From the Fathers (and others):
We know that prayer in and of itself cannot save us, but carrying it out before God can. For when the Lord's eyes are upon us He sanctifies us, as the sun warms everything upon which St. John Orthodox Church it shines. A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America St. Gregory Palamas
When we become incorruptible and immortal and attain to the blessed state of conformity with Christ, we will be ever with the Lord, gaining fulfillment in the purest contemplations of His visible theophany which will illuminate us with its most brilliant rays, just as it illuminated the disciples at the time of the most divine Transfiguration. This is the light of God, as St. John has said in his Revelation (Rev. 22:5), and such is the opinion of all the saints. St. Gregory Palamas
The passion for popularity brings such injury upon those it masters that it shipwrecks faith itself. Our Lord confirms this when He says, “How can you have faith in Me when you receive honor from one another and do not seek for the honor that comes from the only God? St. Gregory Palamas
If your mind can pray without distraction, your heart will soon be softened. St. Mark the Ascetic
Don’t worry too much about how spiritually poor you are – God sees that, but for you it is expected to trust in God and pray to Him as best you can, never to fall into despair and to struggle according to your strength. If you ever begin to think you are spiritually ‘well off’ then you can know for sure that you aren’t! True spiritual life, even on the most elementary level, is always accompanied by suffering and difficulties. Therefore you should rejoice in all your difficulties and sorrows. Fr. Seraphim Rose
Do not say, "this happened by chance, while this came to be of itself." In all that exists there is nothing disorderly, nothing indefinite, nothing without purpose, nothing by chance ... How many hairs are on your head? God will not forget one of them. Do you see how nothing, even the smallest thing, escapes the gaze of God? St. Basil the Great ~ March 15, 2020 ~ I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown, and he replied: go out into the darkness and put your hand in the hand of Sunday of Gregory Palamas God that shall be better to you than light and safer than a known way. Second Sunday of Great Lent
St. Ephrem the Syrian ST. JOHN CALENDAR March 15 - 23 (Great Lent) ST. JOHN ORTHODOX CHURCH Sunday -Children’s Choir, coffee hour 1663 TUTWILER AVENUE MEMPHIS, TN 38107 -Teen Group, 5:00 p.m. (901) 274-4119 -YA Doctrine on Draft, 6:00 p.m. www.stjohnmemphis.org Monday -First Hour, 6:45 a.m.
His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH -Great Compline, 6:00 p.m. Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America -Bible Study, 7:00 p.m.
His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS Tuesday -Third Hour, 9:00 a.m. Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast -Men’s Lunch, 12:00 p.m. -Catechumen/Inquirers Class, 7:00 p.m. V. Rev. Fr. Philip Rogers, Pastor V. Rev. Fr. Basil Cushman, Associate Pastor V. Rev Fr. John Troy Mashburn, Jr., Pastor Emeritus V. Rev. Fr. Donald Berge, Attached Wednesday -Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.
-Presanctified Liturgy, 6:00 p.m. GREAT VESPERS ORTHROS and CHURCH SCHOOL DIVINE LITURGY -Parish meal following liturgy Saturday, 6:00 p.m. Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Thursday -Third Hour, 9:00 a.m. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America -AWSJ Teaching, 10:00 a.m. “…the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch!” Friday -First Hour, 6:45 a.m. Acts 11:26 -Third Hour, 9:00 a.m.
Gregory Palamas -Sixth Hour, 12:00 p.m. -Akathist, 6:00 p.m. Epistle: Hebrews 1:10-2:3 Gospel: Mark 2:1-12 Saturday -Ninth Hour and Great Vespers, 5:50 p.m.
