ST. JOHN ORTHODOX CHURCH

 

1663 TUTWILER AVENUE

MEMPHIS, TN 38107

(901) 274-4119

www.stjohnmemphis.org

 

V. Rev. Fr. Basil Cushman               V. Rev. Fr. John Troy Mashburn, Jr.                  Rev. Fr. Donald Berge

                                                                                Assistant Pastor                                          Pastor                                               

 

GREAT VESPERS                       ORTHROS and CHURCH SCHOOL    DIVINE LITURGY

Saturday, 7:00 p.m.                                    Sunday, 9:00 a.m.                                    Sunday, 10:00 a.m.

 

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

“…the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch!”

Acts 11:26

 

 

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

May 6, 2007

Epistle: Acts 11:19-30                       Gospel: John 4:5-42

 

                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by the Nathan & Jodi Elliott .

 

Welcome to all those visiting St. John Orthodox Church.  We are honored by your presence.  It is our sincere desire that your participation today in the Divine Liturgy will draw you closer to Christ and His Church.

 

If you are from a non-Orthodox background you may see new things such as icons, incense, the sign of the cross, the veneration of saints, and a great deal of standing.  These can be perplexing to the uninitiated eye.  Rest assured that everything we do has a solid biblical foundation and a long history among Christian people.  Please feel free to participate where you feel comfortable, and feel equally as free only to observe when you prefer.

 

The Orthodox Church understands the Eucharist, or Lord’s supper, to be – among other things – the paramount expression of Christian unity.  While it is our deepest hope that Christendom will one day fulfill Christ’s desire for true unity among all those who claim His name (John 17:21), the unfortunate reality of our day is that the various segments of Christendom are not unified with the historic Orthodox faith.  Since participation in the Eucharist expresses a unity with all the dogma and practice of the Orthodox Church, non-Orthodox guests do not receive Holy Communion.  The Holy Eucharist is reserved for those members of the Orthodox Church who have prepared themselves by prayer, fasting, and recent confession.  All visitors and unprepared Orthodox are invited to partake of the blessed bread as they come forward to venerate the cross at the end of the Liturgy.  Thank you for your understanding.

 

ST. JOHN CALENDAR                                   May 6 – May 13 (See fasting note below*)

Sunday             - Teen Group, meet after Liturgy

                        - No Young Adult meeting

Monday           - First Hour Prayer, 6:45 a.m.                

Tuesday          - Feast of St. John the Evangelist, Divine Liturgy, 9:00 a.m.

- Men’s Lunch, Noon

- Inquirer’s Class, 7:00 p.m.

- Choir, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday     - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Ninth Hour and Vespers, 6:50 p.m.

            Thursday         - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

- Men’s Lunch, 11:45 a.m.

Friday              - First Hour, 6:45 a.m.

- Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

- Sixth Hour, Noon

Saturday          - Ninth Hour and Great Vespers, 6:50 p.m.

Sunday             - Orthros and Church School, 8:55 a.m.

- Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

 

Schedule for Divine Liturgy                                                                                Tuesday, May 8

PRIEST:                       Fr. John

HOMILY:                    Fr. John

DEACONS:                  Dcns. Tim & James

ALTER SERVERS:      Any who can

HOLY BREAD:           Anne Dugan

READER:                    Mickey Hodges

USHER:                       John Sneed

COFFEE HOUR:          Damon & Madeleine Bowles, Susan Cushman

 

Schedule for Divine Liturgy                                                                               Sunday, May 13

PRIEST:                       Fr. Basil

HOMILY:                    Fr. John

DEACONS:                  Dcns. Charles & Tim

ALTER SERVERS:      Ethan, Zach, Justin, J. Morgan

HOLY BREAD:           The Hodges Family

READER:                    John McGee

USHER:                       John McGee

COFFEE HOUR:          Mickey & Sarah Hodges, the Harants, David & Kera White

 

*FASTING NOTE:

With the blessing of the Synod of Antioch, a katalysis for fish, wine and oil is granted for all Wednesdays and Fridays of the Pentecostarion (the period between Pascha and Pentecost).

 

Fr John will be out of town and the office Thursday and Friday.  He will return Saturday and serve great vespers that night.

 

COMMEMORATIONS*

 

May 6: Righteous Job the long-suffering; Venerable Seraphim of Mount Domvu; translation of the relics of Sabbas, first archbishop of Serbia.

 

May 7: The commemoration of the apparition of the sign of the Cross over Jerusalem (351 AD); Martyr Akakios the centurion at Byzantium; Venerable Kodratos; Venerable Neilos the myrrh-streaming of the Great Lavra on Athos; Venerable Neilos of Sora; Venerable-martyr Pachomios of Athos; repose of Venerable John of Beverly; Priest Alexis, confessor and defender of Orthodoxy in America.

 

May 8: Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian; Venerable Arsenios the Great.

 

May 9: Prophet Isaiah; Martyr Christopher of Lycia; Venerable-martyr Nicholas; translation to Bari of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker, archbishop of Myra in Lycia.

