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 of the Holy Fathers

May 16, 2010

Epistle: Acts 16:16-34 Gospel: John 9:1-38

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered by Reem Mansour.

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 May 16 – May 23 (Wed. & Fri. Fast*)

Sunday - Trisagion Prayers for Esther Longa

- Teen Group – Middlers will meet during Coffee Hour

- Holy Mystery of Matrimony for Mitch Childress and Sandy Powell, 4:00 p.m.

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.

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

- Vespers, 5:30 p.m., meal to follow please sign up

- Children’s reading time immediately following Vespers

- Wednesday Teaching, 7:00 p.m.

- Parish Council Meeting, 7:45 p.m.

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

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

- Third Hour, 9:00 a.m

- Stay & Play, downstairs in parish hall

- Paraklesis, 12:00 p.m.

Saturday - Divine Liturgy for Saturday of Souls, 9:00 a.m.

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

Sunday - Orthros & Church School, 9:00 a.m.

- Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

- Great Vespers with the Kneeling Prayers of Pentecost, 6:00 p.m.

Divine Liturgy for Saturday of Souls Saturday, May 22, 9:00 a.m.

PRIEST: Fr. Nicholas HOMILY: Fr. Nicholas

DEACONS: Dns. James & Tim READER: John McGee

HOLY BREAD: Janine Criswell ALTAR SERVERS: Any available

COFFEE HOUR: Anne Dugan, Claire van Drimmelen

Divine Liturgy Sunday, May 23, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST: Fr. Basil HOMILY: Fr. Basil

DEACONS: Dns. James & Tim READER: Caleb McGee

HOLY BREAD: Sue Ingram USHER: John Sneed

ALTAR SERVERS: Ethan, J. Morgan, Luke L., Deon, & Pavel

COFFEE HOUR: Matt & Lynda Spinolo, Kim Boone

WELCOME TEAM: Brandon Maas and Mickey Hodges

*Fasting Note: With the blessing of the Synod of Antioch, a katalysis for fish, wine and oil is granted for all Wednesdays and Fridays of the Pentecostarion (the period between Pascha and Pentecost).

COMMEMORATIONS

May 9: Prophet Isaiah; Martyr Christopher of Lycia; Venerable-martyr Nicholas; translation to Bari of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker, archbishop of Myra in Lycia.

May 10: Apostle Simon Zelotes; Venerable Laurence of Egypt.

May 11: Hieromartyr Mokios, priest in Macedonia; Cyril and Methodios, equals-to-the-Apostles and enlighteners of the Slavs; New-martyr Argyros; Venerable-martyr Olympia; Martyr Joseph of Astrakhan.

May 12: Germanos, patriarch of Constantinople, Epiphanios, bishop of Cyprus; Venerable Theodore of Kythera; New-martyr John of Wallachia; Hermogenes, patriarch of Moscow.

May 13: Virgin-martyr Glykeria of Heraklea; Sergios the Confessor; Venerable John the Georgian, founder of Iviron monastery on Athos and Venerable Euthymios, George and Gabriel of Iviron monastery; Venerable-martyrs of Iviron monastery.

May 14: Martyr Isidore of Chios; Hieromartyr Therapont; New-martyrs John of Bulgaria and Mark of Crete; Venerable Isidore of Rostov, fool-for-Christ.

May 15: Achilles, bishop of Larisa; Venerable Pachomios the Great; Martyr Barbaros the myrrh-streaming of Corfu; Isaiah, bishop of Rostov; Andrew the hermit; Titos, bishop of Crete; Demetrios, prince of Moscow.

May 16: Venerable Theodore the Sanctified, disciple of Pachomios the Great; Alexander, archbishop of Jerusalem; New-martyr Nicholas of Metsov; Venerable Ephraim of Perekop, wonder-worker of Novogorod.

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Pray for our catechumens: In Memphis - Maria Cartagena, Maria Brackey, Lisa Martin, Ashley Newton & Sandy Powell. In Tupelo - Shane Davis, Leah Hardy, Adam Clay, Casey & Jessica Hardy (Davis). In Hernando – Donald Estes. In Henning – Bobby Johnson, John Kearney, & Richard McKeal.

