Things are becoming busy around here as we go into October and farther into the fall–please keep up to date on everything going on in the building, as well as various chances to serve in the community and fellowship.

The African Children’s Choir will perform on Sunday, October 27 at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The doors will open about 5:30 p.m. Our Youth Group will also host a bake sale that day.

The Christmas parade committee will meet regularly in the gym on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Contact Vicky Plummer for additional information.

Please get in touch with me by this coming Sunday, October 6, if you would still like to be included in the directory but were unable to get your photo taken. If you would prefer not to upload a photo, you can simply include your contact details. (Printed copies of the images will be sent to all those who had their photos shot by Alyssa. There have been some requests for extras printed; if you’re interested, let me know and I can get you pricing or provide you the photo file so you can print it yourself. We can accomplish this for a price. By Thanksgiving, we plan to have directories available for pickup. You will be able to buy an image for a $4.00 donation if you didn’t receive one for the directory.

Date Revision: The church conference will now take place at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17.

We will celebrate World Communion Sunday on Sunday at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. 

This Thursday through Saturday, we will be taking photographs for a new church directory. If you have not yet registered, please inform Jill if you would like to know the available time slots. If you are unable to attend one of the scheduled sessions, Jill would like to take your photograph (during office hours or on Sunday) within the next two weeks. Please let Jill know if you have any questions. We are self-funding this project and will continue working on it throughout October. Additionally, families or individuals who receive a photograph during the designated time slots will receive a complimentary printed photograph (there will be no sales attempts). If you would like to contribute toward the costs of producing the directory, please place your check or cash in an envelope and label it “directory.”

We are delighted to announce our participation in the downtown Altoona Christmas Parade on December 7. The inaugural meeting to discuss the float will be held this Thursday, September 26, at 7:00 p.m. in the gymnasium. For further inquiries, please contact Vicki Plummer.

On Sunday, October 6, we will commemorate World Communion Sunday at both services. Special musical arrangements will be featured during the services.

On Sunday, October 27 – African Children’s Choir Concert, 6:00 p.m. We are seeking chaperones and children to host at our homes for the concert. Please contact us if you are interested in participating. We will provide you with further information and answer any questions you may have.

November 10th, Church Conference will be held at 2nd Avenue (time to be determined). All are welcome to attend. Church members will have the opportunity to vote.

We hope you can join us this Sunday as we continue the sermon series “Coming Down From The Mountain,” Great Faith Heals Matthew 8:5-13.

Sunday school classes for ages 4 to adult are held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Children in grades 4-5 meet upstairs in the craft room, while students in grades 6-12 meet upstairs in the Youth Room (across from the balcony). There are several adult Sunday school classes throughout the building. If you’re not sure which one is best for you, ask Pastor Brian.

We also have coffee hour in the Gathering Place from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. 

Tomorrow is our monthly soup and sandwich luncheon, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to this free meal.

All hands are on deck! Our fall Hope Chest clothing pickup takes place on Sunday in Jaffa. Your assistance, whether for an hour or several hours, is greatly appreciated. Please meet at Jaffa around 5:15 p.m. Please let Pam or Pastor Brian know if you have any questions.

We are thrilled to have two major concerts coming up here at 2nd Ave GMC.

We will host the African Children’s Choir on Sunday, October 26, at 6:00 p.m. The concert is free and open to everyone. A love offering will be accepted.

On Wednesday, December 18th, we will welcome back the three Heath Brothers for their Christmas concert. Tickets are now available on their website (but must be purchased in advance).

Our Christmas Choir will commence rehearsals on Sunday, October 13, following the 10:45 service. Interested individuals are still welcome to register (the registration sheet is available on the round table). Should you have any inquiries, please direct them to Braydon (our organist, who also performs in the praise band at 10:45). 

During the daytime hours of Wednesday through Friday, a conference will be held in the sanctuary. Please be advised of this event if you plan to be in the building during that time. 

The collection of fall clothing for our Hope Chest will be taken on Sunday, September 22, at the Jaffa. Kindly plan to meet at the Jaffa at 5:15 PM, and we will proceed to transport the clothing back to the church. 

Save the date! The Church Conference will be held on Sunday, November 10, at 4:00 p.m. All church members are cordially invited to attend and participate in the voting process. 

We are thrilled to host the African Children’s Choir on Sunday, October 27. The concert is free and open to the public. We have promotional posters available in the office for anyone who wants to place one at their workplace or on any community bulletin boards.

The September soup and sandwich lunch will be held this Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The September food pantry will be held on Friday, September 27, at 11:00 a.m.

