TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Memorials Today
Memorial prayers will be offered at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy today for the repose of the souls of the servants of God, Evangelia Georgiou (40 Days), Giorgios Gilipathis (1 Year) and S. Sava Macut (1 Year) the father of Jan Petredis. Coffee Hour will be sponsored today by the Balouris and Petredis families. May their memory be eternal!
Prayer Partner Cards for Third Quarter 2019 Distributed Today. Here is a ministry EVERYONE can participate in this vital ministry EVERY DAY: “Prayer Partners!” Would you like to know that someone is praying for you every day “just because” you are a part of this parish family? As a core component of our “Faith and Family Weekdays” Ministry, that is what happens here at Holy Trinity Church. On the first Sunday of January, April, July and October, blank prayer cards are distributed. Those in attendance are asked to write their first name only (baptismal name preferred) on one card. They will then be collected and randomly distributed at the end of the service. Each person will commit to offer prayers daily for the person they receive daily during that quarter. What a beautiful gift to pray for someone and be prayed for yourself. This “anonymous” ministry of spiritual service is known only to our merciful Lord, Who directs us through his Holy Apostle James, "Pray for one another" (James 5.16). Thank you for adding to the spiritual life and dedication of our Holy Trinity parish family. Remember: pray for your Prayer Partner every day!
Summer Teaching Series Sermons through July 29: The Divine Liturgy
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 will be offering a “Summer Teaching Series” during the Sunday sermons of June and July [except Pentecost Sunday]. This summer the series will focus on one of the central features of the Orthodox Christian Faith: The Divine Liturgy. It’s more than “Come and See” …It’s “Come and Learn”! Pay close attention: there will be a 5-minute question and answer session at the end of each Liturgy, too!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Time to Return FOCUS Backpacks
Thank you to everyone who so generously took the 98 empty backpacks we at Holy Trinity Church offered to provide for needy local students. In order for the FOCUS ministry to receive backpacks (now filled by you with supplies!) in time to distribute them to the children, we are asking for all backpacks to be returned by August 1. Please remember that in addition to the supplies, it is requested that a $10 donation be made to cover the cost of the backpack. Make checks payable to “FOCUS”. Please be sure to check your bag in at the designated table in the Grand Room during Coffee Hour by August 1.
Church School for 2019-2020 – Please Register Today, Classes Start September 8
Registration for Church School classes for 2019-2020 continues today. You may sign up your child(ren) in the Grand Room during Coffee Hour if they are returning students or new students may sign up online or at the registration table. If you have not yet done so, please do it today. Classes start September 8. 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. A list is available in the Grand Room following Divine Liturgy. Also, adult volunteers are needed for various events during the year. Please sign up today. Thank you!
Upcoming Greek Dance Practice Schedule
Attention parents: 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 (third through sixth grade) dance group will be taught by both Eleni and Victoria. Please arrive 5 minutes early and wear comfortable athletic attire. No flip flops allowed in class. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
- TODAY, Sunday, July 14: HOPE & JOY during coffee hour
- Tuesday, July 16: HOPE 6:00-6:30pm / JOY 6:30-7:15pm
- Wednesday, July 17: JOY 6:30-7:15pm / GOYA 7:15-8:00pm
- Sunday, July 21: HOPE & JOY during coffee hour
- Tuesday, July 23: HOPE 6:00-6:30pm / JOY 6:30-7:15pm
- Wednesday, July 24: JOY 6:30-7:15pm / GOYA 7:15-8:00pm
- Tuesday, July 30: HOPE 6:00-6:30pm / JOY 6:30-7:15pm
- Wednesday, July 31: JOY 6:30-7:15pm / GOYA 7:15-8:00pm
[Jul 17] Senior Fellowship Ministry Outing
Our Holy Trinity Senior Fellowship group is planning another outing this Wednesday, July 17 to Evergreen Community Park in Ross Township (3430 Evergreen Rd, Pittsburgh 15237, near Valliant’s Diner). There they will join other area seniors for a lunch time social under the pavilion. Bring your own bagged lunch and Ross Township will provide the drinks and dessert. Plan to arrive at Holy Trinity by 11:30am and carpool to the park to arrive by 12:00 noon. Please RSVP to Joyce Countouris (412-366-1498) or Georgiann Bounos (412-761-6953) if you would like to attend.
[Jul 19 & 20] Feast Day of the Prophet Elias - Services at the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery
Gerontissa Theophano and the Sisters invite you to join them for the Feast Day services of the Prophet Elias. Friday, July 19: 6:00pm Vespers, Orthros and on Saturday July 20: 9:00am Hours, Divine Liturgy. Lunch follows. A variety of handcrafts made by the Sisters will be available for purchase. Visitors should be modestly dressed. Women are asked to wear long skirts and men to wear long pants. The Monastery is located at 121 St. Elias Lane, Saxonburg, PA 16056.
[July 23-Aug 11] Festival Cooking Continues – With YOUR Help!
IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY to get started on our FESTIVAL COOKING 2019! Please mark your calendars and plan to come and help on the following days. Bring the kids, bring your husbands, bring your wives, bring your friends! All are welcome...no experience necessary. Tons of light and heavy tasks for all. THANK YOU!