Please remember in your prayers: His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN, Dn. Sidney & Sh. Mary Elliott and family, 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, Joyce Bittle, Marjo Labonte (pregnant), Mindy Williams (pregnant), Kh. Jeanette (pregnant), Kim Hilal (pregnant), Gigi Sliger (pregnant), Ann Hicks (Dianna Hildebrand’s mother), Sue Ingram, Charles Ingram, Ted & Patty Greathouse (Shelley Snowden’s parents), June Peeples (Sarah Hodges’ mother), Allen Sudduth (Paul’s father), Elmo Thompson (Kh. Martha’s father), David Williams (Jill Healy’s son-in-law), Erin Williams (Jill Healy’s daughter, pregnant), Janet Berry (Joel Berry’s mother), and Lydia Banicescu (Tupelo).

ST. JOHN COMMUNITY:

Catechumen/Inquirers class will meet on Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.

Church School – The last day of Church School for this school year will be next Sunday, May 23.

Play ball! – Friday, May 28, Memphis Redbirds Game – Join the Teen Group at AutoZone Park for a night of baseball. The game begins at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are just $7.00 each. We will be sitting in Left Field near the playground. This is a great way to enjoy a rare “fast free” Friday. Please sign up downstairs if you are interested in attending. All are welcome!

Parish Council Meeting – the Parish Council will meet May 19^th at 7:45 p.m.

Elliott Longa – God willing, we will church Elliott on May 23. May God watch over and protect him in every way!

Future Icons in the church - Several have asked about approved subjects for the remaining icons to be added in the church. There is a list available in the parish hall containing the individual saints already present in the iconography in the church, as well as those which are “approved” or under consideration.

Kroger & Schnucks cards are available in the office for those interested. Each time you use your Schnucks card or Kroger Gift Card, St. John will receive a percentage of your purchase. This is a simple way to help the church while doing an everyday activity!

Next Sunday (May 23) is the Great Feast of Pentecost! – We will have a potluck meal following the morning liturgy and reassemble Sunday evening for vespers at 6:00 and the kneeling prayers of Pentecost. The following week (May 23-May30) is FAST FREE! Sunday. May 30 (this year) is known as All Saints Sunday. The next day, May 31 we begin the Apostles Fast which runs to the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul on June 29. Details of the fast follow:

The APOSTLES FAST – The traditional fasting discipline* is observed during the Apostles Fast which lasts from the Monday after All Saints Sunday through June 28th (with katalysis for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and for fish, wine and oil on Saturdays and Sundays).

*Refraining from eating meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil. Shellfish is traditionally permitted. It is good to moderate the amount of food we consume on these days (consider eating smaller portions) and to refrain from eating between meals.

Bittersweet news – today is Thomas, Alicia, and Maura Stickles last Sunday with us. Thomas has completed medical school and the Navy is relocating them to San Diego for his residency. May God watch over and protect them always. God grant you many years!

Memorial Prayers - Today

Esther Elliot Longa

Parish Life Conference in Jacksonville, FL

June 16-20

There is registration information on the Parish Life Conference (PLC) in the parish hall, as well as hotel information and souvenir journal submission forms.

Next year our parish is hosting the conference. We will need most of our parishioners to be involved in some way to adequately host our diocesan gathering. Attending this year’s conference is a great way to get prepared to assist for next year. Consider attending!

ffWorship & Liturgical Reminders ff

The Kiss of peace – Anciently, all churches practiced this in the liturgy, but it fell into disuse except between members of the clergy within the altar. There were reasons for this. Originally, only the faithful were present in the Eucharistic portion of the liturgy. The kiss of peace would have be just that, a physical kiss expressing unity in belief and practice, peace, and reconciliation between the all those present. Also, men and women would have been on separate sides of the nave, and the exchange would have been between men only and women only. With the addition of non communicants and the intermingling of genders, the practice waned to avoid any opportunity for scandal.

His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, has blessed our churches to practice the kiss of peace, but it must be done appropriately and with a minimum of disruption, if at all. To that end, I suggest that you simply lightly embrace the person next to you IF you know them well enough, exchanging the greeting and response, “Christ is in our midst – He is and ever shall be.” (Seasonal greetings change.) If the individual next to you is a visitor or unfamiliar, it might be more appropriate to simply take one another’s hand and exchange the greeting.

