ST.
JOHN
ORTHODOX CHURCH
1663 TUTWILER AVENUE
(901)
274-4119
www.stjohnmemphis.org
V.
Rev.
Pastor
Assistant Pastor
V. Rev. Fr. Basil Cushman Rev. Fr. Donald Berge
Associate
Pastor Attached
GREAT
VESPERS ORTHROS and
Saturday,
Antiochian Orthodox
“…the
Disciples were called
Acts 11:26
4th Sunday of the Great Fast
Sunday of St. John Climacus
Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20 Gospel: Mark
The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered this morning by Mindy Williams.
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
The Orthodox Church understands the Eucharist, or
Lord’s Supper, to be – among other things – the paramount expression of
Sunday -
Soup Kitchen,
- Vespers,
- Teen Group, Meeting with Middlers
Monday - First
Hour,
- Great Compline,
Tuesday -
Third Hour,
-
Men’s Lunch,
- Catechumen/Inquirers
class,
-
Choir Practice, time TBA
Wednesday - Third Hour,
- Small Compline
with Great Canon,
**
There will be NO Lenten meal due to the length of this service **
Thursday -
Third Hour,
Friday -
Third Hour,
- Paraklesis,
-
Akathist,
Saturday -
Nave Clean-up,
- Choir Practice, time TBA
- Ninth Hour and Great Vespers,
Sunday - Orthros,
- Divine
Liturgy,
- Vespers,
- Teen Group – Meeting with the Seniors
Divine
Liturgy Sunday, March 21,
PRIEST: Fr.
John HOMILY: Fr. John
DEACONS: Dns. James & Charles READER: Caleb McGee
HOLY BREAD: Margaret McKelroy USHER:
ALTAR SERVERS: Ethan, J. Morgan, Luke L., Deon, Pavel
COFFEE HOUR: Nawar &
WELCOME
TEAM:
Upcoming
Baptisms and Chrismations
The following Catechumen will be received into the
church on Great and Holy Saturday.
Please keep them and their sponsors in your prayers.
Maria
Keith & Sarah
Parker Justin
& Brandy Williams
Michael Grossman
COMMEMORATIONS
March 14: Venerable Benedict of Nursia; Euschemenos, bishop of Lampsakos.
March 15: Martyr Agapios
of Palestine and those with him; Apostle Aristoboulos
of the Seventy, first bishop of
March 16: Martyr Sabinos
of Egypt; Venerable Christodoulos the wonderworker of
March 17: Venerable Alexios
the “Man of God;” Theosteriktos the Confessor; Patrick, bishop of Armagh and enlightener of
March 18: Cyril, patriarch of
March 19: Martyrs Chrysanthos,
Daria, Jason, Mauros and Diodoros of Rome; Martyr Pancharios
of Nicomedia; New-martyr Demetrios of Constantinople;
Venerable Innocent of Komel.
March 20: The holy fathers slain at the
monastery of Mar Sabbas; New-martyr Myron of Crete.
March 21: Venerable-confessor James the New,
bishop of
![[image]](http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/icons/clip/scroll.gif){kind=icon}
Pray for our catechumens: In
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 (
Catechumen/Inquirers class on Tuesday,
Soup Kitchen – As a parish, we will again serve at the soup
kitchen today. We need to be at First
Presbyterian on
Nave Work
Day this Saturday, March 20 – We will
need plenty of volunteers to help clean the nave in preparation for Pascha.
Great Canon of Repentance –Being the fifth week of the Fast, we pray little compline with the entire Great Canon of Repentance by St.
Andrew of
Schedule Change - There will be a small change in our liturgical schedule for the Feast
of the Annunciation. We will celebrate the feast with the Divine
Liturgy on the eve of the feast, March 24, at
Coming in April
– The Orthodox
Parish Life Conference 2010 – The Parish Life Conference, hosted by St.
George –
CD’s for Lent
Available in the Bookstore - If you
have never listened to Orthodox CDs for Lent, consider these English language
titles located in the bookstore. A Russian chant style by St. Vladimir Seminary
Choir entitled Presanctified Liturgy
is available as well. St. Vladimir has 3 other offerings of music: Chant,
Vigil and Rejoice (hymns about
the Theotokos). We have ordered additional copies of Gates of Repentance which are now available once again in the
bookstore.
