TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES 

Military Appreciation Day, Card Signing and Coups for Troops

In observance of Veteran’s Day, the Visitation Ministry Team is hosting our fourth annual Military Appreciation Day in honor of parishioners, family, and community members who have served and are still serving our country in the military. This tribute includes a memorial service for all veterans and fallen heroes, and special recognition of living veterans and active military service members. The Coffee Hour will feature on-screen displays of the many names of our community’s service veterans and a display of framed photos of the honorees. Also, our gratitude will be further demonstrated by a Card Signing event by all parishioners during Coffee Hour. The cards created through our labor of love will be distributed in care packages to Deployed Troops, Veterans, First Responders, and Wounded Warriors by Operation Gratitude, a wonderful organization whose mission is to lift the spirits of the Military. Finally, clipping coupons for a cause…Coups for Troops is another way we support overseas military families.  Please deposit your collected manufacturer’s coupons (internet printed included) in categories of Food, Non-food, Baby, and for overseas distribution by this amazing organization. Coupons can be used by military families up to 6 months after their expiration date. May God bless all those who have served with honor and courage!

GOYA Meeting Today

There will be a GOYA Meeting held today in the Conference Rooms following Church School. We will be organizing December events, the Christmas Pageant and our Basketball Tournament.

Services This Week: (“SG” = St. George Chapel)

Thursday, November 21: 8:30am Orthros/9:30am Liturgy – The Entrance of the Theotokos (SG)

Thursday, November 21: 6:30pm Paraclesis Service to St. Nektarios (SG)

[Nov 18-21] “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.
• Mon. Nov 18, 7:00pm “Discover Orthodoxy” – An all-new teaching series for anyone who wants to learn more about the “fullness of the faith” found in Orthodox Christianity, whether as inquirers, catechumens or life-long members. Interested in becoming an Orthodox Christian? This is for you. Just want to refresh your knowledge of the Faith? This is for you, too! Informative, interesting and interactive.
• Tues. Nov 19, 9:30am “Women’s Book Club” – The new “Women’s Book Club” ministry 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 is studying “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. All women are welcome.
• Wed. Nov 20, 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).
• Thu. Nov 21: “Prayer and Panera” Men’s Ministry (7:00am Worship/Session): The Saint Nikodemos Men’s Fellowship hosts this morning session of prayers and Christian fellowship (with coffee and bagels, too!). The group meets at church promptly at 7:00am for a 15-20-minute morning prayer and scripture, then moves up the hill to Panera for 30-45 minutes of coffee, breakfast and Christian men’s conversation on living as a Christian man in today’s world. Change up your morning. Give it a try!
• Thu. Nov 21, 6:30pm Worship: Paraclesis Service to St. Nektarios at St. George Chapel. The Paraclesis, also known as the Service of Supplication, is offered monthly at our St. George Chapel. It contains hymns and prayers asking the Lord for guidance, personal strength and healing. We will alternate three different services throughout the remainder of the year. Next Paraclesis Service: St. Paisios (Dec 19).

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.

[Nov 22] HOPE and JOY Thanksgiving Celebration

Good grief it’s Thanksgiving already! Please plan to join HOPE (grades K-2) and JOY (grades 3-6) this Friday, November 22 at 6:00pm for a pasta dinner and bring a Lenten side or dessert to share. We will eat a meal together and watch “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” on the big screen in the Grand Room (bring a pillow or blanket if you like!). Pasta, popcorn, and some movie snacks provided. Please RSVP to Irini Zeliznik at ihazatones@yahoo.com or Nicole Steiner at littlefieds@yahoo.com to let us know what you are bringing to share and how many are attending.

[Nov 22-24] Metropolis GOYA Fall Retreat 

The 2019 Metropolis GOYA Fall Retreat will be held at Camp Nazareth from Friday, Nov 22 through Sunday Nov 24. GOYAns will receive information on the Holy Trinity reduced fee code through the GOYA email system.

[Nov 24] Ladies Philoptochos Bake Sale

The Ladies Philoptochos will be offering frozen 9x13 pans of Spanakopita and Tiropita for $35/pan that are ready to bake for the holidays! We will also have ready to serve pans of Baklava for $40/pan (baklava is not individually cupped). Impress your friends and family this Thanksgiving with homemade baked goods and help the Ladies Philoptochos continue their philanthropic work at the same time!  Visit our table in the Gallery after liturgy next Sunday, November 24^th to get started on your holiday baking!  Don’t forget to pick up an order form for your Christmas baked goods too!

[Nov 24] Ladies Philoptochos Meeting

The Philoptochos will hold a meeting next Sunday, November 24 in the Fireside Room following Divine Liturgy. Please note that this is a rescheduled date. All members and all who would like to become involved in this philanthropic ministry are invited to attend.

[Nov 24] Sisters of the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery – Christmas Boutique Next Sunday

The Sisters of the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Saxonburg, PA will be visiting Holy Trinity Church next Sunday, November 24. Please be sure to stop by and visit their Christmas Boutique in the Gallery following Liturgy. You can help support the Monastery while getting an early start on your Christmas gift shopping this year!

[Dec 1] Church School Reminder: Thanksgiving Outreach - Bring Your Bags of Food for FOCUS

Attention Church School Students: Two weeks 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 next Sunday or by Sunday, December 1, at the latest. Thank you for your generosity!

[Dec 1] GOYA Turkey Bowl

The GOYA will hold its annual Turkey Bowl Football Game on Sunday, December 1, 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!

[Dec 2] 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, want to learn more, and share conversation, then please attend our next Bereavement Support Group session on Monday, December 2^nd in the Fireside Room. Please feel free to bring a photo of your loved one too.  Light refreshments and relaxed fellowship begin at 6:30 pm for those who choose. Then 7:00-8:30 pm is group learning and sharing with our Bereavement facilitators. Doesn’t matter if your loss has been recent or many years ago… just come. 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

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 8. Orders will be ready for pick up following Liturgy on Sunday, December 22. Questions? Call Nicole Steiner at 412-781-6109.

[Dec 11-20] Philoptochos Baking Dates

We will be preparing homemade pastries and breads for our Holiday Bake Sale.  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.

• Wednesday, Dec 11: 9am-4pm Pastry Making
• Friday, Dec 20: 9am-4pm Sweet Bread

[Jan 26] Looking for Holy Trinity’s Top Male Chefs – Rescheduled - SAVE THE DATE!

Mark your calendars for a fun evening feasting on edible creations from our top Holy Trinity Male Chefs! “Men Who Cook” will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2020 in the Grand Room. Join us as Holy Trinity’s most notable men compete for the coveted title of HT’s Top Chef! Guests will visit food stations and be served samples of appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts. Vote for all your favorite chefs via tip jars in this friendly fundraising competition! Reservations are $30.00 per person. Proceeds to benefit the HT Capital Campaign, kitchen needs and FOCUS Pittsburgh. If you are interested in competing for the title, please see Kathy Balouris or Karen Georgiadis or email them at social@HolyTrinityPgh.org.  More details to follow!

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!

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.

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 wonderful Visitation Ministry. Also, interested in helping reach out to fellow parishioners in those situations? Please contact Amy Armanious at visitation@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

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 Dec 1: Diana Andromalos-Dale (1 year)