NOTE: CORONAVIRUS PROTECTION MEASURES IN PLACE.
SERVICES BEING CONDUCTED ONLINE ONLY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
CONCERNING THE CURRENT COVID-19 VIRUS PANDEMIC AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES ENACTED AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH: Until further notice, parishioner attendance at services is not permitted. please continue to participate in worship by attending online only at www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/live. We will continue our full schedule of Sunday and weekday services as published in the Herald and listed on our website calendar. For the latest information on coronavirus measures at Holy Trinity Church, visit https://www.HolyTrinityPgh.org/coronavirus.
Welcome to Holy Trinity Church's Live Video and Audio Broadcast Ministry
Whether you are unable to attend Liturgy today due to church closures, you are home-bound or are watching from an area where there is no church nearby, it is our joy to be able to welcome you into the worship life of Holy Trinity Church. Today we are blessed to worship from our Saint George Chapel. For a complete list of Sunday and weekday services, please see our online calendar at HolyTrinityPgh.org/calendar.
JOIN US FOR COFFEE HOUR ONLINE TODAY FOLLOWING LITURGY!
Nothing can stop Holy Trinity hospitality!! Join your Holy Trinity family and friends today after Liturgy for another Holy Trinity Virtual Coffee Hour! It was a great joy to be together last week, so we’ve had requests to do it again.
While we are doing our best to observe the recommended and required coronavirus restrictions, it's a blessing to be able to join online for worship services. Now, besides services, we also have the ability to connect online for Coffee Hour!
This morning join us online for worship (8:15am Orthros/9:30am Liturgy) on our website at HolyTrinityPgh.org/live. Then, at 11:15am, use the Zoom video conference instructions below to log on to our "Virtual Coffee Hour!" Grab your own coffee or tea at home and stay in your church clothes or come casual. We're looking forward to seeing everyone!
HOLY TRINITY VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR INSTRUCTIONS:
1. COFFEE HOUR GOES FROM 11:15am-12:15pm
2. BRING YOUR OWN COFFEE!
3. HOW TO JOIN:
Join by Video:
To join by video on your computer/laptop (best option to see everyone), tablet or cell phone (it must by video capable):
- Join the Zoom Meeting by using your browser to visit:
https://goarch.zoom.us/j/99616955019?pwd=WW5pVEpUdldYWFFVakljcVJjdGtTdz09
Password: 6700
You may be asked to install the Zoom video app. Do it - it's safe and really handy these days! No account needed to join someone else's conference call.
- Or, if you already have Zoom installed, launch it and join Meeting ID: 996 1695 5019. Password: 6700
Join by Phone (Audio only):
To join by phone only (no video): Dial 646-876-9923. When prompted, enter Meeting ID: 996 1695 5019. Password: 6700
Regardless how you join, you will be on hold until the session begins. Instructions on how to participate will be offered at the opening of the session.
New: Send Stories and Photos of Your Holy Week “Church of the Home!” for the Herald!
Holy Week was certainly different this year, wasn’t it? Certainly not what we expected! But it also held many special blessings for people as they gathered with their families, sometimes for more services than they would have otherwise attended. How about sharing that experience? Please consider two requests:
- Our Holy Week Story: Please consider sending a paragraph or two about your Holy Week at the “Church of the Home” experience. Share the special blessings, challenges, stories and lessons you found in this never-before-experienced way of preparing for and celebration the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Our Holy Week Photos: If you took pictures of your household gathered for worship, meals or celebrations, please consider sending some of those in as well.
These submissions will be considered for a “collector’s edition” (translation: “may this never happen again!”) of the Herald to commemorate this journey and share the blessings with one another. Send your photos and stories to broadcast@HolyTrinityPgh.org. Thank you!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Holy Trinity Church and Holy Trinity Center - Closed to Outside Visitors
Please note that until further notice, Holy Trinity Church and Holy Trinity Center will be closed to outside visitors due to the COVID-19 Virus Pandemic. Postal mail and deliveries will continue to be accepted.
[Apr 30] Upcoming Service – ONLINE ONLY
Please plan to join us online for the following service:
- Thurs, Apr 30, 6:30pm: Paraclesis Service to St. Paisios
[Apr 30] “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 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.
- Thur. Apr 30, 6:30pm Worship: Paraclesis Service to St. Paisios - The Paraclesis, also known as the Service of Supplication, is offered monthly ONLINE from our St. George Chapel. It contains hymns and prayers asking the Lord for guidance, personal strength and healing.