We hope you will join us on Sunday as we begin our new series, “Coming Down From The Mountain.” This week’s message is “Made Clean,” from Matthew 8:1-4. 

If you want to play handbells, join Riann and Adam Edson after the 10:45 service this Sunday. Throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons, handbells will be played at special services.

Riann and Adam will also start a parenting Sunday School class this Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30. 

The ROCK got off to a great start this past Wednesday! The first night’s attendance was unprecedented, with the highest number of children ever! If you’d like to help, even just a few times a month on Wednesdays, please contact Ashley at ashleymiller1228@gmail.com.

Have you registered for your church directory photo? Sign up for a time slot at the sanctuary table; each family/person who attends on a regular basis will also receive a copy of the church-provided picture.

We are looking for singers of all ages. If you enjoy singing, there is a part for you! (You must be able to read!)

Braydon Nihart, our talented organist and musician, would love to direct a choir to sing during our combined service on December 22.

In the near future, rehearsals will be held on Sundays following church service. You can sign up at the roundtable or by clicking here!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the church picnic on Saturday! And many thanks to the Stuckey family for hosting the picnic. 

We also celebrated 11 baptisms at the picnic! Certificates for those who were baptized will be available for pick-up next Sunday; please see Jill before or between services.

We have a big week here at 2nd Ave….the ROCK begins for the 2024-25 season on Wednesday. The program is open to children aged 4 (must be potty-trained) through 12th grade every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (AASD school day). Children will enjoy a home-cooked meal, age-appropriate lessons, gym time, crafts, games, and more! As a reminder, if your child did not attend school for any reason, was sent home, or is exhibiting any symptoms of illness (cough, fever, rash, stomach issues), please keep them home for the evening. If they arrive with any signs of illness, a call will be placed to pick up the child. The ROCK is still in need of several volunteers. 

We are currently seeking host families for the African Children’s Choir. Host families must have a spare room for the children and a spare room for the chaperone, as well as a bathroom reserved solely for the children and chaperone. Single people can host; however, they will be assigned children of the same sex. (No unmarried men/women–{boyfriends-girlfriends} allowed in the home overnight). Jill has copies of all of the guidelines available in the office for anyone who wants one. Please let Jill know if you have any questions. 

We would like to remind you that today is the church picnic at the Stuckey residence.

The picnic will be held regardless of the weather conditions. There will be ample indoor seating available. Additionally, immersion baptisms will proceed as planned, weather permitting. 

Picnic Schedule:

3:00 p.m. Baptisms

5:00 p.m. Dinner

7:00 p.m. Picnic wraps up

We cordially invite you to join us on Sunday for a service led by Pastor Brian. We will be blessed by a word from Pastor Randy Traxler, titled “Is Your Life Worth Living?” This sermon will be based on the passage 1 Timothy 6:6-19.

The ROCK will commence next Wednesday. A volunteer meeting will be held following the 10:45 service this week. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please plan to attend. 

We are still seeking host families for the African Children’s Choir. Details on hosting are available at the round table. Some essential requirements include providing two spare bedrooms, one for the children and one for their chaperone, accommodating dietary restrictions, and refraining from using screens (televisions, video games, etc.). Please contact Pastor Brian if you are interested in hosting.

 

Please read this week’s announcements and reminders to stay informed about events at 2nd Ave.

Effective today, office hours will typically be Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Any modifications to these hours will be communicated in advance. The office will be closed on bank holidays.

The church picnic will be held this coming Saturday, commencing at 3:00 p.m. for those who have registered for immersion baptisms. Dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m., and the event will conclude by 7:00 p.m. Should you require the Stuckey’s address, please do not hesitate to contact Jill. 

The Rock begins next Wednesday, September 11. The program is open to children aged 4 through 12th grade (no cost) from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Children are divided into age groups and receive age-appropriate lessons, games, physical education, arts and crafts, and a home-cooked meal. Ashley is still seeking additional volunteers to ensure the program’s success. Currently, nearly 60 children have pre-registered. Please inform Ashley at ashleymiller1228@gmail.com, if you are interested in volunteering. A brief volunteer meeting will be held on Sunday, September 8, following the 10:45 service.

Join us tomorrow at 8:15/10:45 for Holy Communion and the continuation of our series, “Faithful Brothers and Sisters. “At 10:45, we’ll be blessed with some special music from the Dane Family and Karen Mogle.

The nursery will also reopen for children aged three and under at our 10:45 service.

The office will be closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday, we will open at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, hours will also shift to 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. for the fall and winter months.

Please remember to sign up for a church directory photo. They will be taken from September 26 to 28, with a variety of times available.