Stories or themes?
The Ven Peter Woodman makes a plea to those who decide which Old Testament readings to use at the Sunday Eucharist
Dear Editor
It is with some reluctance that I emerge from the woodwork of retirement, but I make a plea to those in our parishes responsible for choosing readings at the Sunday Eucharist.
It is a great privilege to be asked to visit parishes in need of a priest to take a celebration of Holy Communion. Many such parishes now use the readings from the New Calendar. During the long Pentecost season (formerly known as ‘Sundays after Trinity’) we are given a choice of Old Testament readings: ‘continuous’ or ‘thematic’. Trundling around parishes mainly in the Archdeaconry of Monmouth – with the odd excursion into the ‘junior’ Archdeaconry! – I find that, invariably, ‘thematic’ readings are chosen.
This represents an impoverishment of worship.
What can be more wonderful than to hear again the Old Testament stories on which one grew up from childhood and with which so many of today’s church-goers are unfamiliar? Joshua and the fall of Jericho, Samson and Delilah, David and Bathsheba, Ahab and Naboth – the list is endless. Oh, how I would love to preach on such riches! But I am continually undone by the ‘thematic’.
I plead that serious consideration be given to this matter. I believe, you see, that we are more likely to be saved by stories than by themes.
Yours,
in the name of the One who chose Parables,
Peter Woodman
Editor: What are your favourite Old Testament Stories and why? email