These lesson plans are written by experienced church teachers using practical approaches to respond to the needs of volunteer teachers. They are designed to follow the Revised Common Lectionary and published by The Episcopal Church.

Year A

We are currently in Year A. If you are wondering what Sunday we are currently on, you can reference the Revised Common Lectionary. There are lesson plans for younger children and older children based on the Acts of the Apostles readings. There are also Gospel Lesson Plans for younger children, older children and adults.

Year B begins on the First Sunday of Advent which is December 3, 2023.

Lesson Plans for Youth and Young Adults

In 2021 we launched some new lesson plans that are for middle school, high school, and young adults. These lessons are thematic (so you can really use them any time of year) and timely as they lift up some of the important topics of the day such as racial justice and healing, creation care, and equality.

Lesson Plans for Youth and Young Adults

Finding Lesson Plans

The Liturgical Calendar shows the current year and the lessons that fall on each Sunday.

The Comprehensive Index provides a chart of the Gospel Lesson Plan for each Sunday in each liturgical year. Use the “Search this Website” on the top right of the page to search for keywords, seasons, and more.

Year A
Year B
Year C

Each week, you will find lesson plans on the Gospel reading for:
  • Young children (intended for non-readers)
  • Older children (grade school age children)
  • Adults
You will also find lesson plans on the Old Testament readings for:
  • Younger children (intended for non-readers)
  • Older children (grade school children)

Intergenerational lesson plans may be available at the beginning of each season and for many major feast days throughout the liturgical year.

These lesson plans can be used as written, or they are easy to adapt to reflect the context of your congregation’s children’s program.

We also have Lesson Plans for special days and Saints days that can be found here.

If you are looking for Lesson Plans for youth, most folks adapt the lesson plans that are here and some use D365.org.

Using Lesson Plans that Work

Church affiliates, congregations, dioceses and organizations within the Episcopal Church may copy or reproduce materials as long as proper credit is given to Lesson Plans That Work and the author. All others must seek permission from the Formation and Vocation Ministries Office of the Episcopal Church before copying or republishing Lesson Plans That Work materials. If you have any questions, copyright requests, or for more information, please contact David Stickley, Associate for Formation or The Rev. Shannon Kelly, Director for the Department of Faith Formation and Officer for Young Adult and Campus Ministries.