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

 

Elevation of the Holy Cross

September 14, 2008

Epistle: I Corinthians 1:18-24               Gospel: John 19:6-35

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Karen Wells.

 

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 14th – September 21st (Wed. & Fri. Fast)

Sunday            - Teen Group Meeting at the church, 5:00 – 6:45 p.m.

- No Young Adult Group

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

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

- Choir Practice, 7:00 p.m.

- No Catechumen/Inquirer’s Class (Classes will resume Sept. 30th)

Wednesday     - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

- Small Paraklesis, 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            - Church School, 9:00 a.m.

- Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.  

 

Schedule for Divine Liturgy                                                Sunday, September 21st  

PRIEST:                       Fr. Nicholas                             HOMILY:        Fr. Nicholas

DEACONS:                 Dn. Charles                              READER:        Billy Scrantom

HOLY BREAD:           Jack Turner                              USHER:           Aaron White

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

COFFEE HOUR:         Karen Bell, Hardy & Katherine Thames

TUPELO:                     Dn. Tim

 

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.

 

Patronal Feast – Repose of St. John the Theologian – We will celebrate the Feast of St. John’s repose by praying vespers Thursday night, September 25 at 6:30 PM (not on earlier schedules) and by celebrating the Divine Liturgy Friday, September 26, at 9:00 AM.  Since this is our patronal feast, we can have fish, wine and oil that day.  Come pray and worship with us!

 

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

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.

 

Sept.15: Great-martyr Nikita the Goth; Martyr Porphyrios; Vissarion, bishop of Larisa; New-martyr John; Venerable Philotheos and Gerasimos; Joseph the New of Partos, the wonder-worker, metropolitan of Timisoara.

 

Sept.16: Great-martyr Euphemia the all-praised; Martin the bishop; New-martyrs Isaac and Joseph of Georgia; Martyr Ludmilla, grandmother of Wenceslaus prince of the Czechs; Venerable Prokopios of Sazava in Bohemia.

 

Sept.17: Martyrs Sophia and her daughters Faith, Love and Hope; Hiermartyr Herakleidos of Cyprus; Martyr Agathokleia; Venerable Anastasios and Euxiphios.

 

Sept.18: Eumenios the wonder-worker, bishop of Gortyna; Martyr Ariadne of Phrygia.

 

Sept. 19: Martyrs Trophimos, Dorymedon, Savvatios and Susanna; Hieromartyr Januarios of Benevento and his companions; Theodore, prince of Smolensk, and his sons David and Constantine, wonderworkers of Yaroslav; Theodore of Tarsus, archbishop of Canterbury.

 

Sept.20: Great-martyr Eustathios and his family; Venerable-martyr Hilarion of St. Anne Skete on Athos; Venerable John of Crete; Martyrs Michael, prince of Chernigov, and his councilor Theodore.

 

Sept.21: Apostle Quadratos of the Seventy; Prophet Jonah; uncovering of the relics of Demetrios, bishop of Rostov.

 

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       September 14 – September 21

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

Monday           II Corinthians 12:10-19            Mark 4:10-23

Tuesday           II Corinthians 12:20-13:2          Mark 4:24-34

Wednesday      II Corinthians 13:3-13              Mark 4:35-41

Thursday          Galatians 1:10, 20-2:5              Mark 5:1-20

Friday              Galatians 2:6-10                       Mark 5:22-24, 35-6:1

Saturday           I Corinthians 4:1-5                    Matthew 23:1-12

Sunday             Galatians 2:16-20                     Mark 8:34-9:1

 

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, Adam Clay and Justin Stevens.

 

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),  Stephen Wright, 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), Andrew Alissandratos, Ann Hicks (Dianna Hildebrand’s mother), Sue Ingram, Alexandra Dense.

 

 

- 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.  Canned items (fruit, soups, vegetables & meat), toiletries and other non-perishable items are all appreciated. We will continue to keep a bin just outside the parish hall for collection of these items.

 

 

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 21 ~ Mary Allison Callaway  &  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, 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 Dates:

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

October 2  ~  November 13  ~  December 4

 

Church School is back in session. 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

           

 

 

SAVE THE DATE!!  Saturday, October 18th 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 

ST.  JOHN PICNIC

 

At Municipal Park, Germantown

Stay tuned, more details to follow…..

 

If anyone is interested in volunteering for the picnic planning committee, (organizing group games/activities for children & adults, decorations, set-up/clean-up, etc.) please contact Karen Bell.

 

Soup Kitchen – Join us NEXT SUNDAY, September 21, as we serve at the soup kitchen at First Presbyterian Church.  We will meet at the church about 1:30 PM and leave shortly thereafter to arrive at the church between 1:45 and 1:50 PM. We will need 24 volunteers, teens and adults. This is a GREAT WAY to give alms for individuals and families.

 

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.  The service begins that evening at 6:00 pm, and we plan to eat between 6:45 and 7:00.  Come pray and eat with us!!   

 

           

 

Teen Group Events

 

Today, September 14th – Meet at the church, 5:00 – 6:45 p.m.

 

Next Sunday, September 21st – Soup Kitchen

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


LIBRARY LINES – 

Part of the richness of our church calendar is that it reflects a family, the living body of Christ. Tuesday we commemorate a saint connected with Advent.  The Holy Martyr Ludmilla, a Czech princess, was the grandmother of St. Wenceslaus. (Remember the Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslaus went out on the feast of Stephan …)

St. Euphenmia the All-praised (9/16) is best known for a miracle occurring after her death.  The Fourth Ecumenical Council was held in a church which housed her relics. It was convened to establish the nature of Christ. The Monophysites opposed the doctrine of His two natures, divine and human asserting Jesus was divine and not human.  The Patriarch proposed that the two views be written down, her tomb opened and the scrolls placed on her bosom.  The tomb was then sealed and guarded by the emperor’s soldiers.  After three days of prayer and fasting, the tomb was opened. The scroll of the Orthodox confession was in her right hand and that of the heretics was at her feet.

Wednesday we honor St. Sophia.  She endured the greatest pain a mother can endure.  Her three daughters, Faith, Hope and Love were tortured and beheaded in her sight.  She buried them and stayed by their graves for thee days and gave her soul to God. Believers buried her there beside her children.

See the stories and icons of these women in St. John  Library.

 

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.

 

9/14 – Due to the congestion of having the food & drinks in the same place last week, we are trying something different this week. Please be patient as we continue to try new things to encourage fellowship during the coffee hour.

 

 

OCF – Orthodox Christian Fellowship

Will meet every Thursday from 7 – 9 PM.

For this week’s location please contact

Ethan vanDrimmelen - 901.517.8520