Welcome to SAMUEL [Scripture and Mission: A United Church of Christ Electronic Library]. You've entered one of the most comprehensive resources for worship, Bible study and sermon preparation on the Web. SAMUEL is designed for use with the Revised Common Lectionary—the ecumenical Bible plan for public worship on Sundays and the principal feasts and fasts of the Church Year. We provide lectionary texts, psalm antiphons and a pump-primer for lectionary preachers, plus a weekly theme and focus scripture from the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum.
Worship planners can use SAMUEL in conjunction with the UCC Book of Worship, The New Century Hymnal, Mission Moments and our Worship Ways resource. And don't forget to visit Sermon Help—a weeklong interactive forum on the readings appointed for next Sunday.
SAMUEL will help your congregation expand its worship into the life of the wider church—and unite with your Protestant, Anglican and Roman Catholic sisters and brothers who are using the Revised Common Lectionary or one similar to it. We also invite you to use SAMUEL for your personal prayer, meditation and Bible study.
Visitors from any Christian tradition are welcome to use SAMUEL and participate in our interactive Sermon Help forum.
Special thanks to the Rev. Kathryn Matthews Huey and the Stewardship and Church Finances Ministry Team whose work makes these resources available to you.
The Revised Common Lectionary is © Consultation on Common Texts. Texts are from the New Revised Standard Version of Holy Scripture, © 1989 by The Division of Christian Education, National Council of Churches. The psalm antiphon is from The New Century Hymnal, © 1995, The Pilgrim Press. Used with permission. Music for the psalm and antiphon are available in The New Century Hymnal, plus a complete index of hymns appropriate for each Sunday's lectionary readings. Order The New Century Hymnal from United Church Resources at 1-800-325-7061.
commontexts.org
ncccusa.org
Other Web Resources
Out in Scripture
The Peace Pulpit
Sermon Every Week
All Lectionary Readings
Sermon Resources
The Text This Week
Commentaries
Texts for Preaching
Commentaries published in three volumes for each year in the RCL cycle by some of the best OT and NT scholars in North America, including Walter Brueggemann. Purchase from Westminster John Knox Press.
Preaching the Lectionary
Commentaries published by RCL year and season. Purchase from Abingdon Press.
New Proclamation Series
Published by RCL year and season, offers creative links to literature, spirituality and the sociocultural scene in addition to historical and exegetical reflections on all the biblical texts. Purchase from Augsburg Fortress Press.
