Tomorrow, February 4^th, marks the commencement of the executive committee meetings for 2025. The trustees will convene at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Church Council meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Tomorrow marks the commencement of our ladies’ Bible study at 11:00 a.m. Sherry Falbow will be the instructor for this class. Kindly use the glass elevator entrance and ascend to the Gathering Place. (Please note that the class location may vary this week due to ongoing construction.)

We are thrilled to invite Nashville duo Caleb + Kelsey to perform at our church on Sunday, April 6^th, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will go on sale this Thursday! We will send you the ticket link via email and post it on Facebook. If you need assistance purchasing tickets online, please visit our church office during office hours (or I can help you on Sunday between services) and bring a credit card or check. We’ll ensure you get your tickets.

We’re still accepting orders for chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day pickup. You can fill out a paper form available at the church, or use this online form and bring a payment with you. All orders with payment are due by February 12th. Orders must be paid in advance to ensure fulfillment on February 14^th.

The church office will be closed on Monday, February 17^th, in observance of Presidents’ Day.

As a friendly reminder, on Sunday, February 23^rd, we will be holding a combined service at 10:00 a.m. Following the service, we will have a potluck lunch. Please sign up on the round table starting this coming Sunday.

If you’re looking for a way to volunteer some of your time in 2025, consider helping out at the ROCK! We’re in need of adult volunteers on Wednesday evenings to lead kids from one station to another. Each station usually has its own teacher or leader for an activity or lesson. Please reach out to Ashley to learn more about getting involved. (The ROCK hosts over 50 kids each Wednesday, and to continue running this large program, we urgently need more help!)

Chocolate-covered strawberries are now available for Valentine’s Day pick-up. You can use an order form (available at the church) or order online by clicking here! Please note that orders and payments must be received by February 12^th at 10:00 a.m. to ensure timely fulfillment. For any further inquiries, contact Pastor Brian.

Sherry Falbow will commence a women’s Bible study this coming Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. If you have any questions or intend to attend, please inform her.

Our Trustee meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 4^th, at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Church Council meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for the Caleb + Kelsey concert will go on sale this Thursday, February 6^th, at 10:00 a.m. We’re thrilled to announce that the band Follow (who performed at our Block Party) will be the opening act. The link to purchase tickets will be shared on Facebook and via email. If you need assistance with buying tickets online, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We can purchase tickets for you if you visit the office with a check or your credit card (we prefer not to accept cash due to limited change-making capabilities). For your convenience, ticket prices and details are provided below.

• General Admission doors will open at 5:45 p.m. Admission is $20 plus fees and taxes. Please note that concerts are not tax exempt, so a tax will be added to your ticket price.
• Early admission doors will open at 5:15 p.m., with priority seating available (a total of 30 tickets will be distributed). The admission fee is $25, plus fees and taxes
• Meet and Greet with Early Admission at 4:45 p.m., featuring first-choice seating, an opportunity to meet the band, and light refreshments. (30 tickets available) $30, plus fees and taxes.

Starting today, construction work will be underway in various parts of the building. Stairwells might be closed, and certain areas may be inaccessible at different times. Please steer clear of areas with scaffolding and/or equipment.

This coming Friday marks the monthly food giveaway. However, there are some mandatory volunteer training sessions, so please arrive early at the Narnia Room.

Communion Sunday will be celebrated on February 9^th instead of the first Sunday of the month.

We’re currently collecting food items for SOUP-er Bowl Sunday. Please bring in soup with pop-top cans, ramen, mac n cheese cups, and other similar items. Place them on the table in the Elevation Room. All collected items will be donated to our February Food Pantry.

Chocolate-covered strawberries are now available for Valentine’s Day pick-up. You can order a dozen for $12.00 or a half dozen for $6.00. Please submit your order forms along with payment by February 12^th.

Family Game Night will be held on Thursday, February 6^th, at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome, but children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult throughout the event.

