So, these should've been posted weeks ago, but this has been an incredibly busy season for me, the busiest I've had in years to be honest.  I've had some really exciting things going on, including My Journey to Bethelehem: An Orthodox Children's Advent Study, a new book I'm working on for Ancient Faith Publishing (details to come), and another project I hope to be able to share about soon, so though it's been insanely busy, it's a good sort of busy.   Of course, homeschooling has taken a front seat before all my other endeavors and that keeps me busy as a bee on its own!  So, thank you all for your patience and continued support in all these things, it means more to me than you know.  Also, keep an eye out in the next day or so for the annual Kid's Ornament Exchange...These Psalter groups are one of my favorite things I do on this blog, it's such a blessing to watch so many of you find comfort in the psalms.  This is our tenth year doing this together and many of you have been with me from the beginning and I am so grateful that God gives me this opportunity each year.  There is so much power in prayer, we must never underestimate it! And I know many of you know this from experience, I know from the emails I receive from those of you who participate.  Thank you again for being a part of this community of prayer!  I always look forward to this time with you.  <3I feel like these prayers are more important this year than ever before.  There is so much going on in the world and the one thing we need more of is prayer!  Please pray for the whole world when praying for your individual group.   Every day we hear of more atrocities spreading across the world and there will be no end to them without prayer and true repentance.  We need to beg for His mercy!  During this season of hope and joy, let us be lights of Christ’s love.  And not the false secular love people are preaching nowadays, but love for Christ!  We have to put Him above all else.  When we do that nothing will shake us, nothing can steal the Joy that our Savior brings!During this time we should also take extra care to abstain from things unholy or that distract us from God and the upcoming feast.  Stretch out your hand to those in need and comfort those around you who need comforting.  Embrace all that God intended for this season to be.It’s also a lot of fun to see where everyone is reading their assignments so if you post to social media, be sure to use #psaltergroups! Here are the assigned readings for the Psalter Groups for Nativity 2017.Names are numbered in order of what kathisma you begin on.*Be sure to look through all the lists for your name. It will be as you signed up. There are a lot of Mary’s, Maria’s, Katherine’s, etc.  Even less common names are often duplicated!  Make sure you’re looking at the right one!  I included usernames or emails wherever I could to make it a bit easier.  Also, many of you did NOT include emails or another means to differentiate between other members with the same name.  So PLEASE read through the all of the groups until you’re sure you found your name.  If you’re not positive, leave a comment and I will clarify.Once you find your name, you will see what Kathisma (set of Psalms) you start with.  If you’re number 18 in your group you’ll start on Kathisma 18.  Tomorrow you’ll read Kathisma 19, the day after Kathisma 20.  Then the following day you’ll start on Kathisma 1.  Make sense? If not, be sure to ask in the comments!Before beginning to read your assigned kathisma, please recite the Trisagion prayers (and the prayer at the bottom of this post if you choose):

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (Thrice)Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

At the end of each kathisma please recite the following:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God. (twice)Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to you, O God our hope, O Lord, glory to You. Lord have mercy on (name of each person in your group).

******People in the last group, please check back periodically since more people will most likely be added to your group, so you can add their names to your prayer list.  And as always, if you have any questions at all, let me know!Don’t become discouraged if you miss some, it takes time to build a habit and anything you read is more than you would have read if you hadn’t signed up! Kali Dynami!Readings  (The Psalm numbers before each Kathisma are for people following along from the book of Psalms in their Bible)

1. Day 1– Psalms 1-8 (Kathisma 1)
2. Day 2– Psalms 9-17 (Kathisma 2)
3. Day 3– Psalms 18-24 (Kathisma 3)
4. Day 4–Psalms 25-32 (Kathisma 4)
5. Day 5– Psalms 33-37 (Kathisma 5)
6. Day 6– Psalms 38-46 (Kathisma 6)
7. Day 7– Psalms 47-55 (Kathisma 7)
8. Day 8– Psalms 56-64 (Kathisma 8)
9. Day 9– Psalms 65-70 (Kathisma 9)
10. Day 10– Psalms 71-77 (Kathisma 10)
11. Day 11– Psalms 78-85 (Kathisma 11)
12. Day 12– Psalms 86-91 (Kathisma 12)
13. Day 13– Psalms 92-101 (Kathisma 13)
14. Day 14– Psalms 102-105 (Kathisma 14)
15. Day 15– Psalms 106-109 (Kathisma 15)
16. Day 16– Psalms 110-118 (Kathisma 16)
17. Day 17– Psalms 119 (Kathisma 17)
18. Day 18– Psalms 120-134 (Kathisma 18)
19. Day 19– Psalms 135-143 (Kathisma 19)
20. Day 20– Psalms 144-150 (Kathisma 20)
21. Day 21–start over

Group One

1. Sevasti & Aggelos
2. Kalliope (Coleen)
3. Irene
4. Sevasti P.
5. Presbytera Kyranna
6. Vera (rachelbrim)
7. Cara Maria
8. Presbytera Roxana Nicoleta
9. Kyriaki (Kiki)
10. Emilia  (batgirlmartin)
11. Sophia K.
12. Ruth (Jan)
13. Konstantina (Connie L)
14. Maria
15. Rachel (mother hen)
16. Despina (Jamie)
17. Kimberly (Marie)
18. Nina (Shelby)
19. Natalia (amanda)
20. Suzanne (setourville)

Group Two

1. Maria, Olympia Vasilis & Fotini
2. Marie-Elaine
3. Nectaria
4. Mary (Michelle)
5. Melissa (lularoemelissa)
6. Paraskevi (Brittany)
7. Joy
8. Genevieve (volchok)
9. Sonia S.
10. Katherine K.
11. Charis (Holli-Marie)
12. Brigid
13. Joanna (murdenkim)
14. Olga (April)
15. Angeliki (aliki)
16. Karen (kmth)
17. Ioana-Teodora
18. Jennifer
19. Ashley (anlackovich)
20. Maria (Amanda)

Group Three

1. Lludmilla (Linda)
2. Sophia (Summer)
3. Christina (Carmon)
4. Emilia (Elizabeth)
5. Theodora G.
6. Megan Michelle
7. Elizabeth (melissa)
8. Ekaterini L.
9. Ashley D.
10. Jane (janelen33)
11. Marie (ava-marie)
12. Nicole (marie)
13. Helen (melissa)
14. Christina S.
15. Catherine (Carol)
16. Maria (marianicodemou)
17. Melissa P.
18. Deacon Thomas
19. Emilia (crystal)
20. Sarah (s.schlafer)

Group Four

1. Irene (linda)
2. Justine
3. Annie
4. Zim
5. Monica Mihaela

*Group 4, don’t forget to check back daily to get the names of new members as your group will fill up fast!