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

 

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

August 2, 2009

Epistle:  I Corinthians 1:10-18              Gospel: Matthew 14:14-22

                                                                                                                               

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                                                            August  2 – August 9 (Dormition Fast)

Sunday            - Teen Group, Meeting with Middlers

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

                        - Paraklesis, 6:30 p.m.

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

            - Men’s Lunch, 11:45 a.m.

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

            - No Choir this week

Wednesday     - Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

            - Great Vespers, 5:30 p.m.

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

            - Wed. Teaching, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday        - Divine Liturgy for the feast of Transfiguration, 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.

                        - Paraklesis, 6:30 p.m.

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

Sunday            - Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

                        - Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

                        - AWSJ meeting during coffee hour

 

Divine Liturgy for Transfiguration                          Thursday, August 6, 9:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. John                                    HOMILY:        Fr. John

DEACONS:                 Dns. Charles & Tim                  READER:        John McGee

HOLY BREAD:           Mindy Williams

ALTAR SERVERS:     Any who can

COFFEE HOUR:         Kh. Susan Cushman

 

Divine Liturgy                                                                         Sunday, August 9, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. Basil                                   HOMILY:        Fr. Basil

DEACONS:                 Dns. Charles & James              READER:        Jack Turner

HOLY BREAD:           Sue Ingram                               USHER:           John Sneed

ALTAR SERVERS:     Ethan, Luke S., Luke L., Joe

COFFEE HOUR:         Matt and Lynda Spinolo, Bill Stanek

 

Upcoming Weddings:

Barbara McWilliams & Mikael Santana on September 6

 

Upcoming Chrismations:

David TwomblyAugust 16

Barbara McWilliamsAugust 16

 

 

 

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

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.

 

Aug. 3:  Venerable Isaac, Dalmatos and Faustus of the Dalmaton monastery; Venerable Theoklites and Theodora; Salome the myrrh-bearer; Venerable Anthony the Roman, wonder-worker of Novgorod.

 

Aug. 4:  The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus; Martyr Eudokia of Persia.

 

Aug. 5:  Martyr Eusignios of Antioch; New-martyr Habakkuk of Thessalonika.

 

Aug. 6:  The Transfiguration of Christ.

 

Aug. 7:  Martyrs Dometios of Persia and Sozon of Nicomedia; Hieromarytr Narcissos, patriarch of Jerusalem; Venerable Theodosios the New of the Peloponnesos, Nikanor the wonder-worker of Mt. Kalistratos, and David; Venerable Dometios of Philotheou monastery on Athos; uncovering of the relics of Metrophanes, first bishop of Veronezh.

 

Aug. 8:  Emilianos the Confessor, archbishop of Kyzikos; Myron, archbishop of Crete; Venerable Gregory of Sinai; New-martyrs Anastasios and Triandaphylos of Thessaly; translation of the relics of Venerable Zosimas and Savvatios of Solovsky.

 

Aug. 9:  Apostle Matthias; translation of the relics of Venerable Herman of Alaska, wonder-worker of America.

 

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

 

 

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS               August 2 – August 9

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

            Monday                        I Cor 11:31-12:6                        Matthew  18:1-11

            Tuesday                        I Cor 12:12-26                           Matthew  18:18-22; 19:1-2, 13-15

            Wednesday                   I Cor 13:4-14:5                          Matthew  20:1-16

            Thursday                      I Cor 14:6-19                             Matthew  20:17-28

            Friday                           I Cor 14:26-40                           Matthew  21:12-14, 17-20

            Saturday                       Romans 14:6-9                          Matthew  15:32-39

            Sunday                         I Cor 3:9-17                              Matthew 14:22-34

 

 

- 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.

 

There will be NO choir practice this week.

 

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 NEXT 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

 

 

TODAY – 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.

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John’s Calendar

 

***DATE CHANGE***  ~   AWSJ meeting ~ Next 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

 

Celebrate with Barbara!

Sunday, August 16th after coffee hour the AWSJ are invited to the home of

Anne Dugan to celebrate Barbara’s Chrismation

and upcoming marriage to Mikael Santana.

If you would like any further information, please contact Anne Dugan.

 

LIBRARY LINES – Now we are in the last month of the Church Year. And it goes out “with a bang.” We will celebrate and commemorate the Transfiguration and the Dormition, wonder-working icons, people who slept for 200 years, prophets and apostles.

            St. Basil (8/2), a fool for Christ, was trained as a cobbler. When he was sixteen, he began his calling from God in Moscow where he went barefoot about the streets in summer and winter. Through actions and speech that appeared foolish to men, he used his gift of clairvoyance to teach and show mercy to others. He predicted a great fire in Moscow in 1547, and even reproached Tsar Ivan the Terrible for being preoccupied during church services with thoughts of building a palace for himself.

