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

 

The Sunday of Forgiveness

The Expulsion of Adam from the Bliss of Paradise

March 1, 2009

Epistle:  Romans 13:11-14:4     Gospel:  Matthew 6:14-21

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Laura Graham.

 

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                                      March 1st – March 8th (The Great Fast)

Sunday            - Forgiveness Vespers, 6:30 p.m.

            - No Teen Group or Young Adult Group

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

            - Great Compline with Great Canon, 6:30 p.m.

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

            - Men’s Lunch, 11:45 a.m.

            - No Choir Practice or Catechumen/Inquirer’s Class

            - Great Compline with Great Canon, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday     - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

            - Presanctified Liturgy, 6:30 p.m.

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

            - Great Compline with Great Canon, 6:30 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.

            - Akathist, 6:30 p.m.

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

Sunday            - Divine Liturgy at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 10:00 a.m.  

 

 

Schedule for Presanctified Liturgy                                                  Wednesday, March 4th

PRIEST:           Fr. John                                                DEACON:       Dn. Tim           

READER:        Subdeacon Joshua Armitage

 

Schedule of Divine Liturgy                                                                      Sunday, March 8th

PRIEST:                       All                                            READER:        Annunciation to read    

DEACONS:                 Dns. Tim & James                    HOLY BREAD:           Margie Yarbro

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

 

 

Dates to remember:

March 1 – Forgiveness vespers in evening                      April 19 – PASCHA

March 8 – Sunday services at Annunciation                    May 28 – Ascension

March 25 – Feast of the Annunciation                            June 7 – Pentecost

April 12 – Palm Sunday                                     June 10-14 – Parish Life Conference

 

St. John Chrysostom on the benefits and importance for Christians of Scripture Reading:  This is the cause of all evils, the not knowing the Scriptures. We go into battle without arms, and how are we to come off safe?” (Hom. IX  On Colossians)

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

 

March 1: Venerable-martyr Eudokia of Heliopolis; Venerable Domnina of Syria; Martyrs Markellos and Anthony of Pamphylia; Venerable Agapios of Vatopedi monastery on Athos; Venerable David of Wales, bishop of Menevia.

 

March 2: Theodotos, bishop of Cyrenia; Martyr Hesychios the Senator; Virgin-martyr Euthanlia of Sicily; Arsenios, bishop of Tver.

 

March 3: Martyrs Eutropios, Kleonikos, and Basilikos of Amasea; Hieromartyr Theodoretos of Antioch.

 

March 4: Venerable Gerasimos of the Jordan; Gregory, bishop of Constantios in Cyprus; Martyrs Paul and Juliana of Syria; Daniel, prince of Moscow, the wonder-worker.

 

March 5: Hieromartyr Konon of Isauria; Martyrs Archelaos and his 152 companions in Egypt; New-martyr John the Bulgarian.

 

March 6: The 42 martyrs of Amoria in Phrygia; discovery of the precious cross and nails by St. Helena; Venerable Fridolin, enlightener of the Upper Rhine.

 

March 7: The Hieromartyrs of Cherson: Basil, Ephraim, Eugene, Kapiton, Elpidios, Agathodoros and Aetherios; Venerable Laurence; Venerable Paul the Simple, disciple of Venerable Anthony the Great.

 

March 8: Theophylaktos, bishop of Nicomedia; Apostle Hermas of the Seventy.

 

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       March 1 – March 9

            Sunday                         Romans 13:11-14:4                    Matthew 16:14-21

            Monday                        Genesis 1:1-13                           Proverbs 1:1-20

            Tuesday                        Genesis 1:14-23                         Proverbs 1:20-33

            Wednesday                   Genesis 1:24-2:3                        Proverbs 2:1-22

            Thursday                      Genesis 2:4-19                           Proverbs 3:1-18

            Friday                           Genesis 2:20-3:20                      Proverbs 3:19-34

            Saturday                       Hebrews 1:1-12                         Mark 2:23-3:5

            Sunday                         Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-12:2         John 1:43-51

 

 

- ALMS-GIVING –

St. John Alms Fund                            St. John Camping Fund

St. John Food Pantry             St. John Seminarian Fund

Diocese of Miami and the Southeast Mission Fund

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

St. Paul Mission Station – Tupelo, MS

 

 

 

Pray for our catechumens:  In Memphis - Maria Cartagena, Maria Brackey, Lisa Martin, Barbara McWilliams, Jill Healy, Priscilla Neale and Misty Duke. In Tupelo - Shane Davis, Justin & Tifphanie Franks (Paris), Justin & Brandy Williams, Leah Hardy, Adam Clay, Casey & Jessica Hardy (Davis) and Justin Stevens. In Hernando – Donald Estes.

