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 of the Genealogy of Christ

December 21, 2008

Epistle: Hebrews 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40            Gospel:  Matthew 1:1-25

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Judy Terry.

 

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                           Decmeber 21st – December 28th (Nativity Fast)

Sunday            - Choir Practice – will meet after coffee hour in the balcony

- Teen Group – Bible Bowl will meet at the Spinolos, 5:00 p.m.

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

                        - Advent Paraklesis, 7:00 p.m.

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

                        - Men’s Lunch, 11:45 a.m.

- No Choir Practice or Catechumen/Inquirer’s Class

Wednesday     - Royal Hours, 7:30 a.m.

                        - Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Orthros for Nativity, 9:10 p.m.

                        - Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom for Nativity, 10:30 p.m.

                                    There will be a light celebration to follow in the parish hall.

Thursday        - OFFICE CLOSED

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

                        - Third Hour, 9:00 a.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.  

 

Divine Liturgy for the Nativity                             Wednesday, December 24th, 10:30 p.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. John                                    HOMILY:        Fr. John

DEACONS:                 Dns. Tim & James                    READER:        Subdeacon Joshua

HOLY BREAD:           Christi Yadron                          ALTAR SERVERS:     Any who can   

Light Celebration:         Gary & Cindy Karnaghon, John & Nancy McGee

 

Schedule for Divine Liturgy                                                 Sunday, December 28th       

PRIEST:                       Fr. Nicholas                             HOMILY:        Fr. Nicholas

DEACONS:                 Dns. Charles & Tim                  READER:        Billy Scrantom

HOLY BREAD:           Reem Mansour             USHER:           John Sneed

ALTAR SERVERS:     Caleb, Luke S., Alex, Deon     

COFFEE HOUR:         Sue Brownlow, Bill Stanek

TUPELO:                     Dn. James

 

Welcome Team – Mark your calendars! There will be a Welcome Team meeting in the nave on Monday, January 26th at 7:00 p.m.                     

 

Fr John will be taking vacation time from Christmas through January 3.

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

 

December 21: Virgin-martyr Juliana of Nicomedia; Martyr Themistokles of Myra in Lycia; Peter, metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia.

 

December 22: Great-martyr Anastasia and her teacher the Martyr Chrysogonos.

 

December 23: Ten martyrs of Crete; New-martyr Nicholas; Venerable Nahum of Ochrid, enlightener of the Bulgarians.

 

December 24: Venerable-martyr Eugenia of Rome and those with her; Martyrs Achaikos and Basillia; New-martyr Ahmed of Constantinople.

 

December 25: The Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

December 26: Commemoration of Joseph the Betrothed, David the Prophet and King, and James the Brother of the Lord.  The Synaxis of the Theotokos; Euthymios the Confessor, bishop of Sardis; Hieromartyr Constantios the Russian of the Great Lavra on Athos.

 

December 27: Proto-martyr Stephen the archdeacon; Venerable-confessor Theodore the Branded.

 

December 28: The twenty thousand martyrs of Nicomedia; Hieromartyr Glykerion; Venerable Simon the myrrh-streaming, founder of Simonopetra monastery on Athos.

 

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       December 21 – December 28

Sunday             Hebrews 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40          Matthew 1:1-25

Monday           II Timothy 2:20-26                               Mark 9:42-10:1

Tuesday           II Timothy 3:16-4:4                              Mark 10:2-12

Wednesday      Hebrews 1:1-12                                   Luke 2:1-20

Thursday          Hebrews 2:11-18                                 Matthew 2:13-23

Friday              Galatians 4:4-7                                     Matthew 21:33-43

Saturday           Acts 6:8-15, 7:1-5, 47-60                    Matthew 21:33-43

Sunday             Galatians 1:11-19                                 Matthew 2:13-23

 

 

Pray for our catechumens:  In Memphis - James Pritchard, Leland & Courtney Murphree (Mary Charlotte), Gary & Cindy Karnaghon, Larry Ichniowski, Kinney Graham, Maria Cartagena, Maria Brackey, Lisa Martin, Barbara McWilliams, and Jill Healy.