            Asleep for 200 years! Tuesday we commemorate seven youths (8/4), friends from childhood, who suffered martyrdom in the third century. Upon being denounced by informants, they confessed their faith before Emperor Decius. He freed them, hoping they would change their minds. Instead they hid in a cave and prayed and prepared for martyrdom. The emperor found them, but before he sealed its entrance, secret Christians placed a plaque in it inscribed with the names of the youths and the story of their deaths. God then caused them to fall into a miraculous sleep. Two hundred years later, a stone cutter happened to open the cave and they awoke, unaware of the passage of time. The faithful rejoiced seeing this even as a sign to the heretics that the bodies of the Faithful would be raised. The Emperor journeyed to Ephesus to talk with the young men and afterwards, they lay down and reposed.

            See icons & stories of these men and their stories as well as that of the Transfiguration in the St. John Library.

 

Remember – The Dormition Fast began yesterday.  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]).

 

Dinner Clubs – Don’t miss out on the FUN!  All current groups are encouraged to meet one last time before the end of August. Dinner clubs are groups of 6-8 St. John people who meet together for a meal once every two months for a year. The focus is on fellowship, not food. This is a great way to meet and get to know people and develop a sense of community.  Those who want to commit to be in a new dinner club starting in September, please see the sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall.  If you are interested in a group that will meet with children, please mark it on the sign-up sheet.  The deadline for signing-up is Sunday, August 23rd. Any questions or comments please call or email Sh. Margaret McKelroy.

 

Parish Council Recommendations – Each year we have two parish council members cycle-off the council, and two new ones take their place.  The council is made up of seven members, two of whom serve ex-officio, the pastor (Fr. John) and the business manager (Paul Parham).  A third member is selected by the clergy from their ranks. The other four are appointed by the pastor with the counsel of the clergy and the recommendations of the laity.  In the parish hall are forms for you to make your recommendations.  Please recommend three people, in order of your preference. It is important for everyone to give his input.  The more participation we have, the more we can be in tune with the will of God.  Departing members of the council are Lori O’Brien and John Cameron. Thank you Lori and John! Remaining on the council will be Fr. John, Paul, Owen White, and Marjo Labonte.

 

 

Teen Group Events

 

TODAY, August 2, Meeting with Middlers

 

Next Sunday, August 9, Meeting with Seniors

 

 

Today is the Harvey’s last Sunday – 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.  There are not enough words to describe the personal contributions Charlie and Meribeth have made to our community.  May God continue to use them there for the Kingdom of God!  MANY YEARS!!!

 

Personal and Home Security

 

 

 

The following are “Good Practices” as distributed in Evergreen Historic District Association’s weekly email:

            · Program 545-COPS (545-2677) into your cell phone.

            · Look up and down the alleys every day as you walk, bike or drive by - immediately report suspicious activity to the police.

            · Don’t leave intriguing items visible in your car.  Stow it, don't show it!

            · Lock your doors when you are in your yard.

            · Discourage walk-up workers by never hiring them  Hire folks recommended by your neighbors.

            · Use porch and other outdoor lights at night. Lights on  motion detectors can help with security AND save energy.

            · Don’t look like a victim. Keep your head up, be alert, make eye contact.

            · Close blinds where possible so would-be burglars can’t see potential loot.

            · Report street lights that are not working properly - http://www.mlgw.com/SubView.php?key=res_streetlight

            Cyberwatch: https://kiosk.memphispolice.org/cyberwatch

 

Keep up with the latest security issues around Midtown - Midtown Security Community - http://www.midtownsecurity.blogspot.com/

 

The new phone numbers for Union Police Station:

Front Desk/Officer on Duty………………………...….636-4631

Kate Sides, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator….……..636-4625

 

All requests for extra patrols & vacation watches MUST be given to the Officer at the Front Desk.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

OUR LAST ST. JOHN POOL PARTY:

Monday, August 17th

 

        We meet at the pool at Rhodes College and swim from 7:00 p.m. – 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!

 

Katie Wilcoxson, who will be leaving in December for long term missions for OCMC, will make a short presentation during coffee hour about her work as a missionary nurse in Tanzania.  This will be an opportunity to learn how to support her in prayer as well as financially.  This is a good opportunity for our parishioners to support mission work directly rather than simply making a contribution to an agency.  I hope you will be able to hear her and that some may be able to offer support.

 

Many thanks to all of you for your patience with my being gone so much lately!  First we had the national convention a week ago, and then this last week, Dn Tim and I (along with our unbelievably supportive wives) moved our parents to Memphis.  Please remember them in you prayers.  God willing, I should not have any more travel until sometime in October.            - Fr John