CURRENT PARISH OPERATIONS STATUS

WORSHIP - All Services Continuing as Previously Announced

• 50% Capacity. No Reservations Required. No Age Restrictions.
• Masks and Physical Distance Required. Must be observed by all in attendance.

COFFEE HOUR AND MEETINGS - Continuing Today

• Coffee Hour and In-person Meetings have resumed – with safety precautions in place.

CHURCH SCHOOL CLASSES – Continuing Today

• Church School classes have resumed – with previously announced safety precautions in place.

TODAY’S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Memorial Today

Memorial prayers will be offered at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy today for the repose of the soul of the servant of God, Harriet Navarro (40 days). May her memory be eternal!

GOYA Community Valentine’s Brunch-To-Go Orders - Pickup TODAY

Even though current restrictions prohibit us all sitting down together in the Grand Room, Holy Trinity GOYA has continued its “Find A Way” attitude to still be able to offer its annual Valentine’s Day Community Brunch. Many thanks to those who have placed orders in advance. They will be available TODAY IN THE GALLERY following Divine Liturgy. Net proceeds from this event go to the Metropolitan Maximos Endowment for Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Anyone wishing to make additional donations to the endowment may do so today also. THANK YOU for supporting our youth!

Coffee Hour, In-Person Meetings and Church School Classes Continuing – With Precautions

Reflecting changes in local civil and school guidance regarding recent restrictions, we are glad to announce that Coffee Hour, in-person meetings and Church School classes will continue – with appropriate precautions in place. Physical distancing, masks and capacity limits of 50% remain in place. Please also note that until we resume full Coffee Hours, sponsorships are not available, as the offerings will be limited to coffee and juice. Hopefully this crisis is beginning to end … let’s stay the course and not let down our guard! Thank you for your cooperation, understanding and desire to keep this community and all who participate in its worship and life safe.

Please Follow Parish Council Seating/Spacing Instructions…and THANK YOU for Your Cooperation!

Your Parish Council members are volunteers you have selected to take an important role in the leadership of Holy Trinity parish life. One of the unexpected responsibilities that has entered their list of duties this year is to provide guidance and directions during the COVID pandemic. Therefore, since they are responsible for monitoring capacity, spacing, entrance, dismissals and more in order to have us all maintain best practices in all these areas, thank you for continuing to respect their guidance with your respectful cooperation when it comes to entering the church, where to sit and how to enter, exit for process in lines. Want to go a step farther? Take a moment to thank them for stepping up in these challenging times!

“Faith and Family WEEKDAYS” This Week

• Daily: Prayer Partners. Have you remembered your prayer partner every day? Especially in these times! Please maintain the prayer partner you received last. When we are all together again, we will distribute new cards.

[Feb 18] Saint Nikodemos Men’s Prayer Fellowship Resuming – 5-Week Series

Men, are you tired of just working on work and are you ready to recharge working on your spiritual life as husbands and fathers? It starts with prayer. The Saint Nikodemos Men’s “Prayer and Panera” Fellowship is resuming its morning prayer and fellowship meetings for the Spring. All men in the parish are invited to participate. The group meets at church promptly at 7:00am for a 15-20-minute morning prayer and scripture. Prior to our current situation, it would then relocate 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, but depending on developments we may remain in the Gallery for discussion to start – to be determined at the meeting. Either way – or even if you can’t stay for discussion after - it’s time to return to prayer and fellowship with your brothers in Christ. Change up your morning. Give it a try! Meetings will be held at 7:00am on Feb. 18, Mar. 4, Mar. 18, Apr. 1 and Apr. 15. Brought to you by the “Faith and Family Weekdays Ministries” of Holy Trinity Church.

[Feb 23] Saint Lydia Women’s Study Ministry Resuming – 5-Week Series: “Renewing You”

Ladies, are you ready to share in some good fellowship and spiritual growth with your sisters in Christ? Do you need some time with other women of faith? Do you just want to shake off COVID stagnation and move your spiritual and personal life forward? The Saint Lydia Women’s Study Ministry is one of the longest-running fellowship and study ministries of Holy Trinity Church and is there for you. It is open to women of all ages. It will be offering a 5-week series using a new Orthodox book, “Renewing You” by Father Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh. Topics include “Make Faith Your Foundation”; “Find Victory Over Your Vices”; “Turn Your Trials Into Triumphs”; “Equip Your Children” and more. To address everyone’s needs and preferences, the meetings will be conducted in hybrid mode, with those able and willing to safely gather in the Fireside Room invited to meet in person, and those preferring to remain online participating via Zoom, since our Fireside Room is set up for video conferencing. Advance registration is required for Zoom participating by visiting HolyTrinityPgh.org/events. The book will be available for purchase by contacting Stacy Dickos at SaintLydia@HolyTrinityPgh.org. Meeting dates are Tuesday from 7:00-8:00pm on Feb. 23, Mar. 9, Mar. 23, April 6 and April 20. Hope to see you there in person or online! Brought to you by the “Faith and Family Weekdays Ministries” of Holy Trinity Church.