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, Melissa White (pregnant), Ann Hicks (Dianna Hildebrand’s mother), Sue Ingram, Charles Ingram, Ted & Patty Greathouse (Shelley Snowden’s parents), Laura Greathouse, Reuben & Earlene Snowden (Gene’s parents), Joyce Bittle, and David Williams (Jill Healy’s son-in-law).

 

ST. JOHN COMMUNITY:

 

Catechumen and Inquirers’ classes – Please note, there will be no class this week.

 

Sons of Thunder (Men’s Book Club) – The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Dn. James Elliot, Memphis. Please bring something (Lenten food and/or drink) to share. For the Life of the World by Fr. Alexander Schmemann is our next reading selection.

            If you would like to know more, or have any questions, please contact Caleb McGee. **please note correction of the date from last week’s bulletin.

 

MEN NEEDED -- If you are a man and you can read music, please see Margaret Elliott.

 

New Church Directories - Updated church directories are now available in the fellowship hall. Please be sure to pick one up. Please remember that these directories are for personal use only.   – Meribeth

 

Colonel Mike Fuller of the Memphis Police Department left a number of handouts about personal safety, crime prevention, and other topics following his presentation Wednesday night.  They are in the room next to the kitchen and free for your taking.

 

Important Lenten reminders:

Great Lent starts tonight with Forgiveness Vespers

 

We have services every night for Clean Week, this 1st week of Lent

 

Next Sunday, services are at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 573 N. Highland

 

There will be no Wednesday evening meal this week.

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

~ AWSJ First Friday Prayers/Brown Bag Lunch ~ Friday, March 6th

This Friday is our next First Friday Lunch. We will pray sixth hour at noon and then enjoy lunch together in the fellowship hall. Drinks will be provided, please bring your lunch.

 

~ Women’s Teaching ~   Upcoming Dates ~ March 12th

 

AWSJ Sweets & Cheesy Treats Sale Success!

We were able to raise $681.50 to send to Al Kafa’at Foundation in Beirut, Lebanon. Thank you to all the ladies who donated items to be sold last Sunday and all of those who purchased goodies!!

 

 

Lenten CDs – We have a couple of nice CDs in the bookstore that would be wonderful accompaniments to your Lenten journey. If you have any questions regarding the CDs or are looking for recommendations, please feel free to contact Sh. Corinne Elliott.

 

Handouts for Great Lent - There are copies of a number of handouts available downstairs:

 “The Rules of Fasting” - by Bp KALLISTOS                            Fasting Guidelines

The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian                              Reflections on the Akathist Hymn

Daily Scriptural Reading, entitled “Spiritual Calendar”                  The Sundays of Great Lent

The prayer of repentance used at Forgiveness Vespers

“The Four Canonical Fasting Seasons” – by Bp BASIL

Comments on the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts        

 

A REVISED SCHEDULE of Lenten services is downstairs.

 

Worship and liturgical reminders:     On fasting for the Presanctified liturgies, and small children – (Repeated from last week) A EUCHARISTIC FAST (meaning the period we abstain from all food and drink and certain activities in preparation for receiving Holy Communion) begins the preceding midnight for both a morning and an evening reception (or, for those of a weak constitution preparing for an evening reception, following a light breakfast or even a light lunch on the day of reception, whichever is blessed by one's father confessor) and it ends with the reception of the Holy Eucharist.

