2024 Lenten Theme: “Lent with Intent”
Each year we offer a theme for Lent which builds on our Orthodox Christian tradition in a way that helps us grow and connect with Christ in today’s world. This year the theme is “Lent with Intent”, taken from Psalm 116.12-13: “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all his People.” During the Lenten journey you will hear lessons on the many opportunities the Church provides as we restore our relationship with God and His Holy Church, through which we find true peace in Him Who is our peace, Jesus Christ.
[Apr 7] Godparent/Godchild Sunday & Philoptochos Annual Lenten Luncheon – Send Your Invitations
Holy Trinity Church will celebrate its annual “Godparent/Godchild” Sunday on April 7 this year. In previous years we had asked our Church School students to invite their Godparents to attend, but this year we are asking everyone to do so. To assist with that, there are invitations with envelopes available in the Narthex and at the church office window. Please take one, sign and address it and send it to the one who sponsored you for your Baptism or Chrismation and ask them to join you for this special celebration. If they already entered the joy of eternal life, they will be with us spiritually, so celebrate for them here!
Festival Cooking – IT’S BACK!
IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY to get started on our FESTIVAL COOKING 2024! Please mark your calendars and plan to come and help on the following days. Bring the kids, bring your husbands, bring your wives, bring your friends! All are welcome...no experience necessary. Tons of light and heavy tasks for all. THANK YOU!
- Saturday, April 13, 9:00am-6:00pm – Kourambiethes and Finikia
- See the flyer in the March Herald for the rest of the upcoming dates.
Visitation Ministry PASCHA GIFTS
The Visitation Ministry is coordinating Pascha visits and gift deliveries for our homebound parishioners. If you know of someone in need of a visit/gift, please contact Amy Armanious at visitation@holytrinitypgh.org.
Welcome to the Sundays of Lent and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil
During the Sundays of Lent, the Orthodox Church changes from using the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom to the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil. Why do we do that and what are the differences? To most outward appearances, the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil differs very little from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and those wishing to follow the service in the Divine Liturgy book may use the regular book to do so. The primary difference is in the prayers said by the priest in the later part of the service and the hymn “All of Creation” (“Epi Si Heri”) which replaces the usual “It Is Worthy” (“Axion Estin”) after the Consecration of the Holy Gifts. Why the change? In general, the prayers of St. Basil are more penitential, and therefore lend themselves to the Church's liturgical preparation for important holy days; hence, their use during Great Lent and on the eves of Nativity and Theophany. During this service, as the priest offers the prayers, there may be times when the choir completes its hymn, and the priest is still offering the prayer. During this season of increased prayer and spiritual attention, please use those times to follow along with the prayers with your own heart and immerse yourself in this beautiful worship experience. Rather than “wait for” the priest to finish the prayers, join him in the prayer of your own heart! The large green Holy Trinity Divine Liturgy books indicate where the changes in those prayers are, and you may follow them to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of their beauty and meaning. A blessed Lent to all!
Lenten and Holy Week Schedules of Services
The March edition of The Herald contained a complete schedule of services for Lent. A Holy Week schedule will be arriving in the April issue this week. Please post them in a conspicuous place in your home. Make a family plan and circle the services you can attend and place them on your schedule and on your phone and computer calendars! As the hymn from the Book of Psalms tells us during the Great Compline service, “God is with us.”
Lenten Hospitality Hours
Please keep in mind that throughout Lent our Hospitality Hours following the Divine Liturgy will observe Orthodox Lenten fasting practices. Any families or ministries hosting a Memorial or Ministry Hospitality Hour and any families providing the Church School snacks are asked to take care that non-meat and non-dairy items are provided. The Hospitality Hour and Church School ministries can provide suggestions of needed. Thank you for helping our community grow in the proper and helpful Orthodox spiritual practice and discipline.
Lenten Resources Available on the Internet
Looking for educational or inspirational information and resources for Lent? Try one of the best religious sites on the Internet: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. To visit the general site, go to https://www.goarch.org/lent
Local Outreach - Help NHCO With Personal Care Collection
Personal hygiene items are a necessity and can be an expense that many low-income families cannot afford. Since Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits cannot be used to purchase personal care items, North Hills Community Outreach collects these items and gives them to families and individuals who use their food pantries. The current drive runs through April 4th. It’s a perfect way to offer a meaningful gift to a neighbor in need. You can order items from their Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3L30SER2JSP2T?ref_=wl_share and have them sent directly to the NHCO office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Allison Park, PA 15101. Donations can also be dropped off at any of NHCO’s three offices Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm. The Allison Park location also accepts donations the first Saturday of every month between 9am-noon. Another option is to bring your items to Holy Trinity and place them in the collection bin located in the Gallery. We are collecting new full-size items including shampoo, conditioner, disposable razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, lip balm, body lotion, deodorant, shower gel & bars of soap. Thank you!
