Summer Teaching Series Sermons Concludes Today

Ever get stumped by a question about the Orthodox Christian Faith you know you should know? So many of those answers are found in the Creed. So, recognizing the need for a “return to basics” in our preaching from time to time to refresh the faithful members of the community on the foundations of the Faith we sometimes take for granted, we have been offering a “Summer Teaching Series” during the Sunday sermons of June and July. The series, titled “I Believe” is designed to be “A Thorough Exploration of Foundational Beliefs of the Orthodox Christian Faith as Confessed in the Nicene Creed.” Today’s final lesson: “The Mysteries of the Church” will be offered by George Athanasiou.

Special Archdiocese Appeal: Support for Greek Fire Victims

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has issued a special appeal for assistance for the victims and survivors of the terrible tragedy of the wildfires in Rafina, Greece. According to news reports, at least 74 people were killed and over 200 injured in the deadliest fires to strike Greece since 2007. Hundreds of people were trapped in homes, on roads and at beaches, some only 30 minutes from Athens. The enclosed encyclical from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios askes for a special collection to be taken this Sunday and next. We will send all funds collected from Holy Trinity Church through our Agape Fund. If you are able to make any contributions to assist in the tray today, thank you! And if you would like to send additional help, please make checks payable to the “Holy Trinity Agape Fund” and be sure to send them to the church office by Friday, August 3.

GOYA Pirates Game Today

Holy Trinity GOYA will be attending the Pirates baseball game today. See Presvytera Becky for information.

[Aug 1-14] Fasting and Schedule of Paraclesis Services  

The Church observes the holy season of the Theotokos, August 1-14, with both prayer and fasting. During that time, we are in a strict fast period in honor of the Theotokos and Mother of God in preparation for her feast of Koimissis (Dormition or Falling Asleep in the Lord) of the Theotokos on August 15. According to the canons of the Church, this is a time when we abstain from all meat, dairy, fish, wine and olive oil. Adding the complete purpose to this spiritual preparation, of course, is our participation in an increased prayer life, including the Paraclesis services, Holy Confession and personal prayer. "Paraclesis Services" are beautiful sung services asking for the prayers and intercessions of the Theotokos to her Son and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All parishioners are encouraged to attend all services, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Saint George Chapel (8941 Ringeisen Road). Please complete a Paraclesis Names Form to submit prayers for your loved ones and bring it to the services at the Chapel. The schedule of services is as follows:

- Wednesday, August 1

- Friday, August 3

- Wednesday, August 8

- Friday, August 10

- Monday, August 13 (Special “Back to School/Off to College” prayers offered for students)

[Aug 5] Great Vespers and Blessing of First Fruits for the Feast of the Transfiguration

We will celebrate the Great Vespers of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on the evening of August 5, and in keeping with the wonderful tradition of the Blessing of the Fruits on the feast, it is customary to bring a tray of washed grapes or fruit to be blessed and distributed at the end of the service. In the days of a farming society, this was the first offering back to God from the harvest. Even though they are most often bought from a grocery store today, we should not lose touch with the idea of offering back to God the first fruits of all our blessings! The service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 5 at Saint George Chapel, followed by the Blessing of the First Fruits.

[Aug 6] Divine Liturgy of the Transfiguration at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City

The Sisters of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA invite you to attend their Annual Pilgrimage Patronal Feast and 50^th Anniversary Celebration on Monday, August 6. Beginning with the Akathist, “Glory to God for All Things” at 9:00am followed by a 9:30am Greeting and Vesting of Metropolitan Tikhon, the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. The 10:00am Hierarchical Liturgy, Homily, Blessing of Fruit and 50^th Anniversary Greetings will follow. Beginning at 1:00pm there will be a Luncheon during which the Monastery’s Gift Shop will be open. The Sacrament of Holy Unction will be offered at 3:00pm followed by 4:30pm Refreshments. At 5:30pm Vespers will be held. Please note that a bridge just west of the Monastery is currently closed for replacement, so the best way to get there is taking I-79 to the Portersville exit, then taking US 488 West to the Monastery. For detour instructions, please visit www.orthodoxmonasteryellwoodcity.org.

Back to School Backpack Program

Holy Trinity is working with FOCUS Pittsburgh this summer to provide children in need with Back to School Backpacks, filled with necessary school supplies.  This project will be coordinated by our GOYA and will kick off next Sunday!  We were allocated 48 backpacks and have chosen a close-to-home elementary school to work with: Manchester Academic Charter School, on the city’s North Side (whose principal is our own Vas Scoumis).  Please look for the backpacks and more details next week and thank you for being generous by participating in this worthy cause.

Upcoming Greek Dance Practice Schedule

Please plan on having your children attend as many of the Greek Dance teaching sessions as possible. The HOPE dance group (kindergarten through second grade) will be taught by Eleni Dedousis (412-953-3699). The GOYA dance group will be taught by Victoria Andromalos-Dale (412-496-9128). The JOY dance group (third through sixth grade) will be taught by both Eleni and Victoria.  Dance practice for JOY & GOYA will be every Tuesday at the church from 6:30 pm-8:00 pm. The first 45 minutes of practice will focus on dances for the JOY group and the last 45 minutes will focus on dances for GOYA, but dancers are invited and encouraged to attend the entire practice! The dances will all have new choreography and special additions, so practice is mandatory. Please arrive 5 minutes early and wear comfortable athletic attire. No flip flops allowed in class. Children must attend practice to be fitted for costumes. The fittings will need to be completed before the last 3 mandatory practices. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. We are so excited to share some new ideas and fun dances with our community!

