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 After Theophany

January 11, 2009

Epistle:  Ephesians 4:7-13         Gospel:  Matthew 4:12-17

                                                                                                                               

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                          January 11th – January 18th (Wed. & Fri. Fast)

Sunday            - Holy Mystery of Matrimony for Gigi Snowden & Chase Sliger, 3:00 p.m.

                        - No Teen Group or Young Adult Group

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

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

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

                        - Choir Practice, 6:45 p.m.

- No Catechumen/Inquirer’s Class

Wednesday     - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Vespers, 5:30 p.m.

                        - Wednesday Dinner, 6:15 p.m. (please be sure to sign-up)

                        - Wednesday Teaching, 7:00 p.m.

                        - Parish Council Meeting, 7:45 p.m.

Thursday        - Third Hour, 9:00 a.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.

                        - Baptism of Lillian Elizabeth George to follow Vespers

Sunday            - Church School, 9:00 a.m.

- Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.  

 

 

Schedule for Divine Liturgy                                                    Sunday, January 18th       

PRIEST:                       Fr. John                                                HOMILY:        Fr. John

DEACONS:                 Dns. Tim & James                                READER:        John Cameron

HOLY BREAD:           Ellie Moore                                          USHER:           John McGee

ALTAR SERVERS:     Caleb, Luke S., Misha, Joe                   TUPELO:         Fr. Nicholas

COFFEE HOUR:         Ethan & Claire van Drimmelen, Ria Matthew

           

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

 

Upcoming Baptism – Lillian Elizabeth George will be baptized Saturday, January 17 following vespers.  Please remember her and her godmother, Caitlyn Manning, in your prayers.

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

 

January 11: Theodosios the Great, the head of monasteries in Palestine; Venerable Theodosios of Philotheou monastery on Athos; Venerable Agapios of Apamea in Syria; Venerable Michael of Klops, fool-for-Christ.

 

January 12: Martyr Tatiana of Rome and those with her; Virgin-martyr Euthasia; Martyr Mertios of Mauretania; repose of Venerable Sabbas of Hilandar monastery on Athos, first archbishop of Serbia.

 

January 13: Martyrs Hermylos and Stratonikos of Belgrade; Martyrs Pachomios and Papyrinos of Greece; Venerable Maximos Kafsokalyvitis of Athos; Venerable Eleazar of Anzersk Island; Hilary, bishop of Poitiers.

 

January 14: The holy fathers slain at Sinai and Raithu; Virgin-martyr Agnes; Venerable Theodoulos and Neilos of Sinai; Nina, equal-to-the-Apostles and enlightener of Georgia.

 

January 15: Venerable Paul of Thebes and John the hut-dweller; Venerable-martyr Pansophios of Alexandria; Venerable Gabriel of Lesnovo.

 

January 16: The veneration of the precious chains of the Apostle Peter; Peusippos and Neonilla, and the martyrs of Cappadocia; Hieromartyr Damaskinos of Hilandar monastery on Athos; Honoratos, archbishop of Arles and founder of Lerins Monastery; Romil of Ravanica.

 

January 17: Venerable Anthony the Great; Anthony the New, ascetic of Berrea in Macedonia; New-martyr George of Ioannina.

 

January 18: Athanasios and Cyril, patriarchs of Alexandria; Martyr Theodoulis; Maximos, Serbian despot.

 

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       January 11 – January 18

Sunday             Ephesians 4:7-13                                  Luke 17:12-19

Monday           Hebrews 11:17, 27-31                         Mark 8:11-21

Tuesday           Hebrews 12:25-26; 13:22-25               Mark 8:22-26

Wednesday      James 1:1-18                                        Mark 8:30-34

Thursday          James 1:19-27                                      Mark 9:10-16

Friday              James 2:1-13                                        Mark 9:33-41

Saturday           Colossians 1:3-6                                   Luke 14:1-11

Sunday             I Timothy 1:15-17                                Luke 18:35-43

 

Pray for our catechumens:  In Memphis - James Pritchard, Leland & Courtney Murphree (Mary Charlotte), Maria Cartagena, Maria Brackey, Lisa Martin, Barbara McWilliams, Jill Healy and Priscilla Neale.

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), and Linda Swells (friend of Joyce King).

 

 

- 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

 

 

Sign-Up Sheets – The sign-up sheets (Theophany & Wednesday Dinner) are on their usual table in the fellowship hall. Please be sure to sign-up if you have not already done so.

