VBS begins in less than one week! There’s still time to register your child and join our volunteer team. If you have any questions, please contact Ashley. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the church by 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 13, to help prepare for an exciting first night of VBS. We can’t wait to see everyone there!

We’re excited that four of our 2nd Ave kids and teens will be attending GMC Camp July 19–24! Please join us in praying for each camper, the counselors, and the camp staff as they spend the week encountering God, growing in their faith, and building lasting friendships. We pray it will be a life-changing week for everyone involved!

We’re looking for individuals and families to join our Care Community through Keystone Family Alliance! Our team provides a meal on Tuesdays, on a rotating schedule, for a grandmother who is caring for her grandchildren through foster care. The family occasionally attends our church while remaining active in their home church.  If you’re interested in serving, a virtual training session will be held next Monday. For more information or to get involved, please contact Stacey Wombacher, our Care Community Team Leader and Advocate. We’d love to have you join us in supporting this family!

Upcoming Events:

• Sunday, July 26 – Join us for a church potluck lunch immediately following the morning worship service! Bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy a great time of food and fellowship with our church family. Everyone is welcome!

• Friday, July 31 – Mark your calendar for our next Food Pantry beginning at 11:00 AM. Food will be distributed while supplies last. Please help us spread the word to anyone in our community who could benefit.

• Friday, August 7 – Save the date! Join us for a Family Game Night and Ice Cream Sundae Bar. Bring the whole family for an evening of fun, fellowship, and delicious treats. The time will be announced soon—stay tuned for more details!

• Saturday, August 22 – Mark your calendar for our Community Block Party from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.! There will be food, games, activities, fellowship, and fun for the whole family. Invite your friends, neighbors, and loved ones—we hope to see you there!

• Sunday, August 30 – Join us for an evening at the Altoona Curve! We’ll enjoy a buffet dinner together before the game, with festivities beginning at 5:00 p.m. It’s a great opportunity for fellowship and fun—we hope you’ll make plans to join us!  Please note that tickets must be purchased in advance to attend. See the church for ticket information and purchase details.

 

We hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we gather for worship. We will celebrate Holy Communion, with both an intinction station and individually packaged communion elements available.  Rev. Steve will bring the message, “Lord, I Need Rest!”, based on Matthew 11:16–19, 25–30.

We’re just over a week away from Vacation Bible School! This week you’ll begin to see the church transform into Snowball Mountain Challenge as we prepare for an exciting week of fun and learning.  Children ages 3 (with a parent or guardian) through those entering 5th grade are invited to join us July 13–17 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. as we discover how to find our strength in God!  Be sure to stop by the VBS table in the sanctuary. Children can pick up a cup filled with fun activities, and adults can sign up to volunteer or donate snack items. If you have any questions, please contact Ashley.  Please note: There will be no evening activities at the church during the week of VBS.

Join us on Sunday, July 26, for a potluck lunch following the worship service! If you plan to attend, please sign up at the table in the sanctuary so we can plan accordingly.

On Sunday, August 9, we’ll enjoy a special “Songs & Scripture” worship service as we explore some of your favorite hymns and praise songs, along with the Bible passages that inspired them. We’re accepting song requests now! To give everyone an opportunity to participate, we’re asking for one song suggestion per person for now. You can submit your request online or complete a request slip at the church and place it in the offering plate. We’ll do our best to include as many of your requests as possible!

The church office will be closed on Monday, and the staff will be off for the day. The office will reopen on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.

Just a reminder that the June/July newsletter, calendar, and Bible reading plan were distributed last month. If you need another copy, I’d be happy to email them to you, and printed copies are also available at the church. The next newsletter, which will cover August and September, will be distributed at the end of July.

Vacation Bible School is just around the corner! Ashley is still looking for two more volunteers and is also accepting donations for VBS snacks. Be sure to stop by the VBS table in the sanctuary to see how you can help. VBS will be held July 13–17 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Children ages 3 (with a parent or guardian) through those entering 5th grade are invited to join us for a fun and exciting week! Register Here

The Youth Group will be traveling to Williamsport for their mission trip from the evening of August 2 through August 8. They are still in need of one additional adult volunteer to accompany the group. If you are interested in serving in this way, please contact Nic Harclerode for more information.

A reminder that Rev. Steve Moore is serving as our interim pastor. If you have any pastoral needs, please don’t hesitate to contact him directly. You may also reach out to Wendy Lucas or me, and we will be happy to connect you with him so he can provide the care and support you need.

We have an exciting summer ahead! In July, we’ll enjoy Vacation Bible School with special VBS music and decorations, followed by a potluck luncheon on July 26. Looking ahead to August, we’ll host a Songs & Scripture Sunday on August 9, featuring your favorite hymns and praise songs—we’ll be taking song requests in the coming weeks. Then, on August 16, we’ll have the privilege of welcoming Jacob Baskin as our guest speaker, followed by a recap of our Youth Group mission trip. We encourage you to join us each week so you don’t miss all that God is doing in the life of our church. Sunday School meets every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m., with Junior Church available during the 10:15 a.m. worship service. Coffee and light refreshments are also available in the Gathering Place from 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. We look forward to worshiping with you!

