(901)
274-4119
www.stjohnmemphis.org
V.
Rev.
Pastor
Assistant Pastor
V. Rev. Fr. Basil Cushman Rev.
Fr. Donald Berge
Associate
Pastor
Attached
GREAT
VESPERS ORTHROS and
Saturday,
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of
“…the
Disciples were called Christians first in
Sixth
Sunday of the Great Fast
SUNDAY OF THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF OUR
LORD INTO
Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-14 Gospel: Mark
The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by
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
Sunday - Teen Group, Soup Kitchen,
-
Bridegroom Orthros,
Monday - First
Hour,
-
Bridegroom Orthros,
Tuesday - Third Hour,
- Men’s Lunch,
- Bridegroom Orthros,
Wednesday - Third Hour,
- Holy Unction,
Thursday - Third Hour,
- Vesperal Divine Liturgy,
Our last Lenten meal will follow this
service, please be sure to sign-up.
- Passion Gospel Orthros,
Friday - Royal Hours,
-
Vespers,
-
Lamentations Orthros,
Saturday -
Vesperal Divine Liturgy,
-
PASCHAL VIGIL,
Sunday -
Agape Vespers,
Holy Unction Wednesday, April 15th,
PRIEST: All DEACONS: Dns. Charles &
Tim
READER: Subdeacon
Vesperal Divine Liturgy Thursday, April 16th,
PRIEST: Fr.
Nicholas HOMILY:
Fr. Nicholas
DEACONS: Dn.
James READER:
Billy Scrantom
HOLY BREAD:
Holy Saturday Divine Liturgy Saturday, April 18th,
PRIEST: Fr.
Basil HOMILY: Fr.
Basil
DEACONS: Dns. James & Charles READER:
HOLY BREAD: Mindy Williams USHER:
ALTAR SERVERS: Any who can
PASCHAL VIGIL Saturday, April 18th,
PRIEST: Fr.
John HOMILY:
Fr. John
DEACONS: Dns. Tim & James READER:
HOLY BREAD:
ALTAR SERVERS: Ethan, J. Morgan, Luke L., Deon
COMMEMORATIONS
April 12: Basil the Confessor, bishop of Parium;
Venerable Anthusa of Constantinople; Venerable Akakios the Younger, founder of Kafsokalyvia
skete on Athos.
April 13: Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome; Martyr Eleutherios of Persia; Martyrs Zoilos
of Rome and Theodosios; Hieromartyr
Artemon, presbyter of Laodicea in Syria.
April 14: Apostles Aristarchos, Pudens and Trophymos of the
Seventy; Martyr Thomais of Alexandria; New-martyr Demetrios of the Peloponnesos.
April 15: Martyr Crescens of Myra in
April 16: Martyr Leonidas, Charissa, Niki, Galina and Thodota of Corinth; Virgin-martyrs Irene, Agape and Chionia of Illyria; New-martyr Michael of Smyrna;
Venerable-martyr Christopher of Dionysiou monastery
on Athos; Hieromarytr Nikita of St. Anne Skete on Athos.
April 17: Hieromartyr Simeon, bishop
in Persia; Martyr Adrian of Corinth; Agapitos, pope of Rome, Makarios, archbishop of Corinth; Venerable Zosimas of Solovky; uncovering of
the relics of Venerable Alexander of Svir.
April 18: Venerable John, disciple of Gregory of Decapolis;
Venerable Euthymios and Athanasios
of Aegina; Cosmas the Confessor, bishop of Chalcedon;
New-martyr John of Epiros; Venerable Euthymios, enlightener of Karelia.
April 19: Hieromartyr Paphnoutios of Jerusalem; Tryphon,
patriarch of Constantinople; Venerable-martyr Agathangelos
of Esphigmenou monastery on Athos; Venerable Simeon
of Philotheou monastery on Athos; Venerable John of
Old Lavra in Palestine.
**For reading material on the
saints for this week, visit the display in the church library.
