If you missed the announcement at church yesterday, Autumn Baskin will be in the office Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for the next several months. She will be answering the phone and the door, as well as helping with other office tasks during the week, with more responsibilities added as time goes on.

Jill will continue returning emails in the evenings and will also follow up on any phone messages if it is something Autumn is unable to help with. We ask for your grace and patience as we work through this new arrangement.

There is still time to sign up for the Pastor Appreciation Potluck Lunch next Sunday following the worship service. If you would like to attend, please call the church office or let us know so we can add you to the sign-up list.

Our October Soup & Sandwich Lunch will be held Saturday, October 10 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Hope Chest will also be open that day from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. for anyone who would like to come in and get clothing.

There will be no ROCK on Thursday, October 29 due to Altoona’s Trick-or-Treat night.

The Food Pantry will be held Friday, October 30 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

We hope to see you tomorrow! We will celebrate Holy Communion during our 10:15 a.m. worship service. Sunday School for all ages is from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

A reminder that next Sunday, October 11, is our Pastor Appreciation Potluck Luncheon. Please sign up in the sanctuary so we know how many people to expect and so others can see what you plan to bring. No desserts are needed, as the church will be providing a cake.

Starting this coming week, Jill will no longer be in the office during the daytime. You can touch base with her in person on Sundays or reach out by email or leave a phone message during the week. She will respond during the evening hours.

Adam will be sharing more information about these changes during the announcements tomorrow.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the Food Pantry this past Friday! This ministry would not be possible without your time, dedication, and willingness to serve.

There is a sign-up sheet in the sanctuary for our Pastor Appreciation Luncheon on Sunday, October 11. We hope many of you will join us after worship as we take time to show our appreciation for Pastor Robert.

Our October newsletter was emailed last week and will be mailed later today to those who receive it by mail. Printed copies are also available at the church if you would like one.

Last week, Jill mentioned that some changes would be coming to the church office hours, so we wanted to explain what those changes will look like.

First and most importantly, Jill is not leaving! Her role at 2nd Ave will simply look a little different. She will be moving to part-time and working primarily from home during the evenings. Jill has accepted a position at Penn State and will begin working there during the daytime Monday through Friday starting next week.

Jill will continue taking care of emails, Facebook posts, newsletters, bulletins, returning phone calls, and her other regular responsibilities. Most of this work will now be done from home in the evenings. She also plans to be here most Sundays, where she will continue running media upstairs and will be available in the office as needed. We would also love to begin training some additional volunteers to help with the media ministry upstairs.

The church office will be staffed on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. This will allow the counters to continue their work on Mondays while also ensuring that someone is available to answer the phone, take messages, answer the door, and assist with other needs. SPRC will announce on Sunday who will be helping in the office.

We ask that everyone please be patient as we adjust to this change. There may be questions that cannot be answered immediately, but Jill will receive your message and get back to you later in the day. This will take a little getting used to for everyone, but Jill is praying that everything will work together smoothly.

Beginning Monday, October 5, church office hours will be Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

2nd Ave means so very much to Jill, and she only wants what is best for the people and ministries of our church. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out.

We hope you can join us Sunday! Worship begins at 10:15 a.m., and Sunday School for all ages is from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Our October newsletter and church calendar are linked below. The daily devotional will be emailed next week. Printed copies of both the newsletter and devotional are available in the sanctuary, and copies will be mailed to our at-home folks early next week.

October Newsletter

October Church Calendar

There are two sign-up sheets on the front table.

If you would like to meet one-on-one with Pastor Robert, please sign up. We will be in contact over the next few days and weeks to schedule a time.

On Sunday, October 11, we will have a potluck lunch for Pastor Appreciation Sunday. Please sign up with the number of people from your family who will be attending and what you plan to bring. The church will provide cake for dessert.

There will also be some changes coming to the office hours and Jill’s availability. More information will be announced early next week, so please be on the lookout for that. No need to worry!

I hope you had a nice weekend! If you missed church yesterday, you can watch the entire service on our YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/@secondaveglobalmethodist

This upcoming Friday is our monthly Food Pantry day. A reminder that it now begins at 9:30 a.m. Help is needed, so if you are able to serve, please arrive at the Wesley Room, located just inside the glass entrance, between 8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Ashley was excited to share that ROCK served more than 125 meals this past week, and that number only includes the kids! With the program continuing Monday through Thursday, additional help is needed.

On Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., volunteers mainly help chaperone, spend time with the kids, and assist with homework when needed. Wednesday is the regular ROCK program from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., with a lesson, gym time, crafts, games, and more. Kids are also served a meal each day of the program. Please reach out to Ashley if you have any questions or would like to help.

In the upcoming weeks, I’ll begin training some people upstairs on Sunday mornings to help run the slides and other technology during worship. If you’d like to learn so you can help out, please let me know. It’s a great way to serve without having to stand up front!

I’ll be working on the October newsletter this week and hope to have it emailed out by Friday. Printed copies will also be available at the church on Sunday.

A huge thank you to the Stuckeys for hosting our End of Summer Picnic yesterday! It was a wonderful afternoon of fellowship and delicious food. We are very thankful for everyone who came out and helped make it such an enjoyable day.

We hope you’ll join us this Sunday! Sunday School is from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., followed by worship at 10:15 a.m.

Our End of Summer Church Picnic will also be held Sunday from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Stuckey home. If you would like to carpool, you are welcome to meet at the church.

The Hope Chest fall/winter clothing pick-up at the Jaffa will take place Sunday beginning around 5:00 p.m. Please see Pam for more information.

This Saturday is our monthly Soup & Sandwich Lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This is a free meal, and everyone is welcome!