 

May 10: Apostle Simon Zelotes; Venerable Laurence of Egypt.

 

May 11: Hieromartyr Mokios, priest in Macedonia; Cyril and Methodios, equals-to-the-Apostles and enlighteners of the Slavs; New-martyr Argyros; Venerable-martyr Olympia; Martyr Joseph of Astrakhan.

 

May 12: Germanos, patriarch of Constantinople, Epiphanios, bishop of Cyprus; Venerable Theodore of Kythera; New-martyr John of Wallachia; Hermogenes, patriarch of Moscow.

 

May 13: Virgin-martyr Glykeria of Heraklea; Sergios the Confessor; Venerable John the Georgian, founder of Iviron monastery on Athos and Venerable Euthymios, George and Gabriel of Iviron monastery; Venerable-martyrs of Iviron monastery.

 

*For reading material on the saints for this week, visit the display in the church library.

 

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS      May 6 - 13

 

Sunday                                     Acts 11:19-30                            John 4:5-42

Monday                                    Acts 12:12-17                            John 8:42-51

Tuesday                                    I John 1:1-7                               John 19:25-27; 21:24-25

Wednesday                               Acts 13:13-24                            John 6:5-14

Thursday                                  Acts 14:20-15:4                         John 9:39-10:9

Friday                                       Acts 15:5-34                             John 10:17-28

Saturday                                   Acts 15:35-41                            John 10:27-38

Sunday                                     Acts 16:16-34                            John 9:1-38

 

Pray for our catechumens:

James Pritchard, Murphy & Beauvais George, Shane Davis, Tina & Claire McKelvey, Dianna Hildebrand, Amy Clithero, Jeremy Gill, Jason & Shea Guntharp, Anna-Sarah Farha, and Trent Terry.

 

Please remember in your prayers: His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN, Archimandrite Roman Braga, Archpriest Basil, Rev. Fr. Mikhail & the faithful of Spaso-Pargolovo (St. Petersburg), Priest Matthew, Buddy Taylor, Alexandra Klimkowski, Kathy Deaton, Margaret Layman, Urania Alissandratos, the Baskind family, Chris Hodges, Jonathan Cushman, Jason Cushman, Rick Yadron, Judy Smith (Julie Sanderlin’s mother), Andrew Alissandratos, Shirley Gore (Judy Perkins’ mother),  Charles Ingram, Mary Clark, Stephen Wright, Reuben & Earlene Snowden (Gene’s parents),  Melanie Stanek, Linda Starr (friend of Mary Ann Coccaro), Ann Walker (Claire van Drimmelen’s mother), Damon Boiles, Sr., Effie Johnson (Kh. Susan’s mother), Burleigh Lyons (Buddy’s father), Joyce King, Kh. Johanna Bittle, Elizabeth Cameron, Shea Guntharp, Mindy Williams.

 

Alms Giving Opportunities:

The Alms Fund – used for a variety of uses throughout the year.

Food for Hungry People – add to the food pantry

Diocese of Miami and the Southeast Mission Fund

Michael Bittle Fund – Holy Trinity Orthodox Church – Little Rock, AR

 

Worship and liturgical reminders and explanations:

            Over the past several months we have had an increasing problem with the crumbs from the Blessed Bread (evlogia) distributed during Liturgy. After the service, fragments of the bread are found on the floor all over the nave, they must be cleaned up by the ushers and altar servers.  Since this bread is blessed, it should be treated with proper reverence and does not belong on the ground!  

Please, when you take a piece of bread, be sure to hold it in, and eat it over, the hollow of your hand. If you have children, instruct them to do the same. Children five and under should no longer take the bread from the bowls held by the altar servers; rather, their parents should take it for them, and then help them to eat it carefully. It is best to take a small piece for small children, one they can eat in one or two bites. The bread is given after Communion as a means to help swallow all of the Precious Gifts we have just received, so a large piece is not required.

Remember, if we are faithful in small things, we learn to be faithful in large things.  Please, take care to treat the things blessed by God with due reverence.   - Fr John

 

Pro-life Corner

            “The life in the womb may not be destroyed.”     - Tertullian

 

Judy Perkins and Trent Terry will be united in Holy Matrimony on May 20 at 3:00 PM.  All are invited.  There will be a reception here at the church following the service.  Many Years, Judy and Trent!!

 

ST. JOHN WOMEN’S CALENDAR

 

Sunday, May 6   Bridal Shower for Amy Clithero at Katherine Thames’ home, 4:00 p.m.

Monday, May 7   Book Club – Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

Thursday, May 17   Women’s Teaching at Urania’s, 10:00 a.m.

Monday, June 4   Book Club – Bird in the Tree by Elizabeth Goudge

Thursday, June 14   Women’s Teaching at Urania’s, 10:00 a.m.

