Memorials Today

Memorial prayers will be offered at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy today for the repose of the souls of the servants of God, George Beckas (40 days) and Themistocles Balouris (15 years). The Coffee Hour is being sponsored in their memory by their families. May their memory be eternal!

“World Premiere” of the “My Big Fat Greek Festival” Documentary

Holy Trinity Church’s very own Maggie Fitzpatrick spent many months documenting, videoing, interviewing and editing materials for a film-making course project based on the Holy Trinity “Taste of Greece” Festival. This professional-quality production will be premiered on the big screens in the Grand Room during Coffee Hour today, following Divine Liturgy. Come and see the “behind the scenes” look at what it takes to put together the biggest, fattest Greek Festival in the Pittsburgh region! See the cooking, the practicing, the dancing, the setting up, the taking down and more. It’s great fun everyone will enjoy. Admission is free.

Prayer Partner Cards for Third Quarter 2017 Distributed Today

Here is a ministry EVERYONE can participate in this vital ministry EVERY DAY: “Prayer Partners!” Would you like to know that someone is praying for you every day “just because” you are a part of this parish family? As a core component of our “Faith and Family Weekdays” Ministry, that is what happens here at Holy Trinity Church. On the first Sunday of January, April, July and October, blank prayer cards are distributed. Those in attendance are asked to write their first name only (baptismal name preferred) on one card. They will then be collected and randomly distributed at the end of the service. Each person will commit to offer prayers daily for the person they receive daily during that quarter. What a beautiful gift to pray for someone and be prayed for yourself. This “anonymous” ministry of spiritual service is known only to our merciful Lord, Who directs us through his Holy Apostle James, "Pray for one another" (James 5.16). Thank you for adding to the spiritual life and dedication of our Holy Trinity parish family. Remember: pray for your Prayer Partner every day!

[Jul 7-8] Festival Prep This Week – Souvlakia– YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!

Attention Holy Trinity Volunteers, Stewards and Festival Fans: Please be there this Friday and Saturday for the weekly Festival Prep Session as we prepare Souvlakia. Hours are from 8:00am to 9:00pm on Friday and from 9:00 am until 5:00pm on Saturday or as much of it as you can make. Everyone is welcomed and everyone’s help is needed. On-the-job-training is free! Questions? Please call Dan Willow at 412-417-9616.

Festival Cooking Schedule: July – NEW DATES!

It’s time! Festival cooking is here. Please mark these dates on your calendar, put them in your phone, hang them on your refrigerator, or do whatever you need to be sure to be there…and remember to invite some friends! Please note that these are NEWLY REVISED DATES that are different from previously published dates and times.

[Jul 16] Special General Assembly

A Special General Assembly will be held on Sunday, July 16 following the Divine Liturgy. The meeting will focus on only one item; the proposal to purchase and install an additional walk-in freezer unit that has been requested by the Festival Committee. Please plan to attend.

Holy Trinity’s Taste of Greece - Labor Day Weekend – August 30-September 3

Please mark Wednesday, August 30, through Sunday, September 3 on your calendar for the next “Taste of Greece” festival. The Festival Committee is asking everyone, new members and old hands, young and young at heart, to pledge a donation of their time and talents so that we can continue to grow both the success of the festival and the fellowship with all our Holy Trinity Church family members!

Festival Volunteers Needed – Sign Up Online!
The Festival Committee is asking everyone, new members and old hands, young and young at heart, to pledge a donation of their time and talents so that we can continue to grow both the success of the festival and the fellowship with all our Holy Trinity church family members! Please consider donating your day (or days!) as your offering of stewardship to Holy Trinity Church. Visit www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/volunteer today to sign up for your preferred areas and times! Thank you

Festival Ads Available: Space is Waiting for You!

The Festival Ad Book is back and is looking for your support. Please consider placing a business ad or personal listing. Ads start at $175 for a quarter page and go to $550 for a full page, with center and cover spots available at higher prices as well. A personal family/personal line is only $50. Application Forms can be found at the church office window. Please be sure to share them with your favorite business establishments! For more information, contact Al Backeris at 724-263-3622 or Connee Bistolas at 412-999-0111.

