ST. JOHN ORTHODOX CHURCH

 

1663 TUTWILER AVENUE

MEMPHIS, TN 38107

(901) 274-4119

www.stjohnmemphis.org

 

V. Rev. Fr. John Troy Mashburn, Jr.                                              Rev. Fr. Nicholas Meyers

                                                                                                           Pastor                                                                                  Assistant Pastor

 

    V. Rev. Fr. Basil Cushman                                                           Rev. Fr. Donald Berge

Associate Pastor                                                                             Attached

 

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

 

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

August 31, 2008

Epistle:  Hebrews 9:1-7             Gospel: Matthew 18:23-35

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Mary Ann Coccaro.

 

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                                   August 31st – September 7th (Wed. & Fri. Fast)

Sunday            - Teen Group – Games at church, after Liturgy (all teens)

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

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

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

- Choir Practice, 6:45 p.m.

- Catechumen/Inquirer’s Class, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday     - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

- Vespers, 6:00 p.m.

- Wednesday Dinner, 6:45 p.m. (be sure to sign-up!)

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

                        - Men’s Lunch, 12:00 p.m.

                        - OCF, 7:00 p.m.

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

                        - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Stay & Play Group, will meet in the fellowship hall after third hour.

                        - Sixth Hour, 12:00 p.m.

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

Sunday            - Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.  

 

Schedule for Divine Liturgy                                                 Sunday, September 7th

PRIEST:                       Fr. Nicholas                                         HOMILY:        Fr. Nicholas

DEACONS:                 Dns. Charles                                         READER:        Mickey Hodges

HOLY BREAD:           Anne Dugan                                         USHER:           John Sneed

ALTAR SERVERS:     Caleb, J. Morgan, Misha, Joe               TUPELO:         Dn. Tim

COFFEE HOUR:         Ethan vanDrimmelen, Mitchell Childress

 

 

Wednesday Night Service and Meal

We continue our Wednesday night meals this Wednesday.  You will need to sign up on Sunday or call the office Monday and let us know how many in your family will plan to eat. The cost is $3.50.  Vespers begins that evening at 6:00 pm, and we plan to eat between 6:45 and 7:00.  Come pray and eat with us!!   

 

 

Mark your calendars!

Soup Kitchen, Sunday, September 21st from 1:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Life Chain, October 5, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM.

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

Aug. 31: The commemoration of the placing of the Belt of the Theotokos in the Church of the Virgin in Halkoprateia-Constantinople.

 

Sept. 1: The beginning of the Indiction or the ecclesiastical New Year.  Forty Virgin-martyrs and Ammon the deacon; Venerable Simeon the Stylite and his mother Martha; Venerable Euanthia; Righteous Joshua, son of Nun; Meletios the New of Greece; Venerable Nicholas of Crete; New-martyr Angelis of Constantinople.

 

Sept. 2:  Martyr Mamas and his parents, Martyrs Theodotos and Rufina; John the Faster, patriarch of Constantinople.

 

Sept. 3: Hieromartyr Anthimos of Nicomedia; Martyr Chariton; New-martyr Polydoros of Cyprus; Venerable Theoktistos, fellow-faster with Euthymios the Great; Phoebe the deaconess; uncovering of the relics of Nektarios of Pentapolis, the wonder-worker; Ionikios I, patriarch of Serbia.

 

Sept. 4:  Hieromartyr Babylas of Antioch; Prophet Moses the God-seer; Martyrs Jerusalem, Sekendos, Sekendios and Kegouros in Sleppo; Martyr Hermione, daughter of the Apostle Philip the deacon; uncovering of the relics of Joasaph, bishop of Belgorod; Venerable Anthimos the New; New-hieromartyr Gorazd, bishop of Bohemia and Moravia-Silesia.

 

Sept. 5: Prophet Zachariah and Elizabeth, parents of the Forerunner; Obadiah, bishop of Persia; martyrdom of the Holy Passion-bearer Gleb.

 

Sept. 6: The commemoration of the miracle of the Archangel Michael in Colossae; Martyrs Eudoxios, Andronikos and Kalodote.