DAILY SCRIPTURE
Sunday Philippians 4:4-9 John 12:1-18
Monday Job 1:1-12 Matthew
24:3-35
Tuesday Job
Wednesday Job 2:1-10 Matthew
26:6-16
Thursday Job 38:1-23,
42:1-5 Isaiah
50:4-11
Friday Job 42:12-16 Isaiah
52:13-54:1
Saturday I Corinthians
5:6-8; Galatians
Sunday Acts 1:1-8 John
1:1-17
-
ALMS-GIVING –
Diocese of
Michael
Bittle Fund – Holy Trinity Orthodox Church –
Pray for our catechumens: In
Please remember in your
prayers: His
No Catechumen and Inquirers’ class this week.
SOUP KITCHEN – TODAY! We will serve at the
soup kitchen today. Have lunch here at the church and then come help us help
others!
There will be a group leaving
from here at the church around
Sons of
Thunder – The men’s book club will next meet on Monday, April 27th at
Letters
to schools - Should you desire to take your children out of
school for services and activities here at the church on Holy Friday, letters
from Fr. John Troy requesting that the school excuse your child/children are
available on the counter in the church office.
REVISIONS IN SCHEDULE of Paschal services – 1). We have moved the start time for the Paschal service back to
2). The Bright Week Divine Liturgy has been moved to Wednesday night at
Murphy and
Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar
Upcoming Dates to note:
First Friday Lunch ~
May 1st
Women’s Teaching ~ May 7th
Bridal
Shower for Sally Elliott – May 17th,
At the home of
Parish Life Conference - This
year the PLC is in
Several have asked, “What is a parish life
conference?” In short, it is a diocesan
meeting of clergy and laity from all the parishes in the diocese, during which
we pray, visit, plan, and make new Orthodox friends as well as strengthen old
friendships. Some of the regular events
include:
Our parish is scheduled to host the PLC in 2011, so it
would good for as many of our parishioners as possible to attend one to get a
sense of what it is about. You can come
for a day, two days, or the entire time.
Consider how you would like to participate.
Worship and liturgical reminders: Except
in emergency cases, no confessions will be heard this week after Holy Unction
on Wednesday night.
LIBRARY
LINES – Are you looking for an
edifying experience during Holy Week for your family? Other than praying at services, it’s hard to
find one better than reading to and with your children. (As always, good children’s books speak to
adults!) Look for these books on the
cart at St. John Library:
Children’s Bible Reader Entry of Our
Lord into
Esther’s Easter Dress The
Cross on the Hill
Great and Holy Friday Great and
Holy Saturday
Halia’s Wooden Cross Pascha, the Feast of Feasts
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – If you have been collecting loose change for the
Food For Hungry People effort, please convert your
money to a check and note on it that it is for FFHP. If you have not been
collecting change, but would like to give to this worthy cause, please feel
free to give alms in this way by just noting that it is for Food For Hungry People. He who oppresses the poor man insults his
Maker, but he who is kind to the needed honors Him. - Proverbs 14:31
Dates
to remember:
April 19 – PASCHA –
May 28 – Ascension June
7 – Pentecost
June 10-14 – Parish Life Conference
Teen Group Events
Today,
April 12th – Soup Kitchen
Next
week, PASCHA - Agape Vespers & Afternoon Picnic
THE SVS VINE
- Copies of “The SVS Vine,” the annual report for St. Vladimir Seminary are
available in the parish hall.
Church Website – We would like to be sure everyone knows that there is an up-to-date calendar on the church website. You can even click on a particular event and there will sometimes be additional details. This can be particularly helpful in the coming week with our extra Holy Week services. http://www.stjohnmemphis.org/calendar.htm
Pro-life Corner - It is helpful to be informed about childhood
development in the womb and the various procedures used by abortionists at different
stages of a child’s development. As
difficult as it may be to read, we have posted on the bulletin board a one-page
sheet on childhood development at 10, 11, and 16 weeks and the abortive
procedures used at each stage.
HOLY WEEK
REMINDERS:
Sign-up sheet for Paschal Vigil (from the end of Holy
Friday vespers {4:00 PM} to the beginning of the Paschal service {11:00 PM}) –
The sign-up sheet is in the parish hall for those wishing to participate in the
vigil that is kept from the “Taking Down” Vespers on Holy Friday until the
Paschal Service. Sign up early to get
the time you want!
