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

 

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

July 26, 2009

Epistle:  I Timothy 3:13-4:5       Gospel: Matthew 9:27-35

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Mary Ann Coccaro.

 

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              July 26 – Aug. 2 (Wed/ Fri Fast, Dormition Fast begins 8/ 1)

Sunday            - Teen Group – Dinner and Movie

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

                        -  St. John Pool Party 7:00-9:00          

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.

            - Wed. 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 after Third Hour in the fellowship hall.

                        - Paraklesis, 12:00 p.m.

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

Sunday            - Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

 

Divine Liturgy                                                                         Sunday, August 2, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. John                                    HOMILY:        Fr. John

DEACONS:                 Dns. Tim & James                    READER:        Caleb McGee

HOLY BREAD:           Laura Graham                          USHER:           Matt Spinolo

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

COFFEE HOUR:         Frank & Betsy Larker, Kim Boone

 

 

Upcoming Weddings:

Barbara McWilliams & Mikael Santana on September 6

 

Upcoming Chrismations:

David TwomblyAugust 16

Barbara McWilliamsAugust 16

 

 

Remember – The Dormition Fast approaches.  The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil) is observed during the fast which lasts from August 1st through 14th (with katalysis for wine and oil on Saturdays and Sundays, and for fish, wine and oil on the Transfiguration [August 6th]).

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

July 26:  Venerable Virgin-martyr Paraskeva of Rome; Hieromartyr Hermolaos of Nicomedia; Venerable Gerontios, first settler of St. Anne skete on Athos; Moses the Hungarian; Sabbas III, archbishop of Serbia; Priest Jabob, enlightener of the peoples of Alaska.

 

July 27:  Great-martyr and healer Panteleimon; New-martyr Christodoulos; Clement of Ochrid, bishop of greater Macedonia; Angelar, Gorazd, Nahum and Sabbas, disciples of Cyril and Methodios.

 

July 28:  Prochoros, Nikanor, Timon and Parmenoas, deacons and Apostles of the Seventy; Venerable Paul, founder of Xeropotamou and St. Paul monasteries on Athos; Venerable Irene Chrysovalantou; Pitirim, bishop of Tambov.

 

July 29:  Martyrs Kallinikos of Gangra in Asia Minor and Theodota of Bithynia; Theodosios the pious emperor; Constantine, patriarch of Constantinople; Lupos the Confessor, bishop of Troyes.

 

July 30:  Apostles Silas, Silvanos (Silouan), Crescens, Epenetos and Andronikos of the Seventy; Hieromartyr Valentine, bishop of Terni in Italy; John the Warrior; uncovering of the relics of Venerable Herman of Solovsky; Venerable Angelina of Serbia.

 

July 31:  Righteous Eudokimos of Cappadocia; Righteous Joseph of Arimathea; Germanos, bishop of Auxerre.

 

Aug. 1:  The Procession of the Cross.  The seven Maccabean youths, their mother Solomonia and Eleazar their teacher, martyrs; Venerable-martyr Elessa of Kythera.

 

Aug. 2:  The translation of the relics of the Proto-martyr Stephen the Archdeacon; Venerable Photeini; New-martyr Theodore; Blessed Basil the fool-for-Christ, wonder-worker of Moscow.

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

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS       July 26 – August 2

            Sunday                         Romans 15:1-7                          Matthew 9:27-36

            Monday                        I Cor  9:13-18                            Matthew  16:1-6

            Tuesday                        I Cor 10:5-12                             Matthew  16:6-12

            Wednesday                   I Cor 10:12-22                           Matthew  16:20-24

            Thursday                      I Cor 10:28 - 11:7                      Matthew  16:24-28

            Friday                           I Cor 11:8-22                             Matthew  17:10-18

            Saturday                       Romans 13:1-10                        Matthew  12:30-37

            Sunday                         I Cor 1:10-18                             Matthew  14:14-22

 

- 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, David Twombly, Rod & Trisha Ratliff (Jake & Cailyn), Nathan Powell, Ashley Newton, and Jennifer Criswell. 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, Earlene Snowden (Gene’s mother), 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 evening at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

Sons of Thunder - After a great discussion of Charlie Wilson's War last week, it was decided to meet again sooner than normal to honor one of our founders, Matthew Snowden.  Since he will be returning to seminary August 17th we will meet on SUNDAY, August 9th at 7:00 p.m. at Dn. James' house and will be reading "the Art of the Commonplace, the Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry". As usual plan to bring something to eat along with your brilliant company

 

 

Coffee Hour – Sunday, August 2 – Next Sunday, August 2, Katie Wilcoxson will be leaving in December for long term missions for OCMC.  She will be visiting and make a short presentation about work as missionary nurse in Tanzania.  This will be an opportunity to learn how to support her in prayer as well as financially, if able.

 

 

Remember the community bulletin board – there is always new information going up – most recently sale items. 

