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 After the Elevation of the Holy Cross

September 20, 2009

 

Epistle:  Galatians 2:16-20         Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1

                                                                                                                               

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Lynda Spinolo.

 

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                                  September 20 – September 27 (Wed.  & Fri. Fast)

Sunday            - Teen Group – Meeting with the Seniors    

                        - Sons of Thunder, 7:00 p.m. at the home of Mitch Childress

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.

            - Akathist, 5:30 p.m.

- Children’s reading time to follow Vespers

            - 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             - 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         - Divine Liturgy for the Repose of St. John the Evangelist, 9:00 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 for the Repose of St. John                 Saturday, September 26, 9:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. John                                    HOMILY:        Fr. John

DEACONS:                 Dns. Charles & Tim                  READER:       

HOLY BREAD:           Margaret McKelroy                 USHER:           any available

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

COFFEE HOUR:         Dn. James & Corinne Elliott, Rod & Trish Ratliff

 

Divine Liturgy                                                                Sunday, September 27, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST:                       Fr. Nicholas                             HOMILY:        Fr. Nicholas

DEACONS:                 Dns. James & Charles              READER:        Jack Turner

HOLY BREAD:           Christi  Yadron                         USHER:           Matt Spinolo

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

COFFEE HOUR:         Ethan & Claire Van Drimmelen, John Cameron

 

Memorials

Mary Allison Callaway – Today - 11th anniversary of her falling asleep in the Lord

 

Chrismation

Priscilla Neale and Jill Healy will be Chrismated today between

Orthros and Divine Liturgy

 

COMMEMORATIONS

 

Sept.20: Great-martyr Eustathios and his family; Venerable-martyr Hilarion of St. Anne Skete on Athos; Venerable John of Crete; Martyrs Michael, prince of Chernigov, and his councilor Theodore.

 

Sept.21: Apostle Quadratos of the Seventy; Prophet Jonah; uncovering of the relics of Demetrios, bishop of Rostov.

 

Sept.22: Hieromartyr Phocas of Sinope the wonder-worker; New-martyrs Isaac and Martin; Twenty-six Venerable-martyrs of Zographou monastery on Athos; Venerable Cosmas the Bulgarian of Zagraphou monastery on Athos.

 

Sept. 23: The Conception of the Forerunner; Martyr Raidos; New-martyrs Nicholas and John; Venerable Xanthippa and Polyxena of Spain.

 

Sept.24: Proto-martyr Thekla, equal-to-the-Apostles; the commemoration of the wonder-working icon of the Theotokos of the Myrtle Tree; New-martyr Ahmed; Venerable Nicander of Pskov; Venerable Silouan of Athos; the synaxis of all saints of Alaska.

 

Sept.25: Venerable Euphrosyne of Alexandria; Venerable-martyr Paphnoutios and those with him; repose of Venerable Sergios of Radonezh; translation of the relics of Herman, archbishop of Kazan.

 

Sept.26: The repose of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.

 

Sept. 27: Martyr Kallistratos; the Apostles Aristarchos, Zenon and Mark of the Seventy; New-martyr Aquilina; Venerable Ignatios, abbot in Asia Minor; Venerable Savvatios of Solovsky

 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS                            September 20 – September 27

            Sunday             2 Cor                4:6-15                           Matthew           22:35-46

            Monday            Galatians           4:28-5:10                       Luke                5:24-34

            Tuesday            Galatians           5:11-21                         Luke                 3:23-4:1

Wednesday       Galatians           6:2-10                           Luke                 4:1-15

            Thursday          Ephesians         1:1-9                             Luke                 4:16-22

            Friday               Ephesians         1:7-17                           Luke                 4:22-30

            Saturday           1 Cor                10:23-28                        Matthew           24:34-44

            Sunday             2 Cor                6:1-10                           Luke                 5:1-11

 

 

- 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, 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), Elizabeth Cameron (pregnant), Amy Gill (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), 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

 

Worship and liturgical reminders:     We are very blessed to have so many icons on the walls of our church.  Note that there are 6 icons on the back wall of the nave.  If you choose to stand along the back wall, it is not appropriate to lean against them, as our standing in worship is purposeful and respectful, not leisurely.  Further, leaning against them will also damage them over time. 

 

Patronal Feast Divine Liturgy -   We will celebrate the Repose of St. John the Theologian on Saturday by celebrating the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.  Come pray and worship with us as we honor our own patron who prays powerfully for all of us!

 

Welcome Team Needs Help! - St. John is adding some personal touches for welcoming our guests.  Soon we will have a couple of people in the Narthex to help welcome and orient guests, as well as a couple of people to staff a "Welcome Table" (where first-time guests will receive a gift) at Coffee Hour.  If you like to meet and welcome people, then you would be a great fit!  The Welcome Team is preparing a rotation for this ministry.  If interested, then contact Billy Scrantom at 355-0536 or revgrid1@comcast.net.

 

Umbrellas Galore – We have a large number of umbrellas which have been left over the last several weeks in the foyer downstairs.  If you have lost yours, it might be there.  Check & see!

