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

Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross and

The Prefast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

September 7, 2008

Epistle: Galatians 6:11-18 Gospel: John 3:13-17

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 September 7^th – September 14^th (Wed., Fri. & Sun. Fast)

Sunday - No Teen Group – Joshua out-of-town

- No Young Adult Group

Monday - Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos, 6:00 a.m.

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

- Choir Practice, 7:00 p.m.

- No Catechumen/Inquirer’s Class

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.

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.

Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos Monday, September 8^th, 6:00 a.m.

PRIEST: Fr. Basil HOMILY: Fr. Basil

DEACONS: Dn. Charles READER: John McGee

HOLY BREAD: Mindy Williams ALTAR SERVERS: Any who can

COFFEE HOUR: Anne Dugan

Schedule for Divine Liturgy Sunday, September 14^th

PRIEST: Fr. Basil HOMILY: Fr. Basil

DEACONS: Dn. Tim READER: Jack Turner

HOLY BREAD: Karen Wells USHER: Matt Spinolo

ALTAR SERVERS: Ethan, J. Morgan, Luke L, Benji

COFFEE HOUR: Newar & Reem Mansour, Mary Ann Coccaro

TUPELO: Fr. Nicholas & Dn. Charles

Mark your calendars:

Soup Kitchen, September 21^st from 1:45 pm – 4:00 pm (meet at church at 1:30 pm)

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

Fasting regimen for the ELEVATION OF THE PRECIOUS CROSS (September 14th) Next Sunday we will celebrate the Elevation of the Cross. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil) is observed this feast, except when it coincides with a Saturday or Sunday when there is katalysis for wine and oil.

COMMEMORATIONS

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.

Sept. 8: The Nativity of the Theotokos.

Sept. 9: The holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; Great-martyr Severian of Sebaste; the fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council; Venerable Joseph of Volotsk; uncovering of the relics of Theodosios, archbishop of Chernigov.

Sept.10: Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora; Empress Pulcheria.

Sept.11: Venerable Theodora of Alexandria; Euphrosynos the Cook; Martyrs Demetrios and Euantha; translation of the relics of Venerable Sergios and Herman of Valaam.

Sept.12: Hieromartyrs Autonomos of Italy and Coronatos of Iconium; Martyrs Okeanos; Venerable Daniel.

Sept.13: The commemoration of the founding of the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem; Hieromartyr Cornelios the centurion; Martyr Aristeidos; Venerable Hierotheos the Younger of Iviron monastery on Athos; Great-martyr Ketevan, queen of Georgia; Six Martyrs at Tomi in Romania.

Sept.14: The Elevation of the precious and life-giving Cross. Repose of John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople; Venerable-martyr Makarios the New of Thessalonika; Venerable-martyr Joseph of Dionysiou monastery on Athos.

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

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS September 7 – September 14

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

Monday II Corinthians 8:7-15 Mark 3:6-12

Tuesday II Corinthians 8:16-9:5 Mark 3:13-19

Wednesday II Corinthians 9:12-10:7 Mark 3:20-27

Thursday II Corinthians 10:7-18 Mark 3:28-35

Friday II Corinthians 11:5-21 Mark 4:1-9

Saturday I Corinthians 2:6-9 Matthew 22:15-22

Sunday I Corinthians 16:13-24 Matthew 21:33-42

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 Mexico – www.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.

Memorials: Today, September 7 ~ Kitty Gilliland

September 21 ~ Mary Allison Callaway & October 12 ~ Urania Alissandratos

Nativity of the Theotokos – We will celebrate this great feast of the Mother of God by celebrating the Divine Liturgy tomorrow morning at 6:00 PM. Come pray and worship with us!

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

Upcoming Book Club Dates:

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

Monday, November 3^rd – The Bishop’s Mantle

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

Women’s Teaching Dates:

10:00 a.m. on the following Thursdays at the home of Anne Dugan:

October 2 ~ November 13 ~ December 4

Church School begins today. 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
1^st-3^rd grade - Khouriya Pamela Mashburn
4^th-5^th grade - John McGee and Laura Graham
6^th-8^th - 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

For those who might be interested, there is a blog that will be updated on which you can follow the activities of the Jerusalem pilgrimage.

http://www.orthodox-iona.co.uk/new_page_8.htm

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.

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

LIBRARY LINES – This week we celebrate two feast days that seem very different in nature. Tuesday we remember the fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council. There, the Council rejected the teachings of Nestorius and affirmed the title Theotokos to the Most Holy One.

Thursday we celebrate the feast day of St. Euphrosynos (9/11). His icon adorns St. John Cooks Again (SPRR/LIV/STJ) and our kitchen wall over the sink. Read about his life of humility in the introduction to the cookbook. Also, his story is told and accompanied with beautifully colored illustrations in The Boy, a Kitchen, and His Cave by Catherine Contopoulos. (KID/CON)

Two very different backgounds to our feast days! Church history, particularly the Councils, may seem dry, but it is far from the case. Read The First Seven Ecumenical Councils by Leo Davis (HIS/DAV) and you will see politics and intrigue played out in the lives of very devout and humble men who staunchly defended the truth.

Read the life of St. Euphrosynos and you will see the same humility and devotion to Truth in meekness and quietness of thought.

Teen Group Events

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

Sunday, September 21^st – Soup Kitchen

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!!

Help us with the bookstore! - It occasionally happens that books that are displayed for sale in the bookstore are carried out of the bookstore without being purchased. In the past they have been used in the nursery, or left in the fellowship hall, or even carried home. In all these cases, seldom do these books make it back to the bookstore, and even if they do, they are usually in worse condition than they were before they left. All of this results in a net loss of revenue for the bookstore, and means that our ability to purchase new titles and replace existing ones is undermined. PLEASE, do not take books out of the bookstore without paying for them.