The Trisagion - January 2010

The Monthly Newsletter of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

January 2010 Vol. 15, Number 1

WHEN THE HEAVENS ARE OPENED

When our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized in the River Jordan, the heavens were opened; God proclaimed both His presence and His providence for the world. God spoke, declaring both the Incarnation of His Son - "this is My Beloved Son" - and demonstrating the Love of the Holy Trinity for the human race. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved." (John 3:17)

The whole life of the Church is centered on God's saving manifestation ("epiphany" in Greek) of Himself to the world, for the life and salvation of the world. This is the sole reason for Christian joy, the sole reason for Christian worship. The whole of our life in Christ is bound up in the Church's continuing manifestation of this saving Truth, not as a concept or a precept, but as the Body of Christ, He who was baptized in Jordan that we might be baptized in Him.

Thus, the entire life of the Church is one of rendering thanks to God, a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. He who gave completely of Himself in the Gift of His Son receives back from His people the fruits of their redemption. It is not that He has need of our offerings, but that we need to offer them. They are not only signs we acknowledge His blessings to us but the signs of our dependence on Him for life itself, both physical and spiritual, both temporal and eternal.

How freely we give back to Him is an indication of how seriously we understand His whole message of salvation. We are not paying Him, we are thanking Him. So, too is our life as members in the Church. There are no dues. There are no assessments. In fact, at Holy Trinity there are no pledges. Each time the offering basket is passed, it is another opportunity to render praise and thanksgiving to God who has revealed Himself to us in the person of His Son, who made us blessed in the Beloved, who makes us fit to be inheritors with all the Saints of His Kingdom.

As we begin this New Year, let's look at the ways in which God continues to reveal Himself to us in our parish life: new families, new ministries, and new ministers, both clergy and lay. Then, let us prayerfully lay aside for His service the first portion of the time, the talent and the treasure which God has given us in the first place. Our offerings to Him over the coming year (our weekly offering goal in 2010 is $3,300) reveal the extent of our thanksgiving to Him for His continuing manifestation of His love for us in our parish life.

If we aren't at the Scriptural standard of giving, the tithe (10%), this is the time to increase our proportion of giving. As we do, we learn along the way, that God continues to open up the heavens as a sign of His presence and His providence in our lives.

• Time: He created it for our benefit. The more we surrender back to Him, the more we shall have for Him.
• Talent: He endowed us with intelligence and ability. The more we use it for His glory, the brighter our light will shine before men.
• Treasure: He is the ultimate Treasury of all good things and blessings. He loves a cheerful giver as a reflection of His own image.

"Test me in this," He says. He awaits our faith in 2010 to open the floodgates of heaven once again.

2010 HOME BLESSINGS

Every January is set aside for home blessings for the entire parish. Because of the continued growth of our parish, several days have been reserved by ZIP Code to allow Fathers John and Basil to bless all of our homes expeditiously.

We will follow the same process as last year. Using sign-up sheets located in the narthex, please indicate your preference (first, second, and third) for one of the following shifts listed below (you can also email your date and time preferences to Deacon Alexander). You will then receive a phone call to confirm the specific time of your appointment. Every effort will be made to accommodate your chosen times, personal availability, and special needs or requests.

Your cooperation and understanding is greatly appreciated!

YOUR PRAYERS REQUESTED

Please continue to fervently pray for the sick and suffering servant of God, Clay (Mark) Bond, now in hospice care at Valley View Home in Altoona.

FOR THE RECORD

Births

• Lucia Nicole Swisher, daughter of Brandon and Corene Swisher, born December 27 at 2:05am, weighing 6lb., 15oz.

Recuperating

• Lucia Swisher, at Hershey Medical Center, from intestinal surgery on January 2.

Farewells

• Kris, Erica, and Quentin Good to accept a job opportunity in Indiana. Many years!

