From the Fathers (and others):
“If you want to correct your brother when he is doing wrong, you must keep yourself calm; otherwise you yourself may catch the sickness you are seeking to cure and you may find that the words of the Gospel now apply to you? ‘Why do you look at the speck of dust in your brother's eye, and not notice the rafter in your own eye?’” St. John Cassian
“Don't wage your Christian struggle with sermons and arguments, but with true love. When we argue, others react. When we love people, they are moved and we win them over. When we love we think that we offer something to others, but in reality we are the first to benefit.”
Elder Porphryios
“Apt silence bridles anger; moderation in food bridles mindless desire; and the single-phrased Jesus Prayer bridles unruly thought.”
Ilias the Presbyter
“Man is created for prayer just as he is created to speak and to think. But especially for prayer; for the Lord God put man into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it (Genesis 2:15). And where will you find the Garden of Eden if not in your heart?” Tito Colliander
“Anyone who has fallen into fornication, adultery or any other such bodily impurity should desist from this revolting filth and cleanse himself through confession, tears, fasting and the like. For God judges unrepentant fornicators and adulterers. He condemns them, dismisses them and consigns them to hell, unquenchable fire and other never-ending punishments, saying, ‘Let the impure and accursed be taken away, lest they see and enjoy the glory of the Lord.’” (cf. Isa. 26:10 LXX) St. Gregory Palamas
St. John Orthodox Church
~ April 21, 2013 ~
Commemoration of our
Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt
ST. JOHN ORTHODOXCHURCH
1663 TUTWILER AVENUE
MEMPHIS, TN38107
(901) 274-4119
V. Rev. Fr. John Troy Mashburn, Jr. Rev. Fr. Nikolai Meyers
Pastor Assistant Pastor
V. Rev. Fr. Basil Cushman Rev. Fr. Donald Berge
Associate Pastor Attached
GREAT VESPERS ORTHROS and CHURCHSCHOOLDIVINE 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
April 21, 2013
Commemoration of our
Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt
Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20Gospel: Mark 9:17-30
The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered byAnne Dugan.
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 April 21 - 28(The Great Fast)
Katalysis for fish, wine & oil on Palm Sunday, April 28
Sunday-Great Vespers, 4:30 p.m.
Monday -Great Compline, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday-Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.
-Catechumen/Inquirers Class, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday-Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.
-Presanctified Liturgy, 6:00 p.m.
Lenten Meal to follow
Thursday-Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.
Friday-First Hour, 6:45 a.m.
-Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.
-Sixth Hour, 12:00 p.m.
-Small Compline with the Canon of Lazarus, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday-Divine Liturgy for Lazarus Saturday, 9:00 a.m.
-Ninth Hour and Great Vespers, 5:50 p.m.
Sunday-Church School & Orthros, 9:00 a.m.
-Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.
-Bridegroom Orthros, 6:30 p.m.
Divine Liturgy for Lazarus Saturday Saturday, April 27, 9:00 a.m.
PRIEST:Fr.JohnHOMILY:Fr. John
DEACONS:Dns.James & CharlesREADER:Jack Turner
HOLY BREAD: Sarah Hodges
ALTAR SERVERS: J. Morgan, Jake, Deon, Trent, James
COFFEE HOUR:Kh. Pamela
Divine Liturgy for Triumphal Entry Sunday, April 28, 10:00 a.m.
PRIEST:Fr. JohnHOMILY:Fr. John
DEACONS:Dns. Tim & JamesREADER:Matt Spinolo
HOLY BREAD: Lynda SpinoloUSHER:John Sneed
ALTAR SERVERS: Luke, Alex, Cade, Pavel, Elian
WELCOME TEAM:David Twombly
CLEAN UP:Aaron White, Austin Brown, Bill Harter, Bill Stanek, Billy Labonte, Caleb McGee
Upcoming Baptisms and Chrismations
Lawson Bowick will be received into the church on Great and Holy Saturday.
Please keep him and his sponsor, Tyson Smith, in your prayers.
COMMEMORATIONS
April 21:HieromartyrJanuarios, bishop of Benevento; Venerable Maximos and Anastasios.
