TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Lector Responsibilities

Primary Role - The Lector reads the First Lesson, the Response (when not being sung) and the Epistle assigned for each Sunday. At times when necessary or assigned, the Lector also leads the congregation in the Prayers of the People.

If you are assigned as Lector for the Service, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the readings ahead of time. The readings for the week are listed in the Service Bulletin. You can also use the website lectionarypage.net as a resource for locating the readings for each week. If you’re unsure of the pronunciation of a Bible name or word, the website biblespeak.org is a good resource, although there are other sites available. It’s usually a good idea to arrive a few minutes early before the service and review the location of the readings in the red Lectionary book at the Pulpit so you’ll be prepared when you begin to read.

After the Priest reads the Sunday Collect, the Lector goes to the pulpit where the red Lectionary book should be opened to the readings for the day.

First Lesson - Read the First Lesson. At the end of the First Lesson, take a brief pause and continue reading “The Word of the Lord.”

The Response – If the Response (usually a Psalm) is not being sung, read the Psalm for the day. It can be read collectively by the congregation or responsively by alternate verse. It may be necessary to take a copy of the Service Bulletin insert of the Psalm with you to the pulpit.

The Epistle - Read the Epistle. At the end of the Epistle, take a brief pause and continue reading “The Word of the Lord.” Close the Lectionary Book and return to your seat.

Prayers of the People – If the Deacon is not reading the Prayers of the People, that responsibility typically is assigned to the weekly Lector. Go to the Pulpit with a Prayer Book and the Parish Prayer List (usually found at the entrance to the Church) and announce the assigned prayer number and the page number where the prayer is in the Book of Common Prayer. This information is available in the Service Bulletin. Depending on the Prayer that is being used, insert the Parish Prayer List names at the appropriate time. Also, add the Prayers or Thanksgivings for those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries. If you’re unsure where in the prayer sequence to insert these names, you can ask the Priest for assistance.