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

 

 

GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA

April 19, 2009

Epistle:  Acts 1:1-8       Gospel:  John 1:1-17

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Jack Turner.

 

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                                       April 19th – April 26th (The Great Fast)

Sunday            - Agape Vespers, 3:00 p.m. Picnic & Egg Hunt to follow.

Monday          - No First Hour

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

            - Men’s Lunch, 11:45 a.m.

            - Catechumen & Inquirers Class, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday     - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

            - Divine Liturgy for St. George, 6:30 p.m.

                        There will be a pizza party following this service – please sign-up.

Thursday        - No Third Hour

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         - Teen Group, Basketball with teen group from Annunciation

                        - 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 St. George                                         Wednesday, April 22nd 6:30 p.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. Nicholas                             HOMILY:        Fr. Nicholas

DEACONS:                 Dns. Tim & James                    READER:        Mickey Hodges

HOLY BREAD:           Judy Terry                                ALTAR SERVERS:     Any who can

PIZZA PARTY:           In need of volunteers to clean-up

 

Divine Liturgy                                                                       Sunday, April 26th, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. John                                    HOMILY:        Fr. John

DEACONS:                 Dns. Charles & Tim                  READER:        John Cameron

HOLY BREAD:           Christi Yadron                          USHER:           John McGee

ALTAR SERVERS:     Joshua, J. Morgan, Alex, Benji

 

 

 

Dates to remember:

May 28 – Ascension

 

June 7 – Pentecost

 

June 10-14 – Parish Life Conference

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

 

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.

 

April 20: Venerable Theodore ‘the hair-shirt wearer’; Venerable Athanasios and Joasaph of Meteora; Apostle Zaccheos, bishop of Caesarea.

 

April 21: Hieromartyr Januarios, bishop of Benevento; Venerable Maximos and Anastasios.

 

April 22: Theodore Sykeote, bishop of Anastasiopolis; Apostle Nathanael; Martyr Nearchos; Vsevolod, prince of Psov; Martyr Epipodios of Lyons.

 

April 23: Great-martyr George the Trophy-bearer; Martyr Alexandra the Empress; Martyr Glykerios of Nicomedia; New-martyrs George of Ptolemais and Lazarus of Bulgaria.

 

April  24: Venerable Elizabeth the wonder-worker of Constantinople; Martyr Sabbas the General (‘Stratelates’) of Rome; Hieromartyrs Phylikos, Fourtunatos and Achilleos; New-martyrs Luke, Akylina, Nicholas and George; Iorest and Sabbas Brancovici, metropolitans of Ardeal and confessors in Romania; Martyr Alexander of Lyons.

 

April 25: Apostle and Evangelist Mark; Martyr Niki; Macedonios, patriarch of Constantinople; New-martyr George.

 

April 26: Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Amasea; Venerable Glaphyra and George; Stephen, bishop of Perm; Ioanikios of Devitch.

 

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       April 19 – April 26

            Sunday                         Acts 1:1-8                                 John 1:1-17

            Monday                        Acts 1:12-17, 21-26                   John 1:18-28

            Tuesday                        Acts 2:14-21                             Luke 24:12-35

            Wednesday                   Acts 2:22-36                             John 1:35-51

            Thursday                      Acts 2:38-43                             John 3:1-15

            Friday                           Acts 3:1-8                                 John 2:12-22

            Saturday                       Acts 3:11-16                             John 3:22-33

            Sunday                         Acts 5:12-20                             John 20-19-31

 

 

- 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),  Effie Johnson (Kh. Susan’s mother), Mary Clark, Hannah Snowden (pregnant), Shanna Massouh (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, David Williams (Jill Healy’s son-in-law), Allen Sudduth (Paul’s father), Helen Robbins (Sheila Sudduth’s mother), Paul Sudduth, Brendan Healy (Jill’s son), and Eliot Twombly.

 

ST. JOHN COMMUNITY:

 

Catechumen and Inquirers’ class will meet again this week on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

 

Sons of Thunder – The men’s book club will meet Monday, April 27th at 7:00 p.m. We will meet at the home of Brandon Maas (directions available in the parish hall). We will continue reading For the Life of the World by Fr. Alexander Schmemann, with a special focus on the appendix, “Worship in a Secular Age”, which can be found in later editions of the book.

