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, 6:00 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 Holy and God-Bearing Fathers of

the Seventh Ecumenical Council at Nicea

October 14, 2007

Epistle:  Titus 3:8-15          Gospel: Luke 8:5-15

 

                                                                                               

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                               October 14 – October 21  (Wed. & Fri. Fast)

Sunday            - Teen Group, Meet at the church after Liturgy

- NO Young Adult Meeting Tonight

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

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

- Men’s Lunch, Noon

- Choir Practice, 6:45 p.m.

- Inquirer’s Class, 7:00 p.m.

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

                        - Ninth Hour and Vespers at St. George School, 6:30 p.m.

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

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

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

- Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

                                    - Sixth Hour, 12:00 p.m.

            Saturday         - Catechism in Tupelo, 9:00 a.m.

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

Sunday            - Orthros, 8:55 a.m.

                        - Church School, 8:50 a.m.

- Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

- Soup Kitchen at 1st Presbyterian, 1:45 p.m.

 

Schedule for Divine Liturgy                                                                   Sunday, October 21

PRIEST:                       Fr. Basil

HOMILY:                    Fr. Basil

DEACONS:                 Dcns. Charles & Tim

ALTAR SERVERS:     Caleb, J. Morgan, Peyton, Benji, Luke L.

HOLY BREAD:           Sue Ingram

READER:                    Mickey Hodges

USHER:                       John Sneed

COFFEE HOUR:         Buddy & Louise Lyons, Frank & Betsy Larker

 

Mark Your Calendar:

October 20 - Catechism in Tupelo, MS,  9:00 a.m.

October 25 – Vigil for St. Demetrius, 6:30 p.m.

October 26 – Divine Liturgy for St. Demetrius, 9:00 a.m.

November 5-7 – Deanery Clergy Retreat, hosted by St. John

November 9 & 10 – AWSJ Fall Retreat

 

There will be no Young Adult meeting on tonight, October 14.

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS**

 

Oct. 14: Martyrs Nazarios, Gervase, Protase and Kelsos of Milan; Venerable Kosmas and Nicholas; Venerable Paraskeva of Epivat; Ignatios the wonder-worker, archbishop of Methymna; Venerable Nicholas Sviatosha, prince of Chernigov and wonder-worker of the Kiev Caves.

 

Oct. 15: Hieromartyr Lucian of Antioch; Venerable Euthymios the Younger of Athos; Savvinos, bishop of Catania; Venerable Varsos.

 

Oct. 16: Martyr Longinos the centurion who stood at the cross of the Lord; Gall, enlightener of Switzerland.

 

Oct. 17: Prophet Hosea; Venerable-martyr Andrew of Crete.

 

Oct. 18: Apostle Luke the Evangelist; Martyr Marinos the Elder at Anazarbos; Venerable Theodore and Simeon; New-martyr Gabriel of Egypt; Peter of Cetinje.

 

Oct. 19: Prophet Joel; Martyr Varos; Mnason, Bishop of Cyprus; Venerable John of Rila and Prochoros of Pchinja.

 

Oct. 20: Great-martyr Artemios at Antioch; Gerasimos the New Ascetic of Kephallenia; Venerable Matrona of Chios.

 

Oct. 21: Venerable Hilarion the Great; Venerable Christodoulos of Patmos; Hieromartyr Soctrates; Martyr Theodota; Venerable Philotheos, Barnabas and Hilarion, bishop of Meglin in Bulgaria; New-martyr John of Monemvasia; Venerable-confessors Vissarion and Sophroios of Ciorara and Martyr Oprea of Salistie in Romania.

 

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       October 14 – October 21

Sunday             Galatians 1:11-19                     Luke 8:5-15

Monday           Phil. 4:10-23                            Luke 9:18-20

Tuesday           Col. 1:1-2, 7:11                        Luke 9:23-27

Wednesday      Col. 1:18-23                            Luke 9:44-50

Thursday          Col. 1:24-29                            Luke 9:49-56

Friday              Col. 2:1-7                                Luke 10:1-15

Saturday           II Cor. 3:12-18                        Luke 7:1-10

Sunday             Gal. 2:16-20                             Luke 8:27-39

 

 

 

 

Pray for our catechumens:  James Pritchard, Shane Davis, Tina & Claire McKelvy, Jason & Shea Guntharp, Trent Terry, Leland & Courtney Murphree, Justin & Tifphanie Franks, Brian, Suzie, Griffin, Oliver, Burke, Quinn, Gabriel & Sophia Fahling, Chase Sliger, and Evan & Elizabeth Chastain, Caitlyn Manning, and Brandon Maas.

 

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, 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),  Linda Starr (friend of Mary Ann Coccaro), Ann Walker (Claire van Drimmelen’s mother), Effie Johnson (Kh. Susan’s mother), Burleigh Lyons (Buddy’s father), Mindy Williams, Margaret Elliott, Hannah Snowden.

 

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:           

Veneration Candles – Candles for veneration and prayers are kept at the rear of the church for parishioners’ use.  If possible, a small offering should be made for the candle/s one takes.  There is a small cash box with the candles for that purpose.  Thanks be to God that we have many children who want to make this their personal practice.  Parents try to help your children make their small offerings, as well, so that they can build a good habit for life!

 

Our Church Family:

Please remember Maggie Burgan's father, Robert Kapitan, in your prayers.  He had a stroke a couple of weeks ago and subsequent complications, including a clot which forced the doctors to remove his right hand and part of his arm yesterday morning.  He is no longer able to communicate, and the doctors give him, at best, a few months to live.

 

Emmelia Sanderlin's baptism is now scheduled to follow vespers on Saturday,

November 3.  Please remember her, her parents, and godparents (Dn James and Sh Corinne) in your prayers.

