TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES 

Great Blessing of the Waters Today Following Divine Liturgy

This year, one of the two Great Blessing of the Waters service for Theophany (which are held each year on January 5 & 6) falls on a Sunday. To give the entire parish family an opportunity to participate and receive that blessing, all our Church School students and staff will remain in the church at following Holy Communion for the Blessing of the Waters service. After receiving their blessing, the Church School will proceed to their classes for an abbreviated session. Remember, our Church School ministry beings with worship, so teaching our children about these special liturgical events is actually a core part of our Religious Education curriculum.

GOYA Teens and Parents Meeting - Today

GOYA will hold a very important meeting for all teens and parents in the Conference Room today following Liturgy. This meeting is regarding the upcoming basketball season, winter and spring GOYA events and the upcoming Holy Trinity-hosted Metropolis Basketball Tournament February 14-16. All GOYA teens, parents, chaperones and coaches are asked to attend.

TICKETS ON SALE STARTING TODAY FOR OUR INAUGURAL "MEN WHO COOK" EVENT!

Come See Us in the Gallery today for your tickets and Chef registration forms.

TO ALL ELIGIBLE MEN:  What an opportunity to showcase how creative your kitchen talents can be and make your women proud!  Join the fun and compete for the coveted title of Holy Trinity's Top Chef! 

TO ALL PARISHIONERS:  Mark your calendars for a fun evening feasting on edible creations from our top Holy Trinity Male Chefs!  Come and support our inaugural event:  "Men Who Cook" on Sunday, January 26, 2020 in the Grand Room from 5:00 – 8:00pm Bring your family and friends.  Invite your favorite male chef to participate too! Guests will visit food stations and be served samples of appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts.  Vote for your favorite chefs via tip jars in this friendly fundraising competition!  Reservations are $30 per person and are available at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events.  Tickets can also be purchased in the Gallery today following Liturgy. Proceeds to benefit the HT Capital Campaign, kitchen needs and FOCUS Pittsburgh.  If you have any questions, or want to compete for the title, please see Kathy Balouris or Karen Georgiadis or email them at social@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

Looking for Volunteers! Just Three 2020 Dates Still Available at Pleasant Valley Shelter to Feed the Homeless

Holy Trinity has a long-standing commitment to serve meals to the men at Pleasant Valley homeless shelter.  This organization, near our old neighborhood on the North Side, provides overnight accommodations to 30 homeless men, 365 nights each year and relies totally on volunteers to feed the men.  The following three dates in 2020 are still available, to prepare and serve these men dinner - they are all Sunday evenings. (They're served dinner at 8:00pm. Our volunteers prepare and bring the cooked food to the shelter, where they serve it): May 10; July 12; and Sept 13.  Please see Mike Kritiotis today, or contact him at 412-518-0588, or at mkritiotis@gmail.com to sign up your family/group/ministry.

Services This Week:

Mon. Jan. 6, 8:30am Orthros/9:30 Liturgy: Holy Theophany and the Great Blessing of the Waters: This is the main Orthros and Divine Liturgy of this great Feast. We will again offer the Great Blessings of the Water at the conclusion of Liturgy. (Holy Trinity Church)

Tues. Jan. 7, 8:30am Orthros/9:30 Liturgy: St. John the Baptist and Forerunner (St. George Chapel)

[Jan 6] Offices Closed for the Feast of Theophany

The offices of the Archdiocese, Metropolis and Holy Trinity Church will be closed for the celebration of the Feast of Theophany on Monday, January 6.

[Jan 8] “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. [Note: new cards will be distributed next Sunday]
• Wed. Jan 8, 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).

2020 House Blessings – Last Call!

Services for Holy Theophany and its surrounding feasts will be held as usual on January 5-7. An important part of that celebration is the Great Blessing of the Waters service. In order to bring the blessings of the feast and the Lord into our homes, Orthodox Christians traditionally invite the priest to bless their home with the Holy Water from the feast. Please see the information included on the back page of this bulletin or on page 13 of the January edition of the Herald and schedule your visit TODAY. Never had your house blessed before? This is a great year to start! The easiest way to schedule is online at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/events. Please note and be available for the dates in your area. Rescheduling will only be done for cases of inclement weather.

