A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year W

by Wilda C. Gafney

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640657229
Publisher:	Church Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/30/2024
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

WILDA C. GAFNEY is a Hebrew biblical scholar and Episcopal priest, a former Army chaplain, and congregational pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. She is a graduate of Duke University(PhD) and Howard University(M Div). In addition to her biblical scholarship, she has written for Sojourners, Huffington Post, Feasting on the Word, and Working Preacher. She is also an editor and essayist and author of several other books and teaches at Brite Divinity School. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Table of Contents

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 / 18

Christmas III / 21

First Sunday after Christmas / 23

Feast of the Holy Name, January 1 / 27

Second Sunday after Christmas / 30

Feast of the Epiphany / 33

Epiphany I / 37

Epiphany II / 40

Feast of the Presentation, February 2 / 45

Epiphany III / 48

Epiphany IV / 51

Epiphany V / 54

Epiphany VI / 57

Epiphany VII / 61

Epiphany VIII / 64

Last Sunday of Epiphany / 66

Lent—Ash Wednesday / 70

Lent 1 / 74

Lent II / 78

Lent III / 81

Lent IV / 85

Lent V / 89

Feast of the Annunciation, March 25 / 93

Palm Sunday—Liturgy of the Palms / 96

Palm Sunday—Liturgy of the Word / 98

Monday in Holy Week / 106

Tuesday in Holy Week / 110

Wednesday in Holy Week / 113

Maundy Thursday / 116

Good Friday / 120

Holy Saturday / 128

Easter—The Great Vigil / 133

Easter Day—Early Service / 145

Easter Day—Principal Service / 145

Easter Day—Evening Service / 151

Monday in Easter Week / 155

Tuesday in Easter Week / 157

Wednesday in Easter Week / 159

Thursday in Easter Week / 160

Friday in Easter Week / 163

Saturday in Easter Week / 165

Second Sunday of Easter / 167

Third Sunday of Easter / 172

Fourth Sunday of Easter / 175

Fifth Sunday of Easter / 178

Sixth Sunday of Easter / 181

Feast of the Ascension / 185

Seventh Sunday of Easter / 188

Pentecost Vigil (or Early Service) / 192

Pentecost Principal Service / 198

Trinity Sunday / 202

Season after Pentecost (29) / 205

Proper 1 (Closest to May 11) / 205

Proper 2 (Closest to May 18) / 208

Proper 3 (Closest to May 25) / 213

Proper 4 (Closest to June 1) / 216

Proper 5 (Closest to June 8) / 220

Proper 6 (Closest to June 15) / 223

Proper 7 (Closest to June 22) / 227

Proper 8 (Closest to June 29) / 231

Proper 9 (Closest to July 6) / 235

Proper 10 (Closest to July 13) / 238

Proper 11 (Closest to July 20) / 242

Feast of Mary Magdalene, July 22 / 246

Proper 12 (Closest to July 27) / 249

Proper 13 (Closest to August 3) / 253

Proper 14 (Closest to August 10) / 257

Feast of the Ever-Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15 / 261

Proper 15 (Closest to August 17) / 265

Proper 16 (Closest to August 24) / 269

Proper 17 (Closest to August 31) / 273

Proper 18 (Closest to September 7) / 278

Proper 19 (Closest to September 14) / 282

Proper 20 (Closest to September 21) / 286

Proper 21 (Closest to September 28) / 290

Proper 22 (Closest to October 5) / 294

Proper 23 (Closest to October 12) / 298

Proper 24 (Closest to October 19) / 302

Proper 25 (Closest to October 26) / 306

Feast of All Saints, November 1 / 310

Proper 26 (Closest to November 2) / 313

Proper 27 (Closest to November 9) / 317

Proper 28 (Closest to November 16) / 322

Majesty of Christ (Closest to November 23) / 325

Appendix: God Names and Divine Titles

Bibliography

Scripture Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Gafney's paradigm-shifting scholarship will influence biblical preaching and teaching for generations to come."
—National Catholic Reporter

“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 UniversityChapel, 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 Church until 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 Church is 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 Church challenges 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

Editorial Reviews

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
". . . this resource will raise biblical literacy and illuminate figures and plotlines long left in the shadows."
—The Christian Century

“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

“Gafney's paradigm-shifting scholarship will influence biblical preaching and teaching for generations to come."
—National Catholic Reporter

“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 UniversityChapel, 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 Church until 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 Church is 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 Church challenges 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

From the Publisher