Sunday -Orthros & Church School, 9:00 a.m. The Holy Bread for Eucharist is offered by Stephanie Harants. Welcome to all those visiting St. John Orthodox Church. We are honored by your presence. -Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. It is our sincere desire that your participation today in the Divine Liturgy will draw you closer to Christ and His Church. CHURCHING TODAY UPCOMING MEMORIAL - March 29 If you are from a non-Orthodox background you may see new things such as icons, incense, Aryanna and Clover Smith Nancy McGee 1 year 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 Charles Ingram 2 years history among Christian people. Please feel free to participate where you feel comfortable and feel Maria Bellaflores 2 years equally as free only to observe when you prefer. Jill Healy 6 years The Orthodox Church understands the Eucharist, or Lord’s Supper, to be – among other things Mo. Theodora Amphiloca – 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 DIVINE LITURGY unfortunate reality of our day is that the various segments of Christendom are not unified with the Exaltation of the Cross historic Orthodox faith. Since participation in the Eucharist expresses a unity with all the dogma and Sunday, March 22, 10:00 am JUNE 10-13, 2020 practice of the Orthodox Church, non-Orthodox guests do not receive Holy Communion. The Holy PRIEST: Fr. Philip Eucharist is reserved for those members of the Orthodox Church who have prepared themselves by READER: Jack Turner PLC COUNTDOWN prayer, fasting, and recent confession. All visitors and unprepared Orthodox are invited to partake of 86 DAYS the blessed bread as they come forward to venerate the cross at the end of the Liturgy. Thank you for USHER: Jack Turner your understanding. PROSFORA: Reem Mansour COFFEE HR: Group 3 COMMEMORATIONS T. OHN OMMUNITY S J C March 15: Martyr Agapios of Palestine and those with him; Apostle Aristoboulos of the Seventy, first bishop of Britain; New-martyrs Manuel of Crete and Parthenios. Lenten Bible Study – Following Compline on Monday, Drew Garrison will be leading a March 16: Martyr Sabinos of Egypt; Venerable Christodoulos the wonderworker of weekly Lenten Bible study on the book of John. Patmos. March 17: Venerable Alexios the “Man of God;” Theosteriktos the Confessor; Patrick, More Ushers Needed! We are hoping to recruit more people who would like to serve as an bishop of Armagh and enlightener of Ireland; Venerable Makarios of Kalyazin. usher. If you are interested, please let Fr. Philip know. March 18: Cyril, patriarch of Jerusalem; Martyrs Trophymos and Eukarpos of Nicomedia and those with them; Nikoai (Velimirovic), bishop of Zica in Serbia. Bishop Visit April 3-5! As a Lenten treat, Bishop NICHOLAS will be with us for the March 19: Martyrs Chrysanthos, Daria, Jason, Mauros and Diodoros of Rome; Martyr Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt. There will be plenty of opportunities to pray with him over Pancharios of Nicomedia; New-martyr Demetrios of Constantinople; Venerable Innocent of the course of the weekend. Komel. March 20: The holy fathers slain at the monastery of Mar Sabbas; New-martyr Myron of Children’s Choir – Caitlyn Maas will be re-organizing the St. John Children’s Choir with Crete. rehearsals beginning today during coffee hour in the library. All Kindergarteners – March 21: Venerable-confessor James the New, bishop of Catania; Thomas, patriarch of Preteens are invited to join, as well as any adults who would like to help. Please have your Constantinople; New-martyr Michael. children grab a quick snack and Caitlyn will announce when it will be time to head to March 22: Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra; Martyr Kallinika of Rome; Venerable-martyr practice. Euthymios of Prodromou Skete on Athos. Men’s Book Club, Sons of Thunder – The Sons of Thunder men's book club will meet 6pm,
Sunday March 22 at the church to discuss That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis. Please bring a dish or beverage to share. DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS March 15 - 23 Sunday Hebrews 1:10-2:3 Mark 2:1-12 Feast of Annunciation – We will celebrate Divine Liturgy for the Annunciation on Monday Genesis 6:9-22 Proverbs 8:1-21 Wednesday, March 25 at 6:00 p.m. Afterwards, we will enjoy a potluck together as a parish. Tuesday Genesis 7:1-5 Proverbs 8:32-9:11 Fish, wine and oil will be allowed! Wednesday Genesis 7:6-9 Proverbs 9:12-18 Thursday Genesis 7:11-8:3 Proverbs 10:1-22 Parish Council Update - The parish council had a productive meeting on Tuesday, March Friday Genesis 8:4-21 Proverbs 10:31-11:12 10. We reviewed the up-to-date financial reports, discussed general maintenance of the Saturday Hebrews 10:32-38 Mark 2:14-17 building and reviewed the new website directory and text messaging initiatives. Lord Sunday Hebrews 4:14-5:6 Mark 8:34-9:1 willing, we are organizing a CPR and AED training for the new AED that has been installed in the Church. The AED is in the bookstore area so that there will be easy access for both the hall and the nave. Please continue to keep the council in your prayers as they Pray for our catechumen: Mike, Megan, Ezra and Hopper Jackson; Michael & Miriam Redmond, discern the business administration of the Church! Dru Wilhite, Jordan & Aryanna Smith; Page Walley, Mike & Vicki Jackson, Austin Brown, Rhy
Williams Please remember in your prayers – Mary Clark, Nicholas Hill, Ernestine Pruitt (Nicholas Hill’s Birthdays, Anniversaries, & Namedays mother), Lisa Catlett (Fr. Don & Kh. Martha’s daughter), Chris Hodges, Mickey Hodges, Elizabeth Allie (Buddy Bowick’s mother/Lawson’s grandmother), Heather Hetrick (pregnant), Julie Hight Sunday, 3/15: Stephanie Harants, James Elliott (pregnant), Meagan Jackson (pregnant), Mawusi McKelroy (pregnant), Rose McGee (pregnant), Tuesday, 3/17: St. Patrick: Patrick Koplin Kendall Ichniowski, (pregnant), Rachel Brewer (pregnant), Anne Katherine Vanlandingham Thursday, 3/18: Rick Yadron, Gabriel Flexsenhar (pregnant), Brenda Thomas (Tupelo), Michael Oberbillig, Shukurat Nasanga Kisakye, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, those suffering in the Middle East, most especially the Christians. Teen Calendar LIBRARY LINES
(Regular Meetings Sun. & Tues. unless otherwise noted) Looking for food for your soul? St. John Library offers the following books for adults and Mar. 15 (Sunday) Games at the Elliott’s home, 4:00 p.m. children and magazine articles on Great Lent and Holy Week. They are on display on the Mar. 28 (Saturday) Cyber Retreat south wall (hallway side) of the library.
