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 after Pentecost

June 28, 2009

Epistle:  Romans 5:1-10              Gospel:  Matthew 6:22-33

                                                                                                                               

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                               June 28th – July 5th (Sun., Wed. & Fri. Fast)

Sunday            - No Teen Group

                        - Great Vespers, 6:00 p.m.

Monday          - First Hour, 6:45 a.m. at 1663 Tutwiler

                        - Festal Services at St. Paul Skete – see elsewhere in the bulletin for details

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

            - Men’s Lunch, 11:45 a.m.

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

            - Choir, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday     - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

            - Vespers, 5:30 p.m.

            - Wednesday Dinner, 6:15 p.m. Please be sure to sign-up.

            - Wednesday Teaching, 7:00 p.m. 

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

Friday             - Office Closed – No Hours

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

                                    Baptism for Maureen Grace Stickle to follow

Sunday            - Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

 

                       

Divine Liturgy                                                                           Sunday, July 5th, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. John                                    HOMILY:        Fr. John

DEACONS:                 Dns. Charles & Tim                  READER:        John McGee

HOLY BREAD:           Lynda Spinolo                          USHER:           Matt Spinolo

ALTAR SERVERS:     Caleb, J. Morgan, Alex, Deon

COFFEE HOUR:         Charlie & Meribeth Harvey, Sue Brownlow

 

 

Upcoming Baptisms/Chrismations:

Maureen Grace Stickle will be baptized this coming Saturday, July 4th

 

Out of town dates for Fr. John:

July 20 – July 25 – Archdiocese convention, Palm Desert, CA

 

Upcoming Weddings:

Sally Elliott & Jason Boyle on July 19

Barbara McWilliams & Mikael Santana on September 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

June 28:  The translation of the relics of Cyros and John the unmercenary healers; Martyrs Papios and Paul; Venerable Moses the anchorite; Venerable Simeon; Venerable Sergios and Herman, wonder-workers of Valaam.

 

June 29:  Apostles Peter and Paul.

 

June 30:  The synaxis of the Twelve Apostles.  New-martyr Michael.

 

July 1:  Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian, martyrs in Rome; New-martyr Constantine; translation of the relics of Venerable John of Rila from Trnovo to Rila.

 

July 2:  The commemoration of the placing of the Robe of the Theotokos in Blachernae.  Juvenaly, archbishop of Jerusalem; the new-martyrs of Samothrace; repose of Job, first patriarch of Moscow.

 

July 3:  Martyrs Hyacinth and Theodota of Caesarea in Cappadocia; Anatolios, patriarch of Constantinople; Venerable-martyr Gerasimos the New of Carpenision; Venerable Joachim; translation of the relics of Philip the wonder-worker, metropolitan of Moscow; Venerable Nikodemos of Kozhe Lake.

 

July 4:  Andrew, bishop of Crete, author of the Great Canon; Martyrs Theodore of Cyrene and Lucia; Venerable Andrew Rublev.

 

July 5:  Venerable Athanasios the Athonite, founder of the Great Lavra on Athos; Venerable hieromartyr Cyprian of St. George kelli on Athos; Venerable Lampados of Irenoupolis; the synaxis of the 23 martyrs of Lesvos; uncovering of the relics of Venerable Sergios the wonder-worker of Radonezh.

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       June 28 – July 5

            Sunday                         Romans 5:1-10                          Matthew 6:22-33

            Monday                        Romans 9:18-33                        Matthew 11:2-15

            Tuesday                        Romans 10:11-11:12                  Matthew 11:16-20

            Wednesday                   Romans 11:2-12                        Matthew 11:20-26

            Thursday                      Romans 12:4-5, 15-21                Matthew 11:27-30

            Friday                           Romans 11:25-36                       Matthew 12:1-8

            Saturday                       Romans 6:11-17                        Matthew 8:14-23

            Sunday                         Romans 6:18-23                        Matthew 8:5-13

 

- ALMS-GIVING –

St. John Alms Fund   

St. John Camping Fund

St. John Food Pantry

St. John Seminarian Fund

St. Paul Mission Station, Tupelo

Rachels’ Kids, Inc.

Diocese of Miami and the Southeast Mission Fund

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

 

 

Pray for our catechumens:  In Memphis - Maria Cartagena, Maria Brackey, Lisa Martin, Barbara McWilliams, Jill Healy, Priscilla Neale, 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. In Henning – Bobby Johnson.

 

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), Kh. Johanna Bittle (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 - Our next meeting for the men’s book club will be held at the home of Deacon James Elliott on Monday, July 13th at 7:00 p.m.  We will be reading Charlie Wilson’s War by George Crile.  Hope to see as many of you there.

 

A new Bittle on the way! - Kh Johanna and Fr. Joseph Bittle are expecting another baby, due October 21st.  Please remember them in your prayers!!          

 

Graduate Sunday – Today we will honor our graduates:

Clark McGee – Murray State University

Melanie Stanek – Lausanne Collegiate School

Brian Boone – Germantown High School

Lori O’Brien – University of Memphis

Sarah Hodges – University of Memphis

 

Church Directory – With new additions & many updates we will be printing new directories at the beginning of August. Please check your information in the directory and contact Meribeth if you have any corrections to be made.

