May 25th, 2025
Stump the Priest: Question: “Is the idea of a “fallen nature” a later Western concept that was foreign to the early Fathers? If I remember correctly, I’ve seen prominent Orthodox theologians use the term “fallen nature”. But also I think I’ve seen other prominent theologians say that the term is a later Western concept that was foreign to the Fathers, and that its usage is incorrect. What is your opinion on this topic?” 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: Synod.
Saints of the Day for Sunday and the coming week, and other edifying reading:
https://www.saintjonah.org/bltn/pascha5.pdf
Propers for the Sunday Liturgy (Sunday, May 25th):
https://www.saintjonah.org/lit/lit_pascha5.htm
Propers for the Liturgy for Apodosis of Pascha (Wednesday, May 28th):
https://www.saintjonah.org/lit/lit_pascha_apodosis.htm
Propers for the Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension (Thursday, May 29th):
https://www.saintjonah.org/lit/lit_ascension.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:
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| Tuesday, May 27th 6:30 p.m. Vigil for the Apodosis of Pascha
| Wednesday, May 28th 9:00 a.m. Hours & Liturgy for the Apodosis of Pascha
| 6:30 p.m. Vigil for the Ascension of the Lord
| Thursday, May 29th 9:00 a.m. Hours & Liturgy for the Ascension of the Lord
| Saturday, May 31st 10:00 a.m. Baptism
| 5:00 p.m. Vigil
| Sunday, June 1st 9:00 a.m. Hours and Liturgy
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Announcements
We will be taking a special collection for Scholarships for the St. Jonah Summer Camp.
On Monday, June 9th, at 2:00 p.m. George Hixson and Mikhaela (Jennifer) Diaz will be getting Married. The service will be held at St. Joseph Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Event Planning Committee: We will need to begin working on plans for the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Jonah. If you would like to participate, please email Fr. John Whiteford. Our next meeting will be held via Google Meets, on Friday, May 30th, at 7:00 p.m. https://meet.google.com/rab-xqia-mug
The Next Slavonic Liturgy we be on Saturday, June 28th, at 9:00 a.m.
The next Parish Council Meeting will be on Thursday, May 29th, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be held via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/dof-aqtw-qmw
We need volunteers to work on a capital campaign for the construction of the new Church.
Summer Camp: The registration for DCMA St. Jonah Summer Camp is now open! It will be held in Camp Copass (Denton, TX) from June 9th-14th. The ages for campers are -11-18. You can find all the details about the summer camp 2025 on our website: https://stjonahcamp.org/teen-camp/
Regular registration: $550 (April 10th and after)
Referral bonus – if an old camper refer a new camper to attend the camp, he/she will receive $20 cashback each time a new camper signs up (The cashback can be sent by zelle or given in cash at the end of the camp week).
New camper discount: $40 off registration fee.
St. Jonah Day Camp: Registration is open for the St. Jonah Day Camp. The camp will be held at Saint Jonah June 23-27 and is designed for children ages 5-11. Children 12 and older and adults are encouraged to volunteer as helpers and counselors. Childcare for volunteers in provided. Find out more or register at https://stjonahcamp.org/day-camp/ Supply Drive for the camp through June 1st. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/30T9UWLIQWJH5?ref_=wl_share
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 Wednesday, June 4th, at 7:00 p.m., via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/fwf-nqtu-tqa
To sign-up to be a presenter, click here: https://forms.gle/BE5pWuSAezurtJ1i8
Sisterhood News: The Sisterhood Council’s Next Meeting will be on Monday, June 2nd, at 7:00 p.m. via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/pza-xwrz-xkz
Family Promise: St. Jonah will be providing meals for homeless families with Family Promise Monday, June 16 through Friday, June 20. The sign-up sheet and additional information will be posted in the trapeza hall.
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 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.
Parish Finances:
Calendar year to date total (01 January thru March 2025):
Tithes: $63,228.87
Building Fund: $9,865.97
For March 2025:
Tithes: $21,562.41
Building Fund: $3,496.99
Average Monthly Expenses $19,840
Recommended Reading for the week:
You can read “Moldovan bishop prevented from going on pilgrimage to Turkey—third such incident in a month,” here:
https://orthochristian.com/170015.html
Recommended Viewing for the week:
You can listen to the sermon “Standing with Christ (John 9; Hebrews 13:11-13),” by Fr. John Whiteford here:
https://www.saintjonah.org/podcasts/sermons/standingwithchrist.mp3
Rotations
Trapeza:
This Sunday: 5/25/25 (No fast): The Whiteford, Wood, and Jelinek families.
Next Sunday: 6/1/25 (No fast): The Munster, Howard, and Koulikova families.
Cleaning Teams:
Currently: (Ending on): 5/25/25 – Team Chebotko.
Next (Ending on): 6/8/25 – Team Jessica.
Vigil Readers:
This Saturday: 5/24/25: Luke Hall & Rdr. James Hall.
Next Saturday: 5/31/25: John Mullins & Rdr. Kodratus Bornejko.