Most important, remember you are saying to all present when you exchange the greeting with one that you are at peace with all. ~Fr John

ffMorality Cornerff

We live in what many call a “post Christian” age where older and more traditional moral standards have been called into question. One such moral standard now challenged is the Church’s view that sexual activity prior to marriage is sin. As Orthodox Christians, we have not relinquished this standard. Premarital sexual activity is sin. There are wounds we inflict and receive in any sinful activity, and such is the case with this sin as with all others. The blessings given and changes wrought in the Holy Mystery of Matrimony prepare the married couple so that their coming together physically is a unifying and blessed act rather than a simple gratification of lustful and selfish desire for pleasure. ~Fr John

aa LIBRARY LINES aa

Does it ever seem like Ascension gets lost between Pascha and Pentecost? Why didn’t Jesus just stay with the Apostles? Anthony M. Coniaris explains in Sermons on the Major Holy Days of the Orthodox Church that the answer is wrapped up in the Trinity and that this event is part of our salvation. Read his sermon and the accounts of this week’s saints in St. John Library.

Friday we commemorate Sts. Helen and Constantine (5/21).  The library has several accounts of the history behind their feast day, but perhaps one of the best ones is in A Child’s Paradise of Saints by the nun Nectaria McLees .  Did you know that St. Helen was 70 years old when she found the True Cross? The first chapter in this book tells how God preformed a miracle that revealed to her the identity of Christ’s cross, explains the sign of the cross and shows us a beautifully detailed icon of these saints of God. St. Helen Finds the Cross of Jesus by Michelle Georgiou is another engaging book for younger readers. The story is written in large text and each page has an accompanying brightly colored, full page illustration.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS May 16 – May 23

Sunday Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 John 17:1-13

Monday Acts 21:8-14 John 14:27-15:7

Tuesday Acts 21:26-32 John 16:2-13

Wednesday Acts 23:1-11 John 16:15-23

Thursday Acts 25:13-19 John 16:23-33

Friday Acts 25:1-44 John 10:1-9

Saturday Acts 28:1-31 John 21:15-25

Sunday Acts 2:1-11 John 7:37-52, 8:12

ADDITIONAL ST. JOHN CALENDAR EVENTS

Upcoming Special Services:

May 22 Divine Liturgy for SOULS SATURDAY, 9:00 a.m.

May 23 PENTECOST, regular service times for Sunday

Potluck during Coffee Hour

Vespers for the Kneeling Prayers of Pentecost, 6:00 p.m.

May 30 ALL SAINTS regular service times for Sunday

*NOTE: The APOSTLES FAST begins on May 31st.

Fr John’s out of town dates:

May 21-24 – Boston (Troy’s graduation)

May 28-June 5 – Florida (vacation)

June 16-20 – Jacksonville, FL (Parish Life Conference)

July 19-23 – Antiochian Village (Clergy Symposium)

Upcoming Weddings

Sandy Powell & Mitch Childress – TODAY - May 16

Jennifer Criswell & Bill Stanek - July 18

Memorial Prayers

Esther Longa –TODAY - May 16

Churching

Elliott Longa – May 23

Baby Shower for

Marjo Labonte

June 6 at 12:00

No. 2 Vance Ave.

No. 2 Vance is “a room with a view”~ a place for receptions, parties, etc overlooking the Mississippi River. It is located at No.2 Vance & Wagner on the backside of an old warehouse.

Marjo is registered at Babies-R-Us, Target, & landofnod.com

Please contact Claire Van Drimmelen if you would like to contribute to the group gift.

Antiochian Women of St. John Calendar

AWSJ Crafts Club

Monday, May 24, 7:00 p.m., Fran Tylavsky’s home

AWSJ First Friday Brown Bag Lunch

June 4 – Bring your lunch and join us following

Sixth Hour prayers

Upcoming Book Club Titles

June 7th, 7:00 p.m. – Sarah Hodges’ Front Porch

We will be discussing My Life in France by Julia Child

July 12^th – The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge

September 13^th – Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

Women’s Teaching

Summer Dates: June 10, July 8, & August 5

Next Meeting - Thursday, June 10^th at 10:00 a.m., Anne Dugan’s home.