[Feb 21] Philoptochos Meeting

The Ladies Philoptochos Meeting will be held next Sunday, February 21 beginning at 6:30pm via Zoom. The Philoptochos hopes that you will attend this meeting. Topics include the budget and other important items related to the essential work of this philanthropic ministry. Thank you!

[Mar 6, 13, 20] Saturdays of Souls        

Preceding the start of Lent and during the first week of Lent, the Church offers the “Saturdays of the Souls” to commemorate those who have fallen sleep in the Lord. These memorial services are traditionally held at our Saint George Chapel located at Holy Trinity Cemetery. However, due to current safety/space requirements, services will be temporarily relocated this year to Holy Trinity Church. Orthros is at 8:30am followed by Divine Liturgy at 9:30am and the Memorial Service. This year, Saturday of the Souls services will be offered on Saturday March 6, 13 and 20. Please see the flyer in the February edition of the Herald or download the form from our website (HolyTrinityPgh.org/documents/worship) to submit names for commemoration and be sure to attend and commemorate your departed loved ones.

Host Ministries/Families Still Needed for Bag Lunches - Please volunteer your family or group to help!

Please see Mike Kritiotis today, or contact him at 412-518-0588, or at outreach@holytrinitypgh.org to sign up your family/group/ministry for this worthy cause to help the poor and hungry in our region. Sponsored through the Orthodox outreach of the “Neighborhood Resilience Project”, the 2021 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.

Reminder: Holy Trinity Church Completion and 2023 Consecration Campaign Underway

As was reported previously, at its November 10, 2020 meeting the General Assembly unanimously approved the Church Completion and Consecration proposal.  Plans are now moving forward to complete the necessary items so Holy Trinity Church can be consecrated by the end of 2023. This is historically significant because 2023 also celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the founding of Holy Trinity Church. The plan provides for completing all of the items required for consecration including: completing the remaining iconography in the Church and Narthex; installation of numerous items of handcrafted ecclesiastical wood furnishings, most notably a permanent iconostasis and required new Holy Altar table; Altar furnishings and other liturgically required items for the Consecration; and more appropriate seating to replace the temporary chairs in the Church. A very realistic plan to raise the needed monies for the project over the next 3 years has been developed. It comprises a combination of funds from the Greek Festival and catering income, as well as parishioner donations, and all without incurring loans or bank financing, so we will remain debt-free having now paid off the mortgage.

We are praying that all of our members will pledge what they are able to over the 2021–2023 timeframe to fund the completion of our Church for its Consecration in 2023. We need to get started on this project now so that it is completed on time.  So we ask that you please fill out the center section of the “ONE HOLY TRINITY” Pledge Card with your Church Completion and Consecration Campaign pledge amounts for 2021-2023. Please do your part as a member of the Holy Trinity family on this important project – you’ll be glad you did! We will be publishing a list with the names of those who have pledged for this Campaign in the coming months.

If there are any questions in the meantime, please feel free to speak with Jim Balouris, Charlie Petredis or George Dickos.  May God continue to richly bless His Holy Church!

Stewardship Update

The 2021 Holy Trinity Stewardship Pledge Cards have been distributed and all Holy Trinity Stewards should complete one immediately. If you have not yet received a 2021 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. And remember, a signed pledge card is required as part of maintaining your membership in good standing at Holy Trinity Church each year. We are grateful for your commitment. Questions? Contact Stewardship Co-chairmen Mike Kritiotis or Ted Stewart or email stewardship@HolyTrinityPgh.org.

Upcoming Lenten and Paschal Dates

Wondering about Lenten and Paschal dates? Here’s a helpful guide to some of the important events coming up. Mark them on your calendar!

-          Meatfare Sunday (Last day of eating meat): March 7

-          Cheesefare/Forgiveness Sunday (Last day of eating dairy): March 14

-          Pure Monday (Lent begins): March 15