TODAY'S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Sunday of Orthodoxy Procession Today
All the students and staff of Holy Trinity Church School have been asked to bring icons for the procession of the holy icons for the Sunday of Orthodoxy today. Also, please be sure your icon has your name marked on the back, so it does not get lost. The students will take part in the procession immediately following the Divine Liturgy.
Special General Assembly Today
Please plan to attend a brief Special General Assembly following Divine Liturgy today in the Grand Room. An agenda was mailed in the March edition of the Herald. The one-item agenda for the meeting will be an Update of the Consecration and Completion Project and a request for the authorization of the revised budget. Please note that only members of Holy Trinity Church in good standing who have submitted a current signed Stewardship Pledge Card and whose contributions are current are eligible to vote.
GOYA Lenten Soup Sales
The GOYA is once again offering its very popular Lenten soup sales during the Sundays of Lent. Among the many good reasons to buy some to take home are that they are strict Lenten recipes, they provide fund-raising support for our GOYA ministry ... plus they taste great, and they are good for you! Please visit the Lenten Soup Sales table in Gallery during Hospitality Hour each week, through April 17! Thank you for supporting our youth as you strive to maintain and grow your spiritual discipline of fasting during Lent!
HOPE and JOY Service Project
HOPE and JOY Service Project: Please join the children of the HOPE and JOY youth groups as they participate in the Metropolis Day of Service. They will be collecting non-perishable food items for a local food pantry following Divine Liturgy as they host Hospitality Hour today. If you are able, please bring in any canned goods, cereals, cake mixes, peanut butter, or other non-perishable items to offer to those in need. The children will have boxes out during Hospitality Hour for the donations. Thank you for helping!
Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Vespers
The Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of Greater Pittsburgh invites you to attend Pan-Orthodox Vespers TODAY beginning at 4:30pm at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church (601 W. McMurray Rd, Canonsburg, PA 15317). Celebrant and Homilist will be His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa. A Lenten Reception and fellowship will follow.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Services This Week - Locations: (HT) Holy Trinity Church (SG) St. George Chapel
- TODAY, Sun. Mar. 13, 4:30pm: Pan-Orthodox Vespers at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, Canonsburg, PA
- Mon. Mar. 14, 6:30pm: Great Compline (SG)
- NO Presanctified Liturgy this Wednesday (Metropolis Clergy Retreat)
- Fri. Mar. 18, 6:30pm: Service of Salutations to the Theotokos (SG)
Faith & Family Weekdays
Faith and Family Weekdays is back, and there is something for everyone! Ready to learn more about the Bible, about your Faith, about navigating life’s challenges as a Christian, a woman, or a man? It’s all there. New this season: the Parish Book Club, based on the Orthodox Christian book “Gratitude in Life’s Trenches.” Having been through the challenges of the past 2 years, we could all use a perspective that helps us find blessings and thanks even in the most challenging situations.
THIS WEEK:
Daily: Prayer Partners. Have you remembered your prayer partner every day? Please keep the promise.
[Mar 20] GOYA Meeting
Holy Trinity GOYA will hold its monthly meeting next Sunday, March 20th in the Conference Room following Church School. All teens are invited to attend.
[Mar 20] HOPE and JOY Movie and Lenten Discussion
Hope and Joy families are invited to stay after Divine Liturgy next Sunday, March 20th for a family movie event! We will be watching the 1971 classic, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and the young people will have a discussion with Father John following the showing. Everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite Lenten candy or sweet treats to share with the group and popcorn will be provided for all. If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Steiner 412-352-0289 or joy@HolyTrinityPgh.org.
[Mar 27] Godparent/Godchild Sunday & Philoptochos Annual Lenten Luncheon - Save the Date!
Holy Trinity Church will celebrate its annual “Godparent/Godchild” Sunday on March 27 this year. In previous years we had asked our Church School students to invite their Godparents to attend, but this year we are asking everyone to do so. To assist with that, there are invitations with envelopes available in the Narthex and at the church office window. Please take one, sign and address it and send it to the one who sponsored you for your Baptism or Chrismation and ask them to join you for this special celebration. If they already entered the joy of eternal life, they will be with us spiritually, so celebrate for them here!
