What essentially defines the liturgical church, aside from the
regular receiving of Holy Communion, is the systematic reading
of the entire Bible over a three-year period by assigned
readings in a Common Lectionary. Additionally, this systematic
reading is conforms to a one year cycle which we refer to as the
Liturgical Year or Church Year. This cycle introduces themes
such as Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost
which roughly relate to the Jewish Calendar and the appointed
feast days of God. (See Liturgical Calendar.) Why a fixed
schedule of readings? This follows the ancient tradition of the
synagogue that was in effect in the time of Christ. Jesus was
asked to read the assigned text in His hometown. Do such
readings limit the preacher’s range of options and, perhaps,
hamper the Holy Spirit from acting freely in the sermon
preparation? Not necessarily, although they could if not
properly understood. Jesus preached under the anointing of the
Holy Spirit. We must do likewise. (Of, course w