The 2006 General Convention resolved that “the Revised Common Lectionary shall be the Lectionary of this Church, amending the Lectionary on pp. 889-921 of the Book of Common Prayer,” but did not deal with the resultant inconsistencies of pages within the Book of Common Prayer itself. General Convention 2012 adopted Resolution A059 calling for the Book of Common Prayer to be revised to resolve the discrepancy between the current Lectionary (as adopted in 2006 and official as of Advent 1 2010) and the Proper Liturgies for Holy Days.
Many of the readings are similar, with just a slight difference in the verses selected. However, in the Easter Vigil, the Revised Common Lectionary includes Baruch 3:9-15,32—4:4 or Proverbs 8:1-8,19-21;9:4b-6, rather than Isaiah 4:2-6.
The SCLM envisions using the collect for “God’s Presence in a renewed Israel” for the Baruch or Proverbs reading. Although it doesn’t match either reading thematically, the commission decided not to try to propose a revision of a text in the BCP.
Here’s the full list of readings for the Vigil this year:
The story of Creation:
Genesis 1:1—2:4a
Psalm 136:1-9,23-26
The Flood:
Genesis 7:1-5,11-18;8:6-18,9:8-13
Psalm 46
Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac:
Genesis 22:1-18
Psalm 16
Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea:
Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
Canticle 8
God’s Presence in a renewed Israel:
Baruch 3:9-15,32—4:4 or
Proverbs 8:1-8,19-21;9:4b-6
Psalm 19
Salvation offered freely to all:
Isaiah 55:1-11
Canticle 9
A new heart and a new spirit:
Ezekiel 36:24-28
Psalms 42 and 43
The valley of dry bones:
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 143
The gathering of God’s people:
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Psalm 98
At the Eucharist:
Romans 6:3-11
Psalm 114
Luke 24:1-12
Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music 
I have a question for you. I have been the Church Organist at St. Eustace Episcopal Church in
Lake Placid, NY for over 50 years. A parishioner asked me this morning what significance the
two or three tiny numbers at the right hand bottom of each hymn were a reference to. At first, I
thought perhaps different tunes for these words? But on one page, the same number appeared
two or three times. Can you answer this question for me? Thanks so much. Ginny Haselton.
Those numbers are the meter of the hymn text. The first number is the number of syllables in the first line of each verse, the second number is the number of syllables in the second line of each verse, etc. Knowing the meter of the hymn text and corresponding hymn tune is what allows creativity in matching a hymn text with a variety of different tunes. The most common meter is, appropriately named, “Common Meter”. It is 8.6.8.6, and is abbreviated “CM”. Unfortunately, the pew edition of the 1982 Hymnal doesn’t have a Metrical Index (nor does it have a Scriptural Reference Index) – two of my frustrations with the 1982 Hymnal, especially the pew edition. However, you are in luck if you have the Accompanist’s Edition. It has a Metrical Index. If you look up CM, you’ll see how many Common Meter (8.6.8.6) hymn tunes we have in the 1982 Hymnal. Now, try pairing different CM hymn texts with all of those CM tunes. The easiest one is probably “Amazing Grace”, because you can sing it from memory, while you play through several of the CM tunes. Once you’ve done that, that point of those little numbers in the bottom right hand corner will be crystal clear, and will provide you with some fun!
Philip Clary
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
Thanks for the complete list of readings —
Glad we can be of assistance. Next time please give us your first and last name. — Ed.