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

 

Third Sunday of the Great Fast

Adoration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross

March 22, 2009

Epistle:  Hebrews 4:14-5:6        Gospel:  Mark 8:34-9:1

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Reem Mansour.

 

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 22nd – March 29th (The Great Fast)

Sunday            - Vespers, 4:30 p.m.

            - Teen Group, Meeting for Middlers, 5:15 p.m.

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

            - Great Compline, 6:30 p.m.

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

            - Men’s Lunch, 11:45 a.m.

            - No Catechumen/Inquirer’s Class

            - Great Vespers, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday     - Divine Liturgy for the feast of Annunciation, 9:00 a.m.

                                    Lenten Breakfast Coffee Hour to follow

                        - Great Vespers, 6:00 p.m.     

                        Lenten meal to follow ~ please sign-up

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.

            - Akathist, 6:30 p.m.

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

Sunday            - Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Church School, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.  

 

Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Annunciation               Wednesday, March 25th, 9:00 a.m.

PRIEST:           Fr. John                                    HOMILY:                    Fr. John

DEACON:       Dns. Tim & James                    PROSPHORA:            Kh. Pamela Mashburn

READER:        Owen White                             ALTAR SERVERS:     Any who can

COFFEE HOUR:         Kh. Susan Cushman & Sh. Corinne Elliott

 

Schedule of Divine Liturgy                                                                    Sunday, March 29th  

PRIEST:                       Fr. John                                    HOMILY:        Fr. John

DEACONS:                 Dns. Charles & Tim                  READER:        Billy Scrantom

HOLY BREAD:           Sarah Hodges                           USHER:           John Sneed

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

COFFEE HOUR:         Nawar & Reem Mansour, Karen Bell

 

Dates to remember:

            March 25 – Feast of the Annunciation   May 28 – Ascension

            April 12 – Palm Sunday                                    June 7 – Pentecost

            April 19 – PASCHA                                        June 10-14 – Parish Life Conference

                                   

 

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

March 22: Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra; Martyr Kallinika of Rome; Venerable-martyr Euthymios of Prodromou Skete on Athos.

 

March 23: Venerable-martyr Nikon of Sicily and with him 199 disciples; Venerable-martyr Luke of St. Anne Skete on Athos.

 

March 24: Venerable Zechariah the recluse and Artemon, bishop of Seleucia; New-hieromartyr Partheios, patriarch of Constantinople.

 

March 25: The Annunciation of the Theotokos.

 

March 26: The Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel; Stephen the Confessor.

 

March 27: Martyr Matrona of Thessalonika; Martyrs Philetos and Lydia; Paul, bishop of Corinth; Venerable Euthychios.

 

March 28: Venerable Hilarion the New; Apostle Herodion of the Seventy; Venerable Stephen of Triglia.

 

March 29: Mark, Bishop of Arethusa; Martyr Cyril the deacon of Heliopolis; Martyrs Jonah and Barachisios; Eustathios the Confessor, bishop of Bithynia.

 

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

 

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       March 22 – March 29      

            Sunday                         Hebrews 4:14-5:6                      Mark 8:34-9:1

            Monday                        Genesis 8:21-9:7                        Proverbs 11:19-12:6

            Tuesday                        Genesis 9:8-17                           Proverbs 12:8-22

            Wednesday                   Genesis 9:18-10:1                      Proverbs 12:23-13:9

            Thursday                      Genesis 10:32-11:9                     Proverbs 13:19-14:6

            Friday                           Genesis 12:1-7                           Proverbs 14:15-26

            Saturday                       Hebrews 6:9-12                         Mark 7:31-37

            Sunday                         Hebrews 6:13-20                       Mark 9:17-31

 

 

 

- 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, Misty Duke and David Twombly. In Tupelo - Shane Davis, 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 – Will NOT meet this week.

 

LENTEN MEAL – There will be a Lenten meal after Vespers this Wednesday evening. Please contact the church office by Tuesday morning if you plan to attend. 274-4119 or meribeth@stjohnmemphis.org

 

A REVISED SCHEDULE of Lenten services is in the parish hall.

 

SOUP KITCHEN – Mark your calendars!  We will serve at the soup kitchen on Western Easter, April 12. This will be the Sunday we celebrate the Triumphal Entry and there will be a potluck lunch after the Liturgy. Have lunch here at the church and then come help us help others!

 

Church Spring cleaning – we will again have a church cleaning day on April 4 from 9:00 to 1:00.  Please contact Meribeth (274-4119 or Meribeth@stjohnmemphis.org) if you can participate, even for only a portion of the time.

 

There will be a procession with the cross at the end of the

Divine Liturgy today as we remember the instrument on which

death was destroyed y our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

 

Pro-life Corner:  “Nobody is a nobody; nobody is unwanted.  All are wanted by God, and therefore to be respected, protected and cherished by us,” wrote Father Richard John Neuhaus.  Is this not the message of Christ dying and rising – not just for certain people, but for all?” 

 

 

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

TODAY  - There will be a short AWSJ meeting next Sunday, March 22nd

We will meet in the room next to the kitchen.

