Quote for Reflection (Sunday, December 15, 2024)

“The early Christians met from the first for services which consisted principally of the reading and exposition of the Scriptures. For this they had the precedent of the services in the Jewish synagogue. Readings in the synagogue were either chosen at the reader’s discretion or were a part of ‘in course’ readings (lectio continua) or were a fixed lectionary. The early Christians soon added readings from Christian writings to those from the Old Testament; the books of the New Testament were in fact largely selected from Christian writings which had come into general use in the church’s worship. Gradually lectionaries developed which provided systematic patterns for the readings.”

~ Marion J. Hatchett, Commentary on the American Prayer Book