 

REVISIONS IN SCHEDULE - The Bright Week Divine Liturgy has been moved to Wednesday night at 6:30.  We will be celebrating the Feast of St. George, a feast we often miss.  This will take the place of the previously scheduled liturgy on Thursday night.

 

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. http://www.stjohnmemphis.org/calendar.htm

 

Sign-up sheet for pizza party - On the evening of Wednesday, April 22nd, at 6:30 PM we will celebrate the feast of St. George (Bright Thursday).  Following the liturgy we will again have a pizza party. Please sign-up in the fellowship hall so that we know how much pizza to order. We still need volunteers to help clean-up after this meal, please let Meribeth know if you can help with this.

 

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

Upcoming Dates to note:

 

First Friday Lunch ~ Friday, May 1st after Sixth Hour in the fellowship hall

 

Women’s Teaching ~ Thursday, May 7th at 10:00 a.m.

At the home of Anne Dugan

 

Book Club – Monday, May 11th at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Kh. Pamela Mashburn

The Heart of the Family by Elizabeth Goudge

 

Bridal Shower for Sally Elliott – May 17th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

At the home of Reem Mansour ~ please contact Sarah Hodges for group gift.

 

Parish Life Conference - This year the PLC is in Jackson, MS, and is an easy trip for all our parishioners.  Detailed information on registration, as well as other information on the conference, is in the parish hall.

 

            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:

  • Homilies from various priests throughout the diocese following each vespers service and divine liturgy;
  • The “Bible Bowl,” where teams from the various parishes compete against one another answering questions from a specific book from the Scripture;
  • The Oratorical competition, where teens give orations which are judged, with the winner representing the diocese at a national competition;
  • Display of all the works produced by the children of the diocese for the creative festivals;
  • Various meetings for the Antiochian Women, Fellowship of St. John (each parish), Teen SOYO, clergy, Order of St. Ignatius, etc.;
  • Several meals together, including a “grand banquet.” 
  • Bishop ANTOUN will be present for the entire time.

 

            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. 

 

 

 

 

 

LIBRARY LINES – Our course to Pascha began with Zacchaeus Sunday, and Monday we celebrate his feast day.  The journey began with Christ’s encounter with this small man who was a publican. He is an icon to us of repentance because of his faith in action; he climbed a tree to see Jesus and gave abundant restitution to those he had cheated. Tradition tells us that he became a disciple of St. Peter who appointed him as Bishop of Caesara in Palestine. He departed this life peacefully.

            We also honor two women this week from very different backgrounds.  St. Alexandra (4/23) was married to the emperor Diocletian.  She raised their daughter, St. Valeria, in the Faith.  They were both banished after Valeria refused to marry Emperor Maximus. After his death, they returned to Emperor Licinius, trusting him for their safety since he, with St. Constantine, had extended religious freedom to Christians. However, he betrayed his promise and had them beheaded.

             St. Elizabeth the wonderworker (4/24) spent her life in a monastery from childhood.  Her mother had been given a revelation that her daughter was chosen by God for special blessings. She was a strict ascetic and was given the gift of healing. She wore a hair shirt and kept a strict fast. Tradition says that she lived and died between the sixth and ninth century.

            See their icons and stories in St. John Library.

 

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

 

Teen Group Events

 

 

Today – Sunday, April 19th – Meeting for ALL teens

during the Pascha Picnic.

 

Next week, Saturday, April 25th – Basketball with

Teen Group from Annunciation

 

 

Join us at the

PASCHAL FEAST

Following the Paschal Divine Liturgy

 

 

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 3:00 PM) - Following Agape vespers we will have a picnic and egg hunt.   The food will be catered by Corky’s featuring Bar-b-que, spaghetti, macaroni & cheese as well as other items for both meat-eaters & non-meat-eaters alike.  We ask that you contribute $6.50 per person (if possible), but PLEASE come and eat even if you cannot contribute.  Bring your own beverages (in ice chests), lawn chairs, and a dessert to share (if you wish). 

 

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 Lynda Spinolo if you have any questions.