As many of you know, the church is in need of a new roof. Beginning Sunday, special envelopes will be available for anyone who would like to make a designated donation toward the roof project. Envelopes will be located on the tables near the entrances. If you have any questions, please see a member of the Finance Team. We also plan to display a fundraising thermometer soon so everyone can follow our progress as we work toward this important need.

The ROCK had a wonderful first full week of its new after-school program along with the regular Wednesday evening program! Around 25 kids attended each afternoon on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to spend time in the gym, receive homework help and enjoy a meal. Wednesday evening welcomed around 50 kids! More volunteers are needed Monday through Thursday. If you are able to help on any of these days, please reach out to Ashley.

In addition to our Sunday School classes from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., there are two weekday Bible studies available. A ladies’ Bible study meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the church, and an adult Bible study meets Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Please contact the church office if you would like more information.

If you missed yesterday’s service, you missed a wonderful time of praise, worship, and welcoming our new pastor, Rev. Robert Reeves. Our Facebook Live stream unfortunately stopped partway through the service, but the full service is available on our YouTube channel. Thank you to everyone who donated cookies and punch supplies for the reception following worship.

A reminder that our End of Summer Picnic at the Stuckey’s will be held next Sunday from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Also next Sunday is the Hope Chest Fall/Winter Pick-Up at the Jaffa, beginning around 5:00 p.m. Please contact Pam Varner with any questions.

The ROCK after-school program begins this afternoon and will be held Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Students will have access to homework help, a light meal, and game and gym time. Wednesdays will continue to be our regular ROCK program, which has been serving children and families for nearly 30 years. Additional help is especially needed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you are able to volunteer on any of these days, please let Ashley know.

This Saturday is our Soup & Sandwich Lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. All are welcome!

We are also working on the October newsletter. It may be released a little later than usual as Pastor Robert continues getting settled in.

Office hours will be a little different this week. I will be in the office Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., and Tuesday from 8:00 – 11:30 a.m.

We hope you’re able to join us this Sunday as we welcome our new pastor, Rev. Robert Reeves, to 2nd Ave! Following the service, we will have a small reception in the Gathering Place/Elevation Room with cookies and punch. Sunday School is from 9:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m., and worship begins at 10:15 a.m.

The nursery is available for children age 3 and under. Children ages 4 through 5th grade are invited to Jr. Church, which dismisses during the worship service.

Youth Group also begins again this Sunday! All students in grades 6–12 are welcome to join us at 6:00 p.m.

Sunday is the final day to sign up for our End of Summer Picnic at the Stuckey’s. The picnic will be held next Sunday, September 20, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The ROCK kicked off this past Wednesday with one of its most attended opening nights ever! We are thankful for such a great start. Additional help is still needed on Wednesday evenings, so please reach out to Ashley if you are able to serve.

The ROCK after-school program begins Monday and will be held Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Students will be provided a meal along with homework help and other activities.

Our monthly Soup & Sandwich Luncheon will be held Saturday, September 19, from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Please sign up if you are able to provide a soup or help serve that day.

Pastor Robert will be holding several meet-and-greet times this afternoon and tomorrow morning. A few time slots are still available: today, September 8, at 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., and tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Just a reminder that these meetings are meant to be informal and relaxed—a chance to introduce yourself and get to know Pastor Robert a little better.

This Sunday will be Pastor Robert’s first Sunday preaching here at 2nd Ave. Following the service, we will have a small reception in the Gathering Place/Elevation Room with cookies and punch. We are still looking for a few people who would be willing to bring cookies. Please let me know if you are able to help.

ROCK begins this Wednesday! All kids ages 4 through 12th grade are welcome from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Beginning Monday, September 14, the program will expand to include homework help and a meal on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Wednesdays will continue with the regular ROCK program that has been a part of our church for nearly 30 years. Please contact Ashley at ashleymiller1228@gmail.com with any questions.

Our monthly Soup & Sandwich Lunch will be held Saturday, September 19. If you are able to make a soup or help that day, please sign up in the sanctuary.

This Sunday, September 13, is the final day to sign up for the church picnic at the Stuckey’s house. The picnic will be held Sunday, September 20, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

We hope you’ll join us this Sunday at 10:15 a.m. as Rev. Steve shares the message, “Forbidden or Permitted on Earth.” Please be sure to thank Steve for serving as our interim pastor over the past four months. He has helped hold things together during this season of transition, and I am deeply grateful for the stability he has provided.

Rev. Robert Reeves (Pastor Robert) will be unloading his U-Haul trucks on Saturday morning, and help is needed. The church that had planned to assist us has experienced a sudden death in their congregation and will now be attending services on Saturday, so they are no longer able to help. We will share the exact time as soon as we know.

Pastor Robert will also be holding Meet & Greet times this coming week, and there are still a few openings available. Please use the link below to sign up. If none of the available times work for you, let me know what days and times do, and Pastor Robert will make sure to connect with you. These are scheduled as 15-minute time slots, so please keep them light. The purpose is simply for him to learn your name and get to know a little about you, your family, and your background. We want to be careful not to overwhelm him with complaints or counseling needs during these visits.

Meet & Greet Sign Up

We’ve also been asked to encourage everyone to bring reusable coffee cups, water bottles, or similar items to use in the Gathering Place on Sunday mornings. This will help reduce waste and save money, as we go through a large number of disposable cups.

Pastor Robert’s first Sunday preaching with us will be September 13 at 10:15 a.m. Following the service, we will have a small reception in the Gathering Place with cookies and punch. Please sign up on Sunday if you are able to provide cookies or ingredients for punch.

We will honor both Pastor Robert and Pastor Steve on Sunday, October 14, with a potluck luncheon for Pastor Appreciation Sunday, so please save the date. A sign-up sheet will be available soon.

Please note that the church office will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day. Our fall and winter office hours will begin Tuesday, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.