In Tupelo - Shane Davis, Justin & Tifphanie Franks (Paris), Justin & Brandy Williams, Leah Hardy, Adam Clay, Casey & Jessica Hardy (Davis) 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, 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, Alicia Stickle (pregnant), Melissa White (pregnant), Ann Hicks (Dianna Hildebrand’s mother), Sue Ingram, Alexandra Dense, Polly Scrantom (Billy’s mother), Ted & Patty Greathouse (Shelley Snowden’s parents), Laura Greathouse, Reuben & Earlene Snowden (Gene’s parents), Joyce Bittle, David Williams (Jill Healy’s son-in-law).

 

 

- ALMS-GIVING –

 

St. John Alms Fund

St. John Camping Fund

St. John Food Pantry

Diocese of Miami and the Southeast Mission Fund

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

St. Paul Mission Station – Tupelo, MS

 

 

Christmas shopping on your mind?  Shop at the St John Bookstore soon.

 

Check mark symbol   BOOKS – with many new titles of books

Check mark symbol   ICONS – a bountiful selection (most icons are now 50% off!)

Check mark symbol   MUSIC CDs – LOOK FOR OUR NEW CHRISTMAS CDs!!

            There is also a new CD for children – a great stocking stuffer!

Check mark symbol   CHILDRENS BOOKS – look for these new titles:

            Children’s Bible Reader – It is Orthodox with beautiful iconographic illustrations.

            The Miracle of St. Nicholas by Gloria Whelan (look for review in coming Evangelist)

Check mark symbol   2009 CALENDARS – marked with the Church’s feast & fasting days

Check mark symbol   GIFT CERTIFICATES to the St. John Bookstore – This Sunday and Tuesday will be your last days to purchase gift certificates before Nativity.   To purchase a gift certificate just contact Meribeth Harvey in the church office.

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

 

~ Book Club ~

The AWSJ Book Club will not meet in December but will resume in January.

January ~ at Kh. Pamela Mashburn’s home ~ The Hiding Place by Corrie TenBoom

February ~ The Purple Mantle

 

~ Women’s Teaching ~

Upcoming Dates ~ January 8th ~ February 5th ~ March 12th

 

AWSJ WOMEN’S RETREAT ~ Fr. Stephen Rogers

Friday & Saturday, January 30th~31st, 2009

We are privileged to have Ft. Stephen Rogers of St. Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN speak to us January 30th & 31st. His topic for the weekend is “Rediscovering the Divine Liturgy. If you are able to come, please fill out the registration form as soon as possible and return it to Meribeth in the church office. You can find the retreat flyers with the registration form on the table in the parish hall.

 

 

~ Christmas Baskets ~

            Christmas baskets will be filled this coming Tuesday, December 23rd at noon. Please bring your lunch and join in the fellowship as we put together the baskets and deliver afterward. If you have questions, please contact Kim Hilal or Cindy Karnaghon.

 

 

Apartment for Rent - The first-level apartment in the duplex next door is available for rent. It has two bedrooms, an office and one bathroom. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact the church office.

 

Bulletin Boards – Remember to check the bulletin boards!!

 

LIBRARY LINES – During Advent we have commemorated several events in the life of the Theotokos. Her entrance into the temple(11/21), her conception(12/9) and the nativity of Christ(12/25).  These and others are depicted in one of St. John Library’s most popular books. The Story of Mary the Mother of God (KID/PAP) by Dorrie Papademetriou is a beautifully illustrated book for young children.  The first half of the short book is devoted to Sts. Anna and Joachim, their desire for a child and the early life of the Theotokos. The book continues with the Annunciation, Nativity, and life of Christ.

The life of the Theotokos is shown to us in much greater detail in another one of our most informative books, The Life of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos. This reference book gives us icons, hymns and commentary from the fathers on her life, her significance in the Kingdom of God and her place in the Church.  Since she is the Mother of God in the flesh and is pivotal in our salvation, every event, person and aspect of Jesus’s life, death, resurrection and events before and after Pentecost are referenced. It’s user friendly because it is arranged chronologically and the table of contents is very detailed. 

See the display of these books, others about the Theotokos and ones about the Nativity of our Lord in the Flesh in St. John Library.  

