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!

This Sunday is our 2nd Ave Kids pageant, “Jingle Bell Beach.”. The church Christmas card will be showcased at 9:55 a.m., followed by the service and the pageant, which commences promptly at 10:00 a.m. Please note that the pageant cannot be streamed, so the live stream will commence immediately after the pageant concludes. 

The church office is open on Monday, but we will be in and out throughout the morning. Please call ahead if you plan to visit to determine if we are available.

Sunday is the last day to bring in Christmas cards for others at 2nd Avenue. Please place them in the red and black plaid box, and we’ll distribute them. Also, please check for cards for yourself and your family, as they’ll only be available until December 29th. Unfortunately, we can’t mail or store the cards, so they’ll be discarded after that date.

Christmas Eve services will be held at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Our 4:30 p.m. service is typically the more attended service, so please ensure that you arrive in ample time to secure a parking space and enter the church for the service. Both services will feature candle lighting, and both will be streamed online.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 17^th, marks our annual Christmas Giveaway day. We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who participated in our church Christmas card campaign. Your contributions have made it possible to provide these gifts. If you’re interested in assisting with the giveaway tomorrow, please don’t hesitate to contact Pastor Brian.

The 3 Heath Brothers will perform their Christmas concert on Wednesday, December 18^th. Tickets are still available (and must be pre-purchased) on their website, 3heathbrothers.com. Children under the age of 12 are free to attend, but they still need a ticket, which is also available on their website.

Our Soup & Sandwich Luncheon will be held on Saturday, December 21^st. Everyone is welcome to join us for this delightful meal. The lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and you can choose to dine in or take out your food.

The January newsletter and Christmas card will be mailed to those who requested them by the end of this week. We will display the church Christmas card before our 10:00 a.m. service this coming Sunday, December 22^nd, which will begin at 9:55 a.m. Please arrive early! Paper copies of the newsletter and card will also be available at the church on Sunday.

Please remember that the next two Sundays, we will only have one service at 10:00 a.m. This Sunday, December 22^nd, will be our second annual 2nd Avenue Kid Christmas Pageant.

If you would like to contribute Christmas cards for those who attend church at 2nd Avenue, you may do so until December 22^nd. Cards will be available until December 29^th. Kindly place the cards you bring in in the box located near the card tables. We will then alphabetize the cards and distribute them.

Please ensure that you check for any cards that you or your family may have cards left over after the 29^th will be discarded.

This Sunday, we’ll light the third Advent candle and hear the message “Courage of the Father” from our sermon series, “Coming Onto The Scene.” Services will be held at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. this week.

Thanks to your generous donations, we’ve raised over $500 to provide gifts to families in need. Our gift giveaway will be held this coming Tuesday. If you’d like to donate new items for the giveaway, please bring them in on Sunday or Monday during office hours.

Don’t forget to check the card table for any Christmas cards you or your family may have. You can bring them in until December 22^nd and place them in the box marked “card exchange.” We’ll distribute them on December 22^nd.

On Wednesday, December 18^th, the 3 Heath Brothers will perform their Christmas concert, “Not So Silent Night.” The concert begins at 7:00 p.m., and tickets must be purchased in advance through their website, www.3heathbrothers.com.

Our December Soup & Sandwich Luncheon will be held on Saturday, December 21^st, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome!

On Sunday, December 22^nd, we’ll host the annual 2nd Avenue Kids Christmas Pageant. Church will start at 10:00 a.m., so please plan to arrive early. Our church Christmas card video will be shown around 9:55 a.m. Unfortunately, Sunday School, Jr. Church, and the staffed nursery will not be available this day. If you’d like to bring Christmas cookies for everyone to enjoy, please arrive by 9:30 a.m. and place them in the Gathering Place.

On Sunday, December 29^th, we’ll have one service at 10:00 a.m.

Jill be very busy throughout the building next week, please call ahead if you plan to stop by so Jill can buzz you in. (Otherwise, Jill may not hear the buzzer and you might stand at the door for a few minutes.)

Ashley and Jill will be shopping for our Christmas giveaway tomorrow (Tuesday, December 10). Please call ahead if you plan to stop by, as we’ll be gone from 9:30 a.m. until we’re finished. Thanks to everyone participating in the church Christmas card, we’ll be able to provide some fantastic gifts for several families this Christmas!

Next Wednesday, we’ll be hosting the 3 Heath Brothers for their Christmas concert, titled “Not So Silent Night.” Tickets are available on their website but must be purchased in advance. Children aged 12 and below are free to attend with an adult (they also require a separate ticket, which can be added to your purchase). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 3heathbrothers.com.

Don’t forget that you can bring in Christmas cards for attendees of 2nd Avenue (we won’t be mailing any cards) until December 22^nd. We’ll distribute the cards between December 15^th and 29^th.

Our church Christmas card will be displayed before our combined service on December 22^nd. It’s approximately 5 minutes long, so please arrive early. The card will then be emailed out the following day. Additionally, physical copies of the card will be mailed to those who requested paper copies of our newsletter, while a few will be printed on the round table.

The ROCK will be celebrating Christmas this week. We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to providing the children with some wonderful gifts! Keep an eye out for pictures on Facebook and the ROCK board in the Elevation Room! 

Tomorrow is Parade Day! Please note that Division 2 participants will meet at the AASD parking lot closer to 15^th Street.

The parade starts at 1:00 p.m. at the corner of 17^th St/9^th Ave and ends at 16^th St (by 12^th and 11^th Ave).

Join us Sunday to continue our Advent journey by lighting the second candle and hearing the message “Coming Onto The Scene: Time to Emerge.”

Beginning this Sunday, please bring in Christmas cards for others who attend 2nd Ave (we will not be shipping any cards) and drop them in the box in the Elevation Room (it is wrapped in red/black plaid paper). We will alphabetize cards by the recipient’s last name, and you can start looking for cards for yourself/your family on December 12^th. Cards will be available until December 29^th and then disposed of.

The Altoona Community Band will play a free show here on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome!

Ashley and I will be out shopping for Christmas presents for the giveaway on Tuesday, December 10^th, so the office will be closed during regular hours. We raised more than $350 thanks to your generous donations through the Church Christmas Card! If you want to stop by today, please contact ahead because we don’t know when we’ll be leaving or returning.