Preparation for Holy Unction – Remember, we prepare for
Holy Unction, one of the Holy Mysteries, just as we should for receiving the Eucharist. We need to have fasted and to have kept a
confessional practice, which should have included a confession during Great
Lent. The Holy Mystery of Unction will
be given to those prepared on the night of Holy Wednesday, as is our tradition.
Holy Thursday Divine
Liturgy and meal –
We will celebrate the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Holy
Thursday (April 16) at
Epitaphios Canopy decoration - Those who would like to help decorate the funeral bier are encouraged to
bring flowers and greenery Thursday night (April 16) or Friday morning (April
17). You may leave your flowers in the
room next to the kitchen. Cut flowers, stems from flowering shrubs, trailing
ivy -- all can be used. Any flowers will be greatly appreciated. We will decorate the bier following Royal
Hours (
Sign-up sheet for Agape Vespers – Please sign up if you
plan to be at our picnic following Agape Vespers. We need this information to know how much
food to order. Thanks.
Sign-up sheet for
pizza party
- On the evening of Wednesday, April 22nd, at
Join us at the
PASCHAL FEAST
Following the Paschal Divine Liturgy
Please bring enough
food for your family and a guest!
Paschal
Celebration – Brief reminders
Food - Following the
Paschal service (early morning of April 19), we will celebrate together as we
all bring our baskets and favorite foods to share with one another. For those new to the parish (and to
remind us all), prior to the Paschal liturgy, individuals and families prepare
a basket of their favorite foods, especially those from which they have fasted
during the fast. Those items that don't
need refrigeration or warming are placed on the solea
prior to the liturgy. Other items are
taken to the kitchen. Following the
liturgy, special blessing prayers for those foods are prayed, and we then move
to the parish hall for our Paschal celebration where we share together in the
joy of the Resurrection!
Clean up - Everyone who is
willing to help with the clean-up process following the Paschal celebration is needed and most welcome. When
you leave the celebration, please take your food and your dish with you to aid
our clean-up. If you wish to leave your food, transfer it to a disposable
plate which should be available.
Alcohol consumption -
Remember, no alcohol will be served or
consumed on Church property by persons under 21 years of age, even with
parental consent. This is the law in our state and public
institutions must adhere to it. (Obviously the Holy Gifts are an
exception to this.) Parents are asked to inform their adult children
under 21 of this rule and to supervise their behavior.
Agape
Vespers (afternoon of April 19 at
The
EASTER EGG HUNT
following Agape Vespers is for children in the 4th Grade and
under. They should bring a dozen plastic
candy-filled eggs per child and a basket for hunting the eggs! Please put eggs in the room next to the
kitchen before Vespers. NO HARD-BOILED
EGGS, PLEASE, for they will not be hidden. Contact
From
the Fathers
“A fearful thing is sin,
fearful, and the ruin of the soul, and the mischief
oftentimes through its excess has overflowed and attacked men's bodies also.
For since for the most part when the soul is diseased we feel no pain, but if
the body receive though but a little hurt, we use every exertion to free it
from its infirmity, because we are sensible of the infirmity, therefore God
oftentimes punishes the body for the transgressions of the soul, so that by
means of the scourging of the inferior part, the better part also may receive
some healing. -
“The enemy of our salvation
especially strives to draw our heart and mind away from God when we are
about to serve Him, and endeavors to adulterously attach our heart to something irrelevant.
Be always, every moment, with God, especially when you pray to Him. If you
are inconstant, you will fall away from life, and will cast yourself into
sorrow . . .” - St. John of Kronstadt
“Blessed the one who farms
fair and good thoughts each day and by hope conquers the wicked passion of
despondency, by which the Lord’s ascetics are warred upon.” - St. Ephraim the Syrian
“Every man should examine
himself and watch himself with good judgment, lest he rely on hope alone
without mourning and humility in God; nor on humility
and tears unless followed by hope and spiritual joy.” - St. Simeon the New Theologian
“What we need is a little
labor! Let us endure this labor that we may obtain mercy.’ - St. Dorotheos
of