I picked up news of this fresh tool for reading scripture aloud (writes Debbie Thrower) from Angela Tilby's column in this week's (October 21) Church Times. Sunday Scriptures for Reading Aloud (ssra.uk) ‘is the brainchild of the Revd Michael Hampson, a retired priest who, while he was in parish ministry, became concerned about the poor quality of scriptural comprehension among both readers and listeners,’ Tilby explained.
Tilby expanded: ‘He had the critical insight that, in this era of so much visual communication, the layout of any text for public reading is of vital importance. Blocks of text need to appear on the page in such a way as to guide both reader and listener.’
It seems to me that this tool, available for free online – or at a modest price for printed copies (£4 for the A4-sized lectern edition, £3 for the A5 desk edition) – would help older readers and those with sight difficulties, whether in care home services, in church, or for those who just enjoy reading the Bible aloud and who may just find it simpler to absorb the meaning when the text is laid out in a clear way.
For example, this Sunday's gospel reading is from Luke:
GOSPEL – Luke 19:1–10
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Luke.
Jesus was passing through Jericho
on his way to Jerusalem.
Zacchaeus, a wealthy
chief tax-collector,
could not see over the crowds
to see who Jesus was.
So he ran ahead
and climbed into a tree
on the route
that Jesus was following.
When Jesus saw him there,
he said, ‘Zacchaeus,
come down at once,
for I must stay
at your house today.’
Zacchaeus
came down quickly from the tree,
and welcomed Jesus
into his home.
Those who saw this
began to complain,
saying that Jesus
had gone to be the guest
of someone
completely unworthy.
But Zacchaeus said to Jesus, ‘My Lord,
half of all my possessions
I will give to the poor.
And if I have cheated anyone of anything,
I will pay it back
four times over.’
And Jesus said, ‘Today,
salvation has come to this house.
For Zacchaeus also
is a son of Abraham.
And the Son of Man came
to seek out
and rescue
the lost.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Comentários