Many hands make light work! This Saturday, May 19, 2018, from 9 a.m. to (no later than) 12 noon, Holy Trinity will hold a special Parish Work Day to prepare and beautify our temple for Pentecost. (We couldn’t do outdoor work for Pascha because of the cold weather.) There will be a variety of tasks for volunteers of all skill levels. Food and refreshments will be served for all volunteers.
Support Parishioners Walking to Prevent Suicide
As part of our commission from Christ to minister to least of His brethren, Matthew 25 is sponsoring a special drive to help those affected by suicide. Please support your fellow parishioners who are walking on Sunday, April 29, 2018 to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, whose goal is to reduce the suicide rate 20 percent by 2025. Join our team today!
Sunday School Pool Party Rescheduled
Because of circumstances beyond our control, today’s Sunday School Pool Party at the Ramada Inn has been rescheduled for Sunday, May 6, 2018. See you there!
Overnight Parking Ban Lifted for Pascha
At the request of Holy Trinity, the Borough of State College has lifted the 2 to 6 a.m. on-street parking ban on all the surface roads surrounding the church.
In addition to on-street parking on North and South Sparks Street, other suggested places to park include Patterson and Gill Streets, Nittany Beverage (139 N. Patterson St.) and the former Montessori School (300 S. Sparks St.). All the spaces in the Holy Trinity lot, including those accessible by Calder Way (numbered 10 through 18) are also available.
Tonight’s Divine Services for Great and Holy Pascha begin at 11:30 p.m. with the chanting of Nocturns. Following the rush procession, the celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection continues with Matins, Hours, and the Divine Liturgy sung in quick succession. The blessing of baskets and a festal meal follow in the Parish Hall.
All are invited.
Schedule Your Home Blessing Online
Every year, the month of January is set aside for home blessings for the entire parish. Several morning, afternoon, and evening shifts on varying days of the week have been reserved by location to allow Father John and Father David to bless homes expeditiously.
In addition to using sign-up sheets located in the Narthex, this year you can request a house blessing online.
Celebrate the Forefathers
Icon of the Sunday of the Forefathers (courtesy oca.org)
On Sunday, December 17, the Church celebrates the Holy Forefathers of Christ. All parishioners whose patron saint is a forefather/foremother are invited to bring an icon of their patron saint. There will be a table set aside so that all may venerate the icons.
Ministry Groups to Prepare for the Nativity
Several of Holy Trinity’s ministry groups will spend the weekend of December 16-17 engaging in activities together in preparation for the Feast of the Nativity.
On Saturday morning, the men of the parish will have breakfast; in the afternoon, the Altar Society will decorate the church, and the Choir and the Church School will conduct rehearsals.
On Sunday, after the Church School Christmas Play, the women of the parish will exchange cookies and recipes in Trinity House. For a full schedule of events, see the parish calendar.
Confessions Schedule
Confessions will be heard at Holy Trinity according to the following schedule.
February 2020-present
Fr. Ignatius Hunter
- Wednesdays, preceding Vespers, 4:30 p.m.;
- Saturdays following the 6 p.m. Great Vespers; and
- By appointment.
Fr. David Smith
- At the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, 145 N. Kern St., Beavertown, every Saturday following the 6 p.m. Great Vespers.; and
- By appointment.
2019 to January 2020
Fr. David Smith
- Wednesdays, preceding Vespers, 4:30 p.m.
- on select Saturdays following Vespers, 6 p.m. (typically one Saturday per month when Fr. David is serving in State College)
- At the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, 145 N. Kern St., Beavertown, every Saturday following the 6 p.m. Great Vespers.; and
- By appointment.
2018
Fr. John Reeves
- Saturday, January 13, following Great Vespers, 6 p.m.
- Saturday, January 20, following Great Vespers, 6 p.m.
- Saturday, January 27, following Great Vespers, 6 p.m.
- …and every Wednesday and Saturday following Vespers thereafter, until further notice.
- By appointment, by emailing office@holytrinity-oca.org
Fr. David Smith
- Wednesday, January 10, following Vespers, 5:30 p.m.
- …and every second Wednesday of the month following Vespers, until further notice.
- At the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, 145 N. Kern St., Beavertown, every first Saturday, 6 p.m.
December 2017
Fr. John Reeves
- Saturday, December 2, following Great Vespers, 6 p.m.
- Saturday, December 16, following Great Vespers, 6 p.m.
- Monday, December 18, during pre-Festal Vespers, 5:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 19, during pre-Festal Vespers, 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 20, during pre-Festal Vespers, 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, December 21, during pre-Festal Vespers, 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, December 22, during pre-Festal Vespers, 5:30 p.m.
- By appointment, by emailing office@holytrinity-oca.org
Fr. David Smith
- Wednesday, December 13, following Vespers, 5:30 p.m.
- At the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, 145 N. Kern St., Beavertown, every first Saturday, 6 p.m.
Life Chain to Commemorate Lives of Unborn Children
Life Chain Sunday will be held Sunday, October 1, 2017, in State College, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Attendees are asked to gather at 1:45 p.m. at 900 West College Ave. to receive the proper signs and instructions on where to stand on West College Avenue.
This is the only public event that Citizens Concerned for Human Life (CCHL) of Centre County does every year to commemorate the lives of the millions of unborn that have been lost to abortion. Holy Trinity has partnered with CCHL for several years now in participating in this silent witness in the community.
For more information, please contact Susan Rogacs of CCHL. Please pray that no other abortion centers open in the Centre Region.
Ladies: Plan to Attend a Discussion and Input Session this September 17
The Women’s Ministry will conduct an informational session after liturgy on Sunday September 17 at noon. Grab a coffee and a bite to eat, and come to the conference room in Trinity House. In addition to previewing this year’s study, we will brainstorm potent-ial activities that might be of spiritual benefit to us and the parish. Especially, what can we do to provide help and comfort to particular sub-groups of women: older women, young mothers, single parents, etc.? The goal is to not only leave the meeting having determined the best meeting times and dates for the study but also have a set of action plans for the new ideas and events.
As for the study, we plan to spend the year examining The Theology of Illness by Jean-Claude Larchet, a small but dense text exploring how Orthodox Christians find healing despite living in a fallen and broken world, subject to all of the suffering and evil that comes upon us as a result of sin. The goal of the study is not to seek a single cure for what ails us but to learn to live with what besets us. Moreover, we want to do it in a way that opens ourselves to all types of healing, impacting not only our lives but also the lives of those around us.
To allow as many women as possible to participate, we plan to meet in the daytime of one week, and then in the evening of the next week; with both sessions covering the same material. Finding the times that accommodate the most people is part of the September 17 meeting agenda.
In addition to the biweekly study, a dedicated section of the parish website will be established where we can post supplemental materials and links. There will also be a forum where we can further discuss the text. Sessions will continue into the Spring and will conclude with a Saturday day retreat similar to last year.
