TODAY'S EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Godparent/Godchild Sunday
Holy Trinity Church celebrates its annual Godparent/Godchild Sunday today at the midpoint of Lent. This special day provides us with an opportunity to observe the Lenten Feast of the Veneration of the Holy Cross and re-commit ourselves to the Lord Who took up that Cross for us. We ask all those who are able to celebrate with their Godparent(s) —who placed that first Cross on their Godchildren's neck at Baptism—to renew that commitment with thanksgiving and joy. We also welcome all whose Godparents are not able to be here, for various reasons—including repose in God’s heaven kingdom—and ask that they be remembered in prayer. May God continually renew and strengthen your relationship and life in His Holy Church! Thank you for attending this annual event. Be sure to stay and enjoy the Lenten Luncheon together!
No Church School Today for Godparent/Godchild Sunday
There are no Church School classes today in honor of Godparent/Godchild Sunday.
Philoptochos Lenten Luncheon
Holy Trinity Philoptochos is hosting their annual Lenten Luncheon today following Divine Liturgy in honor of Godparent/Godchild Sunday and the Veneration of the Holy Cross. Ticket donations are a Free Will Offering. Enjoy a delicious selection of Lenten foods while supporting the Philoptochos’ charitable activities. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in celebration of the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross.
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: Lentil, Vegetable Minestrone, Creamy Roasted Tomato and Cauliflower, Stuffed Pepper.
Akathist to the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Cup”
The Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood of Greater Pittsburgh invites you to attend this evening’s Akathist to the Mother of God beginning at 5:00pm here at Holy Trinity Church. This prayer service will be especially for those suffering from addiction of any kind. Pray for your afflicted loved ones and friends. See the flyer at the back of the bulletin.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Services This Week - Locations: (HT) Holy Trinity Church (SG) St. George Chapel
- TODAY, Mar. 27, 5:00pm: Akathist to the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Cup”(HT)
- Mon. Mar. 28, 6:30pm: Great Compline (SG)
- Wed. Mar. 30, 6:30pm: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy followed by Lenten Dinner and “Faith and Family Weekdays” Lenten Presentation (HT)
- Fri. Apr. 1, 6:30pm: 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:
- Wed. Mar. 30: 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 students from the Church School Grades 10-12 will be doing brief presentations on the 12 Apostles (a project they did in class teams) and, time-permitting, Father John will complete his “Churches and Monasteries of the Sabbatical” presentation with Paros, Naxos and Crete.
[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 this 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 3] Holy Trinity Dance Troupe Meeting – Next Sunday
The Holy Trinity Dance Troupe will soon begin dance practice for 2022. There will be an informational meeting held in the Fireside Room next Sunday, April 3rd 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 2nd grade), JOY (3rd thru 6th grade) and GOYA (7th thru 12th 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 1st. 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 next 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
Your help is needed on Saturday, April 9th 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.
[Apr 15] Help us Bag Lunches from The Holy Trinity Agape Fund to our Neighbors in Need
You’ve seen the announcements in the Bulletin. Have you ever wondered what it takes to sponsor a lunch for 140 people? If your family or group haven’t done this yet, this is your chance to find out the details, by helping in preparing one such outreach event. The Holy Trinity Agape Fund, true to its name and mission, will sponsor the bag lunches, to be delivered to the Neighborhood Resilience Project on April 16. We already have shoppers for the items needed, and a volunteer who will deliver the lunches to NRP (thank you, Lynn!). We will need to have 4 people to help us prepare the sandwiches and fill the bags on Friday, April 15, from 9:30 am to completion (by around 12:00 noon). If you would like to participate and witness hands-on how to feed 140 hungry souls - and perhaps consider it in your own future outreach – please call/text Mike Kritiotis at (412) 518-0588 or email him at outreach@holytrinitypgh.org. Please also consider having only one person per family to participate, so that we have a cross section of interested parishioners. Thank you!
[May 22] Men Who Cook – Save the Date!
Mark your calendars for a fun evening feasting on edible creations from our top Holy Trinity Male Chef's as we welcome THE RETURN OF "MEN WHO COOK!" The Event will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2022, in the Grand Room. Join us as Holy Trinity’s most notable men compete for the coveted title of HT’s Top Chef! If you are interested in competing for the title, please see Kathy Balouris or Karen Georgiadis or email them at social@HolyTrinityPgh.org. More details to follow!
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 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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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: TODAY
- 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
Upcoming Memorials: Apr. 10: Stella Johnson (2 years) and Homer Johnson (6 years)
