TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES  

Youth Sunday / GOYA Fall Fest Bake Sale - Today

Holy Trinity Church will highlight and feature the young people of our community today taking on the responsibilities of the Parish Council and Hospitality Ministry. Three of our young members will also be delivering the youth sermons today. In addition, the GOYA will be offering baked goods and food for their Fall Fest during Coffee Hour. Thank you for supporting our teens. They love serving this church and greatly appreciate when you support them, too!

HOPE/JOY Event Planning Meeting - Today

All parents of Hope and Joy children grades K-6th are asked to attend a brief event planning meeting in the conference room today following liturgy.  We hope to plan a fun event each month for the 2019-2020 school year.  These events are a wonderful opportunity to get to know other families and allow the fellowship and friendships to blossom in our younger generation.  Any questions or suggestions please contact Nicole Steiner via email littlefieds@yahoo.com   

Philoptochos Traditional Greek Dance – Tickets Available for Purchase Beginning Today!

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 TODAY, 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. For Tickets, please stop by the Philoptochos table in the Gallery following Liturgy today!

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

[Sep 25] “Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” This Week

Holy Trinity Church’s “Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” ministry has been updated once again to provide valuable faith growth and learning to the entire Holy Trinity family. Building on the fruits of our five six 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.
• Wed. Sep 25, 6:30pm Worship/7:00pm Bible Study: “Explore the Word” - Bible Study Ministry - 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).

[Sep 26] Senior Fellowship Ministry Outing     

Our Holy Trinity Senior Fellowship group is planning an outing this Thursday, September 26 to the North Park Boathouse Restaurant for Brunch. Plan to arrive at the church by 9:30am to depart by 9:45am.  Please RSVP to Joyce Countouris (412-366-1498) or Georgiann Bounos (412-761-6953).

[Sep 29] “Grounded in Faith” Coffee Shop

Support our HT Young Adults and enjoy some delicious freshly-ground espresso beverages during coffee hour next week!

[Oct 1] NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN: Women’s Book Club – Starts October 1

The Faith and Family Weekdays ministry presents a new “Women’s Books Club” starting October 1. This new opportunity takes a “for women, by women” approach to providing time for prayer, fellowship and discussion that is geared toward the lives and hearts of women. The group will be studying “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers, which has been described as an “icon book in Christian circles” and “definitely the best book I've read all year, and probably one of the best books I've ever read.” The group meets from 9:30-11:00am on the first and third Tuesdays of the month starting October 1 in the Fireside Room. If you plan on attending, please see Joyce Athanasiou or Presvytera Becky so your book can be ordered. All women are welcome.

[Oct 6] Church School Open House

The Holy Trinity Church School Ministry will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, October 6. Starting at 11:15am parents may go to their children’s classes, see the materials and activities the students are using, meet the teacher(s) and pick up students. Thank you for supporting our religious education ministry.

[Oct 7] New Bereavement Support Ministry: Monthly Group Sessions - Come & Join Us

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 Monday, October 7 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. This month’s topic for group learning and sharing is Still Finding Joys in the Holidays. Holidays bring mixed feelings for those experiencing a loss.  Surrounded by joyous sights and sounds, one’s heart can seem overwhelmed.  However, as with all things in this earthly life, God in His ever-present love can provide support. 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

[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. 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 majority of insurances. The standard vaccine for those without insurance is $34.99.

[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 20] Philoptochos Meeting

The next Ladies Philoptochos meeting will take place following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 20. New members are always welcome!

[Oct 28] Visitation Ministry Leadership Group Meeting

A Visitation Ministry Leadership Group Meeting will be held on Monday, October 28^th, 6:00-8:00pm in Conference Room A.

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.

Living Kidney Transplant Donor Needed

John Kokales, a parishioner of Dormition of the Theotokos Church in Oakmont is in need of a kidney transplant and is seeking a living kidney donor. His current kidney condition is Stage 5 (kidney failure). If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a kidney donor or would just like to find out more about the process, please reach out to John directly (724-980-0631 or johnkokales@comcast.net) or UPMC Living Donor Transplant Services (412-647-5800 or www.UPMC.com/LivingDonorKidney) where you can gather information or even register to become a Living Donor.

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!

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!

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!

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 October 5 (SG): Charles Siebott (1 Year) and October 6: Helen Balouris (40 Days)