Greek Dance Practices – Getting Ready for the Festival

One of the public’s favorite features of our “Taste of Greece” Festival is our live Greek dance performances. To prepare for this year’s event, please note the following practice schedules. Parents, please be sure your children attend.

HOPE (Kindergarten – Second Grade) Contact Eleni Dedousis (412-953-3699 or eadedousis@gmail.com).

• Every Sunday following Liturgy: July 2, 9, 16 & 23
• Weekdays:
  • Wednesday, July 5: 6:00pm
  • Friday, July 14: 6:00pm
  • Tuesday, July 18: 6:00pm
  • Tuesday, July 25: 6:00pm

JOY (Third – Sixth Grades) and GOYA (Seventh – Twelfth Grades)

• Every Thursday from 6:30-8:00pm: July 6, 13, 20 & 27
• Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00pm: July 18 & 25
  We will be adding new dances to the show this year and ask that dancers come to as many practices as possible. The GOYA/JOY dancers will be dancing every night of the festival!!!  Victoria Andromalos-Dale (412-496-9128 or v.andromalosdale@gmail.com)

FOCUS Summer Feeding Program – VOLUNTEER TODAY!

Holy Trinity Church has been designated as a FOCUS Summer Feeding Program host site and this wonderful ministry opportunity is now underway! Each Monday through Friday until August 11^th a team of local volunteers from Holy Trinity and other area churches and organizations will gather here to prepare lunches for delivery to food-insecure children at the Carnegie Library Extension on Pittsburgh’s Northside. Volunteers are needed to prepare and distribute the meals. You can sign up to volunteer at www.focusnorthamerica.org/summerfeeding or by calling the church office at 412-366-8700.

[Jul 25] Greek Day at Kennywood Park

Join the fun on Tuesday, July 25 for Greek Day at Kennywood Park. Ride all day and be sure to visit Pavilions #4 and #5 for Gyros, Pastries and Greek Dancing provided by Ypapanti Greek Orthodox Church. For discounted Kennywood tickets, please contact the Presentation of Christ Church (Ypapanti) at 412-824-9188 or by email at lkoutsavlis@ypapanti.net

[Aug 17] Faith Night at PNC Park

The 5th Annual Faith Night will be held on Thursday, August 17 following the Pirates-Cardinals game at 7:05 p.m.  Enjoy discounted tickets ($25 each) for the Pirates-Cardinals game at 7:05 and stay after the game to hear from Manager Clint Hurdle and many more Pirates Players and Coaches as they discuss how faith has impacted their lives, both on and off the field. To reserve your seat please call or email Joyce Athanasiou at 412-322-6002 or  jcbathanasiou@aim.com  

[Sep 9] Monastery Fund-Raising Dinner at St. Nicholas Cathedral

On Saturday, September 9, the fourth annual fund-raising banquet for the Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery in Saxonburg will be held at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Oakland. The event is once again being held in memory of Gherontissa Taxiarchia, the founder of the Monastery and the theme is, “All Generations Will Call Me Blessed.” Vespers is open to all at 3:00 pm and tickets for the 4:00 pm Dinner Banquet are $100. Please call 724-352-3999 for more information or RSVP online by September 1 at www.2017dinnerbanquet.eventbrite.com  

[Sep 19, 26 & 28] AARP Smart Driver Courses

Please join the Holy Trinity Senior Fellowship Ministry Group as they host two different “AARP Smart Driver” Courses.  On Tuesday, September 19, the Smart Driver Refresher Course will be held for those who have previously taken the course within the last 3 years. The 4-hour Refresher Course will be a one-day only class, to be held here at Holy Trinity from 10:00 am until 2:30 pm. Then on Tuesday September 26 and Thursday September 28, the full course will be offered. This two-day classroom course will take place here at Holy Trinity from 10:00 am until 2:30 pm each day (both sessions are necessary). Refresh your driving skills and learn strategies to help you stay safe behind the wheel. There are no tests to pass. Each session will be informative and casual. There will be a 20-minute break with refreshments each day. Upon completion of the course, you may be eligible to receive an auto insurance discount. Consult your insurance agent for details. You can register for these programs by calling the church office at 412-366-8700 or by email to Office@HolyTrinityPgh.org or online at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events. The cost is $15 for AARP members or $20 for non-members. Be sure to register early, as these classes are open to the public and seats may fill up quickly.