Teen Group
Events
Today, March 14 – Meeting with Middlers
NEXT WEEK, March 21 – Meeting with Seniors
Antiochian Women of
Women’s Teaching
Thursday, April 15,
April 9 – Join us for
lunch following Sixth Hour prayers
Upcoming Book Club Titles
(Dates To Be
Determined)
April – The
May – The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
June – My Life In
Lenten Alms-Giving –
For the remaining weeks of the Great Fast we have an
opportunity to add to the food pantry. There is a bucket just outside the food
pantry door in which to leave these specific items:
Sunday,
March 21 – Toiletry Items – Toilet Paper, Lotion, Soap, shampoo, toothbrushes
Sunday,
March 28 – Rice, Beans, Pasta, Cereal & Boxed
Meals
More Lenten Alms giving opportunities – Collection boxes for coins are on the tables in the
parish hall. In addition to the boxes
used for years (Food for Hungry), we have boxes available for collecting for
the Memphis Food Bank. The food bank is very well run and serves the
great needs that exist in our community.
As always, this is an excellent way to let your children participate in
alms giving.
-ONGOING ALMS-GIVING OPPORTUNITIES –
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Rachels’ Kids,
Inc. |
Diocese of
Michael Bittle Fund – Holy Trinity
Orthodox Church –
aa LIBRARY LINES aa
Today is the Sunday of John Climacus; his feast day is March 30. This is a moveable
feast day, as are the other Sundays of Lent. The days on which we celebrate
them are determined by the date of Pascha. Sts.
Gregory Palamas and Mary of Egypt have their own
feast days as well. Typically a saint is commemorated on the day of his death.
St. Nikolai Velimorvich (3/18) is a “modern” church father. His wisdom
is recorded in the following books by and about him:
Treasury of Serbian Orthodox Spirituality PAT/VEL
Struggle for Faith PAT/VEL
Mystery and Meaning of the
Serbian Patericon by Fr. Francis Rogich HAG/- - -/ROG
Grace for Grace: the Psalter and the Holy Fathers REF/PAT/COM/MAN
The Bible and the Holy Fathers PAT/COM/MAN
Orthodox
What do St. Patrick (3/17)
and St. Nicholas (12/6) have in common?
They are both Orthodox Saints who are recognized in the popular culture
with secular celebrations. Read about
St. Patrick in Saints of the British
Isles and Apostles of Medieval
DAILY SCRIPTURE
Sunday Hebrews
Monday Genesis
Tuesday Genesis 15:1-15 Proverbs
15:7-19
Wednesday Genesis 17:1-9 Proverbs
Thursday Genesis
Friday Genesis 22:1-18 Proverbs
Saturday Hebrews
Sunday Hebrews
aa Prolife Corner aa
“I
just want the truth to be told: That
abortion does hurt women. They tell you
that it doesn’t, (that) it’s a simple procedure and that you can get on with
your life. Well, you do momentarily, but
you spend your whole life trying to forget it.” ~ Leslie Brunoli,
abortion survivor/participant in the Silent No More Awareness Campaign: The
Southern Cross, November, 2009
Services for the Remainder of Great Lent
& Pascha 2010
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Vespers |
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Great Compline |
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Small Compline
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Andrew of |
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Akathist |
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Great Vespers |
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Orthros |
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Divine Liturgy |
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Mary of |
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Great Compline |
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Divine Liturgy |
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Annunciation |
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Small compline
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Divine Liturgy |
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Lazarus Saturday |
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Great Vespers |
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Orthros |
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Divine Liturgy |
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Triumphal Entry |
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Orthros |
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Bridegroom Orthros |
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Orthros |
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Bridegroom Orthros |
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Orthros |
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Bridegroom Orthros |
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Holy Unction |
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Vesperal Divine Liturgy |
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Orthros |
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Passion Gospels |
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Royal Hours |
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Vespers |
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Taking
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(Note the Vigil begins
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Orthros |
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Lamentation Orthros |
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PASCHAL SERVICE |
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Agape Vespers |
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Vespers |
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Divine Liturgy |
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Br Week
Divine Liturgy |
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Life Giving Font |
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**Please note the change in service from original
schedule
CALENDAR
FOR HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA
HOLY
WEEK
The Triumphal Entry into
Two weeks from today, March
28 – Remember there is katalysis
(relaxation) for fish, wine and oil on this great feast day. Also remember to bring your baptismal or other
candle for the procession with the palms at the end of the liturgy.
Preparation
for Holy Unction, March 31
Remember, we
prepare for Holy Unction, one of the Holy Mysteries, just as we should for receiving the Eucharist. We need to have fasted and to have kept a
confessional practice, which should have included a confession during Great
Lent. The Holy Mystery of Unction will
be given to those prepared on the night of Holy Wednesday, as is our tradition.