April 22:Theodore Sykeote, bishop of Anastasiopolis; Apostle Nathanael; Martyr Nearchos; Vsevolod, prince of Psov; Martyr Epipodios of Lyons.
April 23:Great-martyr George the Trophy-bearer; Martyr Alexandra the Empress; Martyr Glykerios of Nicomedia; New-martyrs George of Ptolemais and Lazarus of Bulgaria.
April 24:Venerable Elizabeth the wonder-worker of Constantinople; Martyr Sabbas the General (‘Stratelates’) of Rome; HieromartyrsPhylikos, Fourtunatos and Achilleos; New-martyrs Luke, Akylina, Nicholas and George; Iorest and SabbasBrancovici, metropolitans of Ardeal and confessors in Romania; Martyr Alexander of Lyons.
April 25:Apostle and Evangelist Mark; Martyr Niki; Macedonios, patriarch of Constantinople; New-martyr George.
April 26:Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Amasea; Venerable Glaphyra and George; Stephen, bishop of Perm; Ioanikios of Devitch.
April 27:Hieromartyr Simeon, the kinsman of the Lord; Venerable George, John and Eulogios the hospitable; Stephen, bishop of Vladimir; incineration of the relics of Sabbas, first archbishop of Serbia, by Sinan Pasha (1595).
April 28:The Nine Martyrs of Kyzikos; Venerable Memnon the wonderworker.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS April 21-28
SundayHebrews9:11-14Mark10:32-45
MondayGenesis27:1-41Proverbs19:16-25
TuesdayGenesis31:3-16Proverbs21:23-22:4
WednesdayGenesis43:26-31; 45:1-16Proverbs11:9-13
ThursdayGenesis46:1-7Proverbs11:14-23
FridayGenesis49:33-50:26Proverbs31:8-31
SaturdayHebrews12:28-13:8John11:1-45
SundayPhilippians4:4-9John12:1-18
Pray for our catechumens: Memphis - Ben Arthur,Lawson Bowick,Ashley Sloan, Angela Blake, Weston Leopold, Richard McKeal, Maria Brackey, Lisa Martin, Michael Hill. Tupelo - Shane Davis, Leah Hardy, Janet Berry, Carlyn Bain. Jackson - Laura (June & Louise) Wilson, Christopher Pittman Henning –John Kearney, Alton Hanks, Randolf.
Please remember in your prayers: His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN,Dn. Innocent, Judi Smith (Julie Sanderlin’s mother), Shirley Gore (Judy Terry’s mother), Effie Johnson (Kh. Susan’s mother), Mary Clark, Ann Hicks (Dianna Hildebrand’s mother), Sue Ingram, Charles Ingram, Ted Greathouse (Shelley Snowden’s father), Allen Sudduth (Paul’s father), Janet Berry, Lydia Banicescu (Tupelo), Betty Wells (Karen Wells’ mother), Jill Healy, Nicholas Hill, Mary Sue Johnson (Jason Guntharpe’s grandmother), Corky Neale (Priscilla’s husband), Megan Mayo (Jill Healy’s daughter), Maria Stark (pregnant), Anna Sarah Farha (pregnant),Eleni Sinis (pregnant), Danielle Sanford (pregnant), Janan Heisig, George Harants, Laura Graham, Ernestine Pruitt (Nicholas Hill’s mother), Brenda Thomas, Doris & Jim (Brenda Thomas’ family), Ed & Sandy O’Brien (Dan O’Brien’s parents), those suffering in Syria, most especially the Christians.
ST. JOHN COMMUNITY
Catechumen/Inquirers Class will meet Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
Confessions for Lent – As you think about making your confession for Lent please make every effort to have you confessions heard before the beginning of Holy Week. Fr. John and the other priests are available hear your confession after every service with the exception of the Divine Liturgy, so there are many opportunities. Many people make an appointment to make their confession at a time other than after a service. Just contact the priest to do so.
Palm Sunday Potluck – We will have a Palm Sunday Potluck next Sunday, April 28th. Please bring a dish(es) to share and remember that we may have fish, wine and oil on this day.
