Psalter Prayer/Reading Group for Nativity/Christmas Season: Need 20 participants, beginning Nov. 28th

[IconWriter]

Perhaps you ladies would like to join me here, or even start a Psalter Prayer Group at your own church. Each Nativity/Christmas season as well as Pascha/Easter Lenten season is preceded by 40 days of increased reading of scripture and other Christian literature, fasting, and almsgiving to fortify our spiritual lives.

The Psalter, divided into 20 sections, each called a Kathisma, works perfectly for 20 participants. Each person is assigned a certain Kathisma number from 1-20 to read on day one of the pre-Nativity season. On the next day they read the next number Kathisma and so on. Once you finish reading K number 20 you start over and your next number is K1. So between everyone reading like this, the entire Psalter is read every day throughout the season and you will end up reading the Book of Psalms twice. (Example, if you are the second person to post, signing up, your number is K2 so you would begin the Psalm readings (Ps 9-16) on the first day (Nov 28) with Kathisma 2, next day read K3, etc.)

Additionally, as we finish our daily Psalter reading reading, we also pray for the other members of our group.

Our church follows the old calendar, so we begin Sunday, Nov. 28th, which would be Day 1. We continue daily until Nativity, old date, Jan. 7th. However you could start now on your own or choose to follow along with me.

Did you know that “The 12 Days of Christmas” actually are the 12 days AFTER Christmas?

So if you would like to do this, just post that you want to join us here and note which number of those posting you would be following this one.

I will be K1.
Have a blessed Nativity season!

Here is how the Psalms are divided by number:
Kathisma 1: Ps 1-8
K 2: Ps 9-16
K 3: Ps 17-23
K4: Ps 24-31
K5: Ps 32-36
K6: Ps 37- 45
K7: Ps 46-54
K8: Ps 55-63
K9: Ps 64-69
K10: Ps 70-76
K11: Ps 77-84
K12: Ps 85-90
K13: Ps 91-100
K14: Ps 101-104
K15: Ps 105-108
K16: Ps 109-117
K17: Ps 118
K18: Ps 119-133
K19: Ps 134-142
K20: Ps 143-150 (then start over at K1)

 

[christie2]

God bless you Iconwriter, I'll participate. I like feeling connected this way.
I'll drop out if more than 20 ladies are interested so they can take my spot and just read this thread to see if there's updates. Otherwise I'll start. So do I start at K3?(I see that you are K1)

I just read about the 12 days of Christmas song and what each line meant-I didn't know the history behind that song before. I didn't know the 12 days were after Christmas, but I guess there is 12 days between Dec 25th( Statutory holiday) and our Jan 7th Nativity day.

This will be the first season I celebrate Nativity in January. The Ukranians/Russians in my village where my house is, all celebrate January 7th, now I can too.

 

[IconWriter]

God bless you Iconwriter, I'll participate. I like feeling connected this way.
I'll drop out if more than 20 ladies are interested so they can take my spot and just read this thread to see if there's updates. Otherwise I'll start. So do I start at K3?(I see that you are K1)

I just read about the 12 days of Christmas song and what each line meant-I didn't know the history behind that song before. I didn't know the 12 days were after Christmas, but I guess there is 12 days between Dec 25th( Statutory holiday) and our Jan 7th Nativity day.

This will be the first season I celebrate Nativity in January. The Ukranians/Russians in my village where my house is, all celebrate January 7th, now I can too.

It is a wonderful way to be connected! If more than 20 want to do it we could have two groups, so don't drop out. It looks like you are the next person after me to join in so you'd be K2. We've found that we love to celebrate the secular Christmas with Santa, tree, and all of that on the 25th and then do the God-centered services and celebration on the 7th with our Orthodox church family.

 

[christie2]

Oh that sounds good. My family members here know I'm now baptised in this Orthodox faith, but I will still have their regular Christmas dinner with them.
I may arrange to try to donate my time to help somewhere on Jan 7th as a special thing to do on that day. I will take the day off work too, treating it like a Stat. holiday of importance

Ok, I'll be K2. Thanks for this.

 

[messaggera]

I would like to participate. I believe on November 30th would be the K3 entry correct? Please confirm.

November 30
K 3: Ps 17-23

 

[IconWriter]

I would like to participate. I believe on November 30th would be the K3 entry correct? Please confirm.

November 30
K 3: Ps 17-23

Yay! Welcome! We all begin reading/prayers on the 28th together. You, being K3, would read those Psalms, 17-23 on that day. Then read K4 the next day and so on. I know it's complicated, but not really once you get it. lol.

 

[Starlight]

November 28th is the first Sunday of Advent for me. I would like to join and I guess that makes me K4 and I will be reading and praying with you ladies. God bless you all

Btw- thank you for starting this

 

[IconWriter]

November 28th is the first Sunday of Advent for me. I would like to join and I guess that makes me K4 and I will be reading and praying with you ladies. God bless you all

Btw- thank you for starting this

Great! Thank you for your prayers, in advance.

 

[christie2]

Coming up soon!

 

[IconWriter]

Yes, and if we don't make 20 then we do it anyway. It is a commitment, and we do the best we can.
Can't wait, lol!
Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[IconWriter]

It's not too late to join with Christie2, Starlight, Messagera, and me, to strengthen and deepen our spiritual lives during Advent with daily Psalm reading and prayer. Jump in any time and I'll help you figure out which Psalm to start with when you do. You may join us even at the "Eleventh Hour" of Advent.

 

[messaggera]

Each Nativity/Christmas season as well as Pascha/Easter Lenten season is preceded by 40 days of increased reading of scripture and other Christian literature, fasting, and almsgiving to fortify our spiritual lives.

