Category Archives: Liturgy Letter Year B

Pentecost Resources 2021

Stained glass window from St Aloysius’ Church in Somers Town, London
(Photo by Lawrence OP – Flickr)

“He loves Himself and every creature by the Holy Ghost, inasmuch as the Holy Ghost proceeds as the love of the primal goodness whereby the Father loves Himself and every creature.”

-Thomas Aquinas

Pentecost Lectionary Readings (Year B)

Day of Pentecost (May 23): Acts 2:1-21; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:22-27; Acts 2:1-21; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Poetry

O Comforting Fire of Spirit by Hildegard of Bingen

“A Sonnet for Pentecost” by Malcolm Guite

“A Prayer to the Holy Spirit” by Christina Rossetti

Resource Links

Historic Prayers for Pentecost

The Descent of the Dove by Charles Williams

Archived Posts for Pentecost from The Liturgy Letter

Music

O’er the Waters” A Spotify Playlist for Pentecost 2021

Easter Resources 2021

“Easter Morning” by Caspar David Friedrich, 1835.

Eastertide Lectionary Readings (Year B)

Easter Day (April 4): Acts 10:34-43; Isaiah 25:6-9; Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18; Mark 16:1-8

Second Sunday of Easter (April 11): Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31

Third Sunday of Easter (April 18): Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48

Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 25): Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18

Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 2): Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8

Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 9): Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17

Ascension of the Lord (May 13): Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53

Seventh Sunday of Easter (May 16): Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19

Poetry

Seven Stanzas at Easter by John Updike

On Belief in the Physical Resurrection of Jesus by Denise Levertov

Easter Monday by Christina Rossetti

Resource Links

Collects for Eastertide from the Book of Common Worship

The Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom

Christus Resurrexit! Resurrexit Vere! – Melito, Bishop of Sardis (180 A.D.) On the Resurrection

“Resurrection” painting by Sister Joanne Emmer, 1965.

“The Resurrection” painting by Sir Stanley Spencer, 1924-1927.

Archived Posts for Easter from The Liturgy Letter

Music

Divine Presence” A Spotify Playlist for Eastertide 2021

Resurrection” by Olivier Messiaen, sung by Dawn Upshaw

“Jesus Having Risen from the Tomb” by John Tavener

“Ascension” by John Coltrane

L’ Ascension by Olivier Messiaen, performed by Frankfurt Radio Symphony

No. 19 : The Resurrection, Glass Slide image of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, George D., Rice, 1861-1936.

Did they move or was there not enough people to evangelize to anymore?“, 2011.

Easter Morning Sun 2020 (COVID-19 artwork no.3), Alfred Freddy Krupa, 2020.

Lent Resources 2021

Photograph of Three Generations of Balm of Gilead Poplar, 1951, from The National Archives Catalog

Lent Lectionary Readings (Year B)

Ash Wednesday (February 17): Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

First Sunday in Lent (February 21): Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15

Second Sunday in Lent (February 28): Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38; Mark 9:2-9

Third Sunday in Lent (March 7): Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22

Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 14): Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21

Fifth Sunday in Lent (March 21): Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Psalm 119:9-16; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33

Annunciation of the Lord (March 25): Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 45; Psalm 40:5-10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38

Sixth Sunday of Lent (March 28):

Liturgy of the Palms – Ps. 118:1-2, 19-29; Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-16

Liturgy of the Passion – Isaiah 50:4-9a; Ps. 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47; Mark 15:1-39, 40-47

Poetry

“Ash Wednesday” by T.S. Eliot. Read by the author here.

A Prayer for the Past”by George MacDonald

“Mid-Lent” by Christina Rossetti

Resource Links

Collects for Lent from the Book of Common Worship

Stations of the Cross Online curated by Global Christian Worship

The Stations of the Cross by David O’Connell

Archived Posts for Lent from The Liturgy Letter

Music

Balm” – A Playlist for Lent 2021

The Reproaches” by John Sanders. Sung by Ely Cathedral Choir.

There is a Balm in Gileadsung by Abraham Boyd

Balm in Gilead by The Sunday Service Choir

Photograph of Three Generations of Balm of Gilead

Photograph of Trees Showing 1951 Growth on Laona Ranger District

Balm of Gilead trunk leaves and seeds in Buffalo paddock near Banff, Alberta

FREE 2020/2021 (YEAR B) CHRISTIAN LITURGICAL CALENDAR

Artist Barbara Lyon has created an original 2020/2021 (Year B) Christian liturgical calendar for use in church and home. The calendar is a visually stunning reminder of the joyful rhythm of the Christian year. She has given permission to print and distribute this calendar freely. Enjoy!

Download PDF with dates and descriptions
Download PNG with dates

Download artists’ statement

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Fifth Sunday In Lent 2020 (Year A)

God Gives Life

God can make dead bones live (Ezekiel 37:1-14). We call out to him in the depths of suffering and wait patiently for his promises to be fulfilled (Psalm 130). Spiritual life and physical resurrection await those who are in Christ, so set your mind on the Spirit and refuse to live in hostility towards God (Romans 8:6-11). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has power over life and death. He cares for his friends and defies their expectations, proving that he is Lord and Savior (John 11:1-45). 

Click on the link above to read the newsletter…

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Christ the King 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Christ the King 2018 (Year B)

“Christ the King Sunday focuses our worship on the cosmic character of Christ’s reign over the world. It is a proclamation to all that everything in creation and culture must submit to Christ and an invitation to actively and joyfully submit to his rule. The day is celebrated widely in some traditions and is normally scheduled on the last Sunday before Advent. It therefore serves as a transitional Sunday leading directly into Advent, the Christmas cycle, and the new Christian year. The day fits well with the eschatological emphasis and anticipation of Christ’s second coming highlighted during Advent. It also helps worshipers, who are already thinking about Christmas, to remember that Christmas is about much more than a baby in a manger—it is about a sovereign Christ who came to be the ‘Prince of Peace.'”

– from The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd Ed.

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twenty Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twenty Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 2018 (Year B)

Confidence in Our Creator
“Lord, we take refuge in you (Psalm 16), for you listen to our despair (1 Samuel 1:4-20) and know the future (Mark 13:1-8). Therefore, we draw near to you, holding to your promises (Hebrews 10:11-25).”-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 2018 (Year B)

Perfect Sacrifice
“All is vain, unless it is done for the Lord (Psalm 127 and Psalm 146). Even when what we are asked to do seems difficult (Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17), we must be willing to sacrifice everything (Mark 12:38-44) for the One who gave us his only Son as a sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 9:24-28).”
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 2018

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 2018 (Year B)

Serving God
“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 146). Give us the faithfulness of Ruth (Ruth 1:1-18) and the strength to love you with all our hearts (Mark 12:28-34) so we may serve you, the living God (Hebrews 9:11-14).”
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost 2018 (Year B)

God’s Mercy
“The Lord has delivered me from all my fears (Psalm 34:1-8, 19-22); there is nothing he cannot do (Job 42:1-6, 10-17). His mercy, grace and power (Mark 10:46-52) are shown through his sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 7:23-28).”
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

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