“Greece By Faith” 2024 Pilgrimage –Spots are still available!
The Holy Trinity Pilgrimage Ministry is pleased to offer its 2024 Pilgrimage: “Greece by Faith”, September 23 through October 4, 2024. Spots are still available for parishioners, and registration is now open to those outside the parish. To request a reservation form, see Father John today or send an email to pilgrimage@HolyTrinityPgh.org.Full payment is due June 21, 2024. For more details visit: holytrinitypgh.org/2024-greece.
[Apr 20] Holy Trinity Cemetery – Community Clean-Up Day
Please make plans to join us on Saturday, April 20th from 9:00am until 4:00pm for Community Clean-Up Day at Holy Trinity Cemetery (8941 Ringeisen Rd Allison Park, PA 15101). Volunteers are asked to help with the general Spring cleaning of the Cemetery grounds. Bring your lawn & garden tools and a pair of work gloves! Topsoil will be provided for those parishioners who would like to work on their family’s individual graves. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Rain date if needed, will be Sunday, April 21st. All help is greatly appreciated! Questions? Please call Bill Fiedler at 412-364-1545.
[May 23] AOA Holy Trinity Active Older Adults - Paint Party
For the entire community 60 years old and older. Enjoy an afternoon of companionship, while painting your masterpiece under the direction of a local artist while sipping wine and enjoying appetizers & desserts on Thursday, May 23 at 1:00pm in the Gallery. To reserve your spot, please email your reservation to AOA@HolyTrinityPgh.org or see or call Tasy at 724-612-9145. The cost is $36.00 per person. Make new friends and get reacquainted with old ones. We can also plan more events and trips for our group together. Want to be part of the AOA Planning Committee? Call or see Tasy.
2024 “Stewardship Independence Mountain” – Have You Joined the Climb? We Need You!
Holy Trinity Church and all its ministries are made possible through the generous donations and support of our stewards, who offer their time, talents, and treasures throughout the year. The 2024 Stewardship Pledge Cards have been mailed out. If you have not yet received a printed pledge card, you may pick one up in the Narthex or call the office at (412-366-8700) to request one to be sent by mail. You also have the option of making your 2024 Stewardship Pledge ONLINE through our new Realm system. It’s so easy! Just visit our website at HolyTrinityPgh.org/pledge or click the “2024 Stewardship Pledge” icon on the front page. Remember, every Holy Trinity member who pledges or donates already has a Realm account, and that makes pledging, giving, and reporting so much easier! You can even access your giving statement any time from your account without waiting for it to be mailed or emailed. Not sure how to access your account? Just visit HolyTrinityPgh.org/give and click “Sign In.” Use your email address and password to login. Don’t know your password? Simply click “Forgot password” and a link will be emailed to you to create or re-create one. And remember, 2024 is the year we ask everyone to make a “Stewardship Independence Pledge” as we together climb Holy Trinity’s “Stewardship Independence Mountain” to fully support our church with internal funding and your love.
It's Lent - Time for Confession
Holy Confession is one of the foundations of Orthodox Christian spiritual life and should be practiced on a regular basis. Often times fast periods such as Lent offer us an added motivation to examine our soul and realize it’s time to “clean things up” as we accept the gracious offer of Jesus Christ, who commissioned His Holy Apostles when He appeared to them after the Resurrection, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them” (John 20.22). To schedule a confession, please see Father John, Father Radu or call the Church office. If you would like to have it before Pascha, it must be done prior to Holy Week due to the liturgical and pastoral schedule of that week.
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 us know that 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. Following Liturgy, we invite you to join us for our Hospitality hour.
About Receiving Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church
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. Please also join our parish family for Hospitality Hour 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! How to receive: Please remember the following helpful hints aimed at helping to preserve the solemnity and safety of the Holy Mystery. Anyone wearing lipstick should remove it before receiving. Be sure to offer your baptismal name to priest before receiving. Please take great care that the red cloth held by the acolytes (you should not hold it) is fully under your chin, then use the centuries-old practice of receiving: please fully open your mouth, then gently close your lips to make sure the Holy Gifts are securely in your mouth and so that none of the holy and precious Body and Blood of Christ is accidentally spilled. Thank you for your cooperation, and may God have mercy on us all!
Upcoming Memorials: April 14: Demetria Frankos (20 years), Stefanos Karavolos (25 years); April 21: Father Sarantos Serviou (1 year), Presvytera Nancy Athanasia Serviou (3 years), Georgiann Bounos (1 year), Stefanos Bounos (15 years), Agapios Kritiotis (2 years) & Maria Kritiotis (5 years)
