Lectors Part II

Christ the King Lutheran Church
Worship Ministry
March 2006


MINISTRY DESCRIPTION

Lectors serve to proclaim the Word at Christ the King's weekly Sunday Eucharist, and at other rites and prayer services throughout the year.

HISTORY AND THEOLOGICAL BASIS

Reading from the Bible has its roots in the Jewish liturgy, where there is public reading from the Torah scroll. In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus himself returns to his hometown in Nazareth, comes to the Bema (lectern), and reads from Isaiah 61:1-2a.

Public proclamation of scripture is constitutive of the Christian assembly, regularly breaking open God's Word, and in order to encounter Christ (see Luke 24:7).

Lay leadership roles in the liturgy are indispensable to the ministry of the baptized (see the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Statement on Worship Practices Part 1: Proclamation of the Word and the Christian Assembly).

Lectio comes from the Latin, meaning "reading." The appointed Sunday readings are arranged into one book called a Lectionary book according to a three-year cycle.

QUALIFICATIONS

Besides a willingness to serve Christ and the church, Lectors should have skills or develop skills in public speaking.

WEEKLY SCOPE OF LECTORS

Early in the week, the First Readings will be sent to Lectors to aid in their preparations. Practice reading aloud. .

After the Prayer of the Day, walk from your pew to the lectern (going down either the center or the side aisle, whichever is convenient). Bow toward the altar before ascending the chancel platform.

Use the Lectionary Book to read, finding your place with the ribbon marker. Always introduce simply by stating, "A reading from (book)." Always conclude with "The Word of the Lord." Look directly at the assembly when introducing and concluding.


The Lectionary Book is arranged by "sense units," meaning the words on the page assist with inflections. There should always be a slight pause at the end of each line, and a longer pause between breaks in the text. Also, pause after introducing and before concluding. It's not necessary to look up when reading, as the assembly knows you are reading and not memorizing.

Since the Sunday public reading from the Bible is a proclamation, projecting clearly and in a declamatory style is important. Make sure you understand and interpret what you are reading. Is it a story? Is it prophecy? Is it poetry? What is the theme, or intent of the writer?

After concluding the reading, return to your pew in a similar fashion as you came, bowing toward the altar after descending from the chancel platform.

READER COORDINATORS AT CHRIST THE KING

Ed Ducharme. Phone 424-7146. E-mail ducharme1@juno.com.

RESOURCES
Assisting Ministers and Readers, by Gerald Spice. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, © 2001 (available from the church office).

A Well-Trained Tongue: A Workbook for Lectors, by Ray Lonergan. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, © 1982 (available from Pastor Keyl's library.

Treasures Old and New: Images from the Lectionary, by Gail Ramshaw. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, © 2002 (available from Pastor Keyl's library).
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