 

Teen Group Events

 

TODAY, December 21st – Bible Bowl at the Spinolos, 5:00 p.m.

 

Next Sunday, December 28th – Movie Night

 

 

Winter Supplies for Rachel’s Kids

Rachel and Harry at Rachel’s Kids tutor and provide for underprivileged children in the Binghampton neighborhood and need the following supplies for children in kindergarten through high school.  Generic products are fine.  Please put donations in the Rachel’s Kids collection box in the food pantry.  Questions? Contact Lynda Spinolo.  Thank you!

 

Cold medicine (decongestants with cough suppressant)              Band-Aids

¾ Ankle Socks (not low cut, not crew length)                               Cough medicine         

Tylenol or generic acetaminophen                                                   Underwear                

Chap Stick / lip balm                                                           

 

The Nativity play staged by our church school children will be presented today during our coffee hour following the liturgy. All are invited! We hope you can stay and see our children share their rendition of the Christmas story with you!

 

Schedule of services for the Nativity ~ Wednesday, December 24

Royal Hours, 7:30 AM

Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 9:00 AM

Orthros for Nativity, 9:10 PM

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, 10:30 PM

 

NATIVITY CELEBRATION – We will have a light celebration after Divine Liturgy Wednesday night. As in the past, the church will provide deli trays and bread for sandwiches as well as drinks. Please feel free to bring any side items and/or desserts to share. This will be a great opportunity to share and enjoy holiday goodies that are a part of each family’s Christmas traditions. If you bring side items/desserts, you must be responsible for removing your serving dishes and remaining food.  They will not be taken to the kitchen or placed in the refrigerators. Consequently, we hope this will allow for those who have volunteered to clean-up to get home in a timely manner.

 

 Remember:  December 24th, is kept as a strict fast, and there is no fasting from the Nativity through January 4th.

 

The Nativity Fast continues - This fast is divided into two periods.  The 1st period is November 15th through December 19th when the traditional fasting discipline** is observed with katalysis (relaxation) for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and for fish, wine and oil on Saturdays and Sundays.  The 2nd period is December 20th through 24th when the traditional fasting discipline** is observed with katalysis for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday.  ** (Refraining from eating meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil.  Shellfish is traditionally permitted. It is good to moderate the amount of food we consume on these days [consider eating smaller portions] and to refrain from eating between meals).

 

 

Great Vespers for the Feast of St. Basil

Wednesday, December 31st 7:00 p.m.

There will be a finger food potluck following Vespers –

please bring something to share

 

Upcoming special services:

  • January 1st, is the feast of ST BASIL THE GREAT .  We will pray Great Vespers on the evening of Wednesday, December 31st.   At the conclusion of Great Vespers, we will pray the Service of Supplication on the First Day of the New Year.

 

  • January 6th, is the Great Feast of Theophany.  We will serve the Great Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great on January 5 at 9:00 AM, followed by the First Great Sanctification of Water.  Tuesday morning, January 6, we will serve Festal Orthros and the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom (Liturgy beginning at 9:00 AM), followed by the Second Great Sanctification of Water.

 

Theophany House Blessings – Be sure and sign up in the parish hall for times and days that are possible times for one of the priests to bless your home.

 

Beginning in January – We have typically done vespers on Wednesday evenings.  In January, we initiate some variation in our mid-week prayers.  In general, we will pray:

            First Wednesday – Lesser blessing of the water (except for January, since the Great

                        Blessing of the Water will have been done the day before)

            Second and Fourth Wednesday – Vespers

            Third Wednesday – a selected Akathist

This will give us some variation and introduce these services to our parishioners.

 

Choir Relocation – Over the years we have gone back and forth regarding the best location for our choir – in the balcony or on the floor of the nave.  There are many factors to consider, and I suspect that I have heard most of them.  The most important one is this – which location best serves our worship of God.  With the counsel of the clergy, I have agreed that we will relocate the choir to the floor of the nave.  While it will necessitate some physical rearrangement in the nave, we believe that the positives will outweigh any initial or lasting inconveniences.  In taking their traditional location in the church, the choir will be better able to lead our worship music, and the rest of our parishioners should find it easier to participate in the music.  God be with you all!