Non-Perishable Grocery Donations Still Being Accepted at Holy Trinity for Distribution to the Needy
Want to help those in need during this crisis? How about picking up a few extra groceries? While we are all being asked to stay home/restrict our outside activities, most of us still need to make occasional trips for groceries. The needy of the Hill District do not always have that opportunity and could use some help. Thanks to Dr. Chris and Kathy Balouris, we are able to provide it. Here’s how it works. Next time you go to the grocery store, pick up a few extra non-perishable food items. Canned soups, pork and beans, vegetables are in-demand, but use your discretion. Then, even though our Holy Trinity offices and campus are closed to outside visitors, please drive by the main entrance of the church and drop off your items in the labeled bin by the office entrance. They will be collected on a daily basis and be delivered by Chris and Kathy to the FOCUS center in the Hill. Thank you for reaching out with love to our neighbors in need!
Visitation Ministry Reaching Out to our Holy Trinity Family!
Our Visitation Ministry has helping hands and time to reach out to those who may need some support during this challenging time. Currently we are concentrating on our parishioners who are elderly, homebound, chronically ill, feeling lonely, grieving loss of a loved one, and/or need some extra home support. We are asking you to contact our Visitation Ministry coordinator, Amy Armanious (412.628.0973) or email visitation@holytrinitypgh.org for assistance. Please leave a voicemail with your full name and phone number so Amy can return your call as soon as possible. We are offering to pick-up pharmacy medication refills, grocery store items, and take-out meals. We can cook simple homemade meals, meet transportation needs in our local community, and run short errands. We have team members in our Phone Call Ministry who are dedicated to calling individuals at regular times throughout the week, or once a week for those who need an encouraging word and a prayer. Our Bereavement Support Team is offering phone calls to those who are grieving loss of a loved one and need a listening ear for support. Also, our Visitation Ministry coordinator is willing to assist families with community resources for extra help in the home. We are here to provide spiritual care and our helping hands. Don't hesitate to contact us for your own needs or needs of a loved one. We have Visitation Ministry team members ready to serve in many different ways. May we all stay safe and healthy these next weeks ahead asking God for His protection and guidance. No one is alone... we are all just a phone call or email away. If anyone is interesting in volunteering their helping hands and time, please contact Amy. Our Visitation Ministry Team is always in need of volunteers. Thank you!
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES – Please volunteer your family or group to help
Please contact Mike Kritiotis at 412-518-0588, or at mkritiotis@gmail.com to sign up your family/group/ministry for either of these two worthy causes! Thank you, good and faithful servants of Christ!
- 1. One Date Still Available to Feed the Homeless at Pleasant Valley! 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 date of Sunday, September 13 is still available. Our volunteers will prepare and bring the cooked food to the shelter, where they serve it at 8:00pm.
- 2. Sign Up to Provide Bag Lunches for Needy Families. It’s time once again to get your group or family together for a meaningful day of giving to the poor and hungry in our region. Sponsored through the Orthodox outreach of the “Neighborhood Resilience Project”, the 2020 weekly schedule of delivering 140 lunch bags to our less fortunate neighbors every Saturday of the year, has many open dates available. Holy Trinity Church’s participation has been critical in fulfilling this goal in the past, and we are grateful for our parishioners’ renewed generosity this time around.
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!
[May 5-June 23] Festival Cooking – IT’S BACK! (PENDING FURTHER CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS)
The Parish Council and Festival Committee are evaluating how the current coronavirus restrictions how they will possibly affect the Festival situation. They will engage the community in that discussion when recommendations are ready. In the meantime, please look over the dates and times below…you’ll see both evening and daytime hours, during the week and on the weekend. Everyone’s help is needed!
- Tuesday, May 12, 9:00am-9:00pm – Apricot Rolls
- Tuesday, May 19, 9:00am-9:00pm - Koulourakia
- Tuesday, May 26, 9:00am-9:00pm – Galaktoboureko
- Tuesday, June 2, 9:00am-9:00pm – Finikia
- Tuesday, June 9, 9:00am-9:00pm – Finikia/Karithopita
- Tuesday, June 23, 9:30am-8:30pm – Diples
“LIGHT A CANDLE” PROGRAM STILL AVAILABLE DURING “STAY AT HOME” STATUS
St. Symeon of Thessaloniki said, “It is impossible to imagine an Orthodox church in which candles are not lit.” Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). At this time while we are not physically able be in the church, we are praying at home but dearly miss the ability to do so in our parish's spiritual home. And one of the first things most people do upon entering an Orthodox Church is to light their candle and offer prayers for one’s personal needs or that of a family member or friend. We also light candles to pray for divine protection and safety as an affirmation of our trust in the "Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16). Even though we are not able to light a candle ourselves during this time, it is still possible to have a candle lit for you! To light a candle, simply visit HolyTrinityPgh.org/candles. Before pressing the "Place Order" button, please use the space below the donation amount to submit the names of your loved ones, those who are alive and/or those who have departed this life or special prayer requests. During these times when we are not able to visit the church in person, we would be glad to light the candle for you and offer the prayer(s) you have submitted during the next service.