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

4th Sunday after Pentecost

June 20, 2010

Epistle: Romans 6:18-23 Gospel: Matthew 8:5-13

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered 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 June 20 – June 27(Apostles Fast)

Sunday - No Teen Group

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

- AWSJ Crafts Club, 7:00 p.m. at Margaret McKelroy’s home

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

- Men’s Lunch, 11:45 a.m.

- Catechumen/Inquirers Class

- Choir, 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. – Byzantium Pt. 2

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

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

- Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.

- Paraklesis, 12:00 p.m.

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

Sunday - Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

- Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

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

PRIEST: Fr. Basil HOMILY: Fr. Basil

DEACONS: Dn. Charles & Tim READER: Owen White

HOLY BREAD: Mary Ann Coccaro USHER: John McGee

ALTAR SERVERS: Caleb, Luke S., Michael, Alex, Jake & Joe

COFFEE HOUR: George & Kim Hilal, Chase & Gigi Sliger

WELCOME TEAM: Clifford McWhorter and Gary Karnaghon

Fr John’s out of town dates:

July 19-23 – Antiochian Village (Clergy Symposium)

Upcoming Special Services

June 28 – Great Vespers for the Fest of Sts. Peter and Paul, 6:00 p.m.

June 29 – Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul,

9:00 a.m. at St. Paul Skete (see insert)

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

COMMEMORATIONS

June 20: Hieromartyr Methodios, bishop of Patara; Kallistos Xanthopoulos, patriarch of Constantinople; Venerable Nahum of Ochrid.

June 21: Martyr Julian of Tarsus; New-martyr Nikita of Nisyros near Rhodes.

June 22: Hieromartyr Eusebios, bishop of Samosata; Martyrs Zeno and his servant Zenas of Philadelphia; Alban, protomartyr of Britain; Venerable Anastasia of Serbia.

June 23: Martyrs Agripinna of Rome, Aristokleos, Eustochios, Demetrian, and Lollias; Venerable Barbaros Pentapolites; translation of the relics of Herman, archbishop of Kazan.

June 24: The Nativity of the Forerunner; New-martyr Panayiotis of Caesarea in Cappadocia.

June 25: Venerable-martyr Febronia of Nisibis; Martyr Longinos; Venerable Prokopios of the skete of Iviron on Athos; Venerable Dionysios the Hagiorite, founder of Dionysiou monastery on Athos; Vnerable Dometios, abbot of Dionysiou monastery on Athos; Prince Peter (Venerable David) and Princess Febronia (Venerable Euphrosyne), wonder-workers of Murom.

June 26: Venerable David of Thessalonika; John, bishop of the Goths.

June 27: Sampson the host of strangers; Mary and Joanna the myrrh-bearers.

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DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS June 20 – June 27

Sunday Romans 6:18-23 Matthew 8: 5-13

Monday Romans 12: 4-5, 15-21 Matthew 12: 9-13

Tuesday Romans 14: 9-18 Matthew 12: 14-16, 22-30

Wednesday Romans 15: 7-16 Matthew 12: 38-45

Thursday Romans 15: 17-29 Matthew 12: 46-13:3

Friday Romans 16: 1-16 Matthew 13: 4-9

Saturday Romans 8: 14-21 Matthew 9: 9-13

Sunday Romans 10: 1-10 Matthew 8: 26-9:1

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- ALMS-GIVING OPPORTUNITIES –

St. John Alms Fund	St. John Camping Fund
St. John Food Pantry	St. John Seminarian Fund
St. Paul Mission Station	Rachels’ Kids, Inc.

Diocese of Miami and the Southeast Mission Fund

Michael Bittle Fund – Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

– Little Rock, AR

ST. JOHN COMMUNITY:

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

Choir Practice, Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

The importance of hospitality – Hospitality is a very important virtue reflecting how much we reverence God. Thanks be to God for so many of the members of St. John who show genuine hospitality so often! The following is an email I received last Tuesday highlighting the impression our care of others can make:

Dear Fr.John,

Greetings in the Lord! 

My daughter Anastasia Loejos and fellow mission team member, Maria Constantine were rerouted to Memphis on Sunday, as they were on their way to Uganda, for an OCMC medical mission. With their 10 plus hour layover, they had the good sense, to hail a cab and find St. John Antiochian Orthodox Church. 

Both Anastasia and Maria are PKs or Priest's Kids so rather than going to Graceland, they made it to Church. They were so warmly received by your community, Anastasia had to call me. "Dad they were so nice to us, the Choir was beautiful and they took us out for Southern fried Catfish!" A young woman hosted them in her apartment and let them relax, prior to their safe flight to Amsterdam. Another couple offered to pick them up and took them to the airport. All I can say, is thank you, to you and your Parish. Your Parish embraced them and offered their love and hospitality. This is also a reflection of your own God pleasing ministry. 

Unfortunately, there are too many parishes, that would not have even asked their names, or made an effort to befriend them. I have seen it before, the "look how they are dressed" look, or the, "you are sitting in my seat" look. Anastasia and Maria felt completely at home in your Church, yet prior to that morning, they had never set foot in your Parish. That is exactly how it should be, when we enter an Orthodox Church, we should feel like it is home. Again thank you and your Parish for their love and warmth. 

