OUTREACH NEWS: FOCUS Christmas Angel Tags Still Available Today

We are partnering with FOCUS-Pittsburgh again this year to help make a child’s or senior citizen’s Christmas a special one.  We still have a few “Angel Tags” remaining, which will be available in the Gallery today after Liturgy.  As the FOCUS report states, “just as Christ comes and extends his mercy to us, so we work hard to give a small measure of His compassion to our neighbors who are fighting to find the material and emotional necessities of life.”  Gifts are due back to the church no later than Sunday, December 9. Your participation is deeply appreciated!

GOYA Turkey Bowl – Today!

The GOYA will hold its annual Turkey Bowl Thanksgiving Weekend Football Game today following Divine Liturgy. This is a fun and friendly GOYA tradition, and everyone is invited: players, non-players, cheerleaders, parents and fans! Players should bring a change of clothes and shoes for play. The flag football game will be followed by hot chocolate, meatless “walking tacos” and other goodies. Yum!

2019 Stewardship Cards – Available for Pickup Today

Our 2019 Holy Trinity Stewardship drive has begun. Under the banner, “ONE HOLY TRINITY,” the focus once again this year will be for the entire community to support all the needs of the Church as one. Your 2019 “ONE HOLY TRINITY” commitment card has been refreshed and includes useful information.  Please take the time to carefully review it and consider increasing your prior year commitment, just as we continue to grow as a community.  Also, if you haven’t yet participated in the mortgage payoff drive, you still have the opportunity to do so. The cards will be available in the Gallery during Coffee Hour. Thank you for helping us save the cost of postage by picking yours up today!

Upcoming Services

Fri. Nov. 30, 8:30am Orthros/9:30am Liturgy: St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle (St. George Chapel)

[Nov 28, 30] “Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” This Week

Holy Trinity Church’s new, expanded “Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” ministry continues this month. Building on the fruits of our last five years, we are now including more days and more opportunities for everyone to participate in and grow from worship, spiritual life and educational ministries beyond Sunday morning and to make the Church the "crossroad of daily life”.

 THIS WEEK’S OFFERINGS:

• Daily: Prayer Partners. Have you remembered your prayer partner every day? Please keep the promise.
•  “Explore the Word” - Bible Study Ministry - Wed. Nov 28, 6:30pm Worship/7:00pm Bible Study. Prayerfully read the Bible! In Deut. 11, it says, “Lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul.” Each Wednesday come and till your heart in worship in the Church at 6:30pm and then meet at 7:00pm in the Conference Room for the study of the Gospel of St. Matthew led by Father Radu Bordeianu. Learn the Scriptures. Depend your faith. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3.18).
• Fri. Nov. 30, 8:30am Orthros/9:30am Liturgy: St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle (St. George Chapel)

[Nov 27, 29 & Dec 20] Philoptochos Baking Dates – This Week!

We will be preparing homemade pastries and breads for our Holiday Bake Sale in the Bakery area of Kitchen.  If you are available to help with baking on any of the days, please join us for an hour or more! Don’t know how to make Greek pastries? We offer on the job training!  Any questions? Please call Nicole Steiner 412-781-6109.

• This Tuesday, November 27: 9am-9pm Koulourakia
• This Thursday, November 29: 9am-9pm Baklava/Kourambiedes
• Thursday, December 20: 9am-4pm Sweet Bread

Philoptochos Turkey Fundraiser Thank You

The Ladies Philoptochos would like to thank everyone who has donated to their Annual Turkey Fundraiser so far, this year.  Your donations will be used to assist local needy families and food banks during the holiday season.  If you have not sent in your donation, there is still time to support this worthy cause.  Checks can be made payable to "Holy Trinity Philoptochos" with “Turkey Fundraiser” written on the memo line and mailed to the church office. Thank you!

[Nov 30 & Dec 1] Parish Family Retreat – “Created to Thrive”

The Holy Trinity Notable Speakers Series resumes with a Parish Family Retreat to be held this Friday, November 30 (7:30-9:00pm) and Saturday, December 1 (9:00am-3:00pm) featuring Dr. Philip Mamalakis. Don’t miss this informative presentation of “Created to Thrive” and the opportunity to explore the topics of parenting, marriage, our home and our community. Everyone is welcome! Admission is free, but registration is required by TODAY. Sign up following coffee hour or online at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events. For additional information contact SpiritualLife@HolyTrinityPgh.org or 412-292-4206.  

