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

 

 

Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council

July 15, 2007

Epistle:  Titus 3:18-15                       Gospel: Matthew 5:14-19

 

                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Anne Dugan.

 

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                                                  July 15 – July 22 (Wed./Fri. fast)

Sunday             - Teen Group Meeting, at the church, 5:00 p.m.

- Young Adult Meeting at Fr. John & Kh. Pamela’s home, 7:00 p.m.

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

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

- Men’s Lunch, Noon

- Clergy Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

- No Inquirer’s Class

- No Choir Practice

Wednesday     - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

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

- Parish Council Meeting, 7:45 p.m.

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

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

- Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

- Sixth Hour, Noon

Saturday          - Ninth Hour and Great Vespers, 5:50 p.m.

                        - Baptism of Mark Ibrahim, 6:45 p.m.

Sunday             - Orthros, 8:55 a.m.

- Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

 

Schedule for Divine Liturgy                                                                                       Sunday, July 22

PRIEST:                       Fr. John

HOMILY:                    Fr. John

DEACONS:                  Dcns. Charles & Tim

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

HOLY BREAD:           Emily Turner

READER:                    Mickey Hodges

USHER:                       John Sneed

COFFEE HOUR:          George & Kim Hilal, Maryann Coccaro

 

Mark Your Calendar:

July 23-29 – Archdiocese Convention, Montreal

July 30 – Pool Party, Rhodes College Pool, 7:00 p.m.

 

Upcoming Baptisms:        Mark Ibrahim                                 July 21

 

Upcoming Chrismations:  Anna-Sarah Farha                         August 26

   Murphy George                              August 26

   Beauvais George                            August 26

           

***Note change in time for vespers on July 21!Mark Ibrahim will be baptized following Great Vespers on Saturday, July 21.  Ninth hour and vespers will begin at 5:50 pm that night!

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS*

 

July 15:  Martyrs Kyrikos and his mother Julietta of Tarsus; Great Prince Vladimir (Basil) of Kiev, equal-to-the-Apostles.

 

July 16:  Hieromartyr Athenogenes, bishop of Herakleopolis; the 15,000 martyrs of Pisidia.

 

July 17: Great-martyr Marina of Antioch in Pisidia; Venerable-Irenarchos of Solovsky.

 

July 18:  Martyr Emilianos of Silistria in Bulgaria; John, metropolitan of Chalcedon; Stephen, patriarch of Constantinople.

 

July 19:  Venerable Macrina, sister of St. Basil the Great; Venerable Dios of Antioch; Theodore, archbishop of Ephesos; uncovering of the relics of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov; Stephen Lazarevic.

 

July 20:  Prophet Elijah (Elias); Righteous Iliya Chavchavadze of Georgia.

 

July 21:  Venerable Simeon of Homs, fool-for-Christ; John and Parthenios, bishop of Radovizlios; Venerable Arta; Martyr Victor of Marseilles.

 

July 22:  Mary Magdalene, myrrh-bearer and equal-to-the-Apostles; Virgin-martyr Markella of Chios.

 

 

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS      July 15 – July 22

 

Sunday                         Titus 3:8-15                               Matthew 5:14-19

Monday                        I Cor. 9:13-18                            Matthew 16:1-8

Tuesday                        I Cor. 10:5-12                            Matthew 10:6-12

Wednesday                   I Cor. 10:12-22                          Matthew 16:20-24

Thursday                      I Cor. 10:28-11:7                       Matthew 16:24-28

Friday                           James 5:10-20                           Luke 4:22-30

Saturday                       Romans 13:1-10                        Matthew 12:30-37

Sunday                         I Cor. 1:10-18                            Matthew 14:14-22

 

Pray for our catechumens:  James Pritchard, Murphy & Beauvais George, Shane Davis, Tina & Claire McKelvy, Jason & Shea Guntharp, Anna-Sarah Farha, Trent Terry, Leland & Courtney Murphree, Justin & Tifphanie Franks, Brian, Suzie, Griffin & Oliver Fahling, Chase Sliger.

 

Please remember in your prayers: His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN, Archimandrite Roman Braga, Rev. Fr. Mikhail & the faithful of Spaso-Pargolovo (St. Petersburg), Buddy Taylor, Margaret Layman, Urania Alissandratos, Chris Hodges, Jonathan Cushman, Jason Cushman, Judy Smith (Julie Sanderlin’s mother), Andrew Alissandratos, Shirley Gore (Judy Terry’s mother),  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), Elizabeth Cameron, Shea Guntharp, Mindy Williams, Margaret Elliott, Hannah Snowden, Tifphanie Franks.

 

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

 

The Food Pantry is running low on supplies.  The following are some ideal items for those that receive from the food pantry:  canned vegetables, fruit & meat; crackers; small jars of peanut butter; canned soups & stews; toilet paper; and boxed items (pasta, rice, jello etc).

 

Worship and liturgical reminders and explanations:

At the end of our prayer rule, it is good to spend additional time saying our own prayers.  This is a good time to pray for others.  Orthodox Christians many times keep lists of names of people for whom we offer prayers.  It is easy simply to pray for each by name saying, “Lord have mercy

on . . .” We can also pray in categories as follows:

For the Orthodox living:  “Grant, O Lord, health and salvation to Thy servants (names) . . .” or “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, grant health and salvation to Thy servants (names)  . . .”

For the Orthodox departed:  “Grant, O Lord, repose with the saints to Thy servants (names). . .” or “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, grant rest to the soul of thy servant (names). . . ”

For catechumens:  “Grant, O Lord, that Thy Holy will be done with Thy servants (names). . .”

For non-Orthodox living:  “Grant, O Lord, that Thy servants (names). . . will be illumined with the light of the Orthodox Church and unite them with They One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.”