Festival Dance Group T-Shirts

If anyone would like to order Holy Trinity Greek Dance Troupe T-shirts, please visit the Company Casuals website at http://www.companycasuals.com/HolyTrinityDanceTroupe2018. The same design as last year is still available in adult and children’s sizes. The last day to place an order in time for the festival is Saturday, August 4, 2018 - NO EXCEPTIONS.

[Aug 26-Aug 28] Festival Pastry Baking, Cutting & Set-Up– Your Help is Needed!

Please mark your calendars and plan to come and help on the following dates. Bring the kids, bring your husbands, bring your wives, bring your friends!  All are welcome…no experience necessary. Light and heavy tasks for all. THANK YOU!

• Sunday, August 26, following Liturgy - Baklava baking and pastry room & counter set up
• Monday, August 27, 3:00pm-9:00pm – Pastry Cutting
• Tuesday, August 28, 3:00pm-9:00pm – Pastry Cutting and FINAL FESTIVAL SET-UP

Holy Trinity’s Taste of Greece - Labor Day Weekend – August 29 through September 2

Please mark Wednesday, August 29, through Sunday, September 2 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! Sign up on Sundays in the Gallery following Divine Liturgy or go on line today to sign up at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/volunteer. Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ! We can’t do it without you!

Festival Ad Book: Space is Waiting for You!

The Festival Ad Book is back and is looking for your support. Please consider placing a business ad or a personal/family listing. Ads start at $175 for a quarter page and go to $550 for a full page, with premium color pages available at higher prices as well. A patron line is available for only $50. Please stop by the Gallery today following Liturgy to show your support.  Please see Connee Bistolas, Al Backeris or email FestivalAds@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

 
Help Spread the Word About our Taste of Greece Festival with Lawn Signs and Flyers!

You are an important part of the advertising for our 2018 Taste of Greece Festival!  If you have your yard signs from previous years (undated – saying “Labor Day Wednesday through Sunday”) pull them out and display them! A limited number of lawn signs are available today in the Gallery if you do not have one.  Also, please take some flyers and pass them out to coworkers, neighbors and friends! We all need to pitch in to get the word out!  Thank you!

Festival Aprons Available

Show your Holy Trinity pride by wearing a festival apron while you work!  Royal blue aprons, embroidered with our festival logo, are available in both adult and children sizes. Cost is $16 for adults and $12 for children. Aprons can be monogrammed with your name for an additional $4. To receive your apron in time for the festival, your order must be placed by August 20^th.  Please contact Paula Valliant paulavalliant@gmail.com for more information.

Missing Festival Aprons

Please note that many of the plain blue aprons that have been purchased by Holy Trinity over the years have gone missing.  If you helped at last year’s festival and borrowed any, please return them as soon as possible so that we may have adequate supply for this year’s volunteers. Thank you.

Note for Summer Travel – Remember to attend 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!

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 wi-fi 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!

[Sep 22] Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery Fund-Raising Dinner at St. Nicholas Cathedral

On Saturday, September 22, the fifth 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. Vespers is open to all at 3:30 pm and tickets for the 6:00 pm Dinner Banquet are $100 per person. Please call 724-352-3999 for more information or RSVP online at www.2018MonasteryBanquet.Eventbrite.com  

[Oct 3 and Oct 9 & 10] AARP Smart Driver Courses

Please join the Holy Trinity Senior Fellowship Ministry Group as they host two different “AARP Smart Driver” Courses.  On Wednesday, October 3, 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 9:45 am until 2:30 pm. Then on Tuesday October 9 and Wednesday October 10, 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.

[Oct 5] Philoptochos Traditional Greek Dance

Please make plans to support our Ladies Philoptochos by attending a Traditional Greek Dance to be held here at Holy Trinity on Friday, October 5 from 7:30 pm until 11:30 pm featuring live music by Panigiri. Tickets, available for purchase beginning Sunday, September 9, are $15 per person and will include complimentary desserts and coffee. Casual Dress – All Ages – Open Seating – Cash Bar – Hot & Cold Appetizer Platters will be available for purchase.

Visitation Ministry Team Volunteers

The Visitation Ministry is always in need of volunteers to share their talent and time. We need volunteers who may enjoy visiting our homebound family members, designing crafts, baking cookies, transporting individuals to doctor appointments, reading the Bible at the bedside of one who is sick or has poor vision, offering grocery shopping or medication pickup at the local pharmacy, praying for those who are in need, providing a listening ear to those grieving loss, mailing cards to those who need encouragement, and so much more. If you are interested and want to learn more about our Visitation Ministry, please contact Amy Armanious at 412-628-0973 or email 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. Following Liturgy, we invite you to stop by our Connect Center located in the Gallery and join us for our Fellowship Coffee hour.

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!

Pave a New Path in Holy Trinity's History! Paver Project Now Underway!

“Leave a footprint on the sands of time” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow). All great individuals have left a footprint on history. Be a part of Holy Trinity’s historical footprint by purchasing a paver for yourself and/or your loved ones.  Leave a lasting memory of your family name, or someone else’s name. Engrave a lasting tribute in honor of or in memory of a special person in your life. Or capture a very special event, like a wedding or baptismal anniversary. Please email Karen Georgiadis or Kathy Balouris at pavers@HolyTrinityPgh.org. Information is also available at on our website at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/pavers. We will be selling pavers until Friday, November 16, 2018, unless we sell out before then. The inscription process begins this winter, with the Path will be installed in early spring 2019.

Upcoming Memorials

August 12: Joann Pappas (40 days), Homer Johnson (2 years) August 19: George Dalson (3 years).