TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES  

Church School Begins Today! 
Church School for the 2019-2020 year begins today with Children's Homily following the Gospel and continues with the first session after Holy Communion. Parents, let's make sure all our parish's children are here and ready to start every Sunday by arriving on time for Divine Liturgy at 9:30am so they can hear the Church School message, receiving the blessing of attending the Divine Liturgy and receiving Holy Communion, then grow from the dedicated faith learning time in class. Remember, parents are their children's first teachers in the faith, so the most important lesson of a Sunday morning is waking and preparing them for on-time arrival at the Liturgy, so they don't miss a single blessing.

Church School Theme for 2019/2020: “Grounded in Truth”

Our theme for the 2019/2020 Church School year at Holy Trinity Church is “Grounded in Truth.” This theme is based on the words of Jesus in John 14.6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” In a world which offers many other “truths,” it is essential that we hold firmly to the foundational teaching of the Lord and His Holy Church that real “Truth” is found in Jesus Christ, Who is Himself Truth. And there is no better place for the seeds of Truth to be planted in a child’s heart and mind than in the Holy Church of Christ. Parents, please remember that you are an essential part of the teaching team, for what happens briefly in Church School classes each week must be affirmed and lived in the home, even when pressure to deny that truth comes from elsewhere. As Saint John the Evangelist says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1.4). Thank you for continuing to teach your children Truth, support them in walking in Truth and bringing them each Sunday to experience Him Who is Truth.

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 for 2019-2020 Continues

Registration for Church School classes for 2019-2020 continues today. You may sign up your new or returning child(ren) during Coffee Hour today. If your children are not yet registered, please see Presvytera Becky in Conference Room A at the conclusion of classes (11:30am).

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 Gallery 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!

Services This Week

- Friday, September 13, 7:00pm: Great Vespers of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (Holy Cross - Mt. Lebanon)
- Saturday, September 14, 8:15am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (at Holy Cross Church in Mt. Lebanon due to the celebration of the Feastday of our sister parish).

[Sept 9] New Bereavement Support Ministry: Monthly Group Sessions - Come & Join Us Tomorrow

Our Bereavement Support Ministry Team provides spiritual care to our parishioners and their extended family & friends in time of grief and loss. If you have questions about grief and want to learn and share conversation, then please attend our next Bereavement Support Group session scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, September 9 in the Conference Room. Light refreshments and relaxed fellowship begin at 6:30pm for those who choose. Then 7:00-8:30pm is group learning and sharing with our Bereavement facilitators. Feel free to bring a family member and/or friend. Contact Amy Armanious, Visitation Ministry Coordinator with any questions by email at Visitation@holytrinitypgh.org

[Sept 15] Ladies Philoptochos Meeting

Our Ladies Philoptochos Omonia Meeting will be held next Sunday, September 15^th in the Fireside Room directly following Divine Liturgy.   Please get a cup of coffee in the Grand Room and then go directly to the Fireside Room where light refreshments will be offered.  We look forward to seeing all of our returning members after the summer break! New members are always welcome!

[Sep 15] GOYA Fall Kickoff

The GOYA teen ministry will hold its 2019-2020 Fall Kick-Off at the home of our new GOYA president, Katerina Balouris. next Sunday, September 15 at 5:00pm. Parents are asked to also attend a parents’ meeting at the event.  All teens are invited. This is a great way to get involved for both teens and parents. Questions? Email goya@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

[Sept 19] “So Much More” Event

We are again hosting a Post-Festival event for visitors who might be interested in learning more about Orthodox Christianity and our Church.  “So Much More” will be held on Thursday, September 19 from 7:00pm until 8:30pm. It is open to all!   Please consider bringing someone you know who might be interested in learning more about the faith. Stop by the Connect Center following Liturgy today if you have any questions.

[Sept 21] Greater Pittsburgh JOY Fest 2019

We are excited to announce that on Saturday, September 21, JOY Fest will be held at Holy Cross Church in Mt. Lebanon from 9:30am until 3:00pm. All kids ages 7-12 from any Orthodox parish are invited to attend. The schedule for the day includes breakout groups, themed crafts, games/recreational activities and songs with special guest, Orthodox musician and educator, Khouria Gigi Shadid! To register for the event, please email emmanuelmaginas@gmail.com by September 14^th. Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church is located at 123 Gilkeson Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 across from the Galleria.

[Sep 22] Youth Sunday / GOYA Fall Fest Bake Sale

Holy Trinity Church will highlight and feature the young people of our community on Youth Sunday, September 22. In addition, the GOYA will be offering baked goods and food for their Fall Fest during Coffee Hour. Please support our youth.

[Oct 13] Flu Shot Clinic

Holy Trinity Church will be hosting its 6^th Annual Flu Shot Clinic in the Fireside Room following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 13. 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.

[Oct 13] Walk for Missions

The Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of Greater Pittsburgh will sponsor their annual “Walk for Missions” on Sunday, October 13^th. This year’s walk will benefit the current mission work being done in Guatemala and throughout the world. Registration opens at 12:00pm noon and the walk will begin at 1:00pm at the South Park Children’s Playground Shelter (intersection of Corrigan Drive and Brownsville Road in South Park, PA 15129). If you are interested in participating, please stop by the Holy Trinity Church office window to pick up a Walker’s Pledge Form. For more information or questions, contact Emmanuel Maginas at emmanuelmaginas@gmail.com.

[Oct 13] Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery Fund-Raising Dinner at St. Nicholas Cathedral

On Sunday, October 13, the sixth Annual Dinner Banquet to benefit the Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery in Saxonburg will be held at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Oakland. This year’s event will honor the 25^th Anniversary of the Repose of Gerontissa Taxiarchia and the 30^th Anniversary of the Founding of the Monastery. Tickets for the Dinner Banquet are $125 per person. Please call 724-352-3999 or visit nativityofthetheotokosmonastery.org and click on the https://2019monasterybanquet.eventbrite.com/ link to register online. Holy Trinity’s own Harry Athanasiou will serve as Master of Ceremonies and Jim Balouris will serve as the Live Auctioneer. You won’t want to miss this event!

[Oct 25] Philoptochos Traditional Greek Dance– Save the Date!

Please make plans to support our Ladies Philoptochos by attending a Traditional Greek Dance to be held here at Holy Trinity on Friday, October 25 from 7:30 pm until 11:30 pm featuring live music by Panigiri. Tickets, available for purchase beginning Sunday, September 22, 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.

Festival Lawn Signs – Collect, Store and Save!

The Festival Committee thanks everyone who placed the lawn signs around the North Hills area. Please help collect them so that we can be good citizens and not leave them out beyond the event. Also, please feel free to store your signs at home and save them for next year, since the committee was insightful enough to remove the dates and simply say “Labor Day Weekend.” If you do not want to store them, you may return them to the church, and you can pick them up again next year. 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!