August 9th, 2026
Stump the Priest: Question: “I am not opposed to triune immersion, but I do want to question the idea that triune immersion is the ONLY way. Why isn’t there a single mention of triune immersion in the New Testament? Other than the Didache, I see no explicit support for triune immersion from the writings from the first and second century. Tertullian speaks of thrice immersions as being “an ampler pledge” than what is found in Scripture. Ampler means greater. Therefore, he is saying that triune immersion is somewhat greater than what Jesus described in Matthew 28, and therefore something beyond what Christ commanded.” Click here for the Answer.
If you have a question you would like to ask, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com
The Orthodox Term of the Week: Litia.
Saints of the Day for Sunday and the coming week, and other edifying reading:
https://saintjonah.org/bltn/pent10.pdf
Propers for the Sunday Liturgy (Sunday, August 9th):
https://www.saintjonah.org/lit/lit_july27_t1.htm
Propers for the Procession of the Cross (Friday, August 14th):
https://www.saintjonah.org/lit/lit_august01.htm
You can find propers for other upcoming Liturgies by clicking here, and upcoming Rubrics for services by clicking here.
Schedule of Service for the Coming Week:
| Thursday, August 13th | 6:30 p.m. Vigil for the Procession of the Cross |
| Friday, August 14th | 9:00 a.m. Liturgy for the Procession of the Cross |
| Saturday, August 15th | 10:00 a.m. Baptism
5:00 p.m. Vigil |
| Sunday, August 16th | 9:00 a.m. Hours and Liturgy |
Announcements
Parish Directory Photos: Cory will be taking photos of those who do not have photos in the parish directory, or who need updated photos. See: https://saintjonah.org/parish-directory/
Trapeza: We need more families to volunteer to host Trapeza. If you are willing to do it, please contact Matushka Patricia. We need at least 3 new families to balance out the schedule.
The Next Slavonic Liturgy we be on Saturday, August 22nd, at 9:00 a.m.
The next Parish Council Meeting will be on Tuesday, August 25th, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be held via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/ayx-ijpb-mhe
Catechumens: If you are a catechumen, or are not a catechumen, but would like to participate in classes for Catechumens, be sure to join the Catechumen io group online.
You can also join the St. Jonah Catechumen group on Telegram.
Our next Catechumen Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 20th, at 7:00 p.m., via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/upg-ogxg-dfx
To sign-up to be a presenter, click here: https://forms.gle/zKZeN8iQAk8Jbzdz6
Sisterhood News: The Next Sisterhood Meeting will be held on Sunday, August 30th, at 12:30 p.m., in the Church:
You can become a Sisterhood member by filling out membership forms online, the paper forms located in the trapeza hall bulletin board. Make sure to join Sisterhood io group online or join the Sisterhood Telegram channel, to be up-to-date with all Sisterhood news and announcements.
Brotherhood News: You can join the Brotherhood io group online to keep up with all Brotherhood news and announcements, or follow their Telegram channel. The Brotherhood will be holding a Retreat on Sunday, August 16th, at 1:30 p.m.
Parish Finances:
Calendar year to date total (01 January thru June 2026):
Tithes: $160,922.04
Building Fund: $15,587.57
For June 2026:
Tithes: $23,848.86
Building Fund: $2,891.76
Average Monthly Expenses $19,840
Recommended Reading for the Coming Week:
You listen to “Lecture 6: The French Revolution” by Fr. Seraphim (Rose), here:
https://saintkosmas.org/s/OrthodoxSurvivalCourse-Lecture06-FrSeraphimRose.pdf
Recommended Listening for the Coming Week:
You can the listen to the Sermon “All Thing are Possible to Him that Believes (Mark 9:14-29; Matthew 17:14-21),” by Fr. John Whiteford, here:
https://www.saintjonah.org/podcasts/sermons/mark9b.mp3
Rotations
Trapeza:
This Sunday: 8/9/26 (No fast): The Ely, Kuzmin, and Carrow families.
Next Sunday: 8/16/26 (No fast): The Wilkinson, Kravtsov, and Nowak families.
Cleaning Teams:
Currently: (Ending on): 8/29/26 – Team Kara.
Next (Ending on): 9/12/26 – Team Eugenia.
Vigil Readers:
This Saturday: 8/8/26: Rdr. Moses Munster.
Next Saturday: 8/15/26: Rdr. Codratus Bornejko.
Liturgy Readers:
This Sunday: 8/9/26: Rdr. Moses Munster.
Next Sunday: 8/16/26: Rdr. Codratus Bornejko.
Servers (Not including Adult Servers):
This Sunday: 8/9/26: Team C: Mathieu Powell, Seraphim Powell, Constantine Powell, William De Carion, Luka Chrisanthus, and Michael Chrisanthus.
Next Sunday: 8/16/26: Team A: Jonah Companik, Daniel Companik, Jens Yates, John Turner, Alexander Mahecha, and Levi (Nicholas) Moreno.
Commemorations from the past week:
The Newly Illumined Alban Sisco, and his Sponsors James and Katie Powell.
Andrew & Elizabeth de Carion’s Wedding Anniversary; Ezekiel Wilkinson’s Name day / Yeimi (Alicia) Jacques [Catechumen], & Olga Bolling’s Birthday – Monday, August 3rd.
Magdalena Gore, Magnolia (Magdalena) Wilkinson, Kara (Mary Magdalene) Hall & Merilee Eidson’s Name day; Ivan Tschebotarjew’s Birthday; Filofteia and Piotr Fraczek’s Wedding Anniversary – Tuesday, August 4th.
Kristina Crain, and Christina Companik’s Name day – Thursday, August 6th.
Michael Valerio and Alexandra Galitzine’s Birthday; Ann Nowack & Hannah Valerio’s Name day – Friday, August 7th.
