Liturgy and Music Commission

 

Commission Members

The Very Rev'd Susan Davidson, Chair
The Ven. Ormonde Plater, Secretary

2008
The Very Rev'd Susan Davidson
The Ven. Ormonde Plater
The Rev'd Milton Gibson

2009
The Rev'd Canon Steven Roberts
The Rev'd Brian Grantz
Mr. Jarrett Follette

2010
The Very Rev'd David duPlantier
The Rev'd Paul Bailey
The Rev'd Walter Baer

 

 

Welcome to the new web page of the Commission on Liturgy and Music of the Diocese of Louisiana! This page will be updated on a regular basis, providing information and resources to help you in planning liturgy for your parish. We hope you will also check out the links to liturgy and music websites of the wider Episcopal Church, and contact us if we may be of help to you, or if you have suggestions for additions to this site.

Message from the Bishop's Office

 

Dear clergy and lay leaders of the Diocese of Louisiana:

 

This past March, the Convention of our diocese passed the following Resolution:

R-7 Title: Revised Common Lectionary
Resolved, That this Convention of the Diocese of Louisiana accept the use of the Revised Common Lectionary as the Lectionary of this diocese, amending the lectionary on page 889-921 of the Book of Common Prayer, effective the First Sunday of Advent, 2007,with the provision for continued use of the previous lectionary for purposes of orderly transition, with the Ecclesiastical Authority, until the First Sunday of Advent 2010.

 

Explanation: The 75th General Convention in its Resolution A077 called on every diocese
to carry out this initiative. The revised Lectionary has been used on a somewhat trial
basis throughout the Episcopal Church in the U.S. for many years now. This would change the lessons used on Sunday mornings. The Ecclesiastical Authority (the bishop or in the absence of a bishop, the Standing Committee) could postpone use of this change until 2010, if he/she so chooses. The change will occur throughout the church by 2010.

 

This resolution acknowledges this fact with a reminder that the timing is in the hands of the bishop.

 

To that end, please remember that unless you request permission to continue to use the current Prayer Book Lectionary, your congregation is to begin using the RCL for Sunday Eucharists beginning on December 2, 2007. Copies of RCL materials may be ordered from Church Publishing. The listing of assigned readings may be downloaded from the following address:

 

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/RCL_pages_for_BCP-cropped.pdf.

 

If you decide to ask the bishop to allow for continued usage of the current Prayer Book Lectionary in your congregation for a period of time, please send such a request in writing to Canon Mark Stevenson's attention to the Diosean office before November 21, 2007.

 

Please note - the RCL has no effect on the Daily Office Lectionary.

 

Message from the Commission Chair

 

In the words above, Bishop Jenkins reminds us that the canons of the Episcopal Church now require the use of the Revised Common Lectionary, beginning on Advent I of this year. Permission to postpone implementation of the RCL must be requested of Bishop Jenkins in writing. In no case may the implementation be postponed beyond Advent of 2010. Most of the changes from the BCP Lectionary occur in the "green seasons," and are primarily in the Old Testament lessons, as well as a few changes in the Psalms appointed.



The RCL is used by most Protestant denominations in the U.S.A. which use any kind of lectionary and enjoys wide use in the Anglican Communion. Use of it has been an option (with diocesan permission) throughout the Episcopal Church since 1994. Those who long for more thorough treatment of the Old Testament narratives will find it satisfying that the stories selected from the Hebrew Bible are stretched out over several weeks, thus providing more continuity and familiarity with some of the heretofore more neglected narratives.  



Susan Davidson+
Chair, Commission on Liturgy and Music

 

 

General Information on the use of the Revised Common Lectionary

 

 

Resources - Revised Common Lectionary

 

  • Church Publishing Inc  [Revised Common Lectionary Resources] (purchasable items)
    • Episcopal Church Lesson Calendar RCL 2008        
    • Gradual Psalms Years A B C Revised Common Lectionary Edition - CD Rom new edition by Bruce E. Ford  
    • Hymntune Psalter - Book One and Two Revised Common Lectionary edition Carl P. Daw, Jr. and Kevin R. Hackett 
    • Liturgical Music - Year A Revised Common Lectionary Edition Carl P. Daw Jr. and Thomas Pavlechko
    • Portland Psalter Book One: Liturgical Years ABC Robert A. Hawthorne
    • Portland Psalter Book Two Responsorial Psalms for Congregation, Cantor & Choir Robert A. Hawthorne  
    • RCL Lectionary Inserts (Free)  
    • Revised Common Lectionary Lectern  
    • The Gospels (RCL)
    • The Passion Gospels (RCL) by Ormonde Plater  
    • ... and more.
  • Prayers of the People for RCL, Ormonde Plater
  • For musical settings of the psalms of the RCL:
    • A CD with downloadable music for responsorial singing of the psalms is available from the composer, Dr. Jerry F. Davidson, Organist/Choirmaster of St. Paul's, New Orleans. Contact information: e-mail: JFD112@cox.net; snail mail: 112 Hazel Drive, River Ridge, LA 70123; telephone: (504) 737-8121. The settings are already in use in several churches in the diocese. 
  • Revised Common Lectionary - Episcopal Church
  • Revised Common Lectionary - Vanderbilt.edu

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