Welcome to Acts of Faith: Free Lectionary Resources for Prophetic Worship from the NC Council of Churches. We offer these free lectionary resources because we believe that this project helps to fill a vital need in our communities of faith: local, prophetic worship resources. Acts of Faith is a tool for pastors and worship leaders as they seek to integrate the biblical theme of shalom and the language of justice into their communal life of worship.
Acts of Faith addresses sixteen themes each liturgical year. The themes chosen for inclusion reflect the Council’s focus areas of work. Each topic contains additional Scriptural texts; preaching aids – including Scripture commentary and reflection written by a North Carolina pastor or other religious leader; worship resources such as prayers, litanies, and hymn suggestions; and issue-based statistics and facts. Most units also contain a personal vignette by or about a North Carolinian directly affected by the issue. We hope that you will find many different ways to use Acts of Faith in your own church setting. There are numerous possibilities – be creative! And if you do find our free lectionary resources to be useful, please consider donating so that we continue this work. Thank you.
Year A
| Lectionary Week | Date | Focus Text | Topic |
| 3rd Sunday in Advent | December 15, 2013 | Psalm 146:5-10 | Justice for the Oppressed |
| Epiphany of the Lord | January 6, 2014 | Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 | Public Accountability |
| Ash Wednesday | March 5, 2014 | Isaiah 58:1-12 | Human Rights |
| 4th Sunday in Lent | March 30,2014 | John 9:1-41 | Awareness of Those With Disabilities |
| 5th Sunday in Lent | April 6, 2014 | Psalm 130 | Restorative Justice |
| Ascension of the Lord | May 29, 2014 | Psalm 93 | Focus on Eastern NC |
| Pentecost | June 8, 2014 | I Corinthians 12:3-13 | Christian Unity |
| Proper 6 | N/A | Matthew 9:35-10:8 | Access to Healthcare |
| Proper 8 | June 29, 2014 | Matthew 10:40-42 | Immigration & Hospitality |
| Proper 10 | July 13, 2014 | Isaiah 55:10-13 | Focus on Western NC |
| Proper 16 | August 24, 2014 | Romans 12:1-8 | Building Christian Community |
| Proper 19 | September 14, 2014 | Romans 14:1-12 | Conflict Resolution |
| Proper 20 | September 21, 2014 | Matthew 20:1-16 | Sabbath Economics |
| Proper 21 | September 28, 2014 | Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 | Public Education |
| Proper 24 | October 19, 2014 | Matthew 22:15-22 | Tax Fairness |
| Christ the King | November 23, 2014 | Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 | Sustainable Living |
Year B
| Lectionary Week | Date | Focus Text | Topic |
| 2nd Sunday in Advent | December 4, 2011 | Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 | Peace |
| 3rd Sunday in Advent | December 11, 2011 | Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 | Criminal Justice |
| 5th Sunday in Epiphany | February 5, 2012 | Mark 1:29-39 | Health Care |
| 1st Sunday in Lent | February 26, 2012 | Genesis 9:8-17 | Care of Creation |
| 3rd Sunday in Lent | March 11, 2012 | John 2:13-22 | Predatory Lending |
| 2nd Sunday of Easter | April 15, 2012 | Acts 4:32-35 | Living Wages |
| 4th Sunday of Easter | April 29, 2012 | John 10:11-18 | Interfaith Connections |
| 5th Sunday of Easter | May 6, 2012 | 1 John 4:7-21 | State Budget as a Moral Document |
| Day of Pentecost | May 27, 2012 | Ezekiel 37:1-14 | Death Penalty |
| Proper 13 | August 5, 2012 | Ephesians 4:1-16 | Christian Unity |
| Proper 17 | September 2, 2012 | James 1:17-27 | Supporting Workers |
| Proper 20 | September 23, 2012 | Mark 9:30-37 | Public Education |
| Proper 23 | October 14, 2012 | Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 | Domestic Violence |
| Proper 26 | November 4, 2012 | Ruth 1:1-18 | Justice for Immigrants |
| Proper 27 | November 11, 2012 | Mark 12:38-44 | Extravagant Generosity |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 22, 2012 | Psalm 126 | Justice for Farmworkers |
Year C
| Lectionary Week | Date | Focus Text | Topic |
| 4th Sunday in Advent | December 23, 2012 | Luke 1:47-55 | Justice for the Downtrodden |
| 4th Sunday in Epiphany | February 3, 2013 | Luke 4:21-30 | Embracing the Excluded |