Note for Summer Travel - Don’t Forget Church! 

Where we travel, whenever we go, we take our faith with us, for as it says in the Psalms, "God is with us!" Keeping that in mind, please remember to plan ahead and check for the location of the nearest Orthodox Christian Church if you will be staying over a Sunday. There are two great web sites to check: our own Archdiocese (www.goarch.org) and Orthodoxy in America (www.OrthodoxyInAmerica.org), a multi-jurisdictional listing of all Orthodox parishes. Also, for major trips such as overseas travels, please feel free to stay following antidoron and ask Father John to offer a special blessing to your family for your travels. Remember, "God is with us" always. Let’s not forget to invite Him!

Summer Sermons Reminder - Be Here on Time! 

Please remember that during the summer months, when there is no Church School, the sermon is offered at its proper liturgical place following the Gospel. Much as we are all reminded how important it is to arrive for the start of Divine Liturgy, perhaps there are times of genuine, urgent need that prohibit our personal on-time arrival. If you arrive during the sermon, please remember to enter quietly and wait until the end of the homily to find a seat. Thank you.

Summer Attire Reminder
Please remember that even during the summer months when many people like to keep things "casual," entering the Holy Church is still a sacred experience, which our preparation and attire should reflect. Everyone should refrain from wearing shorts and t-shirts and women are reminded that Orthodox tradition prefers dresses or skirts instead of pants if possible. Clothing issues should never inhibit our attendance at services or become a topic of attention or discussion, but rather they can be an opportunity for us to honor the Lord with our modesty, piety and respect. As the scriptures say, "Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for evermore" (Psalm 93.5).

Vacationing or Travelling with No Church Nearby? Watch and Listen Online!

As noted above, we should all try to find a nearby Orthodox Church when we’re travelling or vacationing, but sometimes that’s just not possible. So, for the next best thing, join your church family back here at Holy Trinity by watching or listening online! Find us at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/live. Hint: It’s best to watch by clicking the online video broadcast, but it you’re in the car or not on wifi and don’t want to exhaust your data plan, try listening to the audio only version instead! There’s a link just below the video screen on our Live Broadcast page. The audio stream uses minimal data compared to the video stream, so it’s perfect for travelling!

In the Hospital? Home-Bound? Please let the Church Office know! 
In today’s age of information privacy, churches are not notified when parishioners are admitted to hospitals, nursing homes or other care facilities. Both those facilities and your church depend on having the church notified by a friend or family member so that pastoral care and outreach can be offered. The same goes for those homebound. If you or any of your loved ones are in any of these situations, please contact the Church Office at 412-366-8700 to request a visit from our priests or our new and wonderful Visitation Ministry. Also, interested in helping reach out to fellow parishioners in those situations? Please contact Amy Armanious at visitation@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

Welcome, Holy Trinity Guests!

We welcome all our guests to Holy Trinity Church today, whether as visitors from out of town, family members joining others here for worship today or even soon-to-be members here for the first time. No matter what the reason the Holy Spirit brought you here today, we welcome you with open arms and hearts filled with the love of Christ. Please help us welcome you by signing in at the hospitality table in the Narthex, where you will be presented with a yellow lapel Cross to help our Holy Trinity family know you're here. Please fill out an information card so we can contact you with any information you may need concerning life here at Holy Trinity Church.

About Receiving Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church

As an extension of our hospitality and outreach ministries, we welcome all who have come to worship with us today. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian, an inquirer to the faith or a first-time guest in an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us and thankful for the opportunity to share and bear witness to this ancient and timeless Faith. In accordance with the holy canons and traditions of the Church, please note that Holy Communion and the other Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) are received only by those who are baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared through prayer, fasting and confession. All others are invited receive the antidoron (blessed bread) and a blessing from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The antidoron is not a sacramental offering, but is blessing and a reflection of the agape (love) feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. Please join our parish family for hospitality after the holy services and allow us to meet and welcome you. Interested in joining or learning more about the Orthodox Christian Faith? Please see one of our priests or complete a visitor’s card today!