Join us Sunday as we continue our series “Third Chapter|Three Verses|One Hope” with this week’s message Church of Ephesus.  Services at 8:15 & 10:45 am, Sunday School for age 4 through adult 9:30 – 10:30.

Sunday begins our voting for the Next Chapter here at 2nd Ave. Ballots will be available on Sundays or during office hours.  You must pick up your ballot in person (only exception are our at home folks).  Please return your ballot by placing it in the offering plate on Sundays, placing it in the church mail box if we are not open, or by dropping it off to the church office.  Ballots must be received back by May 14 at the end of the 10:45 service to be counted.

VBS SAVE THE DATE!  This year’s VBS will be held July 10 through the 14, please contact Ashley if you would like to volunteer to help out!  ashleymiller1228@gmail.com

Our Next Chapter voting will begin next Sunday, April 30. You will need to pick up a ballot in person either on Sundays or during office hours (the only exception is for the folks on our homebound list, these will be hand delivered and returned).  Ballots must be turned back in no later than Sunday, May 14 by the end of the 10:45 service (ballots can be placed in the offering plates on Sundays, placed in the mail slot or turned into the church office).  Any adult who regularly attends or anyone under 18 who is currently in confirmation class, or has been confirmed here at 2nd Ave is able to vote.  If you have any questions, please reach out ASAP to get the answers before placing your vote.

The church office will be closing at noon on Tuesday, April 25, we will still be available by email until 3:30 pm.

This Friday is our monthly food giveaway; if you’d like to help out and haven’t before, please contact Pastor Brian for information.  Any Blair County resident in need is welcome; we begin at 11:00 am but it is suggested you arrive early. This is a drive through food pick up.

Sunday, May 14 between services, there will be a Mother’s Day celebration in the Gathering Place. All are welcome. We will have pastries and beverages available to celebrate all the mothers we know.  (If anyone would be able to pick up a box of coffee on their way in to the church to be here around 9:15-9:30, it would be greatly appreciated. Just let Jill know!  We will reimburse you.)

This Saturday is the monthly Soup & Sandwich Luncheon. If you’d like to make a soup please let us know.  Lunch is served 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. All are welcome.  Dine in or take out available

The nursery is looking for more volunteers. You must be 18 or older and have clearances and training.  The nursery is staffed during our 10:45 service for kids 3 and under. Without more volunteers we may not be able to have the nursery staffed each Sunday.  

The ROCK is winding down for the year however, they will be in need of more volunteers for the 2023-24 session.  The ROCK had the most kids registered ever this year (135!!) and unfortunately will not be able to function without more volunteers.  {Specific needs are folks who are interested in working with our Youth age students (6th-12th grade) as this was the largest group this year, most weeks having around 30 kids}  Please reach out to Ashley for more information ashleymiller1228@gmail.com  

Have a musical gift?  The Praise Band is looking for folks that play instruments to join them on Sunday mornings!  We do ask that you attend Praise Band practice several times before joining in on Sunday mornings; please reach out to the office for more information.

Friday, Pastor Brian will be here in the sanctuary for a time of reflection and prayer from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm.  We will be going Juanita UMC at 7:00 pm for the Good Friday service.  

PRAYER VIGIL INFORMATION
Our prayer vigil will begin at 8:00 pm and run until 8:00 pm Saturday. Please CLICK HERE to access the prayer vigil guide Pastor Brian put together. Printed copies will be available here at the church for those praying here. If you are praying here (reminder, this is only available from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Saturday) there will be a classroom set up on the Elevation Room side for prayer, but you may pray in the sanctuary, etc. Only the right side sanctuary door will be open during this time).

Easter Sunday services are at 7:00 am and 9:30 am. Breakfast will be held from 8:15 am to around 9:00 am in the social hall.  All are welcome!  

The church office will be closed until Tuesday, April 11^th. The office will be available by email Friday until 12:30 pm. Please email us at 2ndaveumc@gmail.com as replies to this email are not received.  

A Maundy Thursday service will be held here on April 6 at 7:00 pm.

Good Friday the church will be open from 12:00 – 1:00 pm for a time of reflection and prayer with Pastor Brian.

We still have quite a few at home time slots available for our 24 Hour Prayer Vigil beginning Friday evening. Please let me know if you’d like to pray for an hour.

Sunday we will celebrate the Risen Savior at 7:00 am and 9:30 am; breakfast will be held from 8:15 – 9:15 in the social hall. There is no Sunday School or Jr. Church, the nursery will be open as a cry room for a grown up to stay with their child 3 and under if needed.

The church office will be closed on Monday, April 10.

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the youth during the fish dinners (and those who donated baking supplies)!  

We have Palms available if anyone would like one; please stop by during office hours this week.

