Festival Setup Today Through Tuesday!

Attention ALL volunteers: It's Festival Setup Week - All Hands On Deck! We need to be up and ready by Wednesday for the thousands of enthusiastic visitors and friends who will be coming to enjoy the festival this week, so please lend a hand. Sign up at www.HolyTrinityPghl.org/volunteer.  Setup times are:

• TODAY, August 26 – 12:00-6:00pm (This includes help needed today to cup salad dressings for the entire festival – anyone can help!)
• Monday, August 27 – 4:00-10:00pm
• Tuesday, August 28 – 4:00-10:00pm

Church School for 2018-2019 – Please Register Today, Classes Start September 9
Registration for Church School classes for 2018-2019 continues today. You may sign up your child(ren) by contacting Presvytera Becky during Coffee Hour today. If you have not yet done so, please do it today. Classes start September 9. Thank you!

Church School Snack and Youth Ministries Volunteer Signup for Parents

All Church School families are asked to sign up for hosting one Church School snacks Sunday. Even if there are multiple children in a family, each family is asked to pick just one Sunday. See Presvytera Becky following Divine Liturgy. Also, help is still needed in the area of assistant teachers and volunteers for special events and projects for Church School and other youth ministries. Sign up in the Gallery after Liturgy. Thank you!

Last Greek Dance Practices before the Festival – Today after Liturgy and Tuesday

The last two Greek dance practices will be held immediately following Divine Liturgy today during Coffee Hour and also this Tuesday August 28. On Tuesday, the practice times are: HOPE 6:00pm / JOY 6:30pm / GOYA 7:15pm. Opa!!!

Festival Pastry Baking, Cutting & Set-Up Today– 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!

• TODAY, 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

[Aug 29] Weekday Liturgy - Beheading of St. John the Baptist

Please make plans to arrive early on the first day of the Festival, Wednesday, August 29, so that you can attend the Feast Day services of the Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, St. John the Baptist. Orthros begins at 7:30am followed by Divine Liturgy at 8:30am here at Holy Trinity Church. Please note that this is a strict fast day and that the early start time is due to the opening of the Taste of Greece Festival at 11:00am.

[Aug 29-Sep 2] Holy Trinity’s Taste of Greece – IT’S HERE!

See you this week for the Festival, this Wednesday, August 29, through Sunday, September 2. 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 TODAY 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!

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 Parking

Once again, UPMC Passavant Hospital has graciously permitted us to use their lot for Festival parking. Please note that during our Festival, their GREEN lot will be available for our use on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm and all day on Saturday & Sunday from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. Shuttle Bus service will be available.

Festival Outreach – Evening Services

In addition to the church tours this year, we are having a short service in the church every night DURING THE FESTIVAL from 8:30-8:45pm for those guests who may want to "COME AND SEE" our way of worship. Perhaps some of us can spare 15 minutes during this busy time and plan to attend as we are able!

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.

Festival CLEANUP Next Week!!

Attention ALL volunteers: The job’s not done until the cleanup is finished! Next week is Festival Cleanup Week. Time to get this beautiful facility back in shape after all the excitement of the festival. Please lend a hand. Cleanup times are:

- TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 5pm-10pm

- WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 5pm-10pm  

- THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 5pm-10pm

Please go to www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/volunteer and make the commitment from now. Thanks!

[Sep 4] NHCO Winter Coat Drive Begins

North Hills Community Outreach will collect new and gently worn winter coats for local families in need September 4 through October 12. All sizes are appreciated; children’s and adult XL - XXL are especially needed. Coats should be clean and have working fasteners. Hats, gloves and scarves are also welcome. Donations can be dropped off at NHCO Allison Park, 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton, Monday – Friday, 9am-4pm, September 4 through October 12, or in the NHCO Allison Park food pantry during special donation hours, 9:00 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, September 1 and October 6. For more information or alternate donation options, please contact Vicki at vdburst@nhco.org or 412-487-6316 opt 1.

[Sep 17] Holy Trinity’s "COME AND SEE" Event

On Monday, September 17 from 6:30-8:00pm we are hosting guests from our festival who want to learn more about our Church Community and the Orthodox Faith. We would like to welcome them with the loving arms of our parish. EVERYONE is encouraged to attend, and our goal is to have representation of all of our ministries and age groups. More information will follow but please mark your calendars!

[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.

[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.

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 wonderful Visitation Ministry. Also, interested in helping reach out to fellow parishioners in those situations? Please see the message below about joining our Visitation Ministry Team Volunteers.

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.