Ladies Philoptochos Bake Sale

The Ladies Philoptochos Omonia would like to thank everyone who ordered baked good items.  With the funds from the baked sale, we are able to help many people. We truly appreciate your generosity! If you are interested in purchasing any baked good items, we still have a few items available for sale. Please contact Nicole Steiner at 412-781-6109 (home) or 412-352-0289 (cell).  Remaining items include: 36 dozen Koulourakia @ $7.00 per dozen, 6 dozen Kourambiedes @ $12.00 per dozen and 11 pans frozen Spanakopita @ $35.00 per pan (9 x 13 pans that you may cut to any size portions). 

Year-End Contributions Reminder

The Stewardship Committee and Parish Council thank all our Holy Trinity Stewards for their pledges and contributions this year and ask that everyone brings their offerings up to date for 2019. Please take note that all offerings you would like listed as received during the 2019 tax year (Jan. 1-Dec. 31) for tax deduction purposes must have been received at the church or postmarked by Dec. 31. This is an IRS regulation. You may indicate the offerings to be applied for either your 2019 pledge (to pay the balance) or the 2020 pledge (to pay ahead) and your pledge balance will be accurately calculated no matter when the offering is made. Year-end statements will be sent out at the end of January. Also, the 2020 Holy Trinity Stewardship Pledge Cards have been distributed and all Holy Trinity Stewards should complete one immediately. If you have not yet received a 2020 pledge card or are new to Holy Trinity, additional pledge cards can be found at the Welcome Table located in the Narthex of the church.  Our member-funded church needs each and every one of us, no matter the amount. And remember, a signed pledge card is required as part of maintaining your membership in good standing at Holy Trinity Church each year. We’re grateful to all of you for your commitment. Questions? Contact Stewardship Co-chairmen Mike Kritiotis or Ted Stewart or email stewardship@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

Candle Prices - Update

Please note that as of January 1, 2020, due to an increase of cost to Holy Trinity, the price of candles has changed. The requested donation for the 7-Day Red Votive candle is now $10 and the 14-Day White Sanctuary candle is now $20 each.

[Jan 9, 13, 27] GOYA Basketball Practice

GOYA will hold basketball practices in preparation for the 2020 basketball tournament season on January 9, 13 & 27. Please check the GOYA email list for times and locations.

[Jan 12] Vasilopita Celebration and Lunch

Holy Trinity Church will hold the annual Vasilopita Celebration on Sunday, January 12. 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 held 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. The luncheon is being hosted by the Parish Council and also in part by the families of Nicholas Kaparakos and Peter Valliant, who will be holding one-year Memorial services for their departed loved ones on that day. 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 year. Thank you for your participation! It is a community labor of love that can’t happen without you!

[Jan 19] 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 a combined “Ten Minutes of HOPE” and “Ten Minutes of JOY” session on Sunday, January 19.

[Jan 25] HOPE & JOY Ice Skating

Our HOPE & JOY groups have planned an Ice-Skating outing at North Park on Saturday, January 25^th at 2:00pm. Please let Nicole Gross (tnpalmer113@gmail.com) or Eleni Dedousis (eadedousis@gmail.com) know if you are able to attend by January 23^rd. Pricing will range from $5-6 depending if we have enough participants to qualify for the group rate. We have a backup bad weather location of the Lemieux Center for ice skating if inclement weather is in the forecast.

[Jan 26] Philoptochos Meeting – Rescheduled Date

The Philoptochos will hold a meeting on Sunday, January 26 in the Fireside Room following Divine Liturgy. New members are always welcome! Please note that this meeting was originally scheduled for January 19.

2020 Philoptochos Stewardship

It is time for current Philoptochos members to renew their memberships for 2020.  Suggested annual stewardship donation is $30.00.  Checks should be made payable to “Holy Trinity Omonia.”  Please return your Stewardship form and your Stewardship donation to Pam Bolkovac, Membership chairperson, or mail to Holy Trinity Philoptochos, Attn: Membership, 985 Providence Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Copies of the form can be found in the January edition of the Herald and at the church office window. If you aren’t a member, we would love for you to join us!  It is only through your generous commitment of time, talent and support that we are able to pursue our philanthropic mission.

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. Want to CONNECT with a person or ministry? We can help!

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.

FOCUS Pittsburgh – Change of Address

Please note that the FOCUS Pittsburgh Center is now at its new location: 2038 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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: Jan 12: Nicholas Kaparakos (1 year), Peter Valliant (1 year) and Areta Kalogeras (5 Years)

Jan 26: Maria Grecos Dalson (40 days)