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

 

11th Sunday after Pentecost

Leavetaking of the Dormition

August 23, 2009

 

Epistle:  I Corinthians 9:2-12                Gospel: Matthew 18:23-35

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Margie Yarbro.

 

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 23-August 30  (Wed. , Fri., & Sat. Fast)

Sunday            - Teen Group – Meeting with Middlers    

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.

            - Choir, 7:00 p.m.

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. – Continuing series on pornography

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         - Diving Liturgy for the Beheading of John the Baptist, 9 a.m.

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

Sunday            - Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

- Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Divine Liturgy, Beheading of John the Baptist                Saturday, August 29, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. Basil                                   HOMILY:        Fr. Basil

DEACONS:                 Dns. Tim & James                    READER:       

HOLY BREAD:           Reem Mansour                         USHER:          

ALTAR SERVERS:     Any who can

COFFEE HOUR:         Anne Dugan

 

 

 

Divine Liturgy                                                                       Sunday, August 30, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. John                                    HOMILY:        Fr. John

DEACONS:                 Dns. Charles & Tim                  READER:        John Cameron

HOLY BREAD:           Sarah Hodges                           USHER:           Matt Spinolo

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

COFFEE HOUR:         Frank & Betsy Larker, Mary Ann Coccaro

 

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

Aug. 23: Martyr Loupos; Hieromartyr Irenaios, bishop of Lyons; Venerable Nicholas and Dionysios of Olympos.

Aug. 24: Hieromartyr Eutychos, disciple of John the Theologian; New-hieromartyr Cosmas Aitolos, equal-to-the-Apostles and evangelizer of southern Albania; Dionysios the wonder-worker, bishop of Zakynthos; Venerable Gerasimos of Kephallenia; translation of the relics of Peter the wonder-worker, metropolitan of Moscow.

Aug. 25: Apostles Titos of the Seventy and Bartholomew.

Aug. 26: Martyrs Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia; Venerable Joasaph; Venerable Adrian of Ondrutsov.

Aug. 27: Venerable Pimen the Great and Osios; Martyr Anthusa; Newly-revealed Martyr Phanourios of Rhodes; Caesarios, bishop of Arles; Venerable-confessor Hosios, bishop of Cordoba.

Aug. 28: Venerable Moses of Ethiopia; Martyrs Diomedes, Damon and Laurence; Martyr Susanna of Georgia; uncovering of the relics of Venerable Job of Pochaev.

Aug. 29: The Beheading of the Forerunner.  Venerable Theodora of Thessalonica, Theopistis and Joseph the Sanctified of Samaka.

Aug. 30: Alexander, Paul the New, and John, Patriarchs of Constantinople; Martyrs Phantinos of Calabria and Januarios; Repose of Venerable Alexander of Svir; translation of the relics of Alexander Nevsky, prince of Novgorod; Cyril and Makarios, patriarchs of Serbia.

 

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

 

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS               August 23 – August 30

            Sunday                         1 Cor 9:2-12                              Matthew  18:23-35

            Monday                        2 Cor 5:10-15                            Mark       1:9-16

            Tuesday                        2 Cor 5:15-21                            Mark        1:16-22

            Wednesday                   2 Cor 6:11-16                            Mark        1:23-28

            Thursday                      2 Cor 7:1-10                              Mark        1:29-35

            Friday                           2 Cor 7:10-16                            Mark        2:18-22

            Saturday                       1 Cor 1:26-29                            Matthew  20:29-34

            Sunday                         1 Cor 15:1-11                            Matthew  19:16-26

 

 

- 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, Jill Healy, Priscilla Neale, Rod & Trisha Ratliff (Jake & Cailyn), Nathan Powell, Ashley Newton, Jennifer Criswell, and Michael Grossman. In Tupelo - Shane Davis, Justin & Brandy Williams, Leah Hardy, Adam Clay, Casey & Jessica Hardy (Davis). 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), David Williams (Jill Healy’s son-in-law) 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.

 

Choir will meet Tuesday evening at 7:00

 

New Church Directories – Updated church directories are now available in the fellowship hall.  Be sure to pick one up.  Please remember that these are for personal use only.