Liturgy Readers:
This Sunday: 5/25/25: Luke Hall & Rdr. James Hall.
Next Sunday: 6/1/25: John Mullins & Rdr. Kodratus Bornejko.
Servers (Not including Adult Servers):
This Sunday: 5/25/25: Team C: Mathieu Powell, Seraphim Powell, Constantine Powell, William De Carion, Luka Chrisanthus, Michael Chrisanthus.
Next Sunday: 6/1/25: Team A: Jonah Companik, Daniel Companik, Jens Yates, John Turner, and Levi (Nicholas) Moreno.
Commemorations from the past week:
The Newly Illumined Mark Ivanyo, Brianna Ivanyo, Mark Ivanyo, and Sebastian Morris, and their sponsors, Rdr. James Hall, Matushka Patricia Whiteford, Michael and Rachel Sisco, Michael Morris, and Natalia Grant.
Zachariah and Xenia Locke & Melissa (Mary) and Billy (Gene) Holloway’s Wedding Anniversary; Maria-Anna Galitzine; & Matushka Patricia Whiteford’s Birthday – Monday, May 19th.
John Turner’s Name Day; Michael & Nicco (Juliana) Wilkinson’s Anniversary – Tuesday, May 20th.
Christopher & Elizabeth Cline’s Wedding Anniversary / Fr. John Whiteford, John Mullins, Emilia Mullins, & John West’s Name day – Wednesday, May 21st.
Christopher Gulden, Christopher Cline and Deacon Christopher Morgan’s Name day; Rdr. Innocent and Emelia (Sierra) Correa; Dennis and Angela Daniel’s Wedding Anniversary; Joshua Gonzales Birthday – Thursday, May 22nd.
Xenia Galitzine Matta’s Birthday – Friday, May 23rd.
Vadym Sieroshtanov, Angelina Yates & Vladimir (Xavier) Lerma’s Birthday – Saturday, May 24th
Yelena and Constantine Craig’s, and Michel & Monique Jabbour’s Wedding Anniversary – Sunday, May 25th.
If you have corrections or additions, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com
Prayer Requests:
Orthodox:
For the Servants of God, Archimandrite Benedict (Nelson); Archpriest Andre Papkov; Priest Benigno Pardo; Deacon Vladimir Trussin; Deacon Jorge Luque-Martin; Presbytera Sarah Trembley; Thekla Podrasky; Ann (Sonia) Shepherd; Subdeacon Romanos and Zoe Wren; Denise (Leslie) Barnett; Marina Watson; 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; Aleksandra 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, Daniel McLellan, Lydia Chernousova, Stephanos Rosseau, Josiah Plumley, Christopher Gulden, Aleksander, Karen Vincent, soldier Aleksandr, Nathaniel Bhatti, Anna, Cynthia (Melangell) Rausch, and the children Caison Elisabeth Kellam 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: Vladimir, Yelena, Tatiana, Denis, Sophia, Maria, Ivan, and Artem; and Dimitriy.
For newly reposed servants of God: Schema-Archimandrite Panteleimon (Voepel), and those slain in the fighting in Ukraine, Russia, Syria, and the Holy Land.
Expectant Mothers:
Filofteia Fraczek, Caitlin Zelesnik, Elizaveta Dydyshka Wood, Laura Ibañez, Amanda Gulden, Olga Carrow, Matushka Ruth McPherson, Catherine (Katie) Powell, and Elizabeth de Carion.
Catechumens:
Howard Segal, Deborah and Alexander Gessell, Savita Bhatti; Jessica Palmer; John Nowak, Anne Nowak; Thomas Maroney, Nolan (Silouan) Boe, Nicholas Bruschi; Kristofer Sean Hutter; John Ryan Levy; Benjamin Grosvenor; James, Diana, Caspian (Cassian), and Beauregard Bartholomew Shepard; David Tyler Sprencel, Richard and Dora Risner; William and Magdalena (Mattie) Gore; Kristina & Kennedy Crain; Hunter Jones; Christopher Holmes; Cornell and Morgan Herg; and Andres Lynch.
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, Jennie Mobley, Kathleen Sorrentino, Andrea Engelke, Robin Nicole Thomson McMillin, Julie Nelson, Charlotte LeBlanc, Kent and Nicoline, Lara Regis, Piotr Fraczek, Ana Maria, Sean, Audrey, Bob Richardson, Dylan DeRosia, and the children 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.
For the repose of Leslie Yvonne (Rosa Mahand’s sister).
If you have prayer requests you would like announced, please e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com
Sunday School:
No Sunday school until we resume it on Sunday, August 31st.
Schedule of Services for Bright Week through July 2025:
https://saintjonah.org/bltn/april-july2025.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, May 28th, fish, wine, and oil are permitted. On Friday, May 30th, wine, and oil are permitted.All other days are fast free.
Click here for Miscellaneous Items of Interest.
St. Jonah Orthodox Church
2910 Spring Cypress Rd, Spring, TX 77388
www.saintjonah.org
281-467-0264
