September 15
Holy Trinity Church
Publish Date: 2024-09-15
Bulletin Contents
Worship
Church News
Bulletin Inserts
Our Calendar
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Holy Trinity Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (724) 266-5336
- Fax:
- (724) 266-2220
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Web:
- http://www.htgoc.org
- Street Address:
- 2930 Beaver Road
- Ambridge, PA 15003
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Sundays: 8:30am Orthros, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Weekdays: 9am Orthros & Liturgy
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-15
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-08
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-01
- Publish Date:
- 2024-11-24
- Publish Date:
- 2024-11-17
- Publish Date:
- 2024-11-10
Worship
Services:
Sundays
8:30am Orthros, 9:30am Divine Liturgy
Upcoming Services:
- There is no liturgy Monday evening, please excuse the typo from the Voice's Calendar
- Tuesday, September 24th: St. Silouan the Athonite 9am Orthros & Liturgy
Upcoming Memorials:
- September 15th:
- 7yr Memorial - Angeline Neforos
- 19yr Memorial - Pano "Pete" Neforos
- September 22nd:
- 3mo Memorial - Fr. Emmanuel Lillios
- 10yr Memorial - Pandora (Peronis) Dinello
Church News
DOWNSTAIRS WOMEN'S ROOM CLOSED THIS SUNDAY due to HVAC work.
POPSICLES IN THE PARK - LOVE+HOPE+JOY Kickoff - THIS SUNDAY: Calling all PreK, Kindergarten-2nd, and 3rd-6th Graders to come be with us at Church and then we'll walk or drive over to the park on Beaver Rd to enjoy some popsicles, have fun socializing and playing, and hear from Fr. Anastasios and the advisors on what fun it is to be a part of LOVE+HOPE+JOY.
GOYA KICKOFF MEETING - THIS SUNDAY: Calling all GOYA Families (7th-12th graders) with their parents to join us following Sunday School in the office to discuss some upcoming events.
SUNDAY SCHOOL: We had 55 students this past sunday, lets keep that momentum up and we invite all of our families who were unable to make it last week. The spiritual and religious education for our children is not only the 20 minute class following holy communion, its coming each and every Sunday, hearing the hymns of the day, the readings for the day, Fr. Anastasios' kids sermon, and worshipping alongside their family and community. Their formation also takes place in the home and in the example lead by their parents, fortify yourself for the journey by coming to church too.
COLLECTION FOR THE LADLE - September, 8-22: Our Young Adult Ministry is again organizing a collection for the Ladle. This time of year they have requested Canned Meat/Tuna, Hearty Soups, Pasta & Sauce, Peronal Hygiene Items, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Can Openers
JOURNEY TO FULLNESS CLASS 2 - September 18th at 6:30pm
ANNUAL MUM SALE TO BENEFIT CAMPERS - Orders due by September 22nd. Check the bulletin insert section for the form.
KIMISIS GREEK LANGAUGE PROGRAM
Are you or your child interested in learning Modern Greek this year? Kimisis has extended their program to our parishioners. Tentative start date is 9/21. Go to theotokou.org and click “registration" or follow this link
If you have any questions, our Greek School Superintendent is George Kazas ([email protected])!
PARISH ASSEMBLY - Sept. 29: Join us to discuss current financials, Hall Restroom proposal, the Metropolis Center donation, and appointing the 2023 Audit Committee and the upcoming Election Committee.
4 DECADES 4 DREAMING CELEBRATION LUNCHEON - Sunday October 13th: Our Stewardship Committee and Parish Council invite you to this free luncheon to honor our last 40 years of ministry and sincere stewardship here at our parish. 40 years ago our church was consecrated and God has granted us many blessings, lets take some time to recognize the work done, recognize our parish council presidents who have helped lead us, and to look ahead 40 years with faith, hope, and love. This is a free luncheon, please RSVP by October 1st to the office.
2024 STEWARDSHIP CARDS
Thank you to our 138 families that have turned in their pledge cards totaling $210,840 pledged!
That puts us at 63.89% toward our pledge goal of $330,000 for 2024.
