From Mr John Milner
Sir, - I suspect that I am not alone in being only partially
comforted by the assurance from the Revd Christopher Woods,
Secretary of the Liturgical Commission (Letters, 4
January), that there is "no mistake in the lectionary for
2013". There may be no mistake, but it is hardly comforting to be
told - in a statement that could come from either W. S. Gilbert or
Kafka - "Therefore, on the Third Sunday of the Epiphany, the
readings of the Second Sunday of Epiphany are used."
The explanation offered by Mr Woods for this curious state of
things takes us to a General Synod publication of 2005, and an
obscure corner of the Church's website. Those of us who have
responsibility for helping to organise worship really deserve
better than this. It would seem reasonable to expect that, when
unusual things arise, clear guidance and explanations are provided
in the Lectionary as a matter of course.
Reflecting on this issue took me back to the Preface to the 1549
Prayer Book (found in 1662 as "Concerning the Service of the
Church"). To address the pre-Reformation problem that "many times
there was more business to find out what should be read, than to
read it when it was found out," so "certain Rules are here set
forth; which, as they are few in number, so they are plain and easy
to understand."
That, surely, should be an abiding principle in liturgical
development. It is salutary to remember that, had the Prayer Book
pattern been retained in Common Worship, we would have had
Sundays after, not of, Epiphany, and avoided this year's
foolishness of three being two.
JOHN MILNER
25 Ashfield Lodge, Palatine Road
Didsbury, Manchester M20 2UD