Memorial Today

Memorial prayers will be offered at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy today for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, Sophie Vrahas (40 Days). May her memory be eternal!

Youth Sunday / GOYA Fall Fest

Today, Holy Trinity Church will highlight and feature the young people of our community. In addition, the GOYA will be offering baked goods and food for their Fall Fest during Coffee Hour. Thank you for supporting our youth!

Church School Dismissal Times
A message from our Church School Staff to all parents: Please assist us in offering our children the time to fully participate in their lessons each Sunday by allowing them to remain in class until the end of the session. IMPORTANT: ALL CLASSES CONCLUDE AT 11:30am. Parents of Pre-School and Kindergarten students may pick up their children on the upper level Education Center by using the Education Center stairs in the Gallery near the Bookstore. Parents of all other students are asked to wait for their children downstairs in the Gallery or Grand Room during Coffee Hour. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Church School Registration and Snacks/Volunteers Signup for 2018-2019 Continues

Registration for Church School classes for 2018-2019 continues today. You may sign up your new or returning child(ren) during Coffee Hour today. Also, 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. And help is still needed in the area of assistant teachers and volunteers for special events and projects for Church School and other youth ministries. See Presvytera Becky at Coffee Hour.

Philoptochos Traditional Greek Dance – Tickets Available for Purchase Today

Please make plans to support our Ladies Philoptochos by attending a Traditional Greek Dance to be held on Friday, October 5 from 7:30 pm until 11:30 pm featuring live music by Panigiri. Tickets 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. Please stop by the Gallery to purchase your tickets today!

“Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” This Week

• Daily: Prayer Partners. Have you remembered your prayer partner every day? Please keep the promise.

[Sep 27] Love & Marriage, But No Baby Carriage

Our sister parish of St. Alexander Nevsky is offering a panel discussion this Thursday, September 27 beginning at 7:00pm. “Love & Marriage, But No Baby Carriage” will discuss new reproductive technologies in light of Orthodox Christian beliefs and ethics. St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral is located at 8290 Thompson Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.

[Sept 28] Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City – 50^th Anniversary Celebration

Mother Christophora and the Sisters of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City invite you to attend the 50^th Anniversary of the Consecration of their Monastery this Friday, September 28. The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will begin at 9:30am followed by a Luncheon at 12:00 noon. If you plan to attend the Luncheon, you are kindly asked to RSVP. Later in the day, Vespers will begin at 5:00pm followed by a 6:30pm live performance of ILEANA, Princess of Romania by Romanian actress and playwright, Liana Ceterchi. The play, based on the autobiography I Live Again, will be presented in Romanian, but English subtitles will be provided. Because seating is very limited at the Monastery, the Sisters ask that you inform them if you plan to attend. Please RSVP to omtsec@gmail.com  for the afternoon luncheon and/or the evening performance. The Monastery is located at 321 Monastery Lane, Ellwood City, PA 16117.

[Sep 30] JOY/HOPE Fall Activity

A fall activity for JOY and HOPE groups has been planned for next Sunday September 30.   We will have lunch together following services, and then drive individually to Shenot Farms for a hayride.  Cost is $6 per person for lunch, which will be collected at church, and includes pizza, vegetables, drink and dessert.  The hayride is $2 per person, which everyone should pay directly to Shenot Farms after our arrival.  So that we can plan accordingly, please RSVP with total number eating lunch (both adults and children) to Nicole Gross (412-445-6606) or Vaia Kolovos-Lupnacca (412-512-3312) by this Thursday, September 27. As this event will take place after church, a change of clothes is suggested if attending the hayride.

[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.

Want the Weekly Bulletin sent to your email box? Sign Up Today!

Want to receive the Sunday Bulletin directly via email? Want announcements on Holy Trinity events? Go to www.HolyTrinityPgh.org and sign up today using the sign-up box on the left side of any page!

[Oct 6] Visitation of the Holy Iveron Icon of the Theotokos

The Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery in Saxonburg, PA has been once again blessed with the visitation of the Miraculous Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon of the Theotokos scheduled for Saturday, October 6, 2018 from 8:15am until 1:30pm. Divine Liturgy begins at 8:30am. Don’t miss this opportunity to venerate this Holy Icon from Hawaii on Her Feast Day, the Day of Her Revealing. The monastery is located at 121 St. Elias Lane, Saxonburg, PA 16056.