- Tuesday, July 23, 9:30am-8:30pm – Diples – NEW DATE!
- Wednesday, July 24, 9:30am-8:30pm – Diples – NEW DATE!
- Friday, August 2, 9:00am-5:00pm - Souvlaki Cutting and Skewering
- Saturday, August 3, 9:00am until completed – Souvlaki Cutting and Skewering
- Thursday, August 8, 5:00pm-9:00pm – Moussaka
- Friday, August 9, 9:00am- 5:00pm - Moussaka
- Saturday, August 10, 9:00am-5:00pm - Moussaka
- Sunday, August 11, following Liturgy until completed – Moussaka
[Jul 23] Greek Day at Kennywood Park
Join the fun on Tuesday, July 23 for Greek Day at Kennywood Park. Ride all day and be sure to visit Pavilions #4 and #5 for Gyros, Pastries and Greek Dancing provided by Ypapanti Church. For discounted Kennywood tickets, please contact the Presentation of Christ Church (Ypapanti) at 412-824-9188 or by email at PresentationOfChristOffice@gmail.com.
[Jul 27] Feast Day Services of St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr and Healer
Please plan to attend services to honor the Feast Day of St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr and Healer at our St. George Chapel on Saturday, July 27. Orthros begins at 8:30am followed by Divine Liturgy at 9:30am. A relic of St. Panteleimon was placed in the Holy Altar table of our St. George Chapel at the Consecration. This is the first time that the Liturgy of this great saint is being celebrated with his relic present. The Chapel is located 8941 Ringeisen Road in Allison Park.
[Aug 3] 25th Memorial Commemoration of Gerontissa Taxiarchia
Gerontissa Theophano and the Sisters of the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery welcome you to come and honor the memory of Gerontissa Taxiarchia on Saturday, August 3. 9:00am Hours, Hierarchical Divine Liturgy & Memorial Services.
[Aug 28-Sep 1] Holy Trinity’s Taste of Greece - Labor Day Weekend – August 28 through September 1
Please mark Wednesday, August 28, through Sunday, September 1 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!
FOCUS-Pittsburgh Bag Lunches - Sign your Family or Group up for a Worthy Cause
If you’re looking for ways to get your family/friends/group/ministry together for a meaningful day of giving to the poor and hungry in our region, here’s your chance! 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 still available. Please see Mike Kritiotis after Liturgy to sign up for a Saturday that fits your schedule or email outreach@holytrinitypgh.org for available dates. Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ!
Festival Ads Available: 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. Application Forms were included in the May/June edition of the Herald and can also be found at the church office window. Please be sure to share them with your favorite business establishments and ask them to support our church! For more information, please email FestivalAds@HolyTrinityPgh.org
Summer Sermons Reminder - Be Here on Time!
Please remember that during the summer months, when there is no Church School, the sermon is offered at its proper liturgical place following the Gospel (that’s usually about 9:45am!). Much as we are all reminded how important it is to arrive for the start of Divine Liturgy, perhaps there are times of genuine, urgent need that prohibit our personal on-time arrival. If you arrive during the sermon, please remember to enter quietly and wait until the end of the homily to find a seat. Better yet, set your alarm to get you there on time so you don’t miss a single blessing! Thank you.
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 practical or 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 an audio-only link on our Live Broadcast page. The audio stream uses minimal data compared to the video stream, so it’s perfect for travelling!
Holy Trinity’s Connect Center
The “Connect Center” is a great resource and contact display prominently located in the Gallery every Sunday and it is for YOU! The purpose is to help EVERYONE in our Holy Trinity community become more informed about the many ministries and opportunities offered here and to make it easier to become involved in all areas of life at Holy Trinity Church. Stop by and check it out or just say hi!
Hospitality Ministry Opportunities
Have you noticed that Hospitality and Outreach are a large part of our Holy Trinity mission? Helping everyone feel welcomed into our Church, whether it is just one visit or returning guests and members.... we continue to reach out.
There are currently 3 areas we have identified and are looking for additional folks to help:
- Funeral Greeters - This is our newest addition to Hospitality Ministry. We have found it to be very important and comforting to have a Holy Trinity representative in the Narthex to greet the family and guests during visitations and funerals. The commitment is on an 'as available' basis. You would get a phone call or email describing the times needed and can volunteer as your schedule allows. Because it tends to be a 'last minute' need, we could use several people who are willing to help.
- Connect Center Staff- The Connect Center is relatively new, set up outside of the Grand Room during coffee hour, it provides a place for ALL folks to get information about Holy Trinity and its Ministries. One person per week is needed for at least the first 1/2 hour after Liturgy. This is on a rotating basis, approximately every 4-6 weeks.
- Sunday Morning Greeters - This ministry is fairly well staffed. Two greeters Sept-May (one greeter June-August) from 9am- 10:15 am. These folks welcome everyone, focusing on new visitors. Greeters rotate approximately once every six weeks. Responsibilities also involve some follow up at coffee hours and beyond.
If you are interested in being a part of any or all of these outreach efforts, please Contact Stacy Dickos at hospitality@holytrinitypgh.org or 412-298-9409.
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 Memorial: July 21: Nicholas Gelis (40 Days)