Join us this Sunday as we conclude our “Further the Faith” series with this week’s message, “Remind the People.” Our services will be held at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Join us for Coffee hour and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This week’s sermon is based on the book of Titus 3.

Starting this Sunday, we’ll begin collecting items for our “SOUPer Bowl” Sunday event. Your help in stocking our pantry shelves with pop-top soups, ramen, and other easy-to-open, easy-to-make warm food items would be greatly appreciated. These items can be placed on the table in the Elevation Room. All donated items will be distributed during our February food pantry day.

Chocolate-covered strawberries are now available for Valentine’s Day pick-up. Each dozen costs $12.00, but buy 5 dozen and get 1/2 dozen free. Alternatively, you can purchase 1/2 dozen for $6.00. Order forms are available at the church and can be emailed if required. Payment is due with the order form.

The January Food Pantry will be held on Friday, January 31^st.

Family Game Night will be held on Thursday, February 6^th, at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome, but children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Please sign up on the round table in the sanctuary so we can anticipate the number of attendees.

Communion Sunday will be celebrated on February 9^th. Additionally, we will have a combined service on February 23^rd at 10:00 a.m., followed by a potluck luncheon.

If you or someone you know is seeking a warm place to spend the day during the cold weather, please reach out to the Salvation Army at 814-942-8104.

Chocolate-covered strawberries are now available for Valentine’s Day pick-up. They cost $12.00 per dozen, or you can buy a half dozen for $6.00. Order forms are available at the church or can be emailed to you. Payment is due with the order. Orders must be placed by February 12^th.

The February newsletters will be mailed out this week and emailed at the end of the week. Physical copies are also available at the church on the round table.

Caleb and Kelsey, a Christian duo from Nashville, will be performing live in concert on Sunday, April 6^th. Tickets will go on sale soon, so mark your calendars! Don’t forget to check them out on YouTube, Spotify, and other platforms.

If you missed yesterday’s service, you can catch up on it on YouTube. The YouTube stream primarily focuses on the speaking parts, so you may not be able to hear the music or the sound quality might not be great.

Service 01/19/25

Join us this Sunday for services at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. This week’s message will be from Titus 2, titled “Set Them An Example.”

Save the date! Caleb and Kelsey will be here on Sunday, April 6^th, for an evening of worship and praise. Check them out on YouTube, Spotify, and other platforms. Ticket information will be released soon.

Chocolate-covered strawberries are now available for Valentine’s Day pickup. You can find the order forms on the round table. Each dozen is priced at $12.00, and you get a free half dozen with the purchase of five dozen. Alternatively, you can buy a half dozen for $6.00. If you have any questions, please see Pastor Brian. Pickup is available from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. If that time doesn’t work for you, Pastor Brian will make arrangements for you.

Please keep our Youth Group and volunteers in your prayers as they embark on a retreat this weekend. (Please note that there won’t be a Youth Group on Sunday evening.) If you’d like to contribute to the cost of the retreat, kindly bring a donation on Sunday and place it in an envelope labeled “Youth Retreat.”

Speaking of the Youth Group, I’d like to remind you that they host an all-you-can-eat fish dinner buffet every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday). We’re in need of volunteers in the kitchen and to serve the meals.

Just a friendly reminder to check out the round table located to the side of the sanctuary. It offers daily devotionals, sign-up sheets, newsletters, and other useful resources.

Please be informed that the new Ladies Bible study has been rescheduled. It will commence on Tuesday, February 4^th, at 11:00 a.m. Women of all ages are cordially invited to join us. Kindly inform Sherry Falbow if you intend to attend so that she can prepare the necessary materials for the class.

As a friendly reminder, please schedule any building usage requests or rentals through Jill to avoid conflicts, double bookings, and other potential issues.

There will be a family game night held at the church on Thursday, February 6^th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Please sign up on the round table in the social hall so we can estimate the number of attendees.

The Youth Group will be embarking on their winter retreat this coming weekend. If you’re willing to contribute to this retreat, you can make a donation on Sunday by placing your cash or check in an envelope and clearly labeling it as “Youth Group Retreat.”

