Tell Us About It: A Lenten Creative Writing Project

Ascension Youth are invited to participate in a Lenten creative writing project to share their reflections on our Faith and the Lenten season with the wider community. Contributions are due Friday, April 16th (the 5th Friday of Lent) so that we can prepare a booklet for Holy Week. Please send all contributions to Fr. Nick Mueller (frnickm@groca.org). Contributions can be submitted at any time before the deadline. Thank you for your participation and please find the prompts below! If you have an idea for a different creative project please contact Fr. Nick. If you would like to workshop your idea with Fr. Nick you can schedule a time to meet with him, or talk with him on Wednesday, April 7th at 4 PM.

Any age level can respond to these prompts:

1. Service and good works are a key part of our spiritual life, and important theme in Great Lent. What do you think the role of the youth is in the Church? How do you serve Christ, and how can you be an example to your peers and our community? Share an example from the life of a saint that sets an example of service for you.

2. Attend a Lenten Service (Great Compline, the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts, and Akathist) and offer a reflection on your experience. Why are these services important during Great Lent? What theme from the service stood out to you and impacted your experience of Great Lent?

3. Discuss a spiritual practice you or your family has taken on during Great Lent (prayer, fasting or almsgiving). Tell us how you or your family does this practice and describe how it is has impacted you. Tell us about a saint who is an example to you in this practice.

Spiritual poetry is everywhere in our Church. It makes up our services, our hymns, and prayers. Often their themes are repentance, thanksgiving or praising God. Think about what you would like to express to God. Look at examples of spiritual poetry and use them as a model for your own poem or write your own!

1. Psalm 50/51

2. On Holy Meekness and Angerlessness by Elder Athanasios of Grigoriou

3. “O Divine Love,” A poem by St. Nektarios

4. Possible Answers to Prayer by Scott Cairns

Stories may be fiction or non-fiction, you can use the prompts below as inspiration.

1. Tell us a short story that discusses one of the virtues: faith, hope, wisdom, honesty, humility, obedience, patience, courage, faithfulness, self-control, kindness or gratitude. You can read more about the virtues here.

2. In your own words, tell us the story of a saint.

Forgiveness Vespers and Great Lent

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you…

(Matthew 6:14)

When I was growing up once a month there was a special Sunday that the Sunday School children received Holy Communion. On our way out of the house we had a monthly ritual. As we left for Church, we, my brother and sister and I, would ask forgiveness of each other and of our parents. We would also kiss my father’s hand. In this way we were prepared (in addition to the fasting) to receive Holy Communion.

This Sunday, March 14 at 5pm we will celebrate what is called Forgiveness Vespers. Throughout the service the hymns speak to us about the coming Lenten period and for forgiveness. Our Lord taught us in the Sermon on the Mount: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15). Forgiveness is extremely important in our walk with Christ.

At the end of the Sunday evening vespers, we will ask forgiveness of each other. With our current situation, it will be difficult to gather in the Cathedral and, as is the tradition, embrace each other and ask for forgiveness. Bot we can do this within our families and in our homes.

I invite and encourage you and your families to pray with us during the live streaming of the Forgiveness Vespers (5pm, see links below). Have an icon in the room with you. At the end of the service when prompted, ask forgiveness of one another and kissing each other on both cheeks. And ask for forgiveness and strength form our Lord and the intercessions of the Theotokos. If you are alone turn to the icons asking for forgiveness.

I pray this is a blessed Great Lent that gives the opportunity to further your faith and commitment to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Fr. Tom

Service Schedule for the Week of March 15th

During Great Lent we offer various services to help increase and focus our prayer life. The first week of Great Lent services will be celebrated each evening at 6pm. We encourage, if you are able and well, to attend. If you are unable please join us via our live streaming. asee the schedule below.
For those who will attend the Presanctified Liturgy on wednesday evening, please try to fast from eating from your lunch time meal.

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