Holy Trinity Cemetery Notice
Whoever wishes to save Christmas wreaths or decorations at their family memorial stones are asked to remove them before Thursday, March 31st to get ready for spring grass cutting. Decorations left behind will be discarded. The Cemetery Committee thanks you for your understanding.
[Apr 5] Bereavement Support Ministry Meeting
Please make plans to join us for our next Bereavement Support group gathering on Tuesday, April 5th. The Holy Trinity Bereavement Support Ministry Team provides spiritual care to our parishioners and their extended family & friends in times of grief and loss of a loved one. Fellowship & Light Refreshments begin at 6:30pm followed by Group Support, Learning and Conversation from 7:00-8:00pm. All are welcome to participate in group sharing or observe through quiet time with others who care. To learn more about our Bereavement Support Ministry and/or our private support sessions, please contact Amy Armanious at visitation@HolyTrinityPgh.org
2022 Lenten Theme: “Restore to Me the Joy of Your Salvation.”
Each year we offer a theme for Lent which builds on our Orthodox Christian tradition in a way that helps us grow and connect with Christ in today’s world. This year the theme is “Restore to Me the Joy or Your Salvation,” taken from Psalm 50/51.12. During the Lenten journey, you will hear lessons on the many opportunities the Church provides as we restore our relationship with God and His Holy Church, through which we find true joy and the gift of salvation. Perhaps the last two years have challenged your regular attendance at worship? Now is the time to restore it to where the Lord is calling us all to be.
Lenten and Holy Week Schedules of Services
The March issue The Herald contains a complete schedule of services for Lent. A Holy Week schedule will be included in the April issue. Please post them in a conspicuous place in your home. Make a family plan and circle the services you are able to attend and place them on your schedule and on your phone and computer calendars! As the hymn from the Book of Psalms tells us during the Great Compline service, “God is with us.” In keeping with our Lenten theme, ‘Restoration. Joy, Salvation.” let’s let nothing steal them from us! God has planted in our hearts and souls the desire of our hearts and souls to let nothing keep us from worshiping our Lord together as the Holy Church of Christ!
Lenten Hospitality Hour Reminder
Please keep in mind that throughout Lent our Hospitality Hours following the Divine Liturgy observe the Orthodox Lenten fasting schedule. Anyone sponsoring a memorial Hospitality Hour or providing Church School snacks is asked to take care that non-meat and non-dairy items are provided. The Hospitality Hour Committee can provide a list of suggestions for good alternatives. Thank you for helping our community grow in this proper and helpful Orthodox spiritual practice.
Lenten Resources Available on the Internet
Looking for educational or inspirational information and resources for Lent? Try one of the best religious sites on the Internet: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. To visit the general site, go to www.goarch.org/lent. There you will find Lenten messages, scriptures, prayers, articles, hymns, videos and more.
Sponsors Needed for Bag Lunches for Needy Families through NRP
The Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of Greater Pittsburgh has for many years been coordinating local Orthodox churches to help feed the needy of our region. That effort continues on a weekly basis at the headquarters of the “Neighborhood Resilience Project” in the Hill District. There are still 2022 dates open, and sponsors are needed. It involves preparing and delivering 140 bagged lunches to our less fortunate neighbors. Holy Trinity Church’s participation has been critical in fulfilling this goal in the past, and we are grateful for our parishioners’ renewed generosity again this year. Please see Mike Kritiotis today or contact him (412-518-0588 or at outreach@holytrinitypgh.org) to sign up your family/group/ministry for this ministry of mercy and compassion.
IOCC Ukraine Crisis Response
Please continue praying for everyone affected by the crisis in Ukraine, and for the teams who are serving them on the ground. With long-standing relationships in the region, including in Romania and Moldova, IOCC has mobilized to serve people affected by the crisis in Ukraine. As refugees flee Ukraine—mostly elderly persons, people with disabilities, and women with infants and young children—and enter neighboring countries, IOCC is working with local partners to make sure their needs are met. While word on the ground in Romania and Moldova is that even the most basic items—like food, water, and milk products—are in short supply in shops, IOCC and its partners there are purchasing items in bulk and distributing them to people in need. You can serve people affected by the Ukraine crisis with a gift today to IOCC's Ukraine Crisis Response Fund by visiting www.iocc.org/ukraine22 to make a secure online donation or by phone at 877.803.4622 or by stopping at the church office window to pick up a pre-addressed IOCC donation envelope. Kindly make your personal check payable to “IOCC” and note “Ukraine Crisis” in the memo line. Thank you!
