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

10th Sunday after Pentecost

August 1, 2010

Epistle: I Corinthians 4:9-16 Gospel: Matthew 17:14-23

The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered by Kim Hilal.

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 1–August 8* (Dormition Fast)

Sunday - Teen Group – Game Night, 5:00-7:30 p.m.

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

- Paraklesis, 6:30 p.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.

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

- Children’s reading time immediately following Vespers

- Wednesday Teaching, 7:00 p.m. – subject TBA

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

- AWSJ Women’s Teaching, 10:00 a.m. in the church library

- Great Vespers for Transfiguration, 6:00 p.m.

Friday - Divine Liturgy for Transfiguration, 9:00 a.m.

- Paraklesis, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday - Ninth Hour and Great Vespers, 5:30 p.m. – please note time change

- LAST St. John Pool Party at the Rhodes College pool, 7-9 p.m.

Sunday - Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

- Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

Divine Liturgy Friday, August 6, 9:00 a.m.

PRIEST: Fr. John HOMILY: Fr. John

HOLY BREAD: Fran Tylavsky READER:

ALTAR SERVERS: Whoever is Available

COFFEE HOUR: Corinne Elliott & Trish Ratliff

Divine Liturgy Sunday, August 8, 10:00 a.m.

PRIEST: Fr. Nicholas HOMILY: Fr. Nicholas

DEACONS: Dns. James & Charles READER: Matt Spinolo

HOLY BREAD: Sue Ingram USHER: Aaron White

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

COFFEE HOUR: Gary & Cindy Karnaghon, Mary Ann Coccaro

WELCOME TEAM: Claire Van Drimmelen and David Twombly

*Dormition Fast begins today, August 1. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil) is observed during the fast which lasts from August 1st through 14th (with katalysis for wine and oil on Saturdays and Sundays, and for fish, wine and oil on the Transfiguration [August 6th]).

COMMEMORATIONS

Aug. 1: The Procession of the Cross. The seven Maccabean youths, their mother Solomonia and Eleazar their teacher, martyrs; Venerable-martyr Elessa of Kythera.

Aug. 2: The translation of the relics of the Proto-martyr Stephen the Archdeacon; Venerable Photeini; New-martyr Theodore; Blessed Basil the fool-for-Christ, wonder-worker of Moscow.

Aug. 3: Venerable Isaac, Dalmatos and Faustus of the Dalmaton monastery; Venerable Theoklites and Theodora; Salome the myrrh-bearer; Venerable Anthony the Roman, wonder-worker of Novgorod.

Aug. 4: The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus; Martyr Eudokia of Persia.

Aug. 5: Martyr Eusignios of Antioch; New-martyr Habakkuk of Thessalonika.

Aug. 6: The Transfiguration of Christ.

Aug. 7: Martyrs Dometios of Persia and Sozon of Nicomedia; Hieromarytr Narcissos, patriarch of Jerusalem; Venerable Theodosios the New of the Peloponnesos, Nikanor the wonder-worker of Mt. Kalistratos, and David; Venerable Dometios of Philotheou monastery on Athos; uncovering of the relics of Metrophanes, first bishop of Veronezh.

Aug. 8: Emilianos the Confessor, archbishop of Kyzikos; Myron, archbishop of Crete; Venerable Gregory of Sinai; New-martyrs Anastasios and Triandaphylos of Thessaly; translation of the relics of Venerable Zosimas and Savvatios of Solovsky.

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DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS August 1 – August 8

Sunday I Corinthians 4:9-16 Matthew 17:14-23

Monday 2 Corinthians 2:4-15 Matthew 23:13-22

Tuesday 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 Matthew 23:23-28

Wednesday 2 Corinthians 3:4-11 Matthew 23:29-39

Thursday 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 Matthew 24:13-28

Friday 2 Peter 1:10-19 Matthew 17:1-9

Saturday I Corinthians 1:3-9 Matthew 19:3-12

Sunday I Corinthians 9:2-12 Matthew 18:23-35

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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

ST. JOHN COMMUNITY:

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

AWSJ Women’s Teaching - The AWSJ will have their monthly Women’s Teaching this Thursday, August 5^th at 10:00 a.m. Please note that we will be meeting in the library at the church this month rather than at Anne Dugan’s home.

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 Sunday, August 22nd. Any questions or comments please call or email Sh. Margaret McKelroy.

Upcoming Memorials:

August 8 – Forty day memorial for

Marlene Kraker

August 15 –Andy Alissandratos

September 5 – Kitty Gilliland

October 10 –Urania Alissandratos

Antiochian Women of St. John Calendar

Women’s Teaching

Upcoming Dates: September 9, October 7, November 4, December 2

Next Teaching - Thursday, August 5 at 10:00 a.m. in the church library.