            Regarding reception of communion at the Presanctified liturgies – Remember, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is a penitential service.  Its character is not a “celebration” as are the liturgies of Ss. John Chrysostom and Basil.  The Holy Mysteries are served as a nourishment and a strengthening for those who seriously keeping the fast.  Consequently, it is not “necessary” that every child receive in those services, since most small children are not keeping the fast.  If you have questions, let me know.    - Fr John

 

 

 

LIBRARY LINES This week we honor several simple men who are icons to us of humility. Appropriately, we commemorate them right before Lent.

            St. Paul the Simple (3/7) discovered his wife in sin with another and dispassionately left her.  He went into the desert and begged St. Anthony to accept him as a monk.  St. Anthony refused him because of his age and the harshness of the life he was seeking. The simple man remained outside his hut for three days saying he would rather die than go elsewhere. Finally he admitted the saint, testing him arduously. He lived a long life and performed many miracles. St. John of the Ladder said “he was the rule and type of blessed simplicity…”

            St. John the Bulgarian (3/5) as a boy was influenced by his Moslem friends and renounced Christ. At age sixteen he came to his senses, fled to Mt. Athos and placed himself under the direction of an elder.  Three years later, he journeyed to a mosque in Constantinople, publicly prayed, declared his devotion to Christ and renounced Mohammed. He was beheaded at age 19 in 1784.

            Thursday we commemorate St. Konon the Gardener (3/5).   Actually, our Holy, Wise Church honors several other gardeners, among them are St. Kristo (2/12) and St. Phocas (9/22). How appropriate it is that we honor men who humbly work the earth to bring forth food, herbs and flowers for sustenance for our bodies and beauty for our souls. St. Konan was born in Nazareth and died a martyr’s death around 250 A.D. St. Phocas aided the poor with his produce. He accidently happened upon men sent to arrest him for being a Christian. He gave them hospitality, made arrangements for his possessions to be given to the needy, and dug his own grave. When his captors saw this, they tried to spare him, but he refused and was beheaded.  St. Kristo the Albanian was also beheaded for refusing to renounce Christ.

            Looking for fasting recipes?  Look at the cookbooks on top of the reference section.

 

Teen Group Events

 

No meeting next week – Forgiveness Vespers

 

SUMMER CAMPS - Registration for Camp St. Thekla is now open; applications are being accepted. While there should be enough space this year, you should send in your applications as soon as possible. There are two sessions this year, and when you send in your applications may determine which week your child/children are able to go. The information for camp, as well as the forms, can be found here: http://www.campstthekla.org.

Remember, Joshua is the head counselor for Camp St. Thekla.  Additionally, applications are now being received for summer camping at Antiochian Village as well as our other camps.  Remember:  DO NOT LET MONEY ISSUES KEEP YOU FROM REGISTERING YOUR CHILDREN!  Besides scholarships given by the Order of St. Ignatius, we have parish funds set aside for camping attendance.  Simply let Joshua or Fr. John know if your child needs financial assistance.  The earlier you register the better, for the camps do fill up. 

 

FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY – Hunger is one of the world’s most pressing problems – affection over 1 billion people. It is an intensely personal problem as well.

Behind the grim statistics are children and families loved by God, who are deprived of their right to a full life because they don’t have enough to eat. 

 

“When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your

right hand is doing. That your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father

who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”  Matthew 6:3-4

 

From the Fathers

 

“For now is the time to labour for the Lord, for salvation is found in the day of affliction: for it is written: ‘In your patience gain ye your souls.’ (Luke 21:19)”

- Abba Isidore of Skete 

 

“Blessed the one who is always full of spiritual joy and has not grown slack in bearing the Lord's good yoke, for he will be crowned with glory.”

- St. Ephraim the Syrian

 

“Blessed (is) the one who loves good and fair words and hates base and destructive speech, because he will not become a prisoner of the evil one.”                       - St. Ephraim the Syrian

 

“When Scripture says ‘He will reward every man according to his works’ (Matt. 16:27), do not imagine that works in themselves merit either hell or the kingdom. On the contrary, Christ rewards each man according to whether his works are done with faith or without faith in Himself; and He is not a dealer bound by contract, but God our Creator and Redeemer.”            - St. Mark the Ascetic