We are still the church this summer. We are still the church as we await a full-time pastor. We are still 2nd Ave—continuing in the same mission, the same ministry, and the same faithfulness we’ve always known. And through it all, we invite you to walk alongside us on this journey.

 

We’d love for you to join us this Sunday!

☕ Coffee Hour: 9:30 a.m.
📖 Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
⛪ Morning Worship: 10:15 a.m.

This week’s message will focus on Abraham’s faith and his willingness to submit to God’s plan. Plus, our 2nd Ave Kids will be sharing a special song about Abraham during the service.

We look forward to worshiping with you!

This Sunday marks the final Saturate Altoona event of the summer! We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Vicky Plummer and Sherry Falbow for leading this outreach ministry, as well as to everyone who volunteered at our Blessing Booth. Your time, generosity, and willingness to serve have been a tremendous blessing to our community.

The countdown to VBS is on! Now is the perfect time to register your kids, grandkids, neighbors, and friends for an exciting week at Snowball Mountain Challenge!

We’re also looking for snack donations and volunteers to help make VBS a success. Stop by the VBS table near the front of the sanctuary to register, sign up to help, donate snacks, or learn more. We can’t wait to see what God has in store!

Save the date! Join us for our next Church Potluck Lunch on Sunday, July 26, immediately following the 10:15 a.m. Worship Service. Everyone is welcome!

Be sure to sign up in the sanctuary so we can plan for a great time of food, fellowship, and community.

Mark your calendars for our Community Block Party on Saturday, August 22, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.!

We’re looking for volunteers to help make this event a success. There are many ways to serve, including setting up, tearing down, staffing activity booths, helping in the kitchen, and more.

We’re also accepting donations for our Silent Auction. If you’d like to donate a themed basket or items to be included in a basket, we’d love to hear from you. Thank you for helping us make this a fun and welcoming event for our community!

We will be celebrating Holy Communion next Sunday, July 5, during our 10:15 a.m. Worship Service. We invite you to join us as we come together at the Lord’s Table.

Please note that the church office will be closed on Monday, July 6. We will resume normal office hours the following day.

A huge thank you to Sherry Falbow and Vicky Plummer for their hard work organizing this year’s Blessing Booth at Saturate Altoona! We are grateful for their dedication and for everyone who has volunteered throughout the event. There is only one Sunday remaining, so if you haven’t had the opportunity to attend yet, be sure to join us next week. The Blessing Booths open at 5:30 p.m., followed by a community worship service at 6:30 p.m. in Heritage Plaza.

Although it was announced during worship yesterday that we would be having a church potluck on Sunday, June 28, the potluck has been rescheduled to the last Sunday in July following our combined 10:15 a.m. service. A sign-up sheet will be available beginning this Sunday. We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your understanding. We look forward to sharing this time of fellowship together in July!

Vacation Bible School is quickly approaching! If you would like to volunteer, register your child, or donate snack items, please stop by the VBS table in the sanctuary. If you have any questions or would like more information, please see Ashley. Thank you for helping make VBS a wonderful experience for our children and community!

2nd Ave Kids would like to remind everyone that our children’s ministries continue throughout the summer! Sunday School meets from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., and Jr. Church is available during our 10:15 a.m. worship service. Attendance has been a little lower during the summer months, and Miss Wendy and Miss Ashley are missing all of our kids’ smiling faces! We hope you’ll join us as we continue learning, growing, and having fun together each Sunday.

Sherry Falbow has taken over the connections and contact with our at-home members. She has reached out and left messages with folks; but if you know of anyone who would like to be visited or contacted, please let me know so I can add them to the list.

 

We hope you can join us this Sunday! Sunday School will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., with Coffee Hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.. Our worship service starts at 10:15 a.m. We will also be recognizing and honoring all fathers and men in attendance with a small gift from the church. Be sure to stop by the entryway table and pick yours up!

Exciting news! Vacation Bible School registration is now open! This year, VBS is available for children ages 4 through those entering 5^th grade. We are also excited to welcome 3-year-olds who attend with a parent or guardian who will remain with them during the program. Join us July 13–17 from 6:00–8:00 PM for a fun-filled week of faith, friendship, games, music, and more! Register today using the link below.

VBS Registration

Beginning this Sunday, a VBS snack donation board will be available in the sanctuary. If you would like to help support our Vacation Bible School ministry, please stop by the board and consider donating one or more of the requested items. Thank you for helping make VBS a great experience for our children!

This Sunday marks the third week of Saturate Altoona! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered at our Blessing Booth so far, as well as those who will be serving in the weeks ahead. Your willingness to share Christ’s love with our community is greatly appreciated. The Blessing Booths open at 5:30 p.m., and the worship service begins at 6:30 p.m. We hope you’ll join us for this special community outreach and worship experience.