[Dec 2] Church School Reminder: Thanksgiving Outreach - Bring Your Bags of Food for FOCUS

Attention Church School Students: Several weeks ago, you received brown grocery bags and an instruction sheet for the annual FOCUS Food Drive for the needy. Please remember to collect your items and return them to your classroom by next Sunday, December 2, at the latest. Thank you for your generosity!

[Dec 7] “Drop and Shop” Evening for Parents

Attention ALL Holy Trinity parents: As an offering of “Thanks for all you do for us,” the teens of Holy Trinity GOYA are watching the kids for the night for free! "Drop and Shop" gives parents a free night to get Christmas shopping done while the kids have fun with their Holy Trinity friends. Drop them off at the church on Friday, December 7 at 6:00pm and be back by 9:00pm to pick them up. This opportunity is open to ALL Holy Trinity parents of children from toddler through sixth grade. The is no charge for this event, but advance reservation is required. Visit www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events.

[Through Dec 9] Philoptochos Holiday Bake Sale

As we approach the holiday season let the ladies of the Philoptochos help check something off your list!  It is time for our annual Holiday Bake Sale of Spanakopita, Tiropita, Baklava, Kourambiedes, Koulourakia, Finikia, Paximadia and Sweet Breads. Order forms are available at the church office window and were also included in the November edition of the Herald.  Order now as quantities are limited!  All orders must be received and PREPAID by Sunday, December 9. Orders will be ready for pick up following Liturgy on Sunday, December 23. Questions? Call Nicole Steiner at 412-781-6109.

[Through Dec 12] NHCO’s annual Holiday Gift collection

North Hills Community Outreach is accepting new toys, games, sporting equipment, apparel and gift cards for children ages birth through 18, through Wednesday, December 12; earlier donations are encouraged! Gifts cards and gifts appropriate for teens are especially needed! All NHCO offices, including the main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton, are open weekdays, 9am-4pm. The pantry behind the main building in Hampton will be open for donations 9:00am - noon, Saturday, December 1. Alternative donation plans can be made by calling 412-487-6316 opt 1. For more information, visit www.nhco.org.

Pave a New Path in Holy Trinity's History! Paver Project – Updated Design! Still Time Left!

“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 Sunday, December 16, 2018, unless we sell out before then. The inscription process begins this winter, with the Path will be installed in early spring 2019.

The 2019 Schedule is Out! Sign Up to Provide FOCUS Lunches for the Poor and Needy

It’s time once again to get your group or family together for a meaningful day of giving to the poor and hungry in our region. Sponsored through FOCUS Pittsburgh, the 2019 weekly schedule of delivering 140 lunch bags to our less fortunate neighbors, every Saturday of the year, has many open dates available. Holy Trinity Church’s participation has been critical in fulfilling this goal in the past, and we are grateful for our parishioners’ renewed generosity this time around. Please see Mike Kritiotis after Liturgy to sign up for a Saturday that fits your schedule or contact him by emailing outreach@holytrinitypgh.org for available dates. Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ!

Need Physical Assistance to Receive Holy Communion?

Do you require physical assistance to receive Holy Communion? The Holy Trinity Parish Council and Hospitality Ministry team would be glad to help. Please indicate that you require help when your row is dismissed, and they will provide someone to accompany you and provide assistance and safety.

Visitation Ministry Team - Volunteers Needed

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.

Weekly Bulletin and Herald Submission Deadlines
Please note that the deadline for submissions to the Weekly Bulletin is 12:00 noon on Wednesday of the previous week, sent to: Bulletin@HolyTrinityPgh.org. The deadline for submissions to the Herald is the 15^th day of the previous month, sent to: Herald@HolyTrinityPgh.org.  All submissions are subject to approval and editing due to content or space. Thank you!

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.

Holding a Ministry Activity or Committee Meeting at Church? Reservations Required!

Our community and its ministries are growing! If your ministry or committee is planning a meeting or activity and you are planning to hold it at the church, please note that reservations for rooms and event spaces are required. Please call the Church Office at 412-366-8700 and speak to our Office Administrator, Mary Portellos. There have been times when all the spaces have been filled, so your cooperation helps ensure every group that needs a place has one and helps minimize space conflicts. We have a beautiful facility – let’s work together so everyone who needs it can use it. Thank you!

“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!