AWSJ Crafts Club

August 23 at 7:00 p.m. in home of Corrine Elliott

Upcoming Book Club Titles

We will resume on September 13^th with Three Cups of Tea

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.

Worship and liturgical reminders

On preparation for receiving the Holy Mysteries of the Eucharist

There are good traditions to follow in making sure you’re ready to receive the Holy Mysteries. While these are not laws, they do enable us to approach the Gifts so that they my purify us rather than cause us sickness:

(1) Was I on time?

(2) Did I fast from midnight before? (if there are medical issues or other issues with this, discuss them with the priest, as many of you have over the years)

(3) Did I read the prayers of preparation for Holy Communion? (see the little red prayer book)

(4) Have I regularly confessed?

(5) Will I remain for the thanksgiving prayers following the Liturgy?

Remember, our life is a journey to meet God, and we prepare as we go. We should prepare ourselves, as well, for each meeting with Him in the Holy Mysteries.

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, Judy Smith (Julie Sanderlin’s mother), Shirley Gore (Judy Terry’s mother), Effie Johnson (Kh. Susan’s mother), Mary Clark, 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, David & Erin Williams (Jill Healy’s children), Janet Berry (Joel Berry’s mother), Lydia Banicescu (Tupelo), Betty Wells (Karen Wells’ mother).

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Now we are in the last month of the Church Year.  And it goes out “with a bang.”  We will celebrate and commemorate the Transfiguration and the Dormition, wonder-working icons, youths who slept for 200 years, prophets and apostles. 

St. Basil (8/2) was trained as a cobbler.  When he was sixteen, he began his calling from God in Moscow as a fool-for-Christ where he went barefoot about the streets in summer and winter. Through actions and speech that appeared foolish to men, he used his gift of clairvoyance to teach and show mercy to others.  He predicted a great fire in Moscow in 1547, and even reproached Tsar Ivan the Terrible for being preoccupied during church services with thoughts of building a palace for himself.   Fools-for-Christ were ascetics who fought the sin of pride by appearing to be appearing mentally ill and consequently incurring the ridicule of the world. Stylites are an example. Read more about this practice in Seraphim’s Seraphim (HAG/SER/HTM), The Inner Kingdom (CAT/GEN/WAR) and The Freedom of Morality (CAT/SPEC/YAN).

Asleep for 200 years!  Wednesday we commemorate seven youths (8/4), friends from childhood, who suffered martyrdom in the third century.  Upon being denounced by informants, they confessed their faith before Emperor Decius. He freed them, hoping they would change their minds. Instead they hid in a cave, prayed and prepared for martyrdom. The emperor found them, but before he sealed its entrance, secret Christians placed a plaque in it inscribed with the names of the youths and the story of their deaths. God then caused them to fall into a miraculous sleep.   Two hundred years later, a stone cutter happened to open the cave and they awoke, unaware of the passage of time. The faithful rejoiced seeing this event as a sign to the heretics that the bodies of the Faithful would be raised. The Emperor journeyed to Ephesus to talk with the young men and afterwards, they lay down and reposed.

See icons of these men, their stories as well as information on fools-for-Christ in St. John Library.

NEW BOOKS in St. John Library (found on the display cart):

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Apocrypha), Angels and their Mission by Jean Danielou. S. J., Byzantium: the Lost Empire (dvd), The Church in Post-Communist Euprope by Christos Yannaras, Europe and the Holy Mountain by Archm. Vasileios, The Great Synaxaristes (July & August), Knowledge of God by Harry Boosalis, On the Lord’s Prayer by Sts. Tertulllian, Cyprian and Origen (From the Popular Patristics Series), Passions and Virtues According to Saint Gregory Palamas by Anestis Keselopouolos, Taught by God by Harry Boosalis, The Way, The Truth and the Life by the Orthodox Education Commission Handbook and You Are Peter by Olivier Clement.

Attention catechumens, and inquirers and the curious!! The Way, the Truth and the Life is an excellent source for all your questions. This handbook is very user-friendly, complete with lists, color illustrations and icons.

Don’t Miss the FINAL

St. John Summer Pool Party

Of 2010

August 7 @ 7:00 p.m.

Our final St. John Summer Potluck Pool Party will follow Vespers* on Saturday, August 7 at the Rhodes College pool. Bring a fast-friendly entrée and drinks for your family along with a side or dessert to share. As always, there will be a grill available for use.

Come relax and enjoy good food and fellowship by the pool!

*Due to the pool party, Vespers will begin at 5:30 Saturday. Please remember to dress appropriately. There will be plenty of time to change into “pool attire” afterwards and still make it to Rhodes at 7:00.