Publican and the Pharisee
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From the Fathers (and others): You are unable to be saved alone, if all others are not also saved. It is a mistake for one to pray only for oneself, for one’s own salvation. We must pray for the entire world, so that not one is lost. St. John Orthodox Church Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America 40. Do not compare yourself with anyone. - Fr. Thomas Hopko’s 55 Maxims It is a fearful thing to hate whom God has loved. To look upon another – his weaknesses, his sins, his faults, his defects – is to look upon one who is suffering. He is suffering from negative passions, from the same sinful human corruption from which you yourself suffer. This is very important: do not look upon him with the judgmental eyes of comparison, noting the sins you assume you’d never commit. Rather, see him as a fellow sufferer, a fellow human being who is in need of the very healing of which you are in need. Help him, love him, pray for him, do unto him as you would have him do unto you."" St Tikhon of Zadonsk Once St. Anthony was asked, “What good work shall I do?” And he answered. “All works are not equal, the scriptures said that Abraham was hospitable, and God was with him. And, Elijah loved quiet, and God was with him. And, David was humble, and God was with him. What therefore you find that your soul desires in following God, that do, and keep your heart.” St Anthony the Great All of us sin constantly. We slip and fall. In reality, we fall into a trap set by the demons. The Holy Fathers and the Saints always tell us, ‘It is important to get up immediately after a fall and to keep on walking toward God’. Even if we fall a hundred times a day, it does not matter; we must get up and go on walking toward God without looking back. What has happened has happened – it is in the past. Just keep on going, all the while asking for help from God. Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica If you would be simple-hearted like the Apostles, would not conceal your human shortcomings, would not pretend to be especially pious, if you would walk free from hypocrisy, then that is the path. While it is easy, not everyone can find it or understand it. This path is the shortest way to salvation and attracts the grace of God. Unpretentiousness, guilelessness, frankness of soul – this is what is pleasing to the Lord, Who is lowly of heart. Except ye become like children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God (Matt. 18:13). Elder Leonid of Optina Since the world hates Christians, why do you love that which hates you? Why don't you love Christ instead, who both redeemed you and loves you? Let us be prepared for the will of God with a sound mind, a firm faith, and strong virtue. ~ February 9, 2020 ~ St. Cyprian of Carthage Publican and the Pharisee ST. JOHN ORTHODOX CHURCH ST. JOHN CALENDAR February 9 - 16 1663 TUTWILER AVENUE MEMPHIS, TN 38107 Sunday -Teen Group, 1:00 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 -AWSJ Book Club, 7:00 p.m., Kh. Pamela’s home Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America Tuesday -Third Hour, 9:00 a.m. His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS -Men’s Lunch, 12:00 p.m. Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast -Parish Meal, 5:30 p.m., Pizza -Parish Teaching, 6:15 p.m., the Old Testament as Christian Scripture 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. -Vespers, 6:00 p.m. GREAT VESPERS ORTHROS and CHURCH SCHOOL DIVINE LITURGY Thursday -Third Hour, 9:00 a.m. Saturday, 6:00 p.m. Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Friday -First Hour, 6:45 a.m. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America -Third Hour, 9:00 a.m. “…the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch!” Acts 11:26 -Sixth Hour, 12:00 p.m. Saturday -Ninth Hour and Great Vespers, 5:50 p.m. Publican and the Pharisee Sunday -Orthros & Church School, 9:00 a.m. -Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. Epistle: 2 Timothy 3: 10-15 Gospel: Luke 18:10-14 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. DIVINE LITURGY MEMORIALS TODAY It is our sincere desire that your participation today in the Divine Liturgy will draw you closer to Christ PRIEST: Fr. John Elias Mansour, 3 year and His Church. READER: David Twombly If you are from a non-Orthodox background you may see new things such as icons, incense, Elvira Mansour, 40 days the sign of the cross, the veneration of saints, and a great deal of standing. These can be perplexing to USHER: John Sneed the uninitiated eye. Rest assured that everything we do has a solid biblical foundation and a long PROSFORA: Lavinia Dumitrache history among Christian people. Please feel free to participate where you feel comfortable and feel COFFEE HR: Group 3 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 JUNE 10-13, 2020 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 PLC COUNTDOWN 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 121 DAYS your understanding. ST. JOHN COMMUNITY COMMEMORATIONS Annual St. John Parish Business Meeting – We will be holding our annual parish meeting February 9: Martyr Nikephoros of Antioch; Hieromartyrs Markellos, bishop of Sicily, Pankratios, TODAY during coffee hour. Please attend to find out all the exciting things happening and planned bishop of Taormina, and Philagrios, bishop of Cyprus; translation of the relics of Innocent, first for our parish. bishop if Irkutsk. Lenten Psalter Groups – The Psalter is the book of Psalms divided into 20 sections called February 10: Hieromartyr Haralampos the wonder-worker, bishop of Magnesia; Venerable Zenon. kathismata. During Lent, individual members of a Psalter group of 20 will read 1 Kathisma per day, February 11: Hieromartyr Blaise, bishop of Sebaste; Theodora the empress; New-martyr George of resulting in the Psalter being read in its entirety each day by the group. By the end of the fast, each Serbia; Vsevolod, prince and wonder-worker of Pskov; Venerable Demetrios of Prilutsk. individual will have read through the entire Psalter twice. Additionally, each group member February 12: Meletios, archbishop of Antioch; New-martyr Christos of Constantinople; Alexis, commits to praying for each other daily. Everyone would read and pray at home (or the place of metropolitan of Moscow. their choosing) at a convenient time for them each day. Although we are not in the same physical location, we will be together in prayer. February 13: Venerable Martinian of Palestine; Apostles and Martyrs Aquila and Priscilla; We will divide the groups into Men of St. John and Women of St. John; however, as last Eulogios, patriarch of Alexandria; Venerable Simeon (Nemanja) the myrrh-streaming, prince of year, we will have spouses reading the same readings each day in the event they would like to read Serbia and founder of Hilandar monastery on Athos. as a couple. To be added to a group, sign up online (St. John website) or contact Trish Ratliff. February 14: Auxentios the priest of Bithynia; Venerable Abraham, Maron of Syria and Damian; New-martyrs Nicholas of Corinth and George of Mitylene; repose of Venerable Cyril, equal-to-the- PLC Registration is now open!!! – After months of preparation, we are ready to welcome everyone in the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast (DOMSE) to Memphis for the Parish Life Apostles and teacher of the Slavs; Venerable Isaac the Recluse of the Kiev Caves. Conference in June. You can get more information regarding schedules and forms online at February 15: Apostle Onesimos of the Seventy; Venerable Eusebios of Syria; Martyr Major of www.antiochianevents.com/miami, paper forms can be found downstairs across from the elevator. Gaza; Venerable Dalmatos of Siberia. Feel free to ask Trish if you need help registering! Fr. Seraphim of Mull Monastery – On Saturday, March 14, Fr. Seraphim from Mull Monastery will be at St. John to share information about the monastery. DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS February 9-16 Fr. Seraphim was tonsured as a monk in 2005 at Rasca monastery in Bucovine, North Sunday 2 Timothy 3:10-15 Luke 18:10-14 Moldavia.