For some time, I've recognized that there is a group of users who don't have knowledge of the spectrum of the use of Scripture in the services of liturgical or semi-liturgical churches.
- A basic worship service may be held daily or weekly. This service may have anywhere between two and seven readings from the Bible as well as at least one psalm. In some traditions, the pastor may choose to use only one passage from among those offered.
- Some churches with weekly services publish recommended scriptural readings for the devout for the days between services.
- Most liturgical churches have a cycle of daily prayer - morning and evening prayer being the most frequently celebrated with a congregation; the other hours being celebrated by clergy and devout. Some traditions simply cram multiple prayer hours into a single service to expand the lay participation in the daily cycle.
- The daily cycle of prayer uses all the psalms over the period of a day, a week, or four weeks. (Huguenots used a monthly cycle).
- Most of the prayer cycles have 7 hours (times of prayer) some of which are optional. Each has a short scripture reading as well as multiple psalms and biblical canticles. One of these hours may read books of the Bible sequentially and have at least one patristic reading.
- Some of the churches have a devotional reading cycle which repeats the four Gospels every two months (Kellia readings in Logos/Verbum)
Note that on any given day, reflections on the Scripture are expected only for the primary worship service although they may optionally be added to the prayer cycle. So most of the scripture is heard and expected to be understandable without explanation.
I hope this gives those of you without knowledge of the liturgical churches, a sense of the use of scripture in these churches.