Holy Thursday
Divine Liturgy and meal – We will celebrate the Vesperal
Divine Liturgy of Holy Thursday (April 1)
at
Holy Friday
Epitaphios Canopy decoration - Those who would like to help decorate
the funeral bier are encouraged to
bring flowers and greenery Thursday night (April 1) or Friday morning (April
2). You may leave your flowers in the
room next to the kitchen. Cut flowers, stems from flowering shrubs, trailing
ivy -- all can be used. Any flowers will be greatly appreciated. We will decorate the bier following Royal
Hours (
**Letters
to schools - Should you desire to take your children out of
school for services and activities here at the church on Holy Friday, letters
from me requesting that the school excuse your child/children are available from
Trish.
Join us at the
PASCHAL
FEAST
Following
the Paschal Divine Liturgy
Please bring enough food
for your family and a guest!
Agape Vespers (afternoon
of April 4 at
Following
Agape vespers we will have a picnic and egg hunt. The food
will be catered by Corky’s featuring Bar-b-que and spaghetti.
We ask that you contribute $6.50
per person (if possible), but PLEASE come and eat even if you cannot
contribute. Bring your own beverages (in
ice chests), lawn chairs, and a dessert to share (if you wish).
The EASTER
Paschal Celebration – Brief reminders
Food - Following the Paschal service (early morning of April 4), we will
celebrate together as we all bring our baskets and favorite foods to share with
one another. For those new to the
parish (and to remind us all), prior to the Paschal liturgy, individuals
and families prepare a basket of their favorite foods, especially those from
which they have fasted during the fast.
Those items that don't need refrigeration or warming are placed on the solea prior to the liturgy.
Other items are taken to the kitchen.
Following the liturgy, special blessing prayers for those foods are
prayed, and we then move to the parish hall for our Paschal celebration where
we share together in the joy of the Resurrection!
Clean up - Everyone
who is willing to help with the clean-up process following the Paschal
celebration is needed and most welcome. When you leave the celebration,
please take your food and your dish with you to aid our clean-up. If you
wish to leave your food, transfer it to a disposable plate which should be
available.
Alcohol consumption - Remember, no alcohol will be served or consumed on Church property by persons under 21 years of age, even with parental consent. This is the law in our state and public institutions must adhere to it. (Obviously the Holy Gifts are an exception to this.) Parents are asked to inform their adult children under 21 of this rule and to supervise their behavior.
PLEASE SIGN UP….
Sign-up sheet
for Paschal Vigil (from
the end of Holy Friday vespers {4:00 PM} to the beginning of the Paschal
service) – The sign-up sheet is in the parish hall for those wishing to
participate in the vigil that is kept from the “Taking Down” Vespers on Holy
Friday until the Paschal Service. Sign
up early to get the time you want!
Sign-up sheet for Agape Vespers – Please sign up if you plan to be at our
picnic following Agape Vespers. We need
this information to know how much food to order. Thanks.
Sign-up sheet for pizza party - On the evening of THURSDAY, April 8, at
Order
Chocolate
Crosses for Pascha
and support the
St. Thekla
Convent at
Many of you have sampled Fran
Tylavsky's handmade chocolates and mints at
Fran will be taking orders
after Liturgy today and by email at ftylavsky@uthsc.edu until
Sunday March 21.
Beloved St. John Parishoners,
If
I wrote a letter each time my thoughts turned to
Matthew
is staying very busy with his classes. This
semester he is doing his field work at an area prison. Please pray for him so that he might be salt
and light to those he meets and that they may be the same for him. Peter and
Love
in Christ,
Hannah
Snowden
(Matthew,
Peter, and
From
the Fathers
“Prayer is called a virtue, but in
reality it is the mother of the virtues: for it gives birth to them through
union with Christ.”
Kosmas Aitolos
“Sin, to one who loves God, is
nothing other than an arrow from the enemy in battle. The true
St. Herman of
“We are all suffering on this
earth and searching for freedom, but few know what freedom is and where it can
be found. The Lord gives the repentant His peace and the freedom to love Him.
Oh, my brothers, all the earth, repent while you still have time. God awaits
our repentance with mercy. And all the heavens, all the saints await our
repentance. As God is love, so the Holy Spirit in the saints is love. Ask, and
the Lord shall forgive. And when you receive absolution from your sins, then
your soul will be joyful and happy, and the grace of the Holy Spirit will enter
your soul, and you will say, ‘Here is true freedom: it
is in God and of God.’”
St. Silouan
“I shall speak first about control
of the stomach, the opposite to gluttony, and about how to fast and what and
how much to eat. I shall say nothing on my own account, but only what I have
received from the Holy Fathers. They have not given us only a single rule for
fasting or a single standard and measure for eating, because not everyone has
the same strength, age, illness or delicacy of body create differences. But
they have given us all a single goal: to avoid over-eating and the filling of
our bellies . . . A clear rule for self-control handed down by the Fathers is
this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are
satisfied.”