 

2009 Parish Business Meeting & Parish Council Meeting Minutes can be found in the parish hall for your review. 

 

Prison Ministry – Volunteers are needed for the Prison Ministry for the next 4-6 weeks on Thursdays.  This is a full day commitment.  There are long or short term opportunities available.  Please see Fr. Nicholas for details. 

 

 

Sons of Thunder – Our next meeting will be tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Mitch Childress’s home.  While there is no specific book title to read, all attendees should read a literary work of their choosing by Wendell Berry.  Our discussion will center on the worldview found in Wendell’s poetry, fiction, and essays.  We will have a potluck meal, so all who attend should bring food to share.

 

Food Pantry - Many thanks to all of you who faithfully add to the food pantry for those who need food to supplement their other resources.  We are a bit low again.  We have plenty of peanut butter and crackers and some canned goods.  Because of the economic situation, the demand has increased.  If you can help, there are a number of those in need who would be very thankful.  May God watch over you! 

Wednesday Night Story Time for Kids – Parents can enjoy a small break and get their food while their children have some time hearing an edifying story on Wednesday nights. After the service on Wednesday nights we will have a 10 minute story time for the children.  One of our parish priests will be reading to the children from one of the many children’s books in our library.

Church School began last week –This is a GREAT way for your kids to learn about our Faith, to strengthen their relationships with their peers, and to involve another healthy Orthodox Christian adult regularly in their lives.  Our teachers are the best thing about church school!  Most of us remember the really good teachers that we had growing up, and they had a genuine effect on us.  Don’t deprive your children of this opportunity!  And . . . you can go to Orthros while they are in class!!  If you have questions, see our coordinator, Elizabeth Cameron.  A class list is on the bulletin board in the parish hall as well as on the community bulletin board.

Children’s Clothes drive for Protection of the Theotokos Family Center in Romania – The center is a joint project of OCMC and the Orthodox Archdiocese of Cluj in Romania.  There is a flier on the Women’s bulletin board downstairs.  Especially needed are clothes for children 3 months to 4 years.  If you are interested in donating or assisting, see Kh. Jeanette.

 

 

Teen Group Events

 

TODAY, September 20 – Meeting with seniors

Next Sunday, September 27 - Skating

 

 

 

Pro-Life Corner gggg

Language is important!  As a follow up to the “double speak” quote from last week’s announcements, hear a contrasting approach from the words of Pope John Paul II:  “. . . we need now more than ever to have the courage to look the truth in the eye and to call things by their proper name, without yielding to convenient compromises and/or to the temptation of self-deception . . . [direct, undisguised language is urgently needed] especially in the case of abortion [where] there is a widespread use of ambiguous terminology . . . which tends to hide abortion’s true nature and to attenuate its seriousness in public opinion . . . [N]o word has the power to change the reality of things:  procured abortion is the deliberate and direct killing, by whatever means it is carried out, of a human being in the initial phase of his or her existence extending from conception to birth.”

 

 

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

Our next Thursday teaching will be on October 8th, 10:00 a.m.

at the home of Anne Dugan.

 

Women’s Book Club

The next book club meeting will be on Monday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m.

We will be discussing Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers.

 

Prayers for the Dead

We will be praying Akathist for the departed at 8:30 a.m. on the following Saturdays:

December 5th                                   March 13th                                    June 12th

You may submit names to be prayed for to either Father John or Trish.

 

 

 

LIBRARY LINES

 

Occasionally, a story from the lives of the saints makes its way into our everyday vocabulary.  This "whale of a tale" has tremendous theological significance for us all and appeals especially to children, sailors, gardeners, and zoologists!

 

Tuesday we commemorate the Holy prophet Jonah (9/22). God called him to bring His message to the wicked city of Nineveh.  He fled God’s presence on a storm-tossed ship, and the sailors threw him overboard. (Hence another oft-heard term, a Jonah, a person believed to bring bad luck to those around him.) 

 

He was swallowed by a great fish and remained in his belly for three days. God heard his cries and caused the whale to vomit him up on land.  Jonah traveled on to Nineveh and prophesied destruction of the city for the people's wickedness. Unexpectedly to Jonah, they repented. He had looked forward to their punishment and then sulked in the desert under a vine of gourds which God created solely for his shelter. God then created a worm to eat the plant.  Jonah grieved for the vine, and God chided Jonah for his folly over grief for a plant and his wish for punishment of “human beings, who do not know their right hand or their left hand-and also much cattle…” Read about Jonah and how this event is a picture of Pascha in The Book of Jonah (KID/CHO). 

 

Thursday we commemorate the Saints of Alaska (9/24).  A very readable account of the history of Orthodox in our northern most state can be found in Michael Oleksa’s Orthodox Alaska.   He begins showing us the model for missions with the story of Sts. Cyril and Methodius and their conviction that its goal has to be the “incarnation of the Logos of God into the language and customs of a country,” and the “growth of an indigenous Church which will sanctify and endorse the people’s personality.” Fr. Oleska relates the Alaskan culture and Russian Orthodoxy and goes on to tell the story of some of the saints we honor today.