Narrative Lectionary
The Narrative Lectionary is a four year reading plan that is designed to be read September through May, following the school year. These readings focus on the narrative from Genesis through Jesus life. Find out more about the Narrative Lectionary at WorkingPreacher.org.
Click on "Find Related Songs" to search for worship songs for a given service.
Skip to this week's readings.
Year 2: 2023 - 2024
Previous year: 2022-2023 | Next year: 2024-2025
| Date | Service/Theme | Readings | Search | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 10, 2023 | Creation | Genesis 2:4b-25; Human beings are to till the garden; man and woman in companionship Mark 1:16-20; Call of the first disciples linking creation and vocation or Mark 10:6-8; God created them male and female, the two become one  Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Sep 17, 2023 | Abraham | Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7; The promise of Isaac's birth to an aged Sarah and Abraham brings laughter Mark 10:27; For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Sep 24, 2023 | Jacob and Joseph | Genesis 32:22-30; Jacob wrestles with an angel. Receives the name Israel, for he strives with God Mark 14:32-36; Jesus struggles in Gethsemane, Asks that God's will be done Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 01, 2023 | Exodus | Exodus 1:8-14, 3:1-15; Israel is in slavery and calls for help. God calls Moses to bring release Mark 12:26-27a; At the burning bush God said, "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; he is God of the living Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 08, 2023 | Law and Wilderness | Deuteronomy 5:1-21, 6:4-9; Ten Commandments Love the your God with all your heart and soul and mind Mark 12:28-31; Love for God is the great commandment Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 15, 2023 | Judges | Ruth 1:1-17; Ruth is a foreigner who finds belonging among God's people. Where you go I will go, your people will be my people, your God will be my God Mark 3:33-35; Those who do the will of God are Jesus' mother and brothers and sisters Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 22, 2023 | David | 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 6:1-5; Psalm 150; David becomes king over all Israel. Brings the Ark of the covenant to Jerusalem with song making Jerusalem a place of worship. Mark 11:8-10; People welcome Jesus to Jerusalem; Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 29, 2023 | Solomon to the Divided Kingdom | 1 Kings 12:1-17, 25-29; Rehoboam and the need for servant leadership; the kingdom is divided Mark 10:42-45; Kings of the gentiles lord it over them, but Jesus comes as one who serves Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 05, 2023 | Elijah and Elisha | 1 Kings 18:20-39; Elijah calls fire from heaven on Mount Carmel to reveal God's presence Mark 9:2-4; Elijah stands with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 12, 2023 | Minor prophets | Hosea 11:1-9; God's passionate love for his children; despite their disobedience he cannot give them up Mark 10:13-14; Let the children come to me Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 19, 2023 | Isaiah and Hezekiah | Isaiah 5:1-7, 11:1-5; Israel is pictured as a vineyard. God looks for the fruit of righteousness but finds only injustice. Another passage promises a faithful king (a shoot from the stump of Jesse), who will judge with righteousness. Mark 12:1-3; The wicked tenants of the vineyard Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 26, 2023 | Jeremiah and Josiah | 2 Kings 22:1-10 (14-20) 23:1-3; Josiah's recovery of Scripture, reform and renewal Luke 24:30-32; Our hearts burned within us as he walked with us on the road, as he opened to us the Scriptures Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 03, 2023 | Into Exile | Jeremiah 33:14-18; Promise of the Messiah Mark 8:27-29; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 10, 2023 | Return From Exile | Isaiah 40:1-11; Comfort, comfort my people, a voice cries out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord Mark 1:1-4; John is the voice crying out in the wilderness Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 17, 2023 | Return from Exile | Ezra 1:1-4, 3:1-4, 10-13; Return from exile and rebuilding the temple Luke 2:25-27; Simeon is guided by the Spirit to the temple, where he sees the infant Jesus Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 24, 2023 | Preparing for the Messiah's birth | Luke 1:5-13, 57-80; John the Baptist's birth; Blessed be the God of Israel who has looked favorably on his people Psalm 113; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 24, 2023 | Christmas Eve | Luke 2:1-14 (15-20); Birth of Jesus Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46-55; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Mon, Dec 25, 2023 | Christmas Day | Luke 2:8-20; Shepherds