If you know of anyone who has attended church and mentioned they didn’t know about something, please inform them that they can sign up for our emails and text messages to stay updated on important information and events.

If you’re not currently receiving our prayer chain emails but would like to, please let Jill know, and she’ll add you to the email list. Alternatively, you can always email, call, or text us with your prayer requests that you’d like us to share.

This Sunday, we’ll kick off a new sermon series called “Further the Faith” with this week’s message titled “Hold Firmly,” based on Titus 1. Our services will be held at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., and Sunday School will be held for children aged 4 to adults from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Beginning on Tuesday, January 21^st, a women’s Bible study will be held at 10:00 a.m., led by Sherry Falbow. If you’re interested or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Sherry (or the church office, and we’ll gladly connect you with her).

A New Member’s Class will commence on Sunday, February 16^th, at 9:45 a.m. in the social hall. If you’re interested in joining our community at 2nd Ave GMC or simply want to learn more about our membership offerings, we encourage you to attend this informative session.

The January soup and sandwich luncheon will be held on Saturday, January 18^th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The meal is free and open to everyone. If you’d like to contribute by making soup or volunteering, please sign up at the round table in the sanctuary.

Just a friendly reminder to those who use offering envelopes. If you signed up for the new envelopes, please use them for 2025 instead of the old ones that were mailed to you. If you didn’t sign up for new envelopes but would like them, I have a few box sets left. Otherwise, we kindly request that you use an offering envelope from the entryways. If you’d like your giving for the year to be tracked, please include your name and address on the envelope.

Please be aware that if the AASD experiences delays, cancellations, or virtual days due to weather conditions, the office will likely follow suit to prioritize the safety of staff and visitors. On Sundays, Pastor Brian and church leadership will make the final decision. Any changes to the church service schedule will be promptly communicated through Facebook, email, and text. We kindly request that you prioritize your safety and the safety of your family. (Services are usually available for live viewing or at your convenience.) It may take some time to clear and salt the parking lots, so we want to avoid any accidents or injuries.

Join us this Sunday as we resume our regular service schedule at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. We will be celebrating Epiphany Sunday and Holy Communion during both services this week.

Sunday School is held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. We offer classes for children aged 4 to 5^th grade, as well as classes for 6^th to 12^th grade students. Additionally, we provide various adult classes for your consideration.

Junior Church will resume its weekly sessions during the 10:45 service, commencing this Sunday.

A new women’s Bible study will commence on Tuesday, January 21^st, at 10:00 a.m. Sherry Falbow will facilitate the study, which aims to equip women with the knowledge and skills to establish godly boundaries and avoid enabling behavior. The study emphasizes prioritizing God’s will over personal emotional desires. Kindly contact Sherry (or the church office) if you intend to attend, so that we can ensure the availability of sufficient materials.

The ROCK will resume on January 8^th, and the Thursday Bible Study will commence on January 9^th.

We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who attended our 2^nd Avenue Kids Christmas Pageant yesterday. The children performed exceptionally well, and we are deeply appreciative of Ashley’s dedication and efforts in preparing them for this annual event.

All calls and emails received after 1:00 p.m. today (Monday, December 23) will not be responded to until January 2. The exception to this rule applies to prayer requests, which may be emailed or texted directly to us as we will not be available to retrieve messages from voicemail.

We hope you can join us tomorrow for Christmas Eve services at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. We’ll have candle lighting during both services. At 4:30 p.m., we’ll have special music before the service begins. Please arrive a bit early to allow enough time for parking and finding a seat.

If you have ordered a poinsettia, please take it home after the Christmas Eve services. We will not be available to care for them between then and next Sunday.

If you have any pastoral emergencies, please contact Pastor Brian directly.

Jill will send the January newsletters and calendars this evening. Please take some time to review them.

We extend our warmest wishes for a joyous Christmas and abundant blessings in the coming year!