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 Blind Man

May 13, 2007

Epistle: Acts 16:16-34 Gospel: John 9:1-38

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by the Hodges Family.

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 at church, 5:00 p.m.

- No Young Adult Meeting

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

Tuesday - Men’s Lunch, Noon

- Inquirer’s Class, 7:00 p.m.

- Choir, 7:00 p.m.

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

- Divine Liturgy, Ascension, 6:30 p.m.

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

- Women’s Teaching at Urania’s, 10:00 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 Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 p.m.

PRIEST: Fr. John

HOMILY: Fr. John

DEACONS: Dcns. James & Charles

ALTER SERVERS: Any who can

HOLY BREAD: Sue Ingram

READER: Billy Scrantom

USHER: Matt Spinolo

Fasting Finger Food Potluck: Matthew and Hannah Snowden, Karen Wells

Schedule for Divine Liturgy Sunday, May 20

PRIEST: Fr. Basil

HOMILY: Fr. Basil

DEACONS: Dcns. Tim & James

ALTER SERVERS: Weston, J. Morgan, Luke L., Adam

HOLY BREAD: The Mansour Family

READER: Rd. Leo Schommer

USHER: Aaron White

COFFEE HOUR: Murphy & Beauvais George, Dianna Hildebrand

*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).

COMMEMORATIONS*

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.

May 14: Martyr Isidore of Chios; Hieromartyr Therapont; New-martyrs John of Bulgaria and Mark of Crete; Venerable Isidore of Rostov, fool-for-Christ.

May 15: Achilles, bishop of Larisa; Venerable Pachomios the Great; Martyr Barbaros the myrrh-streaming of Corfu; Isaiah, bishop of Rostov; Andrew the hermit; Titos, bishop of Crete; Demetrios, prince of Moscow.

May 16: Venerable Theodore the Sanctified, disciple of Pachomios the Great; Alexander, archbishop of Jerusalem; New-martyr Nicholas of Metsov; Venerable Ephraim of Perekop, wonder-worker of Novogorod.

May 17: Apostle Andronikos and Junia of the Seventy; Anthanasios the New, bishop of Christianopolis; Venerable Nektarios and Theophanes.

May 18: Martyrs Peter, Dionysios, Andrew, Paul, Christina, Heraklios, Paulinos and Benedimos; Stephen the New, patriarch of Constantinople.

May 19: Hieromartyr Patrick, bishop of Prussa; Martyrs Menander and Philetairos; Venerable Cornelios of Komelsk; Grand Prince Dimitry of Donskoy of Moscow.

May 20: Martrys Thallelaios of Cilicia, Nikostratos and Antiochos; Venerable Nikitas, John and Joseph of Chios; Lydia of Philippisia; uncovering of the relics of Alexis the wonder-worker, metropolitan of Moscow; Venerable Stephen of Piper.

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

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS May 13 - 20

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

Monday Acts 17:1-15 John 11:47-57

Tuesday Acts 17:19-28 John 12:19-36

Wednesday Acts 18:22-28 John 12:36-47

Thursday Acts 1:1-12 Luke 24:36-53

Friday Acts 19:1-8 John 14:1-11

Saturday Acts 20:7-12 John 14:10-21

Sunday Acts 20:16-18, 28-38 John 17:1-13

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:

Receiving the Holy Mystery of Communion – As Orthodox Christians, we maintain the ancient tradition of receiving the Holy Gifts from the chalice by the use of the spoon. This tradition is older than that used in the west, and all receive both the Body and the Blood of our Lord. Because of the sanctity of the Gifts, it is imperative that we use great care as we receive. The best way to receive the gifts is to take them off the spoon by closing your mouth over the gifts as you would when you yourself use a spoon. This prevents almost all chances of the Gifts being spilled from your mouth onto your clothes or the floor. In our parish, most actually now receive this way. Others do not, probably for various reasons, including, in some cases, fear of the spread of germs. To my knowledge there is now little to support this fear, and the risks of spilling the Gifts is almost entirely removed. - Fr John

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

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.

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

Teen Group Events

This Sunday, May 13^th – Meeting @ church “Violence in schools”

Next Sunday, May 20^th – No meeting; Perkins-Terry Wedding.

Hardy Canoe Trip

From May 29^th to June 1^st, the teens will take their annual trip to the

Hodges family cabin in Hardy, Arkansas, to celebrate the end of

another year of school and the beginning of summer.

If you are interested in coming, please sign-up with Joshua by May 20^th.

Library Lines – Does it ever seem like Ascension gets lost between Pascha and Pentecost? Why didn’t Jesus just stay with the Apostles? Anthony M. Coniaris explains in Sermons on the Major Holy Days of the Orthodox Church that the answer is all wrapped up in the Trinity and that this event is part of our salvation. Read his sermon and the accounts of this week’s saints including Holy Martyr Glyceria in the St. John Library.

Thomas Beltzer (formerly Chuck Belcher, and a member of our parish) will be in town Thursday, May 17, reading from his first novel at Burkes Book Store at 6:00 PM. There is a card on the bulletin board about the reading if you want more information.

Look for in June – The Evangelist is back in business, keep an eye on your mailbox for the latest edition. There will also be a new directory available in June, they will be available in the fellowship hall.

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 or call Fr. John.

AMY CLITHERO & JEREMY GILL

would like to invite all parishioners to their

HOLY MYSTERY OF MATRIMONY

Sunday, May 27^th at 5:00 p.m.

Decorating the Nave for Pentecost – Orthodox churches are traditionally decorated with greenery for the feast of Pentecost (which is Sunday, May 27^th).  As Fr. Thomas Hopko explains in his catechetical book Worship, “the church is decorated with … the green leaves of the summer to show that God’s divine Breath comes to renew all creation as the ‘life-creating Spirit.’”  Jodi Elliott will be heading up the effort of decorating this year, and help is needed both in supplying the greenery and in decorating.  If you'd like to lend a hand, please feel free to join in!  If you would like to contribute greenery – from a florist or simply from your own yard – please bring it to church following Soul Saturday Liturgy on May 26^th.  If you have greenery in your yard you'd like to offer, or if you have questions about what is needed, contact Jodi Elliott. 

Mark Your Calendar:

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