Episcopal Services

NRSV; Gradual Psalms from Gradual Psalms by Bruce Ford

Ordination of a Bishop

Lay persons read the Old Testament Lesson and the Epistle. The Readings are ordinarily selected from the following list and may be lengthened if desired. On a Major Feast or on a Sunday, the Presiding Bishop may select Readings from the Proper of the Day.

PsalmPsalm 99:1-6; or Psalm 40:5-11; Psalm 100
EpistleHebrews 5:1-10
or 1 Timothy 3:1-7
or 2 Corinthians 3:4-9
GospelJohn 20:19-23
or John 17:1-9, 12-18
or Luke 24:44-49a

Ordination of a Priest

Lay persons read the Old Testament Lesson and the Epistle. The Readings are ordinarily selected from the following list and may be lengthened if desired. On a Major Feast, or on a Sunday, the Bishop may select Readings from the Proper of the Day. It is to be noted that where the words elder, elders, and fellow elder, appear in translations of 1 Peter 5:1, the original Greek terms presbyter, presbyters, and fellow presbyter, are to be substituted.

PsalmPsalm 43; or Psalm 132:8, 10, 14-17
Epistle1 Peter 5:1-4
or Ephesians 4:7,11-16
or Philippians 4:4-9
GospelMatthew 9:35-38
or John 10:11-18
or John 6:35-38

Ordination of a Deacon

Lay persons read the Old Testament Lesson and the Epistle. The Readings are ordinarily selected from the following list and may be lengthened if desired. On a Major Feast, or on a Sunday, the Bishop may select Readings from the Proper of the Day.

PsalmPsalm 84:1-6, 10-11
Epistle2 Corinthians 4:1-6
or 1 Timothy 3:7-13
or Acts 6:2-7
GospelLuke 12:35-38
or Luke 22:24-27

Celebration of a New Ministry

Any of the Readings, including the Gospel, may be selected from the Proper of the Day, or from the[se] passages... Other passages suitable to the circumstances may be substituted. Appropriate selections may be found in the service for the Ordination of a Deacon or in the Lectionary for Various Occasions.

PsalmPsalm 43; or Psalm 132:8-10, 14-17; or Psalm 133-134
EpistleRomans 12:1-18
or Ephesians 4:7, 11-16
GospelJohn 15:9-16
or Luke 10:1-2
or John 14:11-15

The Dedication and Consecration of a Church

Lay persons read the Old Testament Lesson and the Epistle. The Deacon (or a Priest) reads the Gospel. Selections are ordinarily made from the following list; but on a Major Feast, Sunday, or Patronal Feast, selections may be made from the Proper of the Day.

PsalmPsalm 122; Psalm 84:1-7, 9 or Psalm 48:1-2, 7-13
EpistleRevelation 21:2-7
or 1 Corinthians 3:1-11,16-17
or 1 Peter 2:1-9
GospelMatthew 7:13-14, 24-25
or Matthew 21:10-14