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, Marlene Pappis (1 year). May her memory be eternal! The Pappis family will be sponsoring Hospitality Hour today.

GOYA Meeting - Today

Holy Trinity GOYA will hold its monthly meeting today in the Conference Room following Church School. All teens are invited to attend.

HOPE and JOY Movie and Lenten Discussion - Today

Hope and Joy families are invited to stay after Divine Liturgy today 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.

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! This week’s soup variety: Mediterranean White Bean Soup, Seafood Soup, Minestrone Soup and Vegetable Noodle Soup.

Services This Week - Locations: (HT) Holy Trinity Church (SG) St. George Chapel

- Mon. Mar. 21, 5:00pm: Paraklesis to Saint Nektarios (HT) (NOTE: This is instead of the 6:30 Compline)

- Wed. Mar. 23, 6:30pm: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten Dinner and “Faith and Family Weekdays” Lenten Presentation (HT)

- Thur. Mar. 24, 6:30pm: Great Vespers of the Annunciation (SG)

- Fri. Mar. 25, 8:30am Orthros, 9:30am: Divine Liturgy of the Annunciation (SG)

- Fri. Mar. 25, 6:30pm: Salutations to the Theotokos (SG) (NOTE: This was not included in the Lenten Schedule)

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:

• Wed. Mar. 23: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, Lenten Dinner, and Lenten Speakers Series

- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (6:30-7:45pm): This is a mid-week Lenten blessing provides by the Church as a way of offering the Holy Gifts between Sundays during Lent. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is an evening service which comprises the solemn Lenten Vespers with the distribution of Holy Communion at the end. There is no consecration of the Holy Gifts during the service. Holy Communion is offered from the reserve gifts consecrated on the previous Sunday at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Those Orthodox Christians wishing to receive Holy Communion should prepare as usual but should also refrain from eating or drinking after their midday meal. Readings will be done by our older Church School students.
- Lenten Dinner (7:45pm): We will continue the tradition of Lenten dinners following Pre-sanctified Liturgies by asking for volunteers to bring food if you are able. Plan on a Lenten vegetable, soup, salad, or dessert for approximately 20. Everyone is invited to stay for this light meal. After the meal is served, everyone will remain in the Grand Room for the Lenten Speakers Series presentation.
- Lenten Speakers Series (8:00pm). Each week a special presentation will be offered by one of our clergy or guest presenters. This week Father John will be presenting Part 2 of the Churches and Monasteries he and Presvytera Becky visited while on Sabbatical last summer.

• Thur. Mar. 24, 7:00am: “Prayer & Panera” – Prayer and Christian fellowship for men. Meet at church promptly at 7:00am for a 15–20-minute morning prayer and scripture, then move up the hill to Panera for 45 minutes of coffee & conversation.

[Mar 25] Offices Closed for the Feast of the Annunciation

The offices of the Archdiocese, Metropolis and Holy Trinity Church will be closed on Friday, March 25, for the great Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos.

[Mar 27] Godparent/Godchild Sunday & Philoptochos Annual Lenten Luncheon – Next Sunday!

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!

[Mar 31] Holy Trinity Cemetery Notice – Deadline for clearing Christmas decorations

Whoever wishes to save Christmas wreaths or decorations at their family memorial stones are asked to remove them before Thursday, March 31^st to get ready for spring grass cutting. Decorations left behind will be discarded. The Cemetery Committee thanks you for your understanding.

[Apr 3] Holy Trinity Dance Troupe Meeting

The Holy Trinity Dance Troupe will soon begin dance practice for 2022. There will be an informational meeting held in the Fireside Room on Sunday, April 3^rd immediately following Divine Liturgy. Any parents of interested children, or adults who would like to assist the dance troupe, should attend. We will be handing out a tentative schedule for the year and have a lot of fun activities planned. The 3 dance groups are as follows: HOPE (kindergarten thru 2^nd grade), JOY (3^rd thru 6^th grade) and GOYA (7^th thru 12^th grade). *Any students who have graduated in the last few years and would like to perform are welcome to do so. Please just let us know and attend practice. Our first dance practice will be Sunday, May 1^st. Questions? Please reach out to Eleni Dedousis (HOPE/JOY) at eadedousis@gmail.com, 412.953.3699, or Victoria Andromalos-Dale at v.andromalosdale@gmail.com (JOY/GOYA). We look forward to seeing everyone in April!

[Apr 5] Bereavement Support Ministry Meeting

Please make plans to join us for our next Bereavement Support group gathering on Tuesday, April 5. 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

[Apr 9] Holy Trinity Cemetery – Community Clean-Up Day

Please make plans join us on Saturday, April 9^th from 9:00am until 4:00pm for Community Clean-Up Day at Holy Trinity Cemetery. Volunteers are asked to help with the general Spring clean-up of the Cemetery grounds. Bring your lawn & garden tools and a pair of work gloves! Topsoil will be provided for those parishioners who would like to work on their family’s individual graves. All help is greatly appreciated! Questions? Please contact Bill Fiedler at 412-364-1545.

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.

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 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.

HOPE and JOY Service Project Thank You

Thank you to all those that brought in items for the HOPE and JOY youth groups collection as they participated in the Metropolis Day of Service on March 13th. The children collected 70 non-perishable food items for a local food pantry! If you forgot last week and have any items for this Sunday, the donation boxes will be out in the gallery following Divine Liturgy.  Thank you for helping!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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. 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.

Holding a Ministry Activity or Committee Meeting at Church? Reservations are 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!

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 10^th anniversary here, let’s all double down on that effort so that when we celebrate our upcoming 100^th 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!

-          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

-          Bright Monday/Saint George Chapel Feast Day: April 25

-          Bright Tuesday/Feast of the Holy Fathers of Ntaou Penteli (Relics in Chapel Altar): April 26

Hospitality Hour Hosts:

• TODAY: The Family of Marlene Pappis