 

Sept. 7: Martyr Sozon of Cilicia; Apostles Euodos and Onesiphoros  of the Seventy; New-martyr Athanasios; John, archbishop of Novgorod; Venerable Kassiane; Venerable Cloud of Nogent-sur-Seine.

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       August 31 – September 7

Sunday             I Corinthians 9:2-12                  Matthew 18:23-35

Monday           II Corinthians 5:10-15              Mark 1:9-15

Tuesday           II Corinthians 5:15-21              Mark 1:16-22

Wednesday      II Corinthians 6:11-16              Mark 1:23-28

Thursday          II Corinthians 7:1-10                Mark 1:29-35

Friday              II Corinthians 7:10-16              Mark 2:18-22

Saturday           I Corinthians 1:26-28                Matthew 20:29-34

Sunday             I Corinthians 15:1-11                Matthew 19:16-26

 

Pray for our catechumens:  In Memphis - James Pritchard, Leland & Courtney Murphree (Mary Charlotte), Gary & Cindy Karnaghon, Sue Brownlow, Larry Ichniowski, and Kinney Graham. In Tupelo - Shane Davis, Justin & Tifphanie Franks (Paris), Justin & Brandy Williams, Leah Hardy and Adam Clay.

 

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), Shirley Gore (Judy Terry’s mother),  Linda Starr (friend of Mary Ann Coccaro), Effie Johnson (Kh. Susan’s mother), Mary Clark, Beauvais George (pregnant), Joy White (pregnant), Jodi Yzaguirre (pregnant), Alicia Stickle (pregnant), Ann Hicks (Dianna Hildebrand’s mother), Sue Ingram, Alexandra Dense, Robert Dunn.

 

 

- ALMS-GIVING -

FOOD PANTRY - Please remember that we give items from the food pantry to a few specific families all year long and this is a wonderful way to give alms all throughout the year.  We will continue to keep a bin just outside the parish hall for collection of these items.

 

HANDS-ON ALMS-GIVING OPPORTUNITIES - Rachel’s Kids – Interested in tutoring one on one, or donating food, drinks or paper serving items? Tuesday nights - Contact Lynda Spinolo.

 

OTHER CONTINUING ALMS-GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

Diocese of Miami and the Southeast Mission Fund

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

Project Mexicowww.projectmexico.org

St. Paul Mission Station – Tupelo, MS

 

 

Candles - There are now six-day candles available for purchase in the narthex in addition to the beeswax candles. They are in purple glass sleeves and are available to be offered before the icons along the side of the church. Once the six-day candle has burned out the glass sleeve will be refilled and available again in the narthex for future offerings.

 

Upcoming Memorials

September 7 ~ Kitty Gilliland

October 12 ~ Urania Alissandratos

 

Pro-life Corner - Mark your calendar for the annual “Life Chain,” October 5.

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

Upcoming Book Club Dates:

Monday, September 8thHannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

In September we will meet at Sarah Hodges Home, at 7:00 p.m.

Monday, October 6th - Diary of a Country Priest by George Bernanos

Monday, November 3rdThe Bishop’s Mantle

In October & November we will meet at the home of Kh. Pamela Mashburn

 

Women’s Teaching:

This Thursday, September 4th at 10:00 a.m.

At the home of Anne Dugan

Upcoming Dates:

October 2  ~  November 13  ~  December 4

 

 

New Phone Directory – Last Sunday to get your changes, corrections and additions in. I will print a new church directory next week. Please look over your entry in the current directory and send any changes to me or call me in the church office, 274-4119.  Meribeth

 

Church School will begin next Sunday, September 7th.  Classes meet on the third floor during Orthros (9-9:45 AM).  This year we are inviting all children aged 3-years-old through 8th grade to attend.  Please don't miss this opportunity for your child to deepen their understanding of our Faith and to develop relationships with their brothers and sisters in Christ!  See Katherine Thames or your child's teacher if you have any questions. 