Do you get the St. Gregorys mixed up? Today is the feast day of Gregory Palamas. He is a Women of St. John Calendar 14th century saint who is known as a teacher of hesychasm and as an apologist of April (Thursday) Women’s Teaching – 10:00 a.m. – Kh. Pamela’s home - We will be Orthodoxy. Discover more about him in these St. John Library books: reading and discussing Ch. 10 of “The Way of the Ascetics” Copies The Lives of the Pillars of Orthodoxy (REF HAG HOL), are available at teaching. Saint Gregory Palamas As a Hagiorite by Metropolitan of Nafpakos Hierotheos Mar. 21 (Saturday) AWSJ Righting Group (because we are RIGHTING ourselves and (HAG GRE HIE) our community through writing) will meet at 4:15 rather than 4:30 on St. Gregory Palamas and Orthodox Spirituality by John Meyendorff (PAT COM GRE) in the old parish hall. We're gathering 15 minutes earlier to allow A Study of Gregory Palamas by John Meyendorf (HAG GRE MEY). time to visit and for late-comers. We will start the "official" meeting at 4:30, so all who arrive then or later, please come in What do St. Patrick (3/17) and St. Nicholas (12/6) have in common? They are both quietly. If you would like to join us let Kh. Susan know at Orthodox Saints who are recognized in the popular culture with secular celebrations. 901- 233-8297 or [email protected]. There’s much more to his life than chasing snakes out of Ireland. Read about St. Patrick in: Saints of the British Isles (HAG - - - PET), Apostles of Medieval Europe (HAG - - - SPA), Stock up the Food Pantry for Great Lent! The Life of Saint Patrick (KID STS PAT), and Tomie de Poalo’s Patrick, Saint of Ireland (KID STS PAT). WEEK 3 – MAR. 15-21 WEEK 5: MAR. 29 – APR. 4
*Canned Goods Toiletries Check the bulletin board in St. John Library for a list of all our titles on Celtic Saints. Soup (Ready to eat) Toilet Paper Who’s that other saint we commemorate on St. Patrick’s Day? Read about him in St. Veggies Toothpaste/toothbrush Alexis, The Man of God (HAG ALE HOL). beans Shampoo
Fruits St. Nikolai Velimorvich (3/18) is a “modern” church father. His wisdom is recorded in the Drinks/drink boxes WEEKS 6: APR. 5-12 following books by and about him: *Canned meals: The Faith of Chosen People (PAT NIK), WEEK 4: MAR. 22-28 Chef Boy R Dee Kassiana (HAG NIK), Dry Items Chili The Life of St. Sava (HAG SAV NIC), individual cereal boxes Mac n Cheese Mystery and Meaning of the Battle of Kosovo (PAT NIK), oatmeal packets Orthodox Christian Journey (CAT GEN OCPM), granola bars or cereal bars WEEK 7: APRIL 13-19 Prayers by the Lake (PAT NIK), rice/beans misc. from previous weeks Portraits of American Saints (HAG - - -GRA), nabs The Prolgue from Ochrid (REF HAG- - -NIK), Recently Canonized Saints (HAG - - - DEV), * Many of the patrons of the food pantry are homeless and have no means with which to open cans and/or cook their food. When possible, please buy items with pop-tops Serbian Patericon by Fr. Francis Rogich (HAG- - -ROG), that are ready to eat. Struggle for Faith (PAT NIK), and **Cash/check donations are also accepted. Treasury of Serbian Orthodox Spirituality (PAT NIK).