TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Vasilopita Celebration and Lunch
Holy Trinity Church will hold the annual Vasilopita Celebration today. As usual, a special tray will be passed by the Philoptochos at the end of the Liturgy to benefit St. Basil Academy, the young people’s philanthropic institution run by the Archdiocese in Garrison, NY. Then, a Vasilopita Luncheon will be hosted by the Parish Council in the Grand Room following Divine Liturgy, where the cutting of the community Vasilopita will take place and a complimentary lunch can be enjoyed by all. Leaders and/or representatives from all parish ministries are asked to be present at the luncheon to receive the Vasilopita on behalf of your ministry. This is also an opportunity for the Council and the Festival Committee to thank all our dedicated volunteers for their sacrificial and valued help for our most-successful-ever Taste of Greece Festival this past year. Thank you for your participation!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Services This Week: (“SG” = St. George Chapel)
Tomorrow, January 7: 8:30am Orthros/9:30am Liturgy – Synaxis of St. John the Baptist and Forerunner (SG)
[Jan 8, 10] “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.
- “Journey of Marriage” Marriage Prep Ministry – Tues. Jan 8, 7:00pm. Marriage preparation for couples using the excellent and interactive “Journey of Marriage” materials developed by Dr. Philip Mamalakis. From “Hello!” to honeymoon, this series educates and equips couples for fruitful Orthodox Christian married life. It’s fun, interactive and a great way to prepare.
- “Orthodox Movie Night” - Entertainment & Fellowship Ministry - Thurs. Jan 10, 7:00pm. A monthly offering of inspirational and cultural entertaining movies with snacks and good company in the Fireside Room. Free to all, it’s a relaxing and uplifting alternative to the “same old stuff” on cable TV. Why sit around alone and watch that when you can enjoy a night of Holy Trinity fellowship and entertainment? This week’s title is “Paul, Apostle of Christ”. Luke (Jim Caviezel) as a friend and physician, risks his life when he ventures into the city of Rome to visit Paul (James Faulkner), who is held captive in Nero’s darkest, bleakest prison cell. Two men struggle against a determined emperor and the frailties of the human spirit in order to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spread their message to the world. Rated PG-13. Popcorn & soft drinks provided. Admission is Free! Come and share in the fellowship!
[Jan 8, 22 and Feb 5, 11 & 20] GOYA Basketball Practice
GOYA will hold basketball practice in preparation for the 2019 basketball tournament season on January 8 & 22 and February 5, 11 & 20 from 6:30-8:30pm at Hosack Elementary School, 9275 Peebles Road, Allison Park, PA 15101.
2019 House Blessings – Last call!
Every year on January 6th, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Holy Theophany, which is the baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We also take the feast home with us by having our homes blessed with the Holy Water. A schedule and description of the House Blessing tradition can be found inside the January issue of The Herald and on the back cover of this bulletin. If you would like this special annual Theophany blessing for your family, home or business, please request a visit TODAY by either returning a completed request form, calling the Church Office or by SUBMITTING YOUR REQUEST ONLINE AT www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events. Your date and time will be confirmed by the day before your visit IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be available during the time range indicated on the schedule. Re-scheduling will only be done in cases of inclement weather. Thanks!
[Jan 20, 27] Ten Minutes of HOPE and JOY
Our children in HOPE (grades K-2) and JOY (grades 3-6) will continue to meet with Father Radu once a month for ten minutes after their Church School lesson. Please help your children formulate questions about our faith, and we will address those topics during our “Ten Minutes of HOPE” on Jan. 20 and “Ten Minutes of JOY” on Jan. 27.
[Feb 18] Ordination of George Athanasiou
By the grace of God and through the Laying on of Hands by His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, the servant of God, George Athanasiou will be ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Monday, February 18 here at Holy Trinity Church, 8:30AM Orthros/9:30 Liturgy. Luncheon to follow. Please RSVP at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events.
The 2019 Schedule is Out! Sign Up to Provide FOCUS Lunches for the 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!
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!
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.
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.
Snow Cancellations – Where to Check
Please keep in mind over the winter months that there are a number of options to hear or read about event or service cancellations in the case of snow or inclement weather on the Holy Trinity "Snow Line." First stop: Check our website at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org. To hear by phone, call the church office (412-366-8700) then press option #8 and listen for a recorded weather cancellation announcement. To get updates by computer or smartphone, there are three options: 1) watch the parish email list for email announcements; 2) check the front page of our website, www.HolyTrinityPgh.org; or 3) friend us on Facebook at Facebook.com/holytrinitypgh. Finally, to get information by radio or television, watch the KDKA Storm Center, as Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is registered there.
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.
Online Giving Reminder
Holy Trinity Church’s online giving program makes it possible to make contributions of various kinds to Holy Trinity Church online. Our secure system allows you to conveniently make donations online. You can choose to make a one-time contribution or establish a recurring weekly or monthly contribution. Best of all, you don’t need to remember to write a check or bring your offering to church - it’s already taken care of! Payments can be made via checking account, savings account, credit card or debit card. Visit www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/give to get started!
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!
