for the year, reducing interruptions and omissions to a minimum.
Read more about compatibility, options and variations here.
