Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2023-11-19
Bulletin Contents

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Holy Trinity Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (724) 266-5336
  • Fax:
  • (724) 266-2220
  • Street Address:

  • 2930 Beaver Road

  • Ambridge, PA 15003


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Sundays: 8:30am Orthros, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy

Weekdays: 9am Orthros & Liturgy


Past Bulletins


Worship

Worship

Join us for in-person Church. 

Please check via our public facebook page at www.facebook.com/HTAmbridge at the times listed below.   

 

Services:

Sundays

8:30am Orthros

9:30am Divine Liturgy

 

  • November 21st - Great Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple - 9am Orthros & Liturgy
  • November 30th - St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle - 9am Orthros & Liturgy

 

Upcoming Memorials:

  • December 3rd
    • 6 months - Carol Pournaras

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Church News

THANKSGIVING BASKETS - THANK YOU FOR DONATIONS

Because of your generosity, we have exceeded the annual amount to be able to pack over 50 baskets this year!  We will be packing all 52 Baskets tomorrow morning (Saturday).  Join in on the fun.

 

NUT ROLLS - PICKUP THIS SUNDAY Baking is to be done tomorrow (Saturday). Join in on the fun!

 

2024 STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY - THIS SUNDAY

2024 STEWARDSHIP CARDS AVAILABLE SUNDAY.  We ask that they be turned in by Christmas Eve!

 

PARISH ASSEMBLY—November 19th w/ the Following Agenda in the Hall:

1. Call to Order.

2. Opening Prayer

3. Election of Parish Assembly Chairperson

4. Appointment of the Parish Assembly Secretary

5. 2022 Audit

6. 2024 Budget

7. Ministry Reports

8. New Business

9. Old Business

10. Items for the Good of the Order

11. Adjournment.

12. Closing Prayer

 

CHRISTMAS CARD INFO DUE BY NOVEMBER 26th - Form on Pangari and in online bulletin.

 

CHECK #953 Torn During Delivery - If you made a check out to the church, we only received a portion of the physical check and envelope.

 

PHILOPTOCHOS VASILOPITA SALE - Philoptochos will be selling Vasilopita from Holy Protection Monastery.  These will be PRE-ORDER only with no extras available on the day of pick-up.  Each loaf is shrink-wrapped and able to be frozen.  Please return completed order form to Paula Yakoumas or the church office.

 

BOOK STUDY

  • Chapter 5 - Tuesday, December 19th
  • Chapter 6 - Tuesday, January 2nd
  • Chapter 7 - Tuesday, January 23rd
  • Chapter 8 - Tuesday, February 6th
  • Chapter 9 - Tuesday, February 20th
  • Chapter 10 - Tuesday, March 5th 

 

NEW YEARS EVE 2024! Mark your calendar and call the church to reserve your spot for the New Year's Eve event at our Church!  2023 was great, let's make 2024 even better!  Call the church office today to reserve your table.

18 & Over - $50

10-17 - $25

4-9 - $15

4 and Under- Free

 

Save the Date: PARISH VASILOPITA CUTTING -  January 7th

 

HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS - Our neighboring parish of St. John the Evangelist Antiochian Orthodox Church in Beaver Falls had a major roof catastrophe several months ago.  This has caused a difficult financial stress on their community and we are letting our members know that if they are looking for a cause this holiday season, financially supporting their repair would make a beautiful gift of love.  You may donate individually at https://www.saintjohnchurch.org/donate/ .  We will also be offering an opportunity to support them all together with a collection on January 7th.

 

2023 PLEDGE CARDS LAST CALL Pledge cards are available on the pangari and can downloaded on our website or found attached in the "bulletin insert" section of the email bulletin. 

 

 

BOILER & AIR-CONDITIONING PROJECT PROGRESS

The boilers are in place and the heat is on. There are some small things still to be updated for the heating of our church as part of this project, while the Air-Conditioning project will continue at a later time.  If you would like to help offset the cost of the work completed or the upcoming work, please send checks to the office with "HVAC Project" in the memo line; stocks can be transferred to our community as donations; and Online Giving through the item titled "Building Fund: HVAC Project."  