Danielle Hirsch & Leslie Barnett’s Birthday – Friday, August 8th.
Panteleimon de Carion’s Name Day / Brianna Ivanyo & Oleksandr Bulat’s Birthday – Sunday, August 9th.
If you have corrections or additions, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com
Prayer Requests:
Orthodox:
For the Servants of God, Archpriest Andre Papkov; Priest Benigno Pardo; Deacon Vladimir Trussin; Deacon Jorge Luque-Martin; Deacon James Hall; Presbytera Sarah Trembley; Ann (Sonia) Shepherd; Subdeacon Romanos and Zoe Wren; Nun Haralambia, Denise (Leslie) Barnett; Demetra Durham; Sophia (Cynthia) Hirsch; Joan Marie Pennings; Katherine Garbett Casanova; Renee (Ann) Nahlous; Maximus (Garrett) and Merilee (Mary) Eidson; Rozanne (Anne) and Jerry (John Herman) Spires; Michael Murphy; Valentin, Rada and Florentina, Olga, Nathaniel (Barrett) Mahand, Eliasious, Rdr. John Economou, Robert McIsaac, Galina Lay, Lisa (Euphemia) Bornejko, Cosmas (Spencer) Burton, Jeffery Gallagher, Savva (Tyler) Barrett, Dennis Tilley, Rdr. Gabriel Peña, Nun Barbara (Watts), John Watts, John Lickwar, Sophia Drobot, Mikhaela (Jennifer) Diaz, Svetlana, Gerald Campbell, Elizabeth De Carion, Lydia Chernousova, Stephanos Rosseau, Josiah Plumley, Christopher Gulden, Aleksander, soldier Aleksandr, Nathaniel Bhatti, Anna, Cynthia (Melangell) Rausch, Rdr. James Lardas, James Powell, Cristin, Dimitri, Christina, Juliana Blazek, Maria (Nicole) Murphy, Matushka Kara (Mary Magdalene) Hall, Abby (Ruth) Hall, Thekla (Dounya), Panayiotis (Peter) Lardas, Matthew, John Lardas, Ella Pound, and the children Caison Elisabeth Kellam, Cassian Shepard, and Anna Krutova, who are ill.
For Nikolai, who is struggling.
For Justin and Nadezhda who are suffering persecution.
For the safety and salvation of those in Ukraine: Yelena, Tatiana, Denis, Sophia, Maria, Ivan, and Artem; and Dimitriy.
For newly reposed servants of God: Jorge Tschebotarjew, Nicholas, and those slain in the fighting in Ukraine, Russia, Syria, and the Holy Land.
Expectant Mothers:
Helen Cantao, Callandra Maldonado, Emilia Herghelegiu, Nina Bernardi, Magdalena Gore, Marina (Alisa) Harris, Faith Simmons, Emily Munster, Filofteia Fraczek, Emilia Mullins, and Seraphima Smith.
Catechumens:
Savita Bhatti; Jessica Palmer; John Ryan Levy; Moses (Grayson) Culton; Noah Plasek; Brody Buechner; Domanic Barras; Alexis Prater; Zoe Michelle Lewis; Caleb Mendez; Christian Chacon; Michael and Grace Venegas; Danielle Meese; Peter Demny, Jon Daniels, Juan Rodriguez, Andrew Skellie, Alejandro Najera, Lucy (Lulu) Berard, Charles Jones, Nolan Jones, Daniel Hoosier, Elijah Masick, Jeremiah Coonen, Maggie Stewart Webb, and Joel, Yeimi (Alicia), and Emiliana Jacques; and Adele.
Non-Orthodox:
For the Servants of God, Aiden, Shawna Hiu; Misty; Harold Wren; Melissa Munster (Moses Munster’s mother); Heather Tolliver (Melissa Holloway’s daughter); Gene and Beth Beggs, Scott and Carol Phillips, Ana Crespo, Liza, Aida Diaz, Antonio, John Lay, Kathleen Sorrentino, Andrea Engelke, Robin Nicole Thomson McMillin, Julie Nelson, Charlotte LeBlanc, Kent and Nicoline, Lara Regis, Ana Maria, Sean, Audrey, Bob Richardson, Dylan DeRosia, Phillip and Barbara Rice, Tony Beavers, Steven Jimenez, Kara Mahand, Carla, Dorothy Daniel, Liam, and the children Evan-Marie, Ava and Evelyn, who are ill.
For the Bruto da Costa family, Ken, Christina, Aki and family; and Johnnie, Damon and Elisabeth Myers, and their child, Dorothy, James Franklin and his family, Marcie Dark, Tim, Karen, Taylor, Lindsay, Jon, Alex, and Andrew Burns, Audrey and Michael Morgan, Michelle Brazzil, Robbin Russell, Naseem Bhatti, and Hurucaan Valerio.
The newly departed: Jacob Huss (John Huss’ brother); James Ballentine (Marcus Ballentine’s father).
If you have prayer requests you would like announced, please e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com
Sunday School:
No Sunday School for the rest of the Summer.
Schedule for August through October 2026:
https://saintjonah.org/bltn/aug-oct2026.htm
You can also see our online parish calendar of events and services here:
https://saintjonah.org/calendar/
Fasting in the Coming week: On Wednesday, August 12th, fish, wine, and oil is permitted. Friday, August 14th, is a normal fast say, and is the beginning of the Dormition Fast. On Saturday, August 15th; and on Sunday, August, 16th, wine, and oil are permitted.
Click here for Miscellaneous Items of Interest.
St. Jonah Orthodox Church
2910 Spring Cypress Rd, Spring, TX 77388
www.saintjonah.org
281-467-0264