 

Prison Ministry – Volunteers are needed for the Prison Ministry for the next 6-8 weeks on Thursdays.  This will be a full day commitment.  There are long or short term opportunities available.  Please see Fr. Nicholas for details. 

 

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.

 

Parish Business Meeting – We will meet for our parish business meeting following the Divine Liturgy on TODAY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teen Group Events

 

TODAY, August 23– Meeting with Middlers

 

Next Sunday, August 30 – Meeting with Seniors

 

 

 

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 today, Sunday, August 23rd. Any questions or comments please call or email Sh. Margaret .

Remember Katie Wilcoxson in your prayers.  She will be leaving in December to serve as a missionary nurse in Tanzania for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center.  This is a good opportunity for our parishioners to support mission work directly rather than simply making a

contribution to an agency.  If you desire to contribute to her support, please note it on your donation.

 

Community bulletin board – there is always new information going up – including which items are currently needed for the food pantry (currently canned meat & fruit).

 


Pro-Life Corner

 

This year, our state legislators took action to remove language first placed into law during the early 1970’s which specifically named abortion provider Planned Parenthood to coordinate the state’s family planning services.  In addition to removing the clause, legislators enacted language which mandates the state Department of Health give priority and preference to local health departments in the distribution of family planning funds rather than private, non-profit organizations.

 

Join Tennessee’s pro-life majority in urging the Shelby County Board of Commissioners to act in 2009 by requesting the no health department funds be diverted to Planned Parenthood in Memphis.

 

Copies of a petition are in the parish hall where you can sign, adding your name to others requesting that our local legislators cut off the flow of health department funds to the local Planned Parenthood office.

 

 

 

 

 

 


LIBRARY LINES

 

How many times have you heard references to The Seventy?  A few of them are more familiar to us than some of the Twelve.  St. Titus (8/25) was a native of Crete. After traveling to Jerusalem, he listened to Christ’s teachings and witnessed the Crucifixion. He later became a disciple of St. Paul and accompanied him on his missionary journeys.

 

The last week of our liturgical year honors St. Phanourios (8/29), the one to whom we pray when we have lost things. This sounds a bit glib or even frivolous to us, but when we dig deeper, we find a more profound reason for this tradition. He suffered many tortures for Christ’s sake, and the finding of his icon was a miraculous story.  Read the account of his life and icon in St. John Library and see why his mother may be the most prayed-for relative of any saint.

 

 

 

 


Orthodox Women in the Healing Ministries

16th Annual Conference

October 2-4, 2009

 

Holy Dormition Monastery

Rives Junction, Michigan

 

Fr. Hans Jacobse:  “Secular vs. Sacred”

 Contemporary Issues in Light of the Church’s Teachings

 

OWHM provides support to Orthodox women who are in the medical and healing professions through a yearly conference which includes time for prayer, rest and reflection, opportunities for networking, and lectures given by outstanding speakers.  Friday’s lecture is for women only and Saturday lectures are open to both men & women from any walk of life.  Please see flier on the bulletin board downstairs for more information.

 

 

 

 


Upcoming Weddings:

Barbara McWilliams & Mikael Santana on September 6

 

Upcoming Chrismations:

Jill Healy & Priscilla Neale – September

 

New Catechumen

Welcome to our newest catechumen, Michael Grossman.  He will be enrolled today between Orthros and the liturgy.  Welcome Home, Michael!

 

 

 

 

 

Antiochian Women of St. John Calendar

 

 

   Please remember to sign up for AWSJ positions for the upcoming year.

The list can be found on the bulletin board.

 

 

Women’s Teaching

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

September 10th & October 8th

 

 

 

Women’s Book Club

The book club will meet on Monday, September 14, 7:00 p.m. at

the home of Kh. Pamela Mashburn. 

We will be discussing A Place of Healing for the Soul:  Patmos by Peter France

 

 

 

 

 

Secret Sisters

Forms for Secret Sisters are in the basket on the piano.  Please take one, fill it out and return to Corinne Elliott or Judy Terry by Sunday, Sept. 6th if you would like to participate in Secret Sisters this fall.  We will give gifts for two months and have our ending dinner on Thursday, November 12th before the Nativity Fast begins.  If you have any questions, please talk to Judy or Corinne.