 

Coffee Hour today – The parish hall is set up for the reception to follow Gigi Snowden and Chase Sliger’s wedding this afternoon at 3:00 PM.  Consequently, coffee hour will be in the rooms next to the kitchen today – a bit tight, but we'll survive one week in cramped quarters!  

 

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.

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

~ Book Club ~

Tomorrow, January 12th at Kh. Pamela Mashburn’s home at 7:00 p.m.

The book for January is The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

February ~ The Purple Mantle

 

~ Women’s Teaching ~

Upcoming Dates ~ February 5th ~ March 12th

 

~ AWSJ WOMEN’S RETREAT ~ Fr. Stephen Rogers ~

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

 

**Please sign-up as soon as possible!! 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 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.

 

 

Sons of Thunder – Our next meeting shall be on Monday evening, January 19th. We will continue our discussion on the articles we read, Russia, Putin, and we might even begin to discuss the books themselves. The location of the meeting is yet to be determined. If you have any questions, please contact Caleb McGee.

 

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.

 

Excellent news from Sue Ingram – Sue’s second post surgery /post treatment MRI revealed no new growth and the small tag which the doctor had been unable to remove had actually shrunk.  Thanks be to God!!  Please continue to remember her and her family in your prayers.  May God continue to guard Sue and bring mercy and healing to her!

 

LIBRARY LINES – We usually think of Tatiana as a Russian name, but our St. Tatiana (1/12) was a Roman citizen in the third century.  She was arrested during a period of persecution and given over to cruel tortures.  Three different times during her imprisonment the power of her prayers destroyed idols in pagan temples. After converting some of her tormentors and suffering many cruelties, she was beheaded.

            St. Nina (1/14) is known as Equal to the Apostles and the Enlightener of Georgia. She was raised in the Faith and learned from her guardian that Christ’s robe, woven by the Theotokos, was kept in Georgia, then a country of pagans. In a dream, The Mother of God appeared to her with a grapevine in her hands and promised to take her there.  She awoke to find a cross made of a grapevine in her own hands.  She traveled throughout the whole country gaining the love of the people and making converts.

            St. John the Hut-Dweller was the son of wealthy parents. Although highly educated, he desired the monastic life and secretly left his parents’ home. He began a life of strict asceticism having only one possession, a gold Gospel book which was given to him by his parents. After six years, he was greatly tempted by the Devil to return to his former life of wealth and ease. He received a blessing to return home, but disguised himself as a beggar and lived in poverty in a hut near his parents’ home. Near death three years later, he revealed his identity to his parents by showing them his Gospel book.  He asked them to bury him dressed in his rags underneath his hut.

            See icons of these saints and their stories in St. John Library.

 

Teen Group Events

 

TODAY -  Sunday, January 11th – NO MEETING

Snowden/Sliger Wedding

 

Next Sunday, January 18th  - Girls’ Outing

 

Pro-life Corner:         

            The 33rd Annual Walk For Life, sponsored by Tennessee Citizens for Life, Inc. will be held on Sunday, January 18, at 1:30 PM, at Central High School auditorium, 306 S. Bellevue.  The Walk commemorates the 36th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe vs Wade decision, legalizing abortion-on-demand.  The featured speaker is Dr. Robert P. N. Shearin, noted pro-life advocate and both a founding Board member and past president of TCCL, Inc.  The Walk is fee of charge and a family event.  All are welcome.

 

 

From the Fathers

            “Our heart is like the darkened earth; the Gospel is like the sun, enlightening and giving life to our hearts. May the true sun of Thy righteousness shine in our hearts, O Lord!”

                                                            St. John of Kronstadt

 

            “When we fulfill the commandments in our outward actions, we receive from the Lord what is appropriate; but any real benefit we gain depends on our inward intention.”

                                                            St. Macarios of Optina

 

            “Beguiling and deceptive is the life of the world, fruitless its labor, perilous its delight, poor its riches, delusive its honors, inconstant, insignificant; and woe to those who hope in its seeming goods: because of this many die without repentance. Blessed and most blessed are those who depart from the world and its desires.”

                                                            Elder Nazarius 

 

            “Do not pray that things may be according to your desires, for they are not always in keeping with the will of God. Better pray as you were taught, saying: ‘Thy will be done’ on me (Matthew 6:10). And ask thus about all things, for He always desires what is good and profitable for your soul, whereas you do not always seek it.

                                                            St. Nilus of Sinai