| 6th Sunday in Epiphany | N/A | Luke 6:17-26 | Lifting Up the Poor |
| 1st Sunday in Lent | February 17, 2013 | Romans 10:8b-13 | Racism & Reconciliation |
| 4th Sunday in Lent | March 10, 2013 | 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 | Celebrating Abrahamic Faiths |
| 4th Sunday of Easter | April 21, 2013 | Acts 9:36-43 | Care for HIV/AIDS Patients |
| Pentecost | May 19, 2013 | John 14:8-17, 25-27 | Peace |
| Proper 6 | June 16, 2013 | Luke 7:36-8:3 | Gender Equality |
| Proper 8 | June 30, 2013 | Luke 9:51-62 | Affordable Housing |
| Proper 13 | August 4, 2013 | Luke 12:13-21 | Materialism & Consumerism |
| Proper 16 | August 25, 2013 | Isaiah 58:9b-14 | Hunger |
| Proper 20 | September 22, 2013 | Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 | Mental Health Care |
| Proper 21 | September 29, 2013 | Luke 16:19-31 | Living Wages |
| Proper 25 | October 27, 2013 | Joel 2:23-32 | Native American Spirituality |
| Proper 26 | November 3, 2013 | Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 | Gun Violence |
| Proper 28 | November 17, 2013 | Psalm 98 | Climate Change & Sustainability |
Index by Scripture
GENESIS
- Genesis 9:8-17; Care of Creation (Lent 1, Year B)
RUTH
- Ruth 1:1-18; Justice for Immigrants (Proper 26, Year B)
PSALMS
- Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Public Accountability (Epiphany Sunday, Year A)
- Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16; Public Education (Proper 21, Year A)
- Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; Peace (Advent 2, Year B)
- Psalm 93; Focus on Eastern North Carolina (Ascension of the Lord, Year A)
- Psalm 93; Climate Change and Sustainability (Proper 28, Year C)
- Psalm 126; Justice for Farm Workers (Thanksgiving Day, Year B)
- Psalm 130; Restorative Justice (Lent 5, Year A)
- Psalm 146:5-10; Justice for the Oppressed (Advent 3, Year A)
ISAIAH
- Isaiah 55:10-13; Focus on Western North Carolina (Proper 10, Year B)
- Isaiah 58:1-12; Human Rights (Ash Wednesday, Year A)
- Isaiah 58:9b-14; Hunger (Proper 16, Year C)
- Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Criminal Justice (Advent 3, Year B)
JEREMIAH
- Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; Mental Health Care (Proper 20, Year C)
EZEKIEL
- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Sustainable Living (Christ the King, Year A)
- Ezekiel 37:1-14; Death Penalty (Pentecost, Year B)
JOEL
- Joel 2:23-32; Native American Spirituality (Proper 25, Year C)
AMOS
- Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Domestic Violence (Proper 23, Year B)
HABAKKUK
- Habakkuk1:1-4;2:1-4; Gun Violence (Proper 26, Year C)
MATTHEW
- Matthew 9:35-10:8; Health Care Access (Proper 6, Year B)
- Matthew 10:40-42; Immigration and Hospitality (Proper 8, Year A)
- Matthew 20:1-16; Sabbath Economics (Proper 20, Year A)
- Matthew 22:15-22; Fair Taxes (Proper 24, Year A)
MARK
- Mark 1:29-39; Health Care (Epiphany 5, Year B)
- Mark 9:30-37; Public Education (Proper 20, Year B)
- Mark 12:38-44; Extravagant Generosity (Proper 27, Year B)
LUKE
- Luke 1:47-55; Justice for the Downtrodden (Advent 4, Year C)
- Luke 4:21-30 Embracing the Excluded (Epiphany 4, Year C)
- Luke 6:17-26; Lifting Up The Poor (Epiphany 6, Year C)
- Luke 7: 36-8:3; Gender Equality (Proper 6, Year C)
JOHN
- John 2:13-22; Predatory Lending (Lent 3, Year B)
- John 9:1-41; Aware of Those with Disabilities (Lent 4, Year A)
- John 10: 11-18; Interfaith Connections (Easter 4, Year B)
- John 14:8-17, 25-27; Peace (Pentecost, Year C)
ACTS
- Acts 4:32-35; Living Wages (Easter 2, Year B)
- Acts 9:36-43; Care for HIV/AIDS Patients (Easter 4, Year C)
ROMANS
- Romans 10:8b-13; Racism and Reconciliation (Lent 1, Year C)
- Romans 12:1-8; Building Christian Community (Proper 16, Year A)
- Romans 14:1-12; Conflict Resolution (Proper 19, Year A)
I CORINTHIANS
- I Corinthians 12:3b-13; Christian Unity (Pentecost, Year A)
II CORINTHIANS
- II Corinthians 5:16-21; Abrahamic Faiths (Lent 4, Year C)
EPHESIANS
- Ephesians 4:1-16; Christian Unity (Proper 13, Year B)
JAMES
- James 1:17-27; Supporting Workers (Proper 17, Year B)
I JOHN
- I John 4:7-21; State Budget (Easter 5, Year B)
