Reading Tips for Lectors
Begin with prayer
In this 2nd century "Lay Reader's Prayer" from Harry Gamble’s Books and Readers in the Early Church, we hear ancient readers express an earnest desire to communicate God’s message clearly:
"God, Do now look down upon your servants, who are entrusted to read your holy scriptures to your people, and give them your holy spirit, the prophetic spirit. You who instructed your servant Ezra to read your Law to the people, do now also at our prayers instruct your servants and grant that they may without blame perfect the work committed to them, and thereby be declared worthy of a higher degree. In Jesus’ name - AMEN"
In this 2nd century "Lay Reader's Prayer" from Harry Gamble’s Books and Readers in the Early Church, we hear ancient readers express an earnest desire to communicate God’s message clearly:
"God, Do now look down upon your servants, who are entrusted to read your holy scriptures to your people, and give them your holy spirit, the prophetic spirit. You who instructed your servant Ezra to read your Law to the people, do now also at our prayers instruct your servants and grant that they may without blame perfect the work committed to them, and thereby be declared worthy of a higher degree. In Jesus’ name - AMEN"
Know your role as reader. What does Scripture say?
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written” (Revelation 1:3, NIV)
“you are a letter from Christ...written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (II Corinthians 3:3, ESV)
Consider what the Bible says about reading aloud:
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture...” (I Tim 4:12-13a, NIV)
Don’t read the words, read the meaning of the words.
Keys to Reading Scripture Aloud
Practice Expressive Vocal Delivery (see Ch. 2 of The Sound of Scripture)
- Slow Down & Speak Up!
- Pause often - Take your time!
- Project your voice to the back row
- Emphasize key words and phrases
- Allow only natural facial expressions, subtle movements
Prepare with a prayer for right understanding
- Reread the passage, its context, and study its meaning
- Practice by reading aloud, slowly with meaning, several times
Understand the meaning (see Ch. 3 of The Sound of Scripture)
- Think like a Lutheran, and ask “What does this mean?”
- Consult a Bible Commentary or study aid; compare 2-3 translations
- Identify the central purpose and the type of literature (Chs 4-7) in the passage
- Look for concrete, emotional and spiritual meaning
- Look for the 5 "W"s and contrasting images or thoughts
- Look for spiritual meaning, and Law and Gospel passages
- Look for emotional content
Prepare your manuscript by printing it out in large font with appropriate spacing