For the non-Orthodox departed:  “Grant, O Lord, mercy on the souls of Thy departed servants (names). . . who have departed into eternal life (in separation from Thy Holy Orthodox Church).”

 

New Catechumens!  We are blessed today to enroll the following:

Brian, Suzie, Griffin, and Oliver Fahling (Tupelo); Chase Sliger;

and Evan & Elizabeth Chastain

Please remember them in your prayers!!

 

 

ST. JOHN WOMEN’S CALENDAR

 

Sunday, July 15   Sip’n’See for Brighid & Joy White, 3-5 p.m.

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

Sunday, July 22    Bridal Shower for Sarah Mashburn, 12:30 p.m.

                                                at Lori O’Brien’s Home

Tuesday, July 24   Potluck Travelog, featuring Stacy Shipman on Tanzania

                                                at Kh. Susan Cushman’s house, 6:30 p.m

Monday, September 17   Book Club – Washington Square by Henry James

Monday, October 15   Book Club – The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

 

Book Club Meetings are on Monday nights

The July meeting will be at the home of Urania Alissandratos

Location for September & October meeting is to be determined.

 

Vacation Church SchoolMark your calendars! Vacation Church School will be held July 30th - August 3rd from 9am to 12pm.  Rising kindergarteners-6th graders are invited.  If you have questions or want to volunteer to help, contact Katherine Thames or Meribeth Harvey.  There are sign-up sheets in the fellowship hall.

 

LIBRARY LINES – Our Holy Mother Church commemorates many pious and influential women saints in July. St. Macrina’s feast day is Thursday. A miracle occurred at her birth, resulting in her name being Macrina-Thecla. Besides being the sister of Ss. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa and six other siblings, she was a beacon of light to her entire family. Like the Theotokos, she was betrothed but never married. She cared for her widowed mother’s physical needs and was a standard of asceticism for her.  St. Marina, commemorated July 17, was also a pious virgin. However, her life on earth was cut short by cruel tortures. While in a dungeon she battled a dragon and a demon disguised as a black dog.  See the lives of these two women, holy in their quietness and courage, in St. John Library.

 

Next year’s parish life conference will be in Raleigh, NC from June 18-22 with Fr. Nicholas Sorenson and All Saints Orthodox Church hosting the gathering

 

Note meetings this week! – Both the clergy and the Parish Council will meet this week, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.  See the weekly calendar for times.

 

Bulletin Board – Please note there are new additions on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall including a couple of thank you notes for gifts recently received from St. John.

 

Fr John will be out of town July 23-29 (Archdiocese convention).  Please remember him in your prayers.

 

Recommendations for Parish Council – Each year we have two parish council members cycle off the council, and two new ones take their place.  The council is made up of seven members, two of whom serve ex-officio, the pastor (Fr. John) and the business manager (Paul Parham).  A third member is selected by the clergy from their ranks.  The other four are appointed by the pastor with the counsel of the clergy and the recommendations of the laity.  In the parish hall are forms for you to make your recommendations.  Please recommend three people, in order of your preference.  It is important for everyone to give his input.  The more participation we have, the more we can be in tune with the will of God.  Departing members of the council are Nathan Elliott, and Bill Harter.  Thank you Nathan and Bill!  Remaining on the council will be Fr. John, Paul, Emily Turner, and Charlie Harvey. 

 

Our parish council requested volunteers for a committee to organize a celebration for the twentieth anniversary of our parish, and a wonderful committee emerged.  The present plans call for a celebration week end on October 12, 13, and 14.  There are events planned for Friday night, Saturday during the daytime and evening, and a brief conclusion following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday.  V. Rev. Fr. Peter and Kh. Marilyn Gillquist will be our guests that week end, and Fr. Peter will address us at least once as well as giving the homily on Sunday.  It should be a great week end, and we hope all of you can attend.  Mark your calendars!!!

 

Thank you from Clifford McWhorter – “I have learned from experience that there was much love in St. John Church, but recently during my sickness in the hospital and at home I have learned anew about that love.  Thank you to so many of you who have expressed that love by visiting me, sending cards, making phone calls, etc.  Your love, that is, Christ’s love, expressed to me has meant so very much!”

 

Thank you for all your prayers and support during Mother's illness and death.  The plants sent to the funeral home were lovely.  Mother enjoyed coming to St John and would have been pleased to see so many of St John at her funeral sevice. Thank you for the love and care you showed her and our family. Sh Margaret and Anne Smith 

 

Dinner Club - All current groups are encouraged to meet one last time before the end of August.  Note:  Dinner clubs are groups of 6-8 St John people who meet together for a meal once every 2 months for a year. The focus is on fellowship, not food. Those who want to commit to be in a new dinner club starting in September, please see the sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall. Any questions or comments, please call or email Sh. Margaret Mckelroy. 

 

Teen Group Events

 

 This Sunday, July 15th – TBA, Meeting after Liturgy

 

Next Sunday, July 22nd  - Meeting at the Church, 5:00 p.m.

 

 

The Women of St. John

 

Are Invited To Attend A

 

SIP ‘n’ SEE

 

for

 

Brighid & Joy White

 

~ TODAY ~

Sunday, July 15th from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

 

at the home of Sarah Hodges

 

         For group gift information:

          please contact Kh. Martha Berge

 

 

 

The Women of St. John

are invited to attend a

 

Bridal Shower

 

honoring

 

Sarah Mashburn

 

Sunday, July 22nd

at 12:30 p.m.

 

at the home of Lori O’Brien

 

For group gift information:

Please contact Elizabeth Cameron

 

Sarah & Joel are registered at:

Bed, Bath & Beyond

Pottery Barn

Dillards

Target