Upcoming:

• June 26 – Food Pantry
• July 6 – Office Closed
• August 7 – Game Night & Ice Cream Sundae Bar (more info. TBA)
• August 22 – Block Party
• August 30 – Altoona Curve (sign up and pay for tickets by August 9)

A huge thank-you to everyone who has volunteered at our Blessing Booths during Saturate Altoona over the past two weeks! We still have two Sundays remaining and would love to see more of our church family join us. Blessing Booths open at 5:30 p.m. each Sunday, with worship beginning at 6:30 p.m. Come be a blessing to our community!

This evening we have the privilege of hosting dinner for Team Effort. Thank you to everyone who helped prepare the meal and to those who will be serving tonight. We also extend our gratitude to all who donated toppings for the ice cream sundaes. Your generosity and willingness to serve are greatly appreciated!

Vacation Bible School is just around the corner! Ashley will be setting up a snack donation board this week, so be sure to stop by and pick up a tag or two. Your donations help make VBS a great experience for our kids, and every contribution is appreciated!

Join us this Saturday for our monthly Free Community Luncheon! Everyone is welcome to enjoy a meal and fellowship from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!

This Sunday, we will be honoring the fathers in our church with a small gift as a token of our appreciation. Fathers, please be sure to stop by the table in the entryway and pick one up. We are thankful for all the dads and father figures who make a difference in the lives of their families and our church!

Join us on Sunday, August 30, for a fun-filled evening at the Altoona Curve! 2nd Ave will be hosting a church outing, and we’d love for you to be a part of it. Please sign up in the sanctuary if you plan to attend. The cost is $33 for adults and $24 for children, which includes a buffet dinner served along the third-base line from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Don’t miss this great opportunity for fellowship, food, and baseball!

 

We hope you’ll join us this Sunday as Rev. Steve shares the message, “What Is Your Fleece?” Sunday School and Coffee Hour begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by worship at 10:15 a.m.

Jill will be away Friday morning through Sunday evening with limited cell phone and email availability. If you have a pastoral emergency during that time, please contact Wendy Lucas or Rev. Steve.

On Monday, we will be serving dinner to more than 130 teens and adults with Team Effort. If you would like to help, Vicky is looking for volunteers to assist with preparation and serving, as well as donations of ice cream sundae toppings. Toppings may be dropped off in the kitchen on Sunday or during office hours on Monday.

Vacation Bible School is only about a month away! Kids ages 4 through those entering 5^th grade are invited to join us July 13–17 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. for the Snowball Mountain Challenge. See Ashley for more information.

Please stop by the sign-up table in the sanctuary for the following opportunities and events!

• Soup & Sandwich Luncheon — Saturday, June 20
• Night at the Altoona Curve — Sunday, August 30. Tickets are $33 for adults and $24 for kids 12 and under and include a picnic on the third base line from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The game begins at 6:00 p.m.

If you have not yet picked up a copy of the June/July newsletter, reading plans, or the free daily devotional booklets, they are available on the table in the sanctuary.

There will be a visitation for Jane White at Myers-Somers on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and again here at 2nd Ave on Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Her funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., with Revs. Brian Sandell and Steve Moore co-leading the service. Please note that the office will close around 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, as Jill will be assisting with slides for the service.

This Saturday, a group will be working at the parsonage and is looking for experienced adult painters to help. If you are available, please contact the church office for Priscilla’s phone number, or simply come by at 9:00 a.m.

Jill will be out of town from Friday morning through Sunday evening. If you have a pastoral emergency during that time, please contact Wendy Lucas.

We are aware of the sound issues affecting our recordings and livestreams at this time. Since no changes have been made to the system, we are working to determine the cause and resolve the problem as quickly as possible. We currently do not have a sound technician on staff, but we are doing our best to address the issue. We encourage everyone who is able to join us in person whenever possible.

We hope you can join us this Sunday as we celebrate Holy Communion during our 10:15 a.m. service. Communion stations will include both intinction and a station with separate elements. Sunday school classes for ages 4 through adults meet from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

On Sunday evening, we invite you to attend Saturate Altoona at Heritage Plaza in downtown Altoona. Blessing Booths open at 5:30 p.m. and worship begins at 6:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, June 10, we will gather to celebrate and remember the life of Jane White during an 11:00 a.m. memorial service. The service will be co-led by Revs. Brian Sandell and Steve Moore.  A visitation will be held Tuesday at Myers-Somers (time to be announced), as well as Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. here at the church prior to the service.  We will also need volunteers to help serve a meal following the service. If you are able to help, please let Vicky Plummer or me know.

Next Saturday at 10:00 a.m., we will be hosting Donuts with Dads. Please sign up on the table in the sanctuary if you plan to attend.

Vacation Bible School will be held July 13–17 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. for all children ages 4 through those entering 5th grade this fall. Please register online using the link below! https://www.cognitoforms.com/TheROCKAt2ndAve/_2026VacationBibleSchoolRegistration