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What would it look like if women built a lectionary focusing on women’s stories?
What does it look like to tell the good news through the stories of women who are often on the margins of scripture and often set up to represent bad news? How would a lectionary centering women’s stories, chosen with womanist and feminist commitments in mind, frame the presentation of the scriptures for proclamation and teaching?
The scriptures are androcentric, male-focused, as is the lectionary that is dependent upon them. As a result, many congregants know only the biblical men's stories told in the Sunday lectionary read in their churches. A more expansive, more inclusive lectionary will remedy that by introducing readers and hearers of scripture to “women's stories” in the scriptures.
A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, when completed, will be a three-year lectionary accompanied by a stand-alone single year lectionary, Year W, that covers all four gospels. Year A features the Gospel of Matthew with John interwoven as is the case in the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) and Episcopal Lectionary.
“Gafney's paradigm-shifting scholarship will influence biblical preaching and teaching for generations to come." —National Catholic Reporter
". . . some of the best of recent biblical scholarship . . . "
—Anglican Theological Review
“Gafney has intentionally set out to elevate the voices and presence of girls and women within the biblical text.”
—Christian Feminism Today
“Gafney’s thoughtful commentaries and provocative translations will breathe new life into your preaching and stretch your congregation’s theological imagination . . .” —The Rev. Kate Spelman, Episcopal Preaching Foundation
“ . . . a beautifully written and profoundly challenging volume.”
—The College of Preachers
“In a predominantly patriarchal world that still diminishes the lives, gifts, contributions, and voices of women, Professor Wil Gafney offers a distinct, bold, women’s lectionary for the whole church and academy.”
—The Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery, Dean, Duke University Chapel, and Associate Professor of Homiletics, Duke Divinity School
“As someone who has learned so much from the Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, I commend it to every congregation and classroom. It is a prime example of revolutionary scholarship.”
—Brian D. McLaren, author of Faith After Doubt
“Wil Gafney has offered the church a treasure in this Women’s Lectionary, and we would do well to make use of it quickly and thoroughly.”
—Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, author
“I did not know how much my soul needed A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Churchuntil I began reading it, but now I suspect that I will never prepare another sermon or devotional without consulting it. Every pastor, indeed every Christian, needs this among their collection.”
—Chanequa Walker-Barnes, PhD, author of I Bring the Voices of My People: A Womanist Vision for Racial Reconciliation
“Gafney’s resource will transform how the Bible gets read and preached in our churches, bringing us closer to the totality of God’s love.”
—Rev. Karoline M. Lewis, PhD, The Marbury E. Anderson Chair of Biblical Preaching, Luther Seminary, and Program Director, Festival of Homiletics
“A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Churchis not only a resource for liturgy and preaching. I believe it is also a tool for contemplation on the mighty works of God on behalf of all people.”
—Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Episcopal Bishop of Texas and author of Embodied Liturgy
“For anyone wanting to read and meditate on scripture and be nurtured by the word without being harmed, this text is indispensable.”
—Willie James Jennings, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies, Yale Divinity School
“A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Churchchallenges the androcentric landscape of our most common readings, upending customary theological constructs to uncover the presence of the feminine Divine.”
—Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, Associate General Minister, Justice Local Church Ministries, The United Church of Christ
"Preaching with Gafney’s lectionary aids may provide a new sort of companionable presence to the pulpit and the pews alike: hearing, listening and reflecting on the God/human relationship with sensitivity to issues often overlooked or considered too difficult to discuss."
—Rev. Jerrod Hugenot, The Christian Citizen
“This series is a gift to all scholars, teachers, religious, clergy, and laity who study scripture and invites all—women, men and nonbinary persons to read and hear it in new ways.”
Acknowledgments
About the Cover Images
Abbreviations
Biblical Resources
Introduction
Text Selection
Using A Women’s Lectionary
About the Translations
The Lessons with Commentary
Advent I / 1
Advent II / 4
Advent III / 7
Advent IV / 11
Christmas I / 15
Christmas II / 17
Christmas III / 21
First Sunday after Christmas / 23
Feast of the Holy Name, January 1 / 26
Second Sunday after Christmas / 29
Feast of the Epiphany / 33
Epiphany I / 36
Epiphany II / 39
Feast of the Presentation, February 2 / 43
Epiphany III / 46
Epiphany IV / 50
Epiphany V / 54
Epiphany VI / 57
Epiphany VII / 61
Epiphany VIII / 65
Last Week of Epiphany (Transfiguration) / 68
Lent—Ash Wednesday / 72
Lent 1 / 76
Lent II / 80
Lent III / 82
Lent IV / 85
Lent V / 88
Feast of the Annunciation, March 25 / 91
Palm Sunday—Liturgy of the Palms / 94
Palm Sunday—Liturgy of the Word / 96
Monday in Holy Week / 104
Tuesday in Holy Week / 108
Wednesday in Holy Week / 111
Maundy Thursday / 114
Good Friday / 118
Holy Saturday / 127
Easter—The Great Vigil / 132
Easter Day—Early Service / 143
Easter Day—Principal Service / 143
Easter Day—Evening Service / 149
Monday in Easter Week / 153
Tuesday in Easter Week / 155
Wednesday in Easter Week / 157
Thursday in Easter Week / 159
Friday in Easter Week / 161
Saturday in Easter Week / 163
Second Sunday of Easter / 165
Third Sunday of Easter / 169
Fourth Sunday of Easter / 172
Fifth Sunday of Easter / 174
Sixth Sunday of Easter / 177
Feast of the Ascension / 180
Seventh Sunday of Easter / 182
Pentecost Vigil (or Early Service) / 186
Pentecost Principal Service / 192
Trinity Sunday / 196
Season after Pentecost / 199
Proper 1 (Closest to May 11) / 199
Proper 2 (Closest to May 18) / 203
Proper 3 (Closest to May 25) / 206
Proper 4 (Closest to June 1) / 209
Proper 5 (Closest to June 8) / 213
Proper 6 (Closest to June 15) / 216
Proper 7 (Closest to June 22) / 219
Proper 8 (Closest to June 29) / 223
Proper 9 (Closest to July 6) / 227
Proper 10 (Closest to July 13) / 231
Proper 11 (Closest to July 20) / 235
Feast of Mary Magdalene, July 22 / 239
Proper 12 (Closest to July 27) / 242
Proper 13 (Closest to August 3) / 246
Proper 14 (Closest to August 10) / 249
Feast of the Ever-Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15 / 253
Proper 15 (Closest to August 17) / 257
Proper 16 (Closest to August 24) / 260
Proper 17 (Closest to August 31) / 263
Proper 18 (Closest to September 7) / 267
Proper 19 (Closest to September 14) / 271
Proper 20 (Closest to September 21) / 274
Proper 21 (Closest to September 28) / 278
Proper 22 (Closest to October 5) / 282
Proper 23 (Closest to October 12) / 287
Proper 24 (Closest to October 19) / 291
Proper 25 (Closest to October 26) / 295
Feast of All Saints, November 1 / 299
Proper 26 (Closest to November 2) / 302
Proper 27 (Closest to November 9) / 306
Proper 28 (Closest to November 16) / 310
Majesty of Christ (Closest to November 23) / 313
Appendix: God Names and Divine Titles
Bibliography
Scripture Index