Monday, July 16   Book Club – Best of Families by Ellin Berlin

 

Book club meetings are on Monday nights at the home of

Urania Alissandratos, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

 

Parish Life Conference – Information for the Parish Life Conference (June 20-24, 2007), for our diocese is in the parish hall, including 1) Hotel information, 2) Registration information, 3) Conference schedule of events, 4) Souvenir journal submission forms.  Hotel information is also included in these announcements.  In addition, a personalized Web site for Diocese has been created for making hotel reservations.  Guests can access the site to learn more about the event and to book, modify, of cancel a reservation from January 25, 2007 to June 24, 2007.  The website link is http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=0701255902&key=BE91F.

 

 

Teen Group Events

 

This Sunday, May 6thTBA (meet after Liturgy; Ranch trip postponed).

 

Next Sunday, May 13thMeeting @ church “Violence in schools”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Note – There is NO YOUNG ADULT MEETING TONIGHT (May 6).

 

Icon Workshops are filling - there are only 2 spots left in the Beginner Class (8 have registered). Remember to call Kh. Susan before sending your $50 deposit in to the church office, to be sure there are places left. Dates for the classes are:  May 31 - June 3 (Beginner Workshop) and August 2-5 (Advanced Workshop). Contact Kh. Susan Cushman.

 

Library Lines – Today we commemorate St. Photini.  She is so loved and revered that she has two feast days, today and February 26.  What many don’t know about her is that she was martyred with her five younger sisters, two sons and others.  How well this speaks of her great faith and God’s healing that a woman with such a troubled past enters Paradise through martyrdom with her family.  Look for her story in The Lives of the Holy Women Martyrs and other books in the St. John Library.

           

For all to consider – Life is a journey to the Kingdom of God.  As we consider the day that we will cross over from this life to that, we should consider making a bequest in our wills to our parish and/or our Archdiocese.  This is easily done and is a great mercy to those who remain here praying in the world.  If you have questions, you can call the church office (274-4119) or Ruth Ann Skaff, Director of Planning and Future Development for our Archdiocese (866-765-7001).

 

THE WOMEN OF ST. JOHN

are invited to a BRIDAL SHOWER in honor of

AMY CLITHERO

 

TODAY, May 6th at 4:00 p.m.  -  at the home of Katherine Thames

Amy Clithero & Jeremy Gill are registered at Macy’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond,

and crateandbarrel.com

If you are interested in a group gift please contact Marjo Labonte

 

Jennifer and Jim Armacost will be relocating to Beaumont, TX during the summer where Jim has taken a new teaching position.  We will miss them very much!  They are selling their home here in Midtown.  If any are interested in finding a home nearby, give them a call.

 

LOST AND FOUND

            Over the past couple of weeks we have been finding items that are no longer being used all over the church and have put them in the room next to the kitchen.  We have combined them with our growing pile of lost and found items.  We ask that you please take a look and reclaim what is yours or take anything that you can use.  These items will be given away this week.  Our new lost and found location is in the food pantry on the left.

 

 

Mark Your Calendar:

May 8 – Divine Liturgy for St. John, 9:00 a.m.

May 16 – Divine Liturgy for Ascension, 6:30 p.m.

May 20 – Chrismation of Jeremy Gill and Amy Clithero &

May 20 – Marriage of Judy Perkins and Trent Terry

May 26 – Divine Liturgy for Saturday of Souls, 9:00 a.m.

May 27 – Pentecost

May 27 – Marriage of Jeremy Gill and Amy Clithero

June 4 – Apostles Fast begins

June 20-24 – Parish life conference, Orlando

July 23-29 – Archdiocese Convention, Montreal

 

 

OUR BODIES, OUR SOULS - Princeton professor Robert P. George ...has argued that central defining tenets of social liberalism presuppose a logically insupportable person-body dualism, in which a supra-bodily person (typically conceived as a conscious and desiring "self") is seen as inhabiting, and using as an instrument, a sub-personal body. Thus in debates over abortion, embryo-destructive research, and euthanasia, the claim will be made that "personhood" begins at some point after a human being’s body is present, and may end before a human being dies. The "person" is not the body. ... [Some advocates of gay marriage] evidently view biological complementarity and organic bodily union as unnecessary because the real persons who unite in the marriage bond are the two (genderless) souls. Marriage is not (as in the Biblical and natural law conception) a one-flesh union (in which sexual congress is the biological foundation of a more comprehensive sharing of life that unites spouses at all levels of their being: the biological, emotional, rational, dispositional, and spiritual); rather, marriage is a soul-union.  “The truth affirmed in the Bible and by many in the long philosophical tradition is that the human persons united in marriage are not (genderless) souls residing in bodies. Each person is body and soul---inseparable. Thus, the person really is male or female. The person has a sex. His (gendered) body is himself.” -- Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review Online

 

 

Thank You – Rawad and Shanna Massouh would like to extend a warm thank you to all the families who brought meals to their home after the birth of Edmund.  Also, a big thank you to Anna-Sarah Farha for her efforts in coordinating the meals.

 

 

Many, many thanks to those who helped us at the work party a week ago.  It has already been a great help to the staff and clergy, and several mothers have commented on liking the placement of the nursery much better.