 

YOUTH SAFETY - Please register at https://ncsrisk.org/goarch/.  This includes all Youth Safety Workers as well as Parish Council 

 

PRAYER CHAIN - Members of Holy Trinity are being brought together in efforts to pray for those in need of prayers.  Please contact Joanie Ondrako at 724-601-6298, Fr. Anastasios, or the Office to join the prayer team, a group of people who will pray for the names given each day.

Prayer requests can be submitted anonymously and will be on the prayer list as long as your request is wanted, even up to a year.  To request a prayer, click here.

 

ONLINE GIVING & STEWARDSHIPIs OPEN! Online giving can be found by clicking here!  Please consider your continued support of our church through becoming one of our online giving families.  You can make general contributions and stewardship contributions.

 

REGULAR GIVING: The church is still accepting donations in normal ways through the mail and drop off.  Thank you to all of those who have continued to contribute in these challenging times.

 

YOU CAN NOW DONATE SECURITIES TO THE CHURCH  

In response to inquiries regarding the donation of securities to Holy Trinity, a new brokerage account has been established with PNC Investments to receive stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  Donating appreciated securities is often preferable to donating cash as the donor may benefit from the current tax code, creating the opportunity for donors to consider even larger gifts.  Currently, this account can receive securities in lieu of cash for the fulfillment of stewardship pledges as well as directed gifts for special projects.  If after consulting with your financial advisor, you are interested in this form of giving, please contact any parish council member or the office for more information.

 

Live-Stream: If you don't have a Facebook account, don't worry! You can still access our services right on our website (HTGOC.ORG) or a larger video directly on Facebook, learn more by watching the following video: https://youtu.be/QJPpkshi2d4

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Bulletin Inserts

    2023 Christmas Card

    2023 Christmas Card

    Send Christmas cheer through our parish Christmas Card. Orders are due November 26th so that we can get them out to our parishioners in Decmeber!


    Updated* Application for Nomination to Parish Council 2024-25

    Updated* Application for Nomination to Parish Council 2024-25

    Calling all interested parishioners to apply to serve on the parish council for the 2024 & 2025 years. The Seminar was changed to Monday, November 27th at Ypapanti.


    New Year's Eve

    New Year's Eve

    Join us for another fun celebration!


    Vasilopita Sale Form

    Vasilopita Sale Form

    Philoptochos will be selling Vasilopita from Holy Protection Monastery. These will be PRE-ORDER only with no extras available on the day of pick-up. Each loaf is shrink-wrapped and able to be frozen. Please return completed order form to Paula Yakoumas or the church office.


    2023 Pledge Card

    2023 Pledge Card

    Show your commitment to your Church and fill out a pledge card today. Please prayerfully consider what you might be able to give in 2023.


    11/25 Have a Ball at the Cathedral

    11/25 Have a Ball at the Cathedral

    a good old fashioned Glendi/Greek Dance! Saturday November 25th at St. Nicholas Cathedral


    12/9 GAPA Centennial Gala

    12/9 GAPA Centennial Gala

    You are cordially invited to join G.A.P.A. for an evening of fellowship and memories at our Centennial Gala Celebrating 100 years of brotherhood, philanthropy, and service to the Greek-American community & beyond! More info and Ad Form in the pdf.


    12/29 Holiday Family Greek Night - Holy Cross PGH Philoptochos

    12/29 Holiday Family Greek Night - Holy Cross PGH Philoptochos

    Come join your parea for an evening of music, dancing, and fun! All proceeds benefit Holy Cross Philoptochos


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Our Calendar

  • Regional Orthodox Calendar

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy.
Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

The Savior's most pure and immaculate temple, the very precious bridal chamber and Virgin, who is the sacred treasure of the glory of God, on this day is introduced into the House of the Lord, and with herself she brings the grace in the divine Spirit. She is extolled by the Angels of God. A heavenly tabernacle is she.
Ο καθαρώτατος ναός τού Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς καί Παρθένος, τό Ιερόν θησαύρισμα τής δόξης τού Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τώ οίκω Κυρίου, τήν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τήν εν Πνευματι θείω, ήν ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22.

Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 28.11,1.
Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει.
Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:14-22.

Ἀδελφοί, Χριστός ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν, ὁ ποιήσας τὰ ἀμφότερα ἕν, καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας, τήν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκί αὐτοῦ, τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν, καταργήσας· ἵνα τοὺς δύο κτίσῃ ἐν ἑαὐτῷ εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον, ποιῶν εἰρήνην, καὶ ἀποκαταλλάξῃ τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἀποκτείνας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐλθὼν εὐηγγελίσατο εἰρήνην ὑμῖν τοῖς μακρὰν καὶ τοῖς ἐγγύς· ὅτι διʼ αὐτοῦ ἔχομεν τὴν προσαγωγὴν οἱ ἀμφότεροι ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα. Ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι, ἀλλὰ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐν ᾧ πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς συνοικοδομεῖσθε εἰς κατοικητήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν πνεύματι.


Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 12:16-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα· καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου; καὶ εἶπε· τοῦτο ποιήσω· καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὰ γενήματά μου καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου, καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου· ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά· ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός· ἄφρον, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀπαιτοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ· ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας τίνι ἔσται; οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ, καὶ μὴ εἰς Θεὸν πλουτῶν.


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Saints and Feasts

November 19

9th Sunday of Luke


November 19

Obadiah the Prophet

The Divine Scriptures do not tell us with any certainty when the Prophet Obadiah lived nor what was his homeland. Thus, some say that he is that Obadiah who was Ahab's steward, who, because of Jezebel's wrath, hid one hundred prophets in a cave and fed them with bread and water (III Kings 18:4), and that he later became a disciple of Elias the Prophet about 903 B.C. But others surmise from the words of the same prophetical book that he is somewhat later than Joel (celebrated on Oct. 19). He is also called Obdiu, or Abdiu, or Obadiah; his name means "servant of God." His book of prophecy, which consists of only one chapter, is ranked fourth among the minor Prophets.


November 19

Barlaam of Caesarea

Saint Barlaam, who was from a certain village near Antioch in Syria, was advanced in years and a husbandman by occupation. Because of his confession of Christ, he was brought before the judge, who had him scourged with whips and then scraped with iron claws. Since this could not break his constancy, he was forcibly haled to the idols' temple, and live coals with incense were placed in his right hand. The judge thought that he would cast them down because of the pain, thus seeming to have offered a sacrifice of incense to the idols. But Saint Barlaam stood unmoving until his hand was thoroughly burned by the coals; he fell to the ground, and so gave up his soul into the hands of the Lord. He contested in martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Saint Basil the Great and Saint John Chrysostom both gave homilies in his honour.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

I cannot be silent about the story of Hesychius the Horebite. He passed his life in complete negligence, without paying the least attention to his soul. Then he became extremely ill, and for an hour he left his body.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

And when he came to himself, he begged us all to leave him immediately. And he built up the door of his cell, and he stayed in it for twelve years without ever uttering a word to anyone, and without eating anything but bread and water.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

But when he was about to die, we broke open the door and went in, and after many questions this alone was all we heard from him: 'Forgive me! No one who has acquired the remembrance of death will ever be able to sin.'
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

The thought of death is the most necessary of all works ... He who hourly yields himself to it is a saint- insensibility of heart dulls the mind, and abundance of food dries the fountains of tears ...
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

And, always remaining motionless, he was so wrapt in spirit in what he had seen in his ecstasy that he never changed his place but was always as if out of his mind, and silently shed hot tears.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

Just as the Fathers lay down that perfect love knows no sin, so I for my part declare that a perfect sense of death is free from fear ... The remembrance of death, like all other blessings, is a gift of God- He who has died to all things remembers death ...
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

So by his true and praise-worthy repentance the Lord showed us that even after long negligence He accepts those who desire to amend. The remembrance of death and sins precedes weeping and mourning ... The remembrance of death is a daily death ...
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

We were amazed to see that one who had before been so negligent was so suddenly transfigured by this blessed change and transformation. We reverently buried him in the cemetery near the fort and after some days we looked for his holy relics, but did not find them.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

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