Sincerely in the Lord,

Rev.Protopresbyter John M.Loejos, GOA

Seven Hills, Ohio

Moving help needed – God willing, Karen Bell will be moving to Garland near N Parkway on 6/30. If you are able to offer some assistance with unloading at Garland on 6/30, 7/1 or 7/5, please contact Karen (kbell@memphis.edu or kbell58@yahoo.com).

Please keep them in your prayers.

Bittersweet news:

The Weavers are returning to India! The following is a portion of their announcement to all their friends and loved ones:

Dear family and friends,

It is with great joy and anticipation that we announce that we are returning to India!

We will be finishing our season here in Memphis at the end of August and will be in India by the beginning of October.

We cherish and so need your prayers! Looking back at our first term in Jagdeeshpur, we know we were equipped and given an enormity of grace that could have only come by prayer, and we are humbled by the love and support so many of you poured upon us. It is remembering that great strength that enables us to even consider returning to a life of service in India again . . .

We long to stay in touch with each of you - your notes and emails mean so much to us, and we invite you to write frequently and to share freely from your hearts, your faith, and your lives.

Thank you in advance for your prayers, especially in this transition season as we sell our home and consolidate our household belongings into a few suitcases again! Pray especially for our children, whose exuberance to return to India has been so touching! Pray that we can wrap ourselves around them with the stability of our constant love and presence that they may weather all the changes with grace. As always, the children have been such a guide and instrument of God's leading for the both of us, and we are encouraged by their enthusiasm and faith.

Our blessings and love to all of you!

Joe and Sima, Kavya, Maya, Joseph, and Nadya

There is a much longer letter posted on the bulletin board. Many years to all of you! We will miss you very much!

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!

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Who has more feast days than any other saint?  Hint:  his birthday is Thursday.  Jesus was his cousin, and he was the last Old Testament prophet.  Like Moses, he had devout parents, had enemies from his childhood and spent time in great rivers and around locusts. He wore animal skins and is shown with wings in some icons.  See the icon of the nativity of St. John the Forerunner (6/24) and the account of his birth on display in St. John Library.

This month we honor several icons of the Theotokos.  Wednesday we coemorate the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God which was painted by Luke the Evangelist. It was brought from Constantinople to Rus in 1131 and then to Vladimir where it received its name.  In 1395 Khan Tamerlane advanced on Moscow, and clergy were sent to Vladimir to bring the icon to Moscow. Along the route, throngs of people lined the road kneeling and asking the Theotokos to save Russia. At the same time Tamerlane had a dream in which the Theotokos, accompanied by the hierarchs of Russia, commanded him to leave the country.

The wonderworking icon of Tikhvin was also painted by St. Luke.  It was taken from Jerusalem to Constantinople in the fifth century. In 1383 fishermen saw the icon surrounded by light and miraculously hovering over the water.  It also appeared in other towns and protected Novgorod from attack by the intercessions of the Theotokos.  In later years it was covered by a “riza,” adorned by precious stones and showing only the hands and faces of the Virgin and Christ Child. The icon survived during the Communist Revolution and was taken to Latvia by the Nazis, then to Bavaria. When discovered by Communists in 1949, it was taken to the United States under the pretext of being a copy.  In 2003, it was returned to Russia.  

To learn more about icons of the Theotokos, see Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary and Prayers for Her Intercession. It is on the display cart along with other books about our commemorated saints this week. 

Pray for our catechumens: Memphis - Maria Cartagena, Maria Brackey, Lisa Martin, Ashley Newton, Sandy Childress, & Michael Hill. Tupelo - Shane Davis, Leah Hardy, Adam Clay, Casey & Jessica Hardy (Davis). Hernando – Donald Estes. Henning –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, Marjo Labonte (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 & Erin Williams (Jill Healy’s children), Janet Berry (Joel Berry’s mother), Lydia Banicescu (Tupelo), Betty Wells (Karen Wells’ mother).

From the Fathers

“Technology is deaf, mute and unanswering.  It is completely dependant on ethics, as ethics on faith. Ethics are long-lasting and unchanging, that is, evangelic ethics, but technology is always changing. Ethics are likened to a lady, and technology like her handmaiden.  That is why ethics have to control technology.  Eternal values are territory of ethics and not technology.  It is devastating for an entire people to put the purpose of their lives in technology, and all of their labor and sweat they sacrifice to the advancement of technology, dragging behind them ethics, like Achilles dragged the dead Hector tied to a chariot.  A people like that can succeed to build all of their cities from ivory and gold, but if people like Ahab and Jezebel live in them, dogs will have the last word and not people.  Between honor and skill it is easy to choose.  An honest man even without skill is more respected in our time than a skillful man without honesty.”

St. Nikolai Velimirovich

“Seek God, and not where God lives.”

Abba Sisoes

“What does the daily invocation of the saints signify — of different ones each day, during the whole year, and during our whole life? It signifies that God's saints — as our brethren, but perfect — live, and are near us, ever ready to help us, by the grace of God. We live together with them in the house of our Heavenly Father, only in different parts of it. We live in the earthly, they in the heavenly half; but we can converse with them, and they with us. God's saints are near to the believing heart, and are ready in a moment to help those who call upon them with faith and love.”

St. John of Kronstadt