DECEMBER SCHEDULES

2009 HOLY TRINITY AUDIT CONDUCTED

The 2009 audit of the parish's financial records was conducted in December by Mark Fedkin and Leslyn Radomsky and no discrepancies were found. The Parish Council and staff of Holy Trinity are committed to a policy of fiduciary responsibility and openness. Monthly-updated financial statements are posted on the bulletin board in the parish hall for your review.

MAY THEIR MEMORY BE ETERNAL!

Please join us in asking that our Lord would give rest to the souls of His servants who have fallen asleep over the course of the past month:

• The Most Reverend Archbishop JOB fell asleep in the Lord unexpectedly on December 18 while he was returning from a parish visit in Cleveland. Funeral services were held at Chicago's Holy Trinity Cathedral on December 22 and 23, followed by interment at Saint John the Baptist Church in Black Lick on December 26. In addition to serving as Archbishop of Chicago and the OCA Diocese of the Midwest, he was also a renowned iconographer and composer.
• Private First Class Serge Kropov of Hawley, PA, was recently killed on December 20 in Bastion, Afghanistan. Born July 28, 1988, in Moscow, Russia, Kropov later immigrated to the United States and joined the Marine Corps where he served in tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. Funeral services with full military honors were led by Bishop TIKHON on December 30 at St. Tikhon's Monastery.
• Resa Ellison, choir director at St. Mary's Cathedral in Minneapolis, fell asleep in the Lord on January 3. She had been fighting complications caused by H1N1 and pneumonia, having been hospitalized since last November. Resa is the daughter of Fr. James and Khouria Linda Ellison of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Urbana, IL, and a friend and seminary classmate of Fr. Basil and Dn. Alexander.

PARISHIONERS UNITE TO BRING JOY TO THOSE IN NEED

Holy Trinity's Matthew 25 and TLC ministries would like to express heartfelt thanks to the many people who participated in our annual Christmas Caroling and St. Nicholas Gift Tree outreaches. On December 20, 35 singers had an uplifting experience and were well received while visiting care facilities throughout the region. In addition, 40 deserving people received Christmas presents because of your generous participation in the gift drive.

HOMELESS SHELTER MINISTRY LOOKING FOR VOLUNTERS

Members of Holy Trinity provide a meal and socialize with the residents of Housing Transitions, a local area homeless shelter, on the second Tuesday of every month from approximately 4:30pm to 8:30pm. If you would like to volunteer to cook, eat, and clean up at the shelter on an upcoming event, please contact Anne Cramer.

PARTICIPATE IN MARCH FOR LIFE!

In order to encourage as many people from our community to attend, Holy Trinity is partnering this year with Centre County Concerned Citizens for Human Life (CCHL) to offer discounted transportation (only $25 for adults and $20 for students) to the 37th Annual March for Life on Friday, January 22. Please make every effort to attend.

We will depart promptly at 7am from Fullington Auto Bus Company, 2101 Alexander Drive, in State College (near the University Park Airport) and return at approximately 10pm, stopping once for meals both ways. The bus will take us directly to the National Mall, where we will gather under the "Orthodox Christians for Life" banner to attend the pre-March program. At 1pm, we will begin our march up Constitution Avenue to the Capitol Building. At its conclusion, we are invited to join Metropolitan JONAH outside the Capitol in offering prayers for the victims of abortion.

The March is held on the anniversary of the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision of 1973 that resulted in the killing of more than 50 million innocent unborn children. This year's rally is made even more necessary as abortion coverage has been included in recently-passed Senate health care legislation.

Deacon Alexander is coordinating our trip. For more information and to RSVP, email him at or call. Please reserve your seat early, and no later than Sunday, January 17.

SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES JANUARY 17

Sunday School classes at Holy Trinity resume January 17 at 9am under the new direction of Deacon Mark Oleynik, Director of Christian Education. Thanks to our many teacher volunteers, Sunday School continues to serve as a valuable aid and supplement to parents, instructing preschool- to high school-aged children weekly on Orthodox teachings, beliefs and traditions. For more information on Holy Trinity's Sunday School program, please feel free to contact Deacon Mark.

HOLY DAYS IN JANUARY