 

 

Worship and liturgical reminders:

     Remember that it is customary for all Orthodox Christians to make their confession during this period (as well as other times during the years as needed and suggested by their confessor).  The “Little Red Prayer Book” has a very nice guide to help one prepare.  We also have a second, and equally profitable, booklet for the examination of conscience as one prepares.  Copies are in the parish hall with the other Lenten material.  Please take one as you desire.

 

FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – There are Food for Hungry People coin collection boxes available in the parish hall for you to take home and collect loose change. He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done. Prov.19:17

 

We continue to be very blessed as a parish to support St. Paul Skete and Mother Nektaria by our financial gifts, prayers, and offerings of physical help.  Additionally, we provide a small measure of support to St. Barbara Monastery and Mother Victoria.  Included in the bulletin is a very nice encouragement for the Lenten season from Mother Victoria. (This letter was included in the March 8th bulletin, but we had a request to run it again).   

 

Lenten Alms-Giving – St. John Food Pantry

For the remaining weeks of the Great Fast we have an opportunity to add to the food pantry. There is a bucket just outside the food pantry door in which to leave these specific items:

Week 1 – Sunday, March 15th – Jars of Peanut Butter & Boxes of Crackers

Week 2 – Sunday, March 22nd – Canned Goods - Soup, Chili, Meat & Beans

Week 3 – Sunday, March 29th – Cans of Fruit and Individual Serving Fruit/Applesauce

Week 4 – Sunday, April 5th – Toiletry Items – Toilet Paper, Lotion, Soap

Week 5 – Sunday, April 20th – Rice, Beans, Pasta & Boxed Meals

 

 

St. John Chrysostom on the benefits and importance for Christians of Scripture Reading:  Ignorance of the Scriptures by Christians is a disgrace. "Is it not strange that those who sit in the marketplace tell the names, and races, and  cities and talents of charioteers and dancers, even accurately state the good and bad qualities of horses, while those who assemble in this place [the church]  understand nothing of what is taking place here and even are ignorant of the number of the [sacred] Books?" (Hom. 32 On John)

 

 

LIBRARY LINES – The Cross is the focus of our attention many times throughout the year. In September we commemorate a specific event, the finding of the true Cross. During Lent we remember the great significance the Cross plays in our salvation. In Great Compline, we beseech the “invincible and ineffable power of the precious and life-giving Cross, forsake not us sinners.”  Today is the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross.  We look to it and find encouragement in our journey at the halfway point through Lent. Read about the history and traditions surrounding feast days of the Cross in A Dictionary of Greek Orthodoxy, Great Lent by Alexander Schmemann and Sermons on the Major Holy Days by Anthony M. Coniaris.

            Do you know why the Platytera is in the apse?  You will find the answer to this question and most of your others in the St. John Library which devotes a whole category of books to the Most Holy Theotokos.  In honor of the Annunciation, these as well as the above mentioned books will all be displayed this week on the cart. (Hint: Platytera is the icon of Mary on the wall behind the altar.)

            By now many of you have read "Building Faith by Reading" in the March issue of The Word. In it, Maria Khourey champions the cause of reading Orthodox books to your children and godchildren. Little does she realize she's preaching to the choir at St. John!! For those of you who don't know, St. John Library owns nearly all of the popular Christina Series and the others she mentions.

            St. John is blessed to own these and many more beautifully written and illustrated children's books. Read them for free from the library and purchase copies for your family and as gifts for godchildren in our well-stocked bookstore!

 

Teen Group Events

 

Today, Sunday, March 22nd – Meeting for Middlers, 5:15 PM

 

Next Sunday, March 29th – Bible Bowl Meeting

 

 

 

SUMMER CAMPS - Registration for Camp St. Thekla & Antiochian Village 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. The information for the camps, as well as the forms, can be found at: http://www.campstthekla.org & http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html

            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. 

            Also, our southeast regional summer camp is Camp St. Thekla. Remember, Joshua is the head counselor for Camp St. Thekla.   We will again have many of our children attending this year.  As the camping program develops, a concurrent effort to strengthen its foundation financially is being made. Please see enclosed flyer for an opportunity to contribute.

 

From the Fathers

“Let us charge into the good fight with joy and love without being afraid of our enemies. Though unseen themselves, they can look at the face of our soul, and if they see it altered by fear, they take up arms against us all the more fiercely. For the cunning creatures have observed that we are scared.  So let us take up arms against them courageously.  No one will fight with a resolute fighter.”  - St. John Climacus

 

“Blessed the one who in accordance with God’s will loves self-mastery and has not been condemned, thanks to his stomach, as a pleasure seeker and defiled, for such a one will be magnified by the Lord.”  - St. Ephraim the Syrian

 

“But if a person is constantly mindful of God, he will rejoice: as the psalmist says, ‘I remembered God, and I rejoiced’ (Psalm 77:3). For when the intellect is gladdened by the remembrance of God, then it forgets the afflictions of this world, places its hope in Him, and is no longer troubled or anxious.”    

- St. Peter of Damaskos

 

“Walk before God in simplicity, and not in subtleties of the mind. Simplicity brings faith; but subtle and intricate speculations bring conceit; and conceit brings withdrawal from God.”            - St. Isaac the Syrian