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Join us at the March for Life

Help fill our van to the 47th Annual March for Life!

HolyTrinity and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit are currently accepting reservations by email through this Wednesday for the annual one-day pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. Our vans depart Friday, January 24 at 6:30 a.m., and return around 10 p.m. College students and youth are especially encouraged to attend. As in previous years, all costs are covered by the parish.

Sunday is Sanctity of Life Sunday

The Holy Synod has designated this Sunday as Sanctity of Life Sunday in all of the parishes of the Orthodox Church in America. You can read His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon’s proclamation of life ahead of the 47th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States.

However, the best way to witness life is by attending the January 24 March for Life in Washington D.C. with your fellow brothers and sisters from Holy Trinityand the Chapel. All expenses will be covered by the parish; simply bring a packed lunch or money for food and/or souvenirs. For more information or to RSVP, email events@holytrinity-oca.org.

Join Holy Trinity at the 2019 March for Life

Help fill our vans for the 46th annual March for Life!

Holy Trinity and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit are currently accepting reservations in the Narthex and by email for the annual one-day pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. in support of the unborn. Our vans will depart Friday, January 18 at 6:30 a.m., and return around 10 p.m. RSVPs are required by Tuesday, January 15 so appropriate transportation can be secured.

College students and youth (with their parents) are especially encouraged to attend. As in previous years, all transportation costs are fully sponsored by Holy Trinity.

January 22, 2019 marks the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States, and Orthodox Christians from across the US will be among those gathering in the US Capital on Friday, January 18 to participate in the annual March for Life. 

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon will join other Orthodox Christian hierarchs, seminarians, and clergy and faithful from around the country in the annual March, which will conclude with the celebration of
Memorial Prayers for the victims of abortion near the US Capital.

The theme of this year’s March is “Unique from Day One.”

The March will begin at noon on the grounds of the Washington Monument. The delegation from Holy Trinity and the Chapel with gather with fellow Orthodox Christian participants at the “Orthodox
Christians for Life” banner, which will be prominently displayed to the right of the stage near Constitution Avenue, between 15th and 17th Streets North West. Metropolitan Tikhon and other hierarchs will be
present on the stage for the opening prayers and presentations prior to the March.

Metropolitan Tikhon also will offer the benediction at the annual Rose Banquet on the evening of the March. General information on the March and the banquet—including details on making reservations—is available on the March for Life web site. Information on Orthodox Christians for Life is also available.

Parishioners Join a Half Million in Promoting Life

Year after year every January hundreds of thousands come to the nation’s capital to give a voice to those who do not have one—the unborn.

This year’s March for Life was historic, however, as for the first time ever, the sitting vice president appeared in-person. Quoting Philippians 4:5, Vice President Mike Pence shared his optimism for the pro-life cause, exhorting the crowd to “Let this movement be known for love, not anger; … compassion, not confrontation… [T]here is nothing stronger than gentleness.”

Following the rally, more than a dozen from Holy Trinity and the Chapel joined His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, head of the Orthodox Church in America, and several Orthodox hierarchs, clergy, and laity in praying for the victims of abortion, before making the two-mile trek from the White House to the Supreme Court. 

Holy Trinity’s support of life doesn’t end with this annual event. Throughout the year, our parish partners with the State College Pregnancy Resource Clinic to educate and encourage men and women to make informed life choices. 

View photographs of Holy Trinity’s and the Chapel’s participation in the March.
View a time lapse of the approximately 500,000 people to attend the March.

Holy Trinity Announces Fall Study Groups

Beginning in Fall 2015, adults in Centre County will have additional opportunities to learn more about the Orthodox Christian Faith. To better serve you, Holy Trinity has scheduled a variety of study groups for you to choose from.

For a full calendar of Holy Trinity services and events, click here.

Inquirer’s Class
This bimonthy class led by Fr. John Reeves is intended for anyone who wishes to learn more about the Orthodox Faith.  It begins Sunday, September 20 and meets in the Parish Hall (119 S. Sparks St., lower level) on the first and third Sundays thereafter for six sessions. For more information, please email info@holytrinity-oca.org. Topics covered include the history of salvation, the doctrine of the early Church, Christian worship in the First Century, and spirituality (“What must I do to be saved?”).

Adult Study Group
The Adult Study Group is also led by Fr. John and meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. throughout Fall 2015. The 14-week series begins September 8 and concludes December 8 (there will be no class on Election Day, November 3). The study is open to all adults. For more information, email info@holytrinity-oca.org.

Women’s Book Study
The Women’s Book Study kicks off on Thursday, September 10, at the rectory (562 Lanceshire Ln., in Park Forest) at 10 a.m. The group will study the life of Mother Maria Skobtsova and read Pearl of Great Price by Sergei Hackel. The books can be purchased in the bookstore for $12. Matushka Linda Reeves will lead a discussion on Chapters 1 and 2 at the first meeting. For more information, email women@holytrnity-oca.org.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship Dinner and Discussion
Penn State students are invited to attend the weekly Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) meeting on campus, which features a complimentary dinner and student-led spiritual reflection moderated by its spiritual advisor or chaplain. These informal meals and time for fellowship are open to all Penn State students, faculty, and staff, especially those interested in learning more about the ancient Christian Faith as practiced and believed by the apostles. To learn more, contact us at orthodox@psu.edu. To RSVP for dinner, visit our Facebook event page.

Central Pa. Young Adults to Hold April 6 Retreat

Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission in Mechanicsburg, PA, will host the 8th Annual YAF Retreat on Saturday, April 6th. The featured presenter will be Fr. Theodore Petrides from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Stroudsburg, PA, who will speak on the topic “Looking into the Mirror: Prayer as a Means of Acquiring Self Knowledge and Knowing God.”