[Oct 14] Flu Shot Clinic

Holy Trinity Church is hosting its 5^th Annual Flu Shot Clinic in the Fireside Room following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 14. Certified immunizing pharmacists from Rite Aid will be here to offer Flu Shots from 11:15 am until 1:30 pm for adult parishioners and children ages 9 years and older. The Center for Disease Control states that an “annual influenza vaccination is the most effective method for preventing influenza virus infection and its complications”. Please be sure to bring your insurance card listing your ID# as there is $0.00 Copay with most insurance plans and Rite Aid will handle the direct billing for the vast majority of insurances. The price for the standard vaccine for those without insurance is $34.99.

[Oct 18] Senior Fellowship Group – Boat Tour of Moraine State Park

Make your reservation to join our Senior Fellowship Group on an enclosed pontoon boat tour of Moraine State Park on Thursday, October 18. Enjoy learning about the area’s natural history and osprey reintroduction, while appreciating the beautiful Fall scenery and wildlife on an exciting trip around Lake Arthur. A boxed Lunch will be provided. Please contact Joyce Countouris (412-366-1498) or Georgiann Bounos (412-761-6953) to make your reservation and lunch menu selection. Depending on the number of reservations, bus or van transportation departing from Holy Trinity may be considered. More details will follow. This event is open to anyone who is interested in having a great time!

[Oct 21] Holy Trinity Dance Troupe – Pancake Rally

The Holy Trinity Dance Troupe will be hosting an “all you can eat” Pancake Rally on Sunday, October 21 following Liturgy. The menu includes pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and drink choices of apple juice, orange juice and coffee. The Dance Troupe will be selling tickets following Liturgy and on the day of the Rally in the Grand Room. They are asking for a minimum donation of $5 for Children’s tickets (ages 18 and under) and $8 for Adult tickets. All proceeds from this Rally will go towards purchasing new dance costumes. If you are interested in donating any items to the Pancake Rally, please contact Eleni Dedousis (eadedousis@gmail.com) or Victoria Andromalos-Dale (v.andromalosdale@gmail.com).

Outreach to Greece – Youth Soccer Club Support

A few of our parishioners have family in Xerokambi, Lakonia (in the Southern Peloponnese region of Greece).  They would like to form a support group for the town’s youth soccer club.  They hope to raise small amounts of money to help with uniforms or even travel expenses, such as gasoline, for team road trips to nearby towns.  In view of the recent fires in Greece this may seem a luxury, but it is important to the boys and girls there.  They have lost many of their arts and sports programs.  Please see Lynda Areheart or contact her at 412-561-7795 if you would like to support this cause.

Three Hierarch's Bookstore – Thank You

The Three Hierarch's Bookstore would like to thank Peter and Mary Panos for their generous donations of Greek art and cultural artifacts to the Bookstore.  These items will be offered for sale as space permits to allow the non-profit store to offer an even wider range of religious items. May God bless them.

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.

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.

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.

“God’s House – Our Responsibility”
Attention all Holy Trinity parishioners, parents and youth: We all know the Church is “God’s House.” He expects us, however, to take care of it. That means leaving things the way we found them, cleaning up after ourselves and caring for every part of God’s House even better than we treat our own. Holding an event or meeting? Leave the place the way you found it – or better. Coffee Hour? Please place all your trash in the cans after and be sure not to spill or crush things on the floor. And children? Please help them to understand – kindly – their need to also take care of God’s House. We can all do this together! Thank you!

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!

            For those who do receive, please remember the following helpful hints aimed at helping to preserve the solemnity and safety of the Holy Mystery: 1) The Church School Staff only is asked to please proceed first to receive from the left-most chalice so they may depart for their classrooms before their students arrive; 2) All other students, parishioners and Orthodox Christian guests, please remain at your place until you are dismissed by the Parish Council down the center aisle only; 3) We respectfully ask women to remove their lipstick before approaching the Holy Chalice; 4) Please wait in the Holy Communion line reverently, prayerfully and quietly without talking; 5) It is traditional as we approach with awe that we make the sign of the Cross  or bow down with a “metanoia” as an act of humility before the Lord; 5) Be sure to offer your baptismal name to priest before receiving; 6) Please take great care to place the red cloth under your chin and to fully open your mouth so that none of the precious Body and Blood of Christ is accidentally spilled, then to dab your lips on the cloth afterwards so none of the Holy Gifts are left on other objects. Thank you for your cooperation, and may God have mercy on us all!

Upcoming Memorials

Sep 30: Parikakis Family Memorial (Makrina - 10 years, Virginia - 20 years, Helen - 15 years, Danielle Zagnacky - 5 years)

Oct 7: Ladakos Family Memorial (Peter Ladakos - 21 years, James Hartig - 15 years, Katherine Hartig - 14 years)

Oct 14:  Kelly Karavolos (1 year) and Georgia Castellano (1 year)