READINGS FOR THE FIRST THURSDAY OF GREAT LENT

We present here a short educational offering for both children and adults on the upcoming Sunday's principle Gospel reading so that all can better prepare for the Divine Services. Parents are asked to review the children’s portion with their children. It is very important for us to attend the Divine Services on Sundays and whenever else we are able, but in addition it is our spiritual responsibility to educate ourselves and our families in the faith. It is our hope that this mid-week offering will be an aid in this regard. Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions or suggestions.

For Various Ages: from the Antiochian Archdiocese (various age groups)

READINGS FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT

Please find the March schedule of services posted at the following link:
MARCH STV SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

At STV we collect non-perishable food items. Always. We don't have food drives - we do this every single day. There are many people in our local community who are food insecure. We ask our parishioners to bring a can or box of non-perishable food every time they come to church. Make this a part of your family worship! The little you give means a lot to a family who is food insecure. Remember our Lord's admonition to us in this regard: "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:35-40)

READINGS FOR TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT

Please find important and helpful on-line resources for Great Lent at the links below.

English ~ Russian

It is good for us to increase our spiritual reading and prayer during Great Lent. It is especially good to take a small break from work if possible, to pray, reflect, and remind ourselves that even as we live in the world we do not want to be consumed by the world. Each day of the first week we will post a link at noon as a spiritual break from the waves of the world - and to remind ourselves that we are working in an especially focused way now to draw nearer to our Lord.

READINGS FOR MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT

We congratulate all our parish family on the beginning of the Holy and Great Lent! This is a special time of year for all of us when we put away the cares of this world to the greatest extent possible and in a much more focused way examine our consciences, forgive each other, and seek forgiveness from our merciful Lord. Yesterday the Holy Church commemorated the casting out of Adam from Paradise. In today's Divine Services the first scripture reading is the beginning of Genesis – today is a new beginning for us all. May God grant us all a spiritually fruitful lent as we prepare ourselves for the feast of feasts – the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Please find here the prayer of St. Ephraim. This prayer is said at every weekday Divine Service of Great Lent and it is common practice to include this prayer in our daily home prayers as well:

PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAIM

"This is the cause of all evils: the ignorance of the Scriptures. We go into battle without arms, and how ought we to come off safe?" -St. John Chrysostom, Homily IX on Colossians.

In order to help increase the general knowledge of scripture in our parish family we present here for your edification the scripture readings for the coming week. At least one Gospel Reading and one Epistle reading are assigned for each day of the year (although during Great Lent the readings are from the Old Testament). Hearing or reading only those readings appointed for Sunday merely scratches the surface of the great spiritual wealth that the scriptures provide us. Some of the readings are easily understandable – others are less so. As Orthodox Christians we do not make private interpretation of scripture, but rather consult the fathers of the Church for their explanations to aid us in our understanding. Those wishing to have access to such explanations are asked to contact Fr. Gregory or inquire in the kiosk for further reading in this regard. Bibles may also be acquired in the kiosk.

Monday: Isaiah 1:1-20, Genesis 1:1-13, Proverbs 1:1-20
Tuesday: Isaiah 1:19-2:3, Genesis 1:14-23, Proverbs 1:20-33
Wednesday: Isaiah 2:3-11, Genesis 1:24-2:3, Proverbs 2:1-22
Thursday: Isaiah 2:11-21, Genesis 2:4-19, Proverbs 3:1-18
Friday: Isaiah 3:1-14, Genesis 2:20-3:20, Proverbs 3:19-34
Saturday: Hebrews 1:1-12 & Mark 2:23-3:5

Понедельник: Исаии 1:1-20, Бытия 1:1-13, Причти 1:1-20
Вторник: Исаии 1:19-2:3, Бытия 1:14-23, Причти 1:20-33
Среда: Исаии 2:3-11, Бытия 1:24-2:3, Причти 2:1-22
Четверг: Исаии 2:11-21, Бытия 2:4-19, Причти 3:1-18
Пятница: Исаии 3:1-14, Бытия 2:20-3:20, Причти 3:19-34
Суббота: Евр. 1:1-12 & от Марка 2:23-3:5

Please find below several very nice articles on how to read the scripture from an Orthodox point of view.

By St. Justin (Popovich)

By Bishop Kalistos (Ware)