How do you incorporate the epistle and gospel after the day's collect? I've never heard them used with the morning or evening office, so when do you use them? Thanks
Interesting Question. The usual run of lectionaries for the offices (MP and EP) will include two readings, one OT and one NT. The Lectionaries for the Holy Communion will either be Epistle and Gospel (BCP for example) or the more modern 3 year Lectionaires usually include OT, Espitle and Gospel. Some years back in a Cathedral where I worshipped they had a weekday amalgam of Morning Prayer / Eucharist and If I recall correctly they used the OT reading for Morning Prayer and the Gospel for the Communion in place of the 2nd Reading, and after the prayers, had a Greeting of Peace and moved into the Eucharist. Whilst it was not altogether ideal it worked in that situation. An answer as to how to do it would probably depend on context, purpose, and if it is normal or exceptional.
When our rector is out of town (on archdeacon business or, rarely, on vacation) during Sunday service, our deacon conducts morning prayer. All of the usual readings are included: an OT reading, a portion from Psalms, a NT reading, and a portion from the Gospels. Exactly where/when they are inserted are not the point, in my estimation, but rather the point is to read our Bibles and think on what we've read; I think that is the most valuable element of the office. It seems quite sensible to include the Bible readings on weekday offices as well. We have the 2019 BCP in the ACNA. The place in morning prayer where our parish inserts the readings is more or less as follows: Confession of sin Invitatory Venite Pascha Nostrum Psalm Gloria Patri OT reading NT reading Gospel reading Te Deum Laudamus (and then the remainder)
The Collect is for all services: Eucharist and the Daily Office. The Epistle and Gospel are for use at the Eucharist (a.k.a. Holy Communion, Lord's Supper, Mass) not for other services. The lectionary provides separate OT and NT readings for Morning and Evening Prayer.
Do you have a choir? My bishop hates to use the Te Deum unless there's a decent choir. I agree it is much better sung. Since most of our parishes don't have choirs it is more common to hear Jubilate Deo in that place. And that's an honest question, not an attempt to bash whatever your parish does. 3 readings at Morning Prayer is a little eccentric. It's allowed by 2019 but not really how Morning Prayer has been done in the past. It was 1 if Communion immediately followed or 2 if Morning Prayer was being said alone.
We do have a (modest) choir, but the Te Deum isn't being sung. As for number of readings, I'm all in favor of 3. The more Bible readings, the better, IMO. So I have no complaint about eccentricity.
I'm trying to find a nice way to square this circle myself... I'm looking forward to seeing what others say. For my contribution, the 1928 (American) BCP allows the option, on Sundays and holy days, of swapping out the New Testament reading at MP or EP with the Epistle or Gospel of the day. Whether anyone ever actually did that is anyone's guess.