 

Upcoming festal celebration – We will celebrate the end of the Apostles Fast by celebrating the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul praying vespers in the parish this evening, June 28, at 6:00 p.m.  The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the Skete on tomorrow morning, the 29th. 

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

First Friday Lunch

We usually meet the first Friday of each month to pray sixth hour together and then enjoy our brown bag lunches in the fellowship hall. Due to the holiday weekend on July 3rd,

our next First Friday Lunch will be on Friday, July 10th. Please join us!

 

Book Club

July 13th ~ The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

We will meet at Kh. Pamela Mashburn’s home

 

Women’s Teaching

The next Women’s Teaching will be Thursday, July 9th at 10:00 a.m.

We meet at the home of Anne Dugan for a

wonderful time of teaching and fellowship.

Upcoming dates: August 13th, September 10th & October 8th

 

 

BOOKSTORE – New CD! A new recording has been released, entitled The Voice of the Lord: Selected Hymns from the Feast of Theophany. The hymns are sung in English by a choir, in a clear and beautiful Byzantine arrangement. This recording will be a fine addition to the music library of anyone who loves the ancient music of the Orthodox Church. The CD can be ordered on-line; in addition, there are a few copies available in the bookstore.

Also, summer is a great time for little ones to be learning Orthodox children’s hymns. There are a couple of children’s CDs available in the bookstore. Please feel free to contact Sh. Corinne Elliott if you have any questions regarding the CDs or if you would like some recommendations.

 

Vacation Church School – We are beginning to think about VCS for this summer. We will need to have a good number of volunteers to make it happen. Whether you have young children, grown children, or no children, consider serving the children of our parish in this way. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Meribeth in the church office at 274-4119 or meribeth@stjohnmemphis.org.

 

LIBRARY LINES – Have you ever wondered how people get to be saints in the Orthodox Church?  Read chapter 5 in Selected Essays (CAT/GEN/POM) by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky.  He tells us the development of the process and the reason for it, which he says, “is among the most important activities of the Church.”

            This week on July 4th, we commemorate two St. Andrews who glorified God through the arts. St. Andrew of Crete was mute as a child, yet went on to compose the beautiful Canon we sing during Lent as well as other hymns of the Church.  First Fruits of Prayer (SPR/PRA/MAT) by Frederica Mathewes-Green is a forty-day journey through this beautiful, great hymn of repentance.  Each portion of the canon is printed with accompanying Scripture references and commentary. The book begins with a general introduction and historical background of the canon. I highly recommend it for catechumens and “old-timers” alike.

            St. Andrew Rublev, also a monk at an early age, painted the famous icon of the Holy Trinity, the Hospitality of Abraham.  See their icons and the accounts of their lives on display at St. John Library.   

            St. John Library has new books! They are on the display cart.

                        Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Jeremiah and Lamentations)

                        Do Something Beautiful For God by Anthony Coniaris

                        The Life in Christ by Nicholas Cabasilas

 

 

Teen Group Events

 

Sundays, June 28th & July 5th – No Teen Group

(Joshua at Camp St. Thekla)

 

 

St. John Potluck Pool Parties:  Our first pool party is TOMORROW evening, Monday, June 29th!! Join us at Rhodes College and swim from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. There is a grill available for whatever meat or veggies you would like to bring. We ask that everyone bring their own meat (or vegetarian equivalent), drinks (non-alcoholic) and a dish (side or dessert) to share. Come ready to swim or just relax!

 Other pool party dates for this summer:  July 27th & August 17th

 

From the Fathers

“Do not grieve if you do not at once receive from God that which you ask. He wishes to benefit you still more by making you persist longer in your patient prayer before Him. For what can be higher than to address one’s converse to God and be in communion with Him?                - St Nilus of Mt Sinai

 

“Do not be cast down over the struggle- the Lord loves a brave warrior. The Lord loves the soul that is valiant.”  - St. Silouan the Athonite

 

“. . . since to the highest possible degree He [God] loves, knows and is able to effect what is profitable for us, everything that comes to us from Him, even though it be without our wanting it, will certainly prove to be to our profit.”        - St. Gregory Palamas

           

“What we need is a little labor! Let us endure this labor that we may obtain mercy.”              - St. Dorotheos of Gaza

 

“Blessed is the one who draws near with fear and trembling and dread to the spotless Mysteries of the Saviour and has realized that he has received in himself eternal life.”      - St. Ephraim the Syrian

 

“We see the water of a river flowing uninterruptedly and passing away, and all that floats on its surface, rubbish or beams of trees, all pass by. Christian! So does our life. . . I was an infant, and that time has gone. I was an adolescent, and that too has passed. I was a young man, and that too is far behind me. The strong and mature man that I was is no more. My hair turns white, I succumb to age, but that too passes; I approach the end and will go the way of all flesh. I was born in order to die. I die that I may live. Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom!”                                         - St. Tikhon of Voronezh