visit the infant Jesus or Matthew 2:1-12; The Magi Psalm 108:1-4; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 31, 2023 | Christmas 1 | Mark 1:1-20; John the Baptist, Jesus announces the kingdom, calls the disciples Psalm 91:9-12; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Christmas 2 | Mark 1:21-45; Jesus reveals the character of his power by healing a man with an unclean spirit, Peter's mother-in-law, and a leper Psalm 103:1-5; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 07, 2024 | Epiphany 1 | Mark 2:1-22; Jesus heals a paralytic and eats with tax collectors Psalm 103:6-14; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 14, 2024 | Epiphany 2 | Mark 4:1-34; Parables of sower & mustard seed Psalm 126; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 21, 2024 | Epiphany 3 | Mark 5:1-20; Jesus heals the Gerasenes demoniac Psalm 89:1-4; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 28, 2024 | Epiphany 4 | Mark 5:21-43; Jesus heals Jairus' daughter and the woman with the flow of blood Psalm 131; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 04, 2024 | Epiphany 5 | Mark 6:1-29; Jesus is rejected at Nazareth, sends out mission of the 12, Herod beheads John the Baptist Psalm 122; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Epiphany 6 | Mark 7:1-23; What defiles a person is what comes from within Psalm 51:1-3, 6-7; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Epiphany 7 | Mark 7:24-37; Healing the daughter of a Syro- Phoenician woman and a deaf man Psalm 31:14-16; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Epiphany 8 | Mark 8:14-26; Do you not see? Psalm 31:14-16; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 11, 2024 | Transfiguration | Mark 8:27 - 9:8; Peter's confession, passion prediction, bearing the cross, Transfiguration Psalm 27:1-4; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Wed, Feb 14, 2024 | Ash Wednesday | Mark 9:30-37; Passion prediction, debate about who is the greatest, call to become a servant Psalm 32:1-5; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 18, 2024 | Lent 1 | Mark 10:17-31; Rich man called to sell all he has and follow Jesus Psalm 19:7-10; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 25, 2024 | Lent 2 | Mark 10:32-52; Passion prediction, Son of man came not to be served but to serve, heals blind Bartimaeus Psalm 34:11-14; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 03, 2024 | Lent 3 | Mark 12:1-12; Parable of the wicked tenants and/or Mark 12:13-17; Paying tax to Caesar Psalm 86:8-13; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 10, 2024 | Lent 4 | Mark 12:28-44; Great commandment, scribes seek honor, a poor widow gives all she has Psalm 89:1-4; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 17, 2024 | Lent 5 | Mark 13:1-8, 24-37; The end of the age, Call to be watchful Psalm 102:12-17; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 24, 2024 | Palm Sunday | Mark 11:1-11; Triumphal entry Mark 14:3-9; Woman anoints Jesus at Bethany Psalm 118:25-29; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Thu, Mar 28, 2024 | Maundy Thursday | Mark 14:22-42; Words of Institution, Peter's denial foretold, prayer in Gethsemane Psalm 116:12-19; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Fri, Mar 29, 2024 | Good Friday | Mark 15:16-39; Mocking, Crucifixion, My God, my God why have you forsaken me Psalm 22:1-2, 14-21; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 31, 2024 | Easter | Mark 16:1-8; Resurrection, empty tomb and fleeing in fear Psalm 118:21-27; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 07, 2024 | Easter 2 | Acts 1:1-14; You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth Mark 6:7-13; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 14, 2024 | Easter 3 | Acts 3:1-10; Healing at the Beautiful Gate; I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus rise and walk Mark 6:53-56; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 21, 2024 | Easter 4 | Acts 17:1-9; Founding church at Thessalonica, social conflict there 1 Thess. 1:1-10; Paul's thanksgiving for the church at Thessalonica Mark 13:9-11; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 28, 2024 | Easter 5 | Acts 18:1-4; 1 Cor 1:10-18; Founding the church at Corinth; Factions in the church and the Word of the cross (Mark 9:34-35; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 05, 2024 | Easter 6 | 1 Cor 13:1-13; Faith, hope, and love abide, but the greatest of these is love. Mark 12:28-31; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 12, 2024 | Easter 7 | 1 Cor 15:1-26, 51-57; Jesus' resurrection and the future resurrection; death as the last enemy Mark 12:26-27a; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 19, 2024 | Pentecost | Acts 2:1-4, 1 Cor 12:1-13; Faith as the principal work of the Spirit; other gifts of the Spirit for the common good Mark 1:4-8; Read all. | Find Related Songs |