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 of St. Thomas

April 26, 2009

Epistle:  Acts 5:12-20                Gospel:  John 20:19-31

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Christi Yadron.

 

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 26th – May 3rd (Wed. & Fri. Fast)

Sunday            - Teen Group, Bible Bowl Meeting

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

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.

            - Vespers, 5:30 p.m.

            - Parish Meal, 6:15 p.m.

            - Wednesday Teaching, 7:00 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.  

Sunday            - Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Church School, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

 

Divine Liturgy                                                                          Sunday, May 3rd, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. Basil                                   HOMILY:        Fr. Basil

DEACONS:                 Dns. James & Charles              READER:        Matt Spinolo

HOLY BREAD:           Mary Ann Coccaro                  USHER:           Matt Spinolo

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

 

 

 

Dates to remember:

May 28 – Ascension

 

June 7 – Pentecost

 

June 10-14 – Parish Life Conference

 

 

 

FASTING NOTE:

With the blessing of the Synod of Antioch, a katalysis for fish, wine and oil is granted for all Wednesdays and Fridays of the Pentecostarion

(the period between Pascha and Pentecost).

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

 

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

 

April 27: Hieromartyr Simeon, the kinsman of the Lord; Venerable George, John and Eulogios the hospitable; Stephen, bishop of Vladimir; incineration of the relics of Sabbas, first archbishop of Serbia, by Sinan Pasha (1595).

 

April 28: The Nine Martyrs of Kyzikos; Venerable Memnon the wonderworker.

 

April 29: Apostles Jason and Sosipater of the Seventy; the martyrs of Kerkyra; John, metropolitan of Thebes; New-martyr John; Basil of Ostrog.

 

April 30: Apostle James, brother of John the Theologian; Donatos, bishop in Epiros; New-martyr Argyris; Bishop Ignatios Brianchaninov.

 

May 1: Prophet Jeremiah; Venerable-martyrs Euthymios, Ignatios and Akakios of Prodromou skete on Athos; Venerable Nikephoros of Chios and Panaretos of Cyprus; Venerable Paphnoutios of Borovsk.

 

May 2: Athanasios the Great, patriarch of Alexandria; Martyrs Hesperos, Zoe and their sones Kyriakos and Theodoulos in Attalia; translation of the relics of the holy Passion-bearers Boris and Gleb.

 

May 3: Martyrs Timothy the Reader and his wife Maura of Egypt; Peter, archbishop of Argolis; Ekumenios, bishop of Trikala; Venerable Luke of Mt. Stirion; repose of Venerable Theodosios of the Kiev Caves, founder of Russian Monasticism.

 

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       April 26 – May 3

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

            Monday                        Acts 3:19-26                             John 2:1-11

            Tuesday                        Acts 4:1-10                               John 3:16-21

            Wednesday                   Acts 4:13-22                             John 5:17-24

            Thursday                      Acts 4:23-31                             John 5:24-30

            Friday                           Acts 5:1-11                               John 5:30-6:2

            Saturday                       Acts 5:21-33                             John 6:14-27

            Sunday                         Acts 6:1-7                                 Mark 15:42-16:8

 

 

- 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, Allen Sudduth (Paul’s father), Helen Robbins (Sheila Sudduth’s mother), Paul Sudduth, Brendan Healy (Jill’s son), and Eliot Twombly (David’s nephew).

 

ST. JOHN COMMUNITY:

 

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

 

Sons of Thunder – The men’s book club will meet tomorrow, Monday, April 27th at 7:00 p.m. We will meet at the home of Brandon Maas, 9354 Sarsen Drive, Cordova (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.

 

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

 

Beauvais George’s new address is available from the church office from those who would like to get it.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

Upcoming Dates to note:

 

First Friday Lunch ~ THIS 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.

 

 

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 – One of the beauties of Orthodoxy is its connectiveness. Last week we celebrated Pascha. In a mystery, we in the 21st century entered into an event that occurred in 32 A.D. Even our hymns sang of Old Testament men who foretold or were types of Christ. This phenomenon is reflected on a smaller scale this week in our liturgical calendar.  This week we commemorate a contemporary of Christ, and Old Testament prophet and an fourth century hierarch who touches our lives today.

            St. James (4/30) was the brother of our own St. John. They were in the inner circle of Christ’s disciples, and He called them “the sons of thunder.”  He preached the Gospel in Spain after Penetecost and returned to Jerusalem.  The Jews sent men to discredit his message and spread lies about him. History records the names of three of them who were converted.  St. James, the first martyred of the Apostles, was beheaded in 44 A D.

            It is not by chance that we honor the Prophet Jeremiah (5/1) soon after Pascha. His life mirrored that of Jesus. God called him at age 15 but he refused because of his youth and inability to speak well. God touched his mouth and gave him words. He spent the next 23 years warning the Jews about their impending captivity because they had forsaken God and worshipped idols.  He was mocked, imprisoned and eventually killed by them.

            St. Athanasius is linked in our minds with the First Ecumenical Council. There he refuted the heresy of Arius. The Council supported his arguments but the Arians persecuted him throughout his life. At one time, his was deposed as a bishop and lived under death threats. He wrote letters in defense of Orthodoxy, commentaries on the Scriptures and a biography of St. Anthony the Great.

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

 

 

Teen Group Events

 

TODAY, April 26th – Bible Bowl Meeting after Liturgy

 

Next Week, May 3rd – No meeting

 

St. John Chrysostom on the benefits and importance for Christians of Scripture Reading:  Children must be instructed in the Scriptures, beginning with the learning of psalms and hymns.  "But now your children will utter songs and dances of Satan, like cooks, and caterers, and musicians; no one knows any psalm but it seems a thing to be ashamed of even, a mockery and a joke. There is the treasury house of all these evils. For whatsoever soil the plant stands in, such is the fruit it bears; if in a sandy and salty soil, of like nature is its fruit; if in a sweet and rich one, it is again similar. So the matter of instruction is a sort of fountain. Teach him to sing those psalms which are so full of the love of wisdom. When in these you have led him on from childhood, by little and little you will lead him forward even to the higher things"  (Hom. IX  On Colossians)

 

 

Dear Parishioners,

Christ is risen,

As June approaches, and with it, the Parish Life Conference, the Teens are making their plans to participate. As always, the cost is high, and we are forced to try to find ways to offset the expense. To that end, we would like once again to solicit donations from the faithful of the parish.

This year, every teen who benefits from the generosity of their fellow parishioners will undertake to prepare an oration, and participate in the Oratorical Festival at the Parish Life Conference. This is an excellent opportunity for teenagers to grow to know their Faith better, by finding a way to put into their own words the teachings of the Church. In addition, before the teens present their orations at the PLC, they will also present them to our parish, so that those here who are interested may see them speak.

Please consider helping us, either by sponsoring a particular youth and helping to cover his/her costs, or by making a donation to Teen Group for the Parish Life Conference.

Yours in our risen Lord,

Joshua

The Women of St. John

 

are invited to a

Bridal Shower

for Sally Elliott

Sunday, May 17th

from 1 – 3 p.m.

at the home of Reem Mansour

 

Sally & Jason are registered at:

Macy’s – Bed, Bath & Beyond - Target

 

If you are interested in participating in the group gift, please contact Sarah Hodges.