2022 Holy Trinity Stewardship Pledge Cards Now Due
The 2022 Holy Trinity Stewardship Pledge Cards have been distributed and all Holy Trinity Stewards should complete one immediately. If you have not yet received a 2022 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 Chairman Mike Kritiotis or email stewardship@HolyTrinityPgh.org.
Holy Trinity Church Completion & Consecration Campaign: Have You Pledged?
Plans are now being developed to complete the necessary items so Holy Trinity Church can be consecrated by the end of 2023, as was approved by the General Assembly last November. The plans provide for completing all 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. If you haven’t done it already, please fill out the center section of the “ONE HOLY TRINITY” Pledge Card with your Church Completion and Consecration Campaign pledge amounts for 2022-2023.
Welcome to the Sundays of Lent and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil
During the Sundays of Lent, the Orthodox Church changes from using the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom to the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil. Why do we do that and what are the differences? To most outward appearances, the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil differs very little from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and those wishing to follow the service in the Divine Liturgy book may use the regular book to do so. The primary difference is in the prayers said by the priest in the later part of the service and the hymn “All of Creation” (“Epi Si Heri”) which replaces the usual “It Is Worthy” (“Axion Estin”) after the Consecration of the Holy Gifts. Why the change? In general, the prayers of St. Basil are more penitential, and therefore lend themselves to the Church's liturgical preparation for important holy days; hence, their use during Great Lent and on the eves of Nativity and Theophany. During this service, as the priest offers the prayers, there may be times when the choir completes its hymn and the priest is still offering the prayer. During this season of increased prayer and spiritual attention, please use those times to follow along with the prayers with your own heart and immerse yourself in this beautiful worship experience. Rather than “wait for” the priest to finish the prayers, join him in the prayer of your own heart! The large green Holy Trinity Divine Liturgy books indicate where the changes in those prayers are, and you may follow them to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of their beauty and meaning. A blessed Lent to all!
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!
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.
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!
How to receive: Please remember the following helpful hints aimed at helping to preserve the solemnity and safety of the Holy Mystery. In approaching the Holy Chalice, we respectfully ask anyone wearing a mask to fully remove it as you approach the Holy Gifts and do not replace it until you have received antidoron, so that the Body and Blood of Christ are not spread on the mask and discarded. Also, anyone wearing lipstick should remove it before receiving. For all those receiving, please wait in the Holy Communion line reverently, prayerfully, and quietly without talking. 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. Be sure to offer your baptismal name to priest before receiving. Please take great care that the red cloth is fully under your chin and to fully open your mouth so that none of the precious Body and Blood of Christ is accidentally spilled. Thank you for your cooperation, and may God have mercy on us all!
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 join us for our Hospitality hour.
Keeping Holy Trinity “Like New” Is Up to You
When, by God’s grace, we moved into our beautiful new church and center in 2013, we committed as a Holy Trinity family to do our best to always keep the entire facility in “Like New” condition. Keeping that commitment is up to all of us. It means leaving things as clean and organized, or better, than when we found them. It also means notifying the church office of any maintenance needs as they are discovered. As we come closer to our 10th anniversary here, let’s all double down on that effort so that when we celebrate our upcoming 100th anniversary in 2023, these beautiful facilities are looking as good or better than the day we moved in. Thank you for your support and love!
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!
- Sunday of Orthodoxy: TODAY, March 13
- Godparent Sunday: March 27
- Saturday of Lazarus: April 16
- Palm Sunday: April 17
- Holy Week: April 17 – April 23
- Holy Friday (schedule off work & school): April 22
- The Great and Holy Pascha: April 24
- Saint George Chapel Feast Day: April 25
- Bright Tuesday Feast of the Holy Fathers of Ntaou Penteli (Relics in Chapel Altar): April 26
Upcoming Memorials
- Mar 20: Marlene Pappis (1 year)
Hospitality Hour Hosts:
- TODAY: HOPE and JOY Ministries
