Women’s Stories Project
for THE REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY, Year A

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)
Psalm 112:1-9 (10)
1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)
Matthew 5:13-20/ John 7:53-8:11

For this Sunday, an alternative to the Matthew passage is John 7:53-8:11. The story of the woman caught in adultery is one of the quintessential stories of Jesus’ ministry. Not only does Jesus show mercy to the woman, but he teaches a valuable lesson about not judging others. This unnamed woman plays a very significant role in the Gospel story. 

The Revised Common Lectionary, (RCL) created by the Consultation on Common Texts, (CCT) an ecumenical body of scholars in North America, was published in 1992.  It was a revision of the earlier Common Lectionary (1983), and made changes after a lengthy period of testing and study.  One of the areas in which it made a significant change was in the number and placement of stories of women in scripture. (pp.xxii-xxiii, Introduction, Revised Common Lectionary: 20th Anniversary Annotated Edition, ©2012, Consultation on Common Texts)  Even with the additional stories of women included in this revision, however, one can argue that women’s experience is still under-represented on Sunday mornings.

As part of her M.Div. coursework, Lisa Bowersock studied Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary, seeking stories of women, named or unnamed, allusions to women’s experience, or instances where the Holy was referred to in female terms. Lisa discovered only 11 named women in 270 passages of scripture for Year A of the RCL. In addition there were about a dozen unnamed women who played parts in the stories told. In a few instances, Wisdom is referred to as female, and there are images of pregnancy, birth and nursing scattered throughout the passages. When one considers, however, that these passages are all that a congregation will hear in regards to women in the Bible over the course of a year, it seems inadequate.  And so  Lisa has suggested some stories of women to be included on particular Sundays.

Women’s Stories Project for RCL Year A was developed by Lisa Bowersock, a licensed lay minister serving as Associate Minister at the Dublin Community Church of Dublin, Ohio, where she is also a Member in Discernment for ordination.  Lisa is in her third year of M.Div. studies at Methodist Theological Seminary of Ohio.

Copyright 2016 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.