 

We have recently received some good donations to the food pantry. However, at the moment we are low on crackers, peanut butter and canned fruit. Please consider giving alms in this way.

 

 

LOST item:  small silver cross necklace in Ziploc bag belonging to Lisa Berge Catlett.  If found, please return to church office.

 

 

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

***DATE CHANGE***  ~   AWSJ meeting ~ Sunday, August 9th  

We will have a brief meeting in the room next to the kitchen on Sunday, August 9th during coffee hour. We will have an important discussion regarding AWSJ positions sign-up for the coming year.

 

 

Women’s Teaching

We meet at the home of Anne Dugan at 10 a.m. on the following Thursdays

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

 

 

LIBRARY LINES – Monday (7/27) we honor the Great martyr and Unmercenary Panteleimon whose icon is in our nave.  He studied medicine under a famous physician, and his skill brought him to the attention of the emperor and a band of Christians who taught him about Christ. He was baptized and healed all who came to him in the name of Jesus. Since he did not charge them for his services, many pagan physicians lost patients to him. Out of jealousy they conspired to tell the emperor that he was healing Christian prisoners. When he cured a paralytic in front of the emperor, he ordered the healed man executed and subjected Panteleimon to many tortures. Witnesses to his tortures were converted and finally the saint was beheaded.

            Tuesday  (7/28) we commemorate the icon “Directress” painted by St. Luke.  It has traveled to many places, and there have been at least 2 exact copies made of it. It has lead Russian soldiers to victory and has healed wounded and sick soldiers. The Hodigitra (She who leads the way) icon is one of the most important holy objects of the Russian Orthodox Church, and believers have received grace from it throughout history.

            Friday (7/31) is the feast day of St. Joseph of Arimathea, the noble Joseph of our Paschal hymns. Most of us know very little of his life after the Crucifixion. Tradition tells us that he accompanied Mary Magdalene, Lazarus and Phillip on a missionary journey through Gaul.  Phillip sent him north to Britain with some other disciples. He had traveled there many years earlier in connection with his lead and tin business. As they approached what is now Glastonbury, the saint thrust his staff made with the Crown of Thorns into the ground. It took root, and every year the flowering hawthorn blooms at Christmas time. His deep devotion to Christ and inspiring events on his life have drawn two St. John parishioners to choose him as their patron.

            See these men’s icons and the stories of their lives in St. John Library.

 

 

 

 

ST. JOHN POTLUCK POOL PARTIESOur second pool party is TOMORROW evening, Monday, June 27!! 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!

Mark your calendar for our last pool party on August 17th

 

 

More bittersweet news – Most of you are already aware, but for those who are not – Charlie and Meribeth Harvey and their family will be moving August 7 to Yakima, Washington.  Charlie will begin a new job as a teacher and administrator for the Orthodox school associated with our parish there.  It is a great opportunity for them, but their departure will leave a HUGE hole in our hearts.  Next Sunday, August 2, will be their last Sunday with us.  May God continue to use them there for the Kingdom of God!  MANY YEARS!!!

 

So . . . with the bitter comes the sweetI am happy to announce that Trish Ratliff has agreed to become our church secretary!  She and Rod and their children are catechumens and well on their way to being received into the Church.  Trish has lots of business experience in dealing with all types of folks, and that is who we are – all types – and wonderful folks, at that!  For those of you who have met her, I am confident you are thrilled.  For who have not yet, you have a treat in store.  I was very blessed to have had a number of very qualified people in the church to inquire, and would that we could hire all of you!  Thank you for you serious interest.  As much as I regret seeing Meribeth go, I am equally excited to see Trish jump into her seat.  May God bless us all with these changes!!

 

 

 

 

Teen Group Events

 

TODAY, July 26th – Dinner & a Movie

 

Next Sunday, Meeting with Middlers

 

 

From the Fathers

           

“My soul, seek the Only One . . . My soul; you have no part with the earth; for you are from heaven. You are the image of God: seek your First Image.  For like strives after like. Each object finds its rest in its center and element—fish in water, fire in its upward movement everything strives to its center. My soul, you are an immaterial spirit, immortal. . . In Him alone you will find your rest.”        - St. Tikhon of Voronezh

                                                           

Grace has been given mystically to those who have been baptized into Christ; and it becomes active within them to the extent that they actively observe the commandments. Grace never ceases to help us secretly; but to do good - as far as lies in our power - depends on us.                        - St. Mark the Ascetic

 

Wherefore on no account suffer any evil habit to master thee; but, while it is yet young, pluck the evil root out of thine heart, lest it fasten on and strike root so deep that time and labor be required to uproot it. And the reason that greater sins assault us and get the mastery of our souls is that those which appear to be less, such as wicked thoughts, unseemly words and evil communications, fail to receive proper correction.                      -St. John Damascene