The day will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a Memorial Service and will include a Lenten luncheon and two sessions with Fr. Theodore. The retreat will “officially” end at 4:00 p.m., but those who would like to extend the fellowship are welcome to join us for dinner at a local restaurant (please bring money) and Vespers at 6:00 p.m.

Although the retreat is sponsored by the Young Adult Fellowship, and the young adult members of the Church are the inspiration for this event, these events inevitably draw interest from persons of all different ages, and the “younger” adults have been enriched by the perspective of our elder fathers, brothers, and sisters in Christ.  So anyone may come!

There is a suggested donation of $10 for registration, payable on the day of the retreat.  Registration is appreciated (but not required) for those who are attending the lunch.  Please contact Phil at philipgraybill@gmail.com or 814-935 6416 with your name and the number attending in your group.

Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission is located at 5006 E. Trindle Road, Suite 101, in Mechanicsburg (17055).  The church entrance is around the back of the two-story red-brick office building directly across from Chef Wong’s Chinese Restaurant (at the intersection of Trindle Road and Sporting Hill Road).

Any questions can be directed to Phil at philipgraybill@gmail.com or 814-935-6416. Those interested in attending from State College/Holy Trinity should contact Dn. Alexander Cadman or call/text 814-321-4473.

OCF Members to Serve in New Jersey and Ukraine

OCF members stand in support of children afflicted with cancer at the 2013 Penn State Dance Marathon. The group contributed $5,824 of the record $12.37 million raised this year. To see more pictures, visit OCF's Facebook page.

OCF members stand in support of children afflicted with cancer at the 2013 Penn State Dance Marathon. The group contributed $5,824 of the record $12.37 million raised this year. To see more pictures, visit OCF’s Facebook page.

The Penn State Orthodox Christian Fellowship will travel to the storm-ravaged New Jersey coast this March 22-24 for a weekend of service and prayer. The group will depart Friday afternoon and spend Saturday participating in clothing and food drives for Sandy victims. Following a night of fellowship, the group will attend St. Demetrios Church in Wildwood before departing for home. The trip’s full cost is being underwritten by OCF and generous donors.

This June, OCF Treasurer Christopher McNulty will care for abandoned children suffering from cancers, birth defects, and other complications at two orph-anages in Ukraine. Donations for his mission are being accepted at holytrinity-oca.org/mission. Contributors will have an opportunity to learn more about his trip at a Lenten mission benefit luncheon to be held on Sunday, April 7 following Liturgy.

Help Christopher McNulty Serve in Ukraine

Mission Trip to UkrainePenn State Orthodox Christian Fellowship Treasurer Christopher McNulty will be returning to Ukraine on a mission trip hosted by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. The trip takes place from May 30 to June 16, 2013. His mission team will serve in to two orphanages (in Puhachiv and Znamyanka) to help improve the facilities, to aid the staff, and most importantly, to help the mentally and physically disabled children in those orphanages.

Christopher’s fundraising goal is $2,500, but any additional funds raised over this amount will go directly to the orphanages to help support their daily operating expenses. Every little bit helps!

If you would like to give, Christopher and his family will be hosting a Lenten mission benefit luncheon to be held on Sunday, April 7 following the Divine Liturgy. Tax-deductible donations are now being electronically accepted through Holy Trinity’s PayPal site.

Related: Christopher McNulty: My Mission Trip to Ukraine 2011


 

OCF Invites Two Prominent Speakers to Area this Month

Maria Khoury and Bob SimonThe Penn State Orthodox Christian Fellowship will host two nationally recognized speakers this month. On Thursday, November 8 at their weekly 6 p.m. meeting on campus (212 Pasquerilla), Fr. Michael Ellis, OCF North American Chaplain, will speak to the group on “Coping with Scandal,” addressing the tumultuous events that have taken place at Penn State over the past year.

Later that week, on Sunday, November 11, OCF will host renowned Palestinian activist Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D.  Dr. Khoury—a human rights champion and author of several books and articles bringing international awareness to the dwindling Christian population on the West Bank—will speak to the entire State College community at 7 p.m. in 104 Thomas Building.

A prolific speaker, Dr. Khoury is the wife of the mayor of Taybeh, the last remaining all-Christian village in Palestinian-occupied Israel. She was recently featured on a 60 Minutes episode highlighting her cause of improving living cond-itions for all those living behind a 430-mile long Israeli “security” wall, which critics have denounced as being akin to apartheid. Q&A will follow her presentation, which is open to the public.

Palestinian to Speak on the Fate of Holy Land Christians

Dr. Maria Khoury speaks to CBS News’ Bob Simon during a recent 60 Minutes interview.

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Renowned Palestinian activist Maria Khoury, Ed. D. will speak to the State College community on Sunday, November 11 at 7 p.m. in 104 Thomas Building on the Penn State campus. Dr. Khoury is a decorated human rights champion and the author of several books and articles that have brought international awareness to the dwindling Christian population on the West Bank, despite it being the birthplace of Jesus. She is also well known for writing the popular “Christina” children book series.

Dr. Khoury is the wife of the mayor of Taybeh, the last remaining all-Christian village in the Palestinian occupied territories of Israel. She speaks from the perspective of being a woman, a mother, an Orthodox Christian, and a community builder with the specific purpose of improving living conditions for all those living behind a 430-mile long Israeli “security” wall, which critics have denounced as being akin to apartheid.

A prolific speaker, Dr. Khoury was recently featured on a 60 Minutes episode highlighting her cause. Q&A will follow the presentation.

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