The Psalter, divided into 20 sections, each called a Kathisma, works perfectly for 20 participants. Each person is assigned a certain Kathisma number from 1-20 to read on day one of the pre-Nativity season. On the next day they read the next number Kathisma and so on. Once you finish reading K number 20 you start over and your next number is K1.

Additionally, as we finish our daily Psalter reading reading, we also pray for the other members of our group.

I will be K1.
Have a blessed Nativity season!

Here is how the Psalms are divided by number:
Kathisma 1: Ps 1-8

Will pray for you ladies.
If there is anything specific you would like prayer please let me know as we go through our daily Psalter readings.

I specifically enjoyed Psalm 8 verse 2 - given Jesus had to remind the religious officials when he was in the temple healing
(Matthew 21: 12- 17):

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, "it is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"

Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?"

And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of mouth of babes and nursing infants Would have perfected praise'?" Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

The following site has text, piano, and guitar audio, along with downloadable music sheets - by Old and New Testament.
Will use for homeschooling to teach music, hymns, and Bible.

Psalm 2

Hymn: Lo, the nations all assemble

Christian hymns and spiritual songs with wonderful truths and music.

www.hymnal.net

 

[christie2]

A sentence I like from Psalm 9:9

And the Lord is become a refuge for the poor man, a helper in times of well-being and in afflictions

+ + + + + + + + +

and from Psalm 10:7

For the Lord is righteous and hath loved righteousness; upon uprightness hath His countenance looked.

+ + + + + + + + + +

and from Psalm 11:6

The words of the Lord are pure words, silver that is fired, tried in the earth, brought to sevenfold purity.

+ + + + + + + + + + +

and from Psalm 12:6

I will sing unto the Lord, Who is my benefactor, and I will chant unto the Name of the Lord Most High

+ + + + + + + + + + +

and from Psalm 13:6

There have they feared with fear where there is no fear; for the Lord is in the generation of the righteous.

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

Psalm 14:5

He hath not lent his money on usuary, and hath not received bribes against the innocent.

+ + + + + + + + + + +

Psalm 15:8

I beheld the Lord ever before me, for He is at my right hand, that I might not be shaken.

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

Psalm 16:9

In the shelter of Thy wings wilt Thou shelter me, from the face of the ungodly which have oppressed me.

 

[IconWriter]

There are many commentaries on the Psalms, but I highly recommend this excellent one, which I've just started to read along with our daily readings. It's called Christ in the Psalms, by Patrick Henry Reardon. His insight and knowledge helps us readers to understand the Psalms in the light of Christ's redemption for us.

 

[messaggera]

I am enjoying this prayer method for daily devotionals and often times the scriptures lead to the New Testament too- Thank you @IconWriter

Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 

[IconWriter]

I'm enjoying that you are sharing your favorite verses. So many also speak to our times.

 

[Starlight]

I'm enjoying that you are sharing your favorite verses. So many also speak to our times.

I haven’t read Psalms for such a long time… not since I was a kid at a Christian school. I remember thinking it was so “nice” and kind of boring. We memorized Psalm 23 for a grade, etc. Rereading it now, as a mature adult, and starting at the verses that I have for this Kathisma… the text has really spoken to me personally as a sinner and the struggles of the world we live in but it’s also so reassuring in God’s love for us.

 

[messaggera]

memorized Psalm 23 for a grade

As I was reading the Psalm 23 I had the thought to have our child memorise this Psalm!

"and I will live in the house of the Lord for ever."

There is only one way to heaven, the Kingdom of Heaven our Father has provided. The path to the true Kingdom of Heaven, according to the God's Word - The Bible, is through His begotten Son Jesus Christ.

Psalm 17:15
"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."

1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

I found John 3:2 a great companion scripture to Psalm 17, and I learned a little bit more about 1 John:, well, according to Britannica:

The First Letter of John was apparently addressed to a group of churches where “false prophets,” denounced as Antichrist, denied the Incarnation of Jesus and caused a secession so substantial that the orthodox remnant was sadly depleted. The faithful were deeply disturbed that the heresy found favour among pagans, and they apparently felt inferior because those who had left their midst claimed to have profound mystical experiences. The heretics asserted that they possessed perfection, were “born of God,” and were without sin. By placing themselves above the Commandments, they in fact sanctioned moral laxity. John’s letter thus urges the Christian community to hold fast to what they had been taught and to repudiate heretical teachings. Christians are exhorted to persevere in leading a moral life, which meant imitating Christ by keeping the Commandments, especially that of loving one another. The spirit of the letter closely parallels that of the Gospel According to John.

 

[IconWriter]

There is another helpful book for reading (I like to say "praying") the Psalms. It has the Psalms already divided up like we're doing. It contains some short meditations between each section and wide margins and blank pages for writing notes. (Mine is filling up fast!) It's called: Songs of Praise, a Psalter; Devotional for Orthodox Women. It's really for anyone. It's by: Sylvia Leontaritis who also has a blog called Orhtodoxmom.

 

[messaggera]

This is turning to be a great topic; and form of practicing prayer through scripture.

"A psalm is a city of refuge from the demons, a means of inducing help from the angels, a weapon in fears by night, a rest from toils by day, a safeguard for infants, an adornment for those at the height of their vigor, a consolation for the elders, a most fitting ornament for women." -St. Basil the Great

Psalm 19:1 has always been a favorite piece of scripture - was gifted a bracelet with Psalm 19:1 engraved.

The scripture is also a reminder of my childhood; when the skies were clearer.