 

Father Basil and Susan have put their house on the market. (They are not leaving town, they're just trying to buy a different house in the same neighborhood.)  Specific information is on the bulletin board in the parish hall.

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

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

 

Monday, November 12th – Book Club – The Widow’s War by Sally Gunning

Book Club for October will at Corinne Elliott’s home

 

 

November 9th & 10th – 2007 AWSJ Fall Retreat

featuring Fr. Paul O’Callaghan,

Author of Feast of Friendship and Dean of St. George Cathedral in Wichita, KS

This year we will be meeting right here at St. John.

We are still looking for women who would like to help,

please contact Hannah Snowden or Meribeth Harvey if you are interested.

 

Ladies, Feast of Friendship is now available in the bookstore for $12.00. 

This is a great opportunity to prepare for the Fall Retreat.

 

 

 

LIBRARY LINES – How rich is this week in commemorations of saints that are special to St. John Church! 

Tuesday we honor St. Longinus, the centurion who stood at the foot of the Cross. Tradition says that he was cured of an eye ailment when water and blood poured out of the wound inflicted by Longinus in Christ’s side. He was later baptized by the Apostles and martyred by Pilate.

            St. Luke shows us the Beauty of our Church in words and images. He was one of the Seventy who accompanied St. Paul on his journeys and painted the first icons of the Mother of God. See the interesting account of the translation of his relics in his hagiography on the bulletin board in the library.

            St. Varus is much loved and prayed to saint in our parish. He was a Roman soldier in Egypt and a secret Christian. He joined a band of martyrs being encouraged by them, much like the 40 martyrs of Sebaste. His relics were rescued by a pious widow, and St. Varus appeared to her at her son’s death. He is a beloved saint of great compassion who comforts us by praying for the souls of our relatives outside the Church.

See these saints’ icons and stories and those of others commemorated this week in St. John Library.

 

 

 

Lower Mississippi Valley Deanery

The next meeting of the clergy for the Lower Mississippi Valley Deanery will be here at St John, on November 5-7 with Monday and Wednesday being travel days.  Clergy from our deanery will arrive Monday for vespers and dinner.  We will meet Tuesday, share meals, and conclude that evening.  Please remember these priests in your prayers. 

 

YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED for the members of the Holy Synod of our Patriarchate of the Great City-of-God Antioch and all the East who will convene for their fall meeting this coming Monday, October 8th, under the presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch IGNATIUS IV.

 

Upcoming vigil - We will have another vigil service this fall, this time for the Great Martyr Demetrius.  Thursday night, October 25, we will pray the vigil beginning at 6:30 PM (note this is an early beginning for a week night).  A vigil is a combination of Great Vespers and Orthros sung together in the evening preceding the feast.  The following Friday morning, October 26, we will celebrate the liturgy for the martyr at 9:00 AM.  Make your plans now to pray with us.

 

 

Teen Group Events

 

This Sunday, October 14th, after Liturgy, RISK Tournament at the church

 

Sunday, October 21; Lunch after Liturgy, then serve at the Soup Kitchen  

 

 

Parish Council Minutes – The minutes for September and October, along with minutes from earlier in the year, are now available in the fellowship hall.

 

 

 

Pro-life Corner

          Many thanks to those who stood with us last Sunday as a part of Life Chain.  We had about 25 participants, which was a lower number than we have had in the past.  May God guard our hearts and strengthen us to continue in our defense of the unborn!

 

Special Announcement

 

We, who are St. John Orthodox Church, have sensed God's leading (and have taken to heart our own Bishop ANTOUN’s encouragement!) to create a St. John "presence" in east Shelby County.  After some months of prayer, conversation, and work, we are excited to announce the beginning of that ministry!

 

Beginning on Wednesday, October 17, we will serve Vespers on Wednesdays at the Agape Chapel at St. George's Independent School, located at 1880 Wolf River Blvd, beginning at 6:30 PM.  We see this as a great, and convenient, blessing for many of our parishioners who live out that way and any other parishioners that would like to join.  All are welcome.  Equally, if not more, important, we envision this as an opportunity to bring others to the saving love of God through his bride, the Church.  So, we will be making this service very welcoming to guests.

 

We are giving this ministry the working title of "The St. John Branch," being mindful of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

 

Here's how you can be a part:

 

a) Pray for us to know God's leading and for the courage

to follow Him

 

b) Come and participate on Wednesdays whenever you can

 

c) Be a part of The St. John Branch Team, who will be responsible for coordinating and planning these Wednesday evening events. (Contact Billy Scrantom)

 

Interested in Community Outreach?

 

Please join us for lunch to discuss the formation of a Community Outreach team at St. John’s.  We will meet Sunday, October 21st, after coffee hour and prior to serving at the Soup Kitchen downtown.  Please contact Lynda Spinolo or Katherine Thames if you can come, or if you are interested, but cannot attend.

 


THANK YOU!!

Our sincere thanks to all those who contributed in making St. John's 20th Anniversary Celebration Weekend a success! 

Fr. John Troy Mashburn, Fr. Peter and Kh. Marilyn Gillquist, Dn. Tim Mashburn, Emily Turner, Anne Schommer, John McGee, Nancy McGee, Caleb McGee, Clark McGee, Dianna Hildebrand, Judy Terry, Katherine Thames, Ethan and Claire Van Drimmelen, John and Kerry Sneed, Dan O'Brien, Lynda Spinolo, Mickey Hodges, Kim Boone, Tanya Dely, Terry Harter, Anne Dugan, Bill Stanek, Laura Graham, Mitch Childress, Mindy Williams, Meribeth Harvey and many others who volunteered their time. 

With much appreciation, Deb Mashburn and Anna-Sarah Farha