The liturgical year has been my companion since 1980 when I left seminary. It was a wonderful gift to give coherence to worship, the church life and my soul’s growth. It integrates so well with hymnody and choral works. Gestures and colors, responsive readings and prayers come from many centuries and other cultures. I could not have imagined leaving it, but now I have been out of it (except for sporadic dips during Advent and Lent) since moving to California in 2005. Why did I leave the lectionary?
Because the culture (not just in California but increasingly in Minnesota) was biblically under-taught (a better word than illiterate). The lectionary assumes a basic understanding of the bible and the biblical story. The Christians I work with do not have that foundation, so I have resorted to a more intentional theme in worship and preaching. Also, many christians do not attend worship weekly, but more sporadically, so any theme is missed by irregular attendance.
I applaud Bobby Gross’s work and will get the book. I could certainly use some help.

I’d also recommend Laurence Hull Stookey’s Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church.
Stookey’s book was impacted me quite a bit. It is a bit more theological than an introductory book, but it is still manageable.

Scot,
Just curious, and in your humble opinion, how and why do you think so many churches – especailly evangelical – got away from the lectionary and liturgical year?

Rick, I don’t know the whole story, but part of it is a reaction to the use of the church calendar and liturgical reading of Scripture in mainline, liturgical churches over against which the low church evangelicals reacted. What is mainline/liturgical is that out of which we came, therefore it is to be abandoned.
Other Bible reading programs were developed for home — from Luther and Calvin onwards.
I’m not entirely sure. What is remarkable is that most of these leaders, who are the inspiration for much of low church evangelicalism, used and even wrote prayer books.

I would also add the recently published Treasury of Daily Prayer, from CPH, which doesn’t merely talk about the Church Year (the last thing we need, right?–more talk ABOUT a healthy devotional life!), but immerses you in praying and meditating on Scripture through the Church’s calendar, with the Church. It’s an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning to live within the rhythms of salvation history while cultivating a disciplined devotional life. See http://www.cph.org/prayer.

How interesting. The education team at our church is discussing having a class on the liturgy since so many who’ve come into our church are from non-liturgical backgrounds.
A suggestion for personal devotion following the lectionary is:
http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/item.jsp?clsid=112731&productgroupid=0&isbn=6000062567

There are many great helps available
for Bible Study and devotions.
thanks for sharing

Hey Scot – thanks for this… and here is beautiful calendar that will compliment the book (printed, not online) – it is arranged in the 7 church seasons rather than the 12 calendar months. Walter Brueggemann, Stanley Hauerwas and Eugene Peterson each give a glowing review, the graphic work and art are gorgeous…
http://www.thechristiancalendar.com/index.htm
The publisher, University Hill Congregation in Vancouver, states that
“This alternative calendar was created in 2000 to enable the re-telling of the life and story of Jesus Christ. It encourages people to live differently from the dominant culture; its unique shape and design remind those using it that there is a different time going on here – that we’re living in God’s time, not the world’s time. ”
“Our secular calendar has its beginning with the Roman Empire where on January 1 Roman state officials took office. The Christian calendar is to be a daily reminder that we are first citizens of the kingdom of God and secondly citizens of the state and culture.”

Here is a page I created that has some resources I have found for praying throughout the year. Also a page on audio files that are published daily.
http://sites.google.com/site/prayingthehours/