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The Liturgy (or “service”) of the Word can be traced back to the Jewish exile following the destruction of the first Temple.  By reading the scriptures, God’s chosen people could maintain their identity even in exile.  With the Temple gone, these scriptural readings evolved into synagogue worship.

Because the earliest Christians were predominantly Jewish, it is likely that they continued to worship in the synagogue, while also celebrating the Eucharist separately.  Ultimately, when they were expelled from the synagogue, it is thought that the service of the word was combined with the Eucharist, or service of the table.  We know from the writings of Justin Martyr in the middle of the second century that word and sacrament were both observed in worship:

“And on the day called Sunday there is a meeting in one place of those who live in cities or the country, and the memoirs of the apostles or writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits.  When the reader has finished, the president in a discourse urges and invites [us] to the imitation of these noble things.  Then we all stand up together and offer prayers.  And, as said before, when we have finished the prayer, bread is brought, and wine and water.”

In the first four to five centuries of Christian worship the catechumens (those not yet baptized) were dismissed at the conclusion of the service of the word.  In the Eastern church, this tradition continues and, during the season of Lent, it is observed in some Roman Catholic churches.

Originally, readings from the Psalms, the Old Testament, one of the Epistles and one of the Gospels were all included in the service of the Word.  By the end of the fourth century, the Old Testament lection had been dropped.  Prayers of penitence came to hold a more significant place in worship throughout the Middle Ages.  At the time of the reformation, this emphasis continued and the service of the Word slowly came to constitute the whole of the worship experience, with the Eucharist becoming an occasional sacrament.  The sermon became more central to this service, with scriptural readings often consisting of no more than a few verses to introduce the theme of the sermon.

In the late twentieth century, the United Methodist Church, along with other denominations in the West, began to reconnect with the first six centuries of Christian worship.  Different denominations may differ in particulars, but they all share an emphasis on psalms and scripture sung or spoken aloud and central to the lesson or theme of the sermon.  The reunion of the Eucharist is also emphasized, with many churches including the service of the table in weekly worship.

The part the Lectionary plays in this is more than a minor role.  By using a common lectionary the universal nature of the Church is emphasized, as opposed to a local canon.  Through this emphasis we seek to conjoin Time (bringing the past into the present and anticipating the coming Kingdom now) and Space (worship in communion with one holy, catholic and apostolic church).