Two copies of the new Patriarch JOHN’s first pastoral letter to all the beloved children of the Holy Antiochian See are in the parish hall for all to read as you desire.
Bulletin Board – Be sure to check the bulletin boards downstairs for Thank You cards and other items of interest!
PLEASE SIGN UP….
- Sign-up sheet for Paschal Vigil – 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 to Set Up and Decorate for Pascha, following Divine Liturgy on Holy Saturday
- Sign-up sheet for pizza party - On the evening of THURSDAY, May 9, at 6:30 PM we will celebrate the feast of the Life Giving Font (Bright Friday). Following the liturgy we will again have a pizza party.
Morality Corner:
Our own bishops, the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in North America, and every other Orthodox Synod that has addressed this question have been in agreement. From the Assembly statement of May 16, 2012:
“Whereas marriage between a man and a woman is a sacred institution ordained by God, homosexual union is not. Like adultery and fornication, homosexual acts are condemned by Scripture (Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor. 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10). This being said, however, we must stress that persons with a homosexual orientation are to be cared for with the same mercy and love that is bestowed by our Lord Jesus Christ upon all of humanity. All persons are called by God to grow spiritually and morally toward holiness.
“As heads of the Orthodox Churches in America . . . we speak with one voice in expressing our deep concern over recent developments. And we pray fervently that the traditional form of marriage, as an enduring and committed union only between a man and a woman, will be honored.”
Antiochian Women of St. John
May 13 ~ AWSJ Book Club, 7:00 p.m. - The book club will resume on May 13th with a discussion of An Englishman in the Court of the Tsarby Christine Benagh.
May 16 ~ Women’s Teaching, 10:00 a.m., Sue Ingram’s home - We will continue our study of Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit. Please join us!
Terry Harter, Karen Bell and Mindy Williams invite the
Women of St. John to a Baby Shower
honoring
Anna-Sarah and baby Genevieve Farha
Thursday evening, May 23rdat the home of Terry Harter
Contact Mindy Williams if you would like to contribute to the group gift. Please consider that we would like to make a donation to Birthright in honor of our Farha baby girl. Anna-Sarah is registered at Babies R Us and buybuy Baby.
Library Lines
MORE, PLEASE. Here’s more food for your soul from St. John Library (on the cart)
Christian Morality by St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite
The Life of Saint Brigid (2nd copy)
Light Invisible: Satisfying the Thirst for Happiness by M.V. Lodyzhenskii
Therapy of Spiritual Illnesses by Dr. Jean-Clause Larchet
Today is St. Mary of Egypt Sunday. Last week we heard the story of St. Mary of Egypt in the complete canon of St. Andrew of Crete. Ironically, St. Andrew was mute as a young child, not speaking until age seven.The canon was then an unknown liturgical form. He also wrote canons for the Nativity, Palm Sunday and other feast days. His poetical tradition was followed by Sts. John of Damascus, Cosmos of Maium and Joseph the Melodist. He attended the Sixth Ecumenical Council and died in the early 8th century.
First Fruits of Prayer (SPR/PRA/MAT) by Frederica Mathewes-Green is a forty-day journey through this beautiful, great hymn of repentance. Each portion of the canon is printed with accompanying Scripture references and commentary. The book begins with a general introduction and the historical background. I highly recommend it for catechumens and “old-timers” alike.
Read more about St. Mary and the lion in A Child’s Paradise of Saints (KID MCL)and Animals and Man (CAT SPEC STE). They are on the display cart.
The Church honors many saints who held positions of prestige and privilege within government and the military. St. Alexandra (4/23) was married to the emperor Diocletian. She raised their daughter, St. Valeria, in the Faith. They were both banished after Valeria refused to marry the succeeding emperor, Maximus. After his death, they returned to Rome, trusting the next emperor, Licinius, for their safety. He, along with St. Constantine, had extended religious freedom to Christians. However, he betrayed his promise and had them beheaded.
St. Elizabeth the Wonderworker (4/24) spent her life from childhood in a monastery. Her mother had been given a revelation that her daughter was chosen by God for special blessings. She worea hair shirt, kept a strict fast and was given the gift of healing.Tradition says that she lived and died in the sixth century.