Today's gospel had an optional "short" version that of course

[47of74]

3. Last Sunday

In most Episcopal churches since they don't have missals that have the readings for a set period of dates like Catholic churches do they print out some or all of the materials that will be used during services. Those include various prayers that will be used, along with the readings that will be used that day. At services last Sunday I think the rector and deacon originally planned on stopping after, "Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny." However the rector was stuck in Des Moines due to bad weather Saturday night and she couldn't make it back in time for services. The deacon was out sick too. We have an assisting priest and he took over last Sunday and probably wasn't aware of what was planned so he read the entire Gospel.

I think a lot of Sundays the Gospel readings are the same in both the Catholic and the Episcopal Churches. The first and second readings don't always match up that well.