The Lenten Covenant

Check as many as apply under each topic.  You should (but need not) answer every topic.  This is a matter of your own conscience and areas where you want to grow spiritually.

1.  Concerning my prayer life, I will commit to:

_____One five minute period a day of un-interrupted prayer

_____One five minute period every morning of un-interrupted prayer

_____One five minute period every evening of un-interrupted prayer

_____One five minute period each morning AND evening of un-interrupted prayer

Other:  Write in here

2.  Concerning Worship

_____I’ll commit to attending Divine Liturgy each Sunday

_____I’ll commit to attending ONE additional service each week during each week of Lent

_____I’ll commit to attending AT LEAST ONE Compline, One Pre-Sanctified Liturgy and One

Salutations Service

_____I’ll commit to attending AT LEAST ONE Saturday of the Souls

_____I’ll commit to attending the Forgiveness Vespers February 14

_____I’ll commit to preparing and receiving Holy Communion at least once a week during Lent.

Concerning Holy Week, I’ll commit to:

_____Every Service

_____Every Evening Service

_____One service each Day

_____Specifically Holy Thursday—the Passion of Christ

_____Other (write in here)

3.  Concerning Fasting, I’ll commit to:

____Level One            Fast from meat on Wednesday and Fridays and during Holy Week

____Level Two            Fast from meat and fish on Wednesdays and Friday and during Holy

Week

____Level Three         Fast from meat the entirety of Lent and Holy Week

____Level Four           Fast from meat and fish the entirety of Lent and Holy Week

____Level Five            Level Four and eliminate dairy products during Holy Week.

____Level Six              Level Four and eliminate dairy products on Wednesdays and Fridays and

during Holy Week

____Level Seven        Level Four plus eliminate dairy products during all of Lent and Holy

Week

____Level Eight          Level Seven plus eliminate oil and wine during Holy Week

____Level Nine           The Strict Fast-no meat, fish, dairy products, wine or oil during the

entirety of Lent

___I can’t fast from food for health reasons.  I will give up the following: (Write answer here)

**Note-alcohol should be consumed at a very minimum during Lent, and abstained from totally if possible.  Also, activities should be curtailed, socializing a little more sedate, no dancing and loud music.  During Holy Week, all unnecessary activities aside from work and children should be curtailed, so that we can focus on the Holy Days of the Passion of Christ.

4.  Concerning reading the Bible, I’ll commit to:

_____Reading one chapter a day from some book

_____Reading the four Gospels

_____Reading the Psalms

_____Other (Write in)

5.  Concerning reading a theology book, I’ll commit to reading

_____One Orthodox theology book

_____The Lenten Spring  by Fr. Thomas Hopko (about 130 pages) available at church book

 store

_____I’ll commit to the book review evening of March 22, 6:30-8:00 p.m., which will review

                        The book The Lenten Spring

6.  Concerning confession,

____I’ll commit to going once during this Lenten period either to Fr. Stavros, Fr. John or another Priest

____I’ve been recently to confession and don’t feel the need to go at this time.

____I don’t believe in going to confession

____I’ll get more information on this sacrament and then make a decision.

7.  Concerning bad habits, here are one or two or a few bad habits I’ll watch and change this Lent

____Gossip

____Self-aggrandizement

____impatience

____Greed

____Lust

____Disobedience

____Wasting time

____Self-pitying

_____Not giving good effort at work/school/marriage/children

Others: Write in here

8.  One spiritual goal I want to commit to once Pascha has passed is:

Concerning this covenant,

____I’ll commit to try to attend the “covenant meetings” on February 17, March 5 and March 22

_____I’m going to do this on my own and see how it goes.

Prayer:  Lord help me to be successful in this task I am about to undertake.  May it be for the growth of my soul and the improvement of my spiritual life.  Help me to keep all the commitments I have made.  Amen.

__________________________________Sign your name

Make a copy for yourself, place your covenant in a sealed envelope, write your name and address on front of envelope. Bring covenant to church and place it in locked box on the solea.