Our classes are as follows:
 3 years old-Kindergarten - Emily Turner and Elizabeth Cameron
1st-3rd grade - Khouriya Pamela Mashburn
 4th-5th grade - John McGee and Laura Graham
6th-8th - Josh Stark

 

 

By the mercy and willingness of God, Dn. James, Subdeacon Joshua and I will leave September 6 for 2 ½ weeks in Jerusalem and Sinai.  During that time, we believe we will be able to pray for a significant amount of time at the Holy Sepulcher.  It is our intention to pray for each of you in the parish.  If you have others for whom you would like for us to pray, please give me a list of those names.  Please remember us in your prayers!            - Fr John

 

LIBRARY LINES Monday is the beginning of the Liturgical New Year! And we begin this week by commemorating the parents of the Forerunner, Moses the God-seer and an Old Testament hero, Joshua. There is even an icon for the Indiction. The church calendar is so important that there are Old Calendarists and New Calendarists who sadly cannot agree on which one to use. Actually, the liturgical year is a concept that is much deeper than that of a device to mark time. Read about the significance of the church year in The Year of Grace of the Lord written by a monk of the Eastern Church. See also The Old Canlendar Orthodox Church of Greece and The Church Year from the Celebration of Faith series for an explanation of the history and development of our calendar. You will find these books and the commemoration list with hagiographical sources on the display cart in the library.

           

 

Teen Group Events

 

 Today, August 31st – Games at church, after Liturgy (all teens)

 

Sundays, September 7th & 14th – No meetings (Joshua out of town)

 

Soup Kitchen – We will serve at the soup kitchen on Sunday, September 21.  Since we will be the only group assisting that day, it is important that we have a good turnout.  We will need 24 volunteers, teens and adults.  This is a good alms activity for individuals and families.

 

Pray for Robert Dunn – One of our newer parishioners (about two years), Robert was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in early June.  He had surgery on August 13, and is still recovering.  While the after-effects of the surgery have been difficult, his doctors feel confident that they removed all of the cancer and they are optimistic about his complete recovery.  In his words, “I hope to come back to St. John's when my strength returns. Please ask our parishioners to pray for me as well.”   May God bring healing to Robert and give him and his wife Carolyn peace.

 

Welcome, Elijah Andrew!  Elijah was born to Maria Brackey early Sunday morning, 8/24, and weighed 8lbs7oz.  Maria and he are now home and doing well.  If you are able to provide a meal for Maria and her family (Karen Bell, Deon and Moriah Crum), please contact Anna-Sarah Farha.  Meals can be dropped off in the church refrigerator/freezer and will be picked-up and delivered. Your help will be much appreciated as the family adjusts to being one member larger!  Many years, Elijah!  

 

Small changes in Coffee Hour

 

            At the July 30 Parish Council meeting, a proposal was made to the council to consider making some modifications to coffee hour.  The catalyst for the proposal was a feeling among a number of parishioners that coffee hour was becoming a bit unwieldy and chaotic.  Some of the problems cited included crowded space, wasted food (many times children particularly take substantially more than they consume), longer time commitment for cleanup for host families, due to food left many places in the church and large messes, and a bit of a chaotic atmosphere which many find unappealing.  The proposal stated that the focus of coffee hour should be fellowship, not food, upon which there was unanimous agreement.

            The proposal, which was slightly modified and approved by the council, suggested removing some of the tables from the hall and simplifying and downsizing the food offered, thus reducing preparation and cleanup.  While no one thinks these changes will solve all the issues, there was a feeling it will help alleviate several.  Our ultimate goal is to make coffee hour a time of comfortable fellowship and to ease the setup/cleanup process.  We will begin the new plan September 7 with the beginning of the new Church Year.

            This is a good dilemma for our parish!  Our parish hall space is limited, but our parishioners want to visit with one another and meet our visitors.  We hope these small changes will enhance our “people time” and make the hosting issues, particularly clean up, simpler.

 

 

OCF – Orthodox Christian Fellowship

Will meet every Thursday from 7 – 9 PM.

For this week’s location please contact

Ethan vanDrimmelen