Psalter Reading Group: Lent 2013

Greetings!

As our Lenten journey is fast approaching (pun intended), we will have another Psalter Reading Group with the Orthodox community in Houston, especially our teens and young adults at St George Houston.

It's a simple concept: you will be assigned to read various small selections from the Book of Psalms DAILY ON YOUR OWN throughout Great Lent. So that during your Lenten journey, you will end up reading through the entire Book of Psalms TWICE. The really cool concept is that if everyone sticks with it and reads their different selection of psalms each day, the entire Book of Psalms will be read by the group EACH & EVERY DAY of Great Lent. Get it??



If you are interested in participating in this Lenten program, please respond and let me know. I will put together a list of participants and assigning the selection of psalms. I will email out the final list prior to the beginning of Great Lent (March 18), so please let me know!

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director

The Lenten Season: Take the Quiz

Our Great Lenten journey ends this weekend and we begin to commemorate our Lord's final days in Jerusalem, our Holy Week.

Below is a quiz on the Lenten Season, the season of preparation of our body and soul to participate in the Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. Try to take this brief quiz "honestly" and hopefully regardless of your personal results, we can all come to the same conclusion: We can all learn more about our Faith and how this knowledge should affect our lives!

1. What is the 1st Sunday of Great Lent called?

a. Adoration of the Holy Cross  
b. Triumph of Orthodoxy
c. Meatfare Sunday                  
d. St Gregory Palamas

2. Who is the author of this Lenten prayer?

O Lord and Master of my life!
Take from me the spirit of sloth,
faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity,
humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

a. St John of Damascus           b. St John Climacus
c. St Basil the Great               d. St Ephraim the Syrian

3. Who is the author of the Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts?

a. St John Chrysostom       b. St Basil the Great
c. St Gregory Dialogist       d. St James, brother of our Lord

4. Throughout the Lenten hymns of the Church, who is referred to as the "Lover of mankind?"

a. John the Baptist      b. Jesus Christ
c. The Theotokos        d. The Holy Unmercenary Healers

5. On Friday evenings (Antiochian & Greek traditions), which service is celebrated?

a. Akathist               b. Great Vespers
c. Divine Liturgy       d. Paraklesis

6. During which Lenten service, do we hear the following hymn? "O Lord of Hosts, be with us for we have none other help in times of sorrow but Thee, O Lord of Hosts have mercy upon us."

a. Orthros (Matins)  b. Great Compline
c. Akathist              d. Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts

7. How many Gospel lessons are read during the Passion Service on Holy Thursday evening?

a. One              c. Three
c. Seven           d. Twelve

8. Who is the friend of Christ that was raised from the dead on the Saturday preceding Palm Sunday?

a. Peter                      b. Lazarus
c. John the Baptist      d. Simon of Cyrene

9. What is the Lenten color of the Church? Examples: the color of the clergy vestments, the altar cloth, and candle holders.

a. Green      b. White
c. Purple      d. Red

10. On what days during Lent does the Church allow for Fish, Wine, and Oil?

a. Feast of the Annunciation & Palm Sunday 
b. Every Sunday
c. Lazarus Saturday & Feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste      
d. Every Friday

11. Which prophet is commonly ascribed as the author of the Book of Psalms from the Old Testament?

a. David        b. Solomon
c. Moses       d. Abraham

12. How many days are included in Great Lent?

a. 7 days           b. 21 days
c. 40 days          d. 50 days

13. During Great Lent, we are called to fast and increase our ______ & ______.

a. entertainment & luxury
b. pride & greed
c. bad habits & bad thoughts
d. prayer & charity

14. What is Communion (Holy Eucharist)?

a. Bread & Wine
b. Body & Blood of Christ
c. Symbolic of the Body & Blood of Christ
d. Any meal shared together with family

15. Which Liturgy is used on Sundays during Great Lent?

a. St Basil the Great           b. St John Chrysostom
c. St Gregory Dialogist        d. St James, the brother of our Lord

The Answer Key is below, please highlight to view:

Answer Key:
1. B   6. B    11. A
2. D   7. D    12. C
3. C   8. B    13. D
4. B   9. C    14. B
5. A  10. A   15. A

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director

Lenten Psalter Reading Group

During my Lenten journey this year, I've been blessed to participate with a group of Orthodox Christians who are daily reading the Book of Psalms. The concept is pretty awesome and simple, and has truly made a big effect on me during this Lenten season. You gather a group (dedicated) and break up the Psalms to assign different ones to be read by each person daily. You end up reading through the entire Book of Psalms twice throughout Great Lent, but the really amazing idea to keep in mind is that as a group, the entire Book of Psalms is read each day!

Prophet David, composer of the Book of Psalms

Image Source

During Great Lent, most people associate the negative concept of giving things up or not eating certain foods. However, the main reason for "fasting" during this season of preparation is to focus on our dependance on the mercy of God. While limiting certain aspects of our daily life, whether it be food, entertainment, selfish acts, etc. is not the goal of participating in the Lenten season, it allows for the oppportunity to increase in other aspects of our life. We are called to increase our prayer life (individual and communal), charity towards others, especially those in great need, and draw closer to the knowledge of our merciful God.

One tool for this drawing closer is to read more, not necessarily a spiritual work, but it certainly can't hurt. That's why I think joining this "reading group" during Great Lent has been so beneficial for me. It "forces" me to take time out of my day and focus on the Scriptures. I have to plan my day to include time to participate (I certainly don't want to be the person who becomes lacking in my reading, as I said earlier, if all participate the entire Psalter is read daily).

Many thanks to the parishioners of St Joseph Antiochian Orthodox Church in Houston, TX for notifying me about this opportunity during my Lenten journey; it has truly been helpful!

If you're continuing your Lenten journey, keep going; if you've stopped for a rest, move forward; if you haven't begun, start your journey: Have a blessed Great Lent!

- A Day in the Life of the Youth Director