If you haven’t submitted your 2024 pledge card, grab one today at the pangari. We need a current pledge card on file for eligibility to vote in upcoming assemblies and election.
BOILER & AIR-CONDITIONING PROJECT PROGRESS
The final installations are underway for the Hall air-handler. Please help us offset the costs by making a donation today. Please send checks to the office with "HVAC Project" in the memo line; stocks can be transferred to our community as donations; and Online Giving through the item titled "Building Fund: HVAC Project."
YOUTH SAFETY - Please register at https://ncsrisk.org/goarch/. This includes all Youth Safety Workers as well as Parish Council
PRAYER CHAIN - Members of Holy Trinity are being brought together in efforts to pray for those in need of prayers. Please contact Joanie Ondrako at 724-601-6298, Fr. Anastasios, or the Office to join the prayer team, a group of people who will pray for the names given each day.
Prayer requests can be submitted anonymously and will be on the prayer list as long as your request is wanted, even up to a year. To request a prayer, click here.
ONLINE GIVING & STEWARDSHIP: Is OPEN! Online giving can be found by clicking here! Please consider your continued support of our church through becoming one of our online giving families. You can make general contributions and stewardship contributions.
REGULAR GIVING: The church is still accepting donations in normal ways through the mail and drop-off. Thank you to all of those who have continued to contribute in these challenging times.
YOU CAN NOW DONATE SECURITIES TO THE CHURCH
In response to inquiries regarding the donation of securities to Holy Trinity, a new brokerage account has been established with PNC Investments to receive stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Donating appreciated securities is often preferable to donating cash as the donor may benefit from the current tax code, creating the opportunity for donors to consider even larger gifts. Currently, this account can receive securities in lieu of cash for the fulfillment of stewardship pledges as well as directed gifts for special projects. If after consulting with your financial advisor, you are interested in this form of giving, please contact any parish council member or the office for more information.
LIVE-STREAM: If you don't have a Facebook account, don't worry: it does not force you to log in.
Bulletin Inserts
2024 Stewardship Pledge
Becoming a steward today!
IOCC Oktoberfest Happy Hour
to benefit IOCC Thursday, October 10th - 6-9pm at Rusty Gold Brewing Company, Canonsburg
IOCC Bourbon Tasting
to benefit IOCC on Thursday, November 7th at 7pm at Leaf & Bean in McMurray, PA. $60 tickets
Mum Sale Form
to benefit all campers
Our Calendar
-
Holy Trinity Ambridge
September 15 to September 29, 2024
Sunday, September 15Sunday School
LOVE+HOPE+JOY: Popsicles in the Park
GOYA Meeting after Liturgy
Coffee Hour: GOYA
19yr Memorial - Pano “Pete” Neforos
Young Adult Collection for the Ladle
7yr Memorial - Angeline Neforos
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Liturgy
Monday, September 166:00PM Hall in Use
Wednesday, September 186:30PM Journey to Fullness
Friday, September 20Voice Deadline
GOMoP Family Camp Weekend at Camp Nazareth
Saturday, September 21GOMoP Philoptochos Assembly
10:00AM Baptism
Sunday, September 22Sunday School
Coffee Hour: LOVE+HOPE+JOY
10yr Memorial - Pandora (Peronis) Dinello
Young Adult Collection for the Ladle
3mo Memorial - Fr. Emmanuel Lillios
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Liturgy
Tuesday, September 249:00AM Orthros & Liturgy
Wednesday, September 25Voice Deadline
6:00PM Dance Practice: Little Angels
6:30PM Journey to Fullness
6:30PM Dance Practice: Middle Group
7:15PM Dance Practice: Hellenic Dancers
Friday, September 277:00PM Young Adult Kickoff
Saturday, September 28Ambridge Festival of Churches
GOMoP Clergy-Laity
Sunday, September 29Sunday School
Coffee Hour: Parish Council
Parish Assembly
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Liturgy
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Regional Orthodox Events
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Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 3rd Mode
Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the 1st Mode
Save O Lord Your people and bless Your inheritance, grant victory to the faithful against the adversaries of the faith, and protect Your people by the power of Your Cross.
Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode
You who were lifted on the cross voluntarily, * O Christ our God, bestow Your tender compassions * upon Your new community to which You gave Your name. * Cause our faithful emperors to be glad in Your power, * granting them the victories against their adversaries. * And for an ally, Lord, may they have You, * peace as their armor, the trophy invincible.
Ο υψωθείς εν τώ Σταυρώ εκουσίως, τή επωνύμω σου καινή πολιτεία, τούς οικτιρμούς σου δώρησαι, Χριστέ ο Θεός, Εύφρανον εν τή δυνάμει σου, τούς πιστούς Βασιλείς ημών, νίκας χορηγών αυτοίς, κατά τών πολεμίων, τήν συμμαχίαν έχοιεν τήν σήν, όπλον ειρήνης, αήττητον τρόπαιον.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 3rd Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.
Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Προκείμενον. 3rd Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 46.6,1.
Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.
Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 2:16-20.
Ἀδελφοί, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου· διότι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου πᾶσα σάρξ. Εἰ δέ, ζητοῦντες δικαιωθῆναι ἐν Χριστῷ, εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁμαρτωλοί, ἆρα Χριστὸς ἁμαρτίας διάκονος; Μὴ γένοιτο. Εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνίστημι. Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω. Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι· ζῶ δέ, οὐκέτι ἐγώ, ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός· ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, ἐν πίστει ζῶ τῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντός με καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ.
Gospel Reading
Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
Sunday after Holy Cross
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38, 9:1
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.
Saints and Feasts
September 15
Nikitas the Great Martyr
This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.
Wisdom of the Fathers
The key to knowledge is the humility of Christ. The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open, not to those who only know in their learned minds the mysteries of faith and the commandments of their Creator, but to those who have progressed far enough to live by them.
Unknown, 8th century
To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to root out of the heart all that ties us to the world; not to cherish bad thoughts and desires; to suppress every evil thought; to avoid occasions of sin; not to desire or to do anything out of self-love, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself, according to St. Paul means "to be dead to sin. . . but alive to God."
The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century
A Christian's . . . duty is to "take up his cross." The word cross means sufferings, sorrows and adversities. To take up one's cross means to bear without grumblings everything unpleasant, painful, sad, difficult and oppressive that ay happen to us in life. . .without expecting any earthly reward in return, but bear it all with love, with joy and with courageous strength.
The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century
Interior crosses can found at all times, and more easily than exterior ones. You have only to direct your attention to yourself and examine yourself with a sense of repentance, and a thousand interior crosses will at once present themselves to you. . . Interior crosses are sometimes so burdensome that the sufferer can find no consolation whatever in anything.
All this can happen to you too! But in whatever position you may be, and whatever sufferings of the soul you may feel, do not despair and do not think that the Lord has abandoned you. NO! God will always be with you and will invisibly strengthen you even when it seems to you that you are on the very brink of perdition.
The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 148, 19th Century
When, on this day, we look at the precious Cross of Christ, in faith let us adore it, let us rejoice, and embrace it ardently, beseeching our Lord, who of His own choice gave Himself to be crucified on it, to make us worthy of adoring His most precious Cross so that, free from all defilement, we may attain the day of Resurrection.
Nothing comes without effort. The help of God is always ready and always near, but is given only to those who seek and work, and only to those seekers who, after putting all their powers to the test, then cry out with their whole heart: "Lord, help us."
19th Century
If you would be victorious, taste the suffering of Christ in your person, that you may be chosen to taste His glory. For if we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him.
Blessed are you if you suffer for righteousness' sake. Behold, for years and generations the way of God has been made smooth through the Cross and by death. The way of God is a daily Cross.
The Cross is the gate of mysteries.
The Orthodox Way: Revised Edition, SVS Press, p. 129
And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century
"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century
Nay, the nature of the thing is alone sufficient to attract you." ... For thou oughtest not, O Peter, because thou hast confessed me Son of God, therefore only to expect crowns, and to suppose this enough for thy salvation, and for the future to enjoy security, as having done all. ..."
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century