Easter flowers will be available to take home on Easter Sunday or on Tuesday April 11 during office hours if you cannot make it on Easter (after this anything left will be taken with Pastor on visits)

Ballots to vote on the future of 2nd Ave will be available here at the church on Sundays beginning on Sunday, April 30. Jill will  be in the Gathering Place before 8:15, from around 9:45 – 10:15 and until 12:15 to assign you a numbered ballot. Ballots will be accepted until May 14.  Anyone who actively attends who is 18+ (or anyone under 18 who has been confirmed) will be able to vote on the direction 2nd Ave will be taking.  If you were unable to attend the initial discussion with the options we are weighing a video is available to watch here.

Join us Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday and Holy Communion at both 8:15/10:45 am.  Our message this week is “Glimpses of Heaven: The King is Coming.”  2nd Ave Kids will hold their Easter Egg hunt following the 10:45 service this Sunday. Lunch will be served in the hall and the egg hunt will follow.   (If you are not able to attend and would like a palm, please contact Jill early next week)

Please sign up if you plan to attend next Sunday’s Easter Breakfast, which will be held 8:15 am – 9:15 am, so the breakfast crew knows how many to prepare for; the sign up sheet is on the round table.

We have lots of time slots left for our 24-Hour Prayer Vigil which begins at 8 pm on Good Friday and runs until 8 pm on Holy Saturday.  There are times the church will be open if you choose to pray here. All times can also be at home if you would rather do that.

Please remember, Easter Sunday services are held at 7:00 am and 9:30 am; pass this along to any folks who may not know or remember.

Our 2nd Ave Kids Easter Egg Hunt is this upcoming Sunday following the 10:45 service.  Kids 5th grade and under and their family are welcome to stay for lunch in the social hall and then attend the egg hunt!  Please register by Wednesday, March 29 if you plan to attend!  You can call the church office or by clicking here!

Food Pantry is this Friday beginning at 11:00 am for any Blair County resident in need. If you are planning to volunteer, please arrive at 10:00 am.

This Friday will be the last Lenten Fish Dinner Buffet of the season; all proceeds benefit the 2nd Ave Youth Group.  4:30 pm – 7:00 pm  (All you can eat buffet $17/take out meal $14)

Holy Week begins next Sunday, April 2 with Palm Sunday services at 8:15 & 10:45 am, a Maundy Thursday service will be held on April 6 at 7:00 pm, there will be a Good Friday prayer time from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm here at 2nd Ave with Pastor Brian and then a service at Juniata UMC at 7:00 pm

Please sign up for an hour time slot in our 24 Hour Prayer Vigil which begins at 8:00 pm Good Friday and ends on 8:00 pm Holy Saturday.  To sign up call the church office or see the sign up sheet on the round table.

Join us Sunday at 8:15/10:45 for the next message in our series “Glimpses of Heaven.”  We will hear from Matthew 25:31-46 (MSG) “The Sheep and the Goats.”

Sunday is the last day to turn in your Easter Flower orders with payment. The Easter flowers will be available to take with you following Easter Sunday services.  Order forms are available on the round table in the sanctuary.

Please sign up for our 24-Hour Prayer Vigil. Which runs from 8 pm Good Friday to 8 pm on Holy Saturday.  Sign up on the round table or by calling the church office.  There are times available at home as well as if you’d like to come to the church to pray.

Holy Week begins next Sunday, April 2, Palm Sunday!  Our services will be at the regular times of 8:15 & 10:45, and following the 10:45 service, there will be a lunch and Easter Egg Hunt for our 2nd Ave Kids!  Kids grade 5 and under are welcome. This is not a drop off event; parents/guardians are expected to stay.  Please register by clicking here!

Schedule for the rest of Holy Week:
• April 6 – Maundy Thursday service 7:00 pm
• April 7 – Good Friday  prayer at 2nd Ave 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
• Good Friday Service 7:00 pm at Juniata UMC
• 24 Hour Prayer Vigil 8:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Saturday)
• April 9 – Easter Sunday service 7:00 am
• Breakfast (please sign up!) 8:15 am
• Easter Service 9:30 am (Combined Service)

Join us Sunday as we continue our Lenten series “Glimpses of Heaven” with this week’s message “Bags of Gold.”  Matthew 25:14-30. Services at 8:15 & 10:45 am.

Please note: There has been a time change for the morn informational meeting next week, Wednesday, March 22. The morning meeting will be at 11:15 am (instead of 10 am). The evening meeting will still be at 7:00 pm.

Reminder, Easter flower orders and payments are due no later than next Sunday, March 26. Order forms are available at the church or can be emailed.  

2nd Ave will be having a night at the Iron Bridge Dinner Theatre’s production of “Ruth” (Sight and Sound’s show, this is the first time they’ve ever allowed anyone to use their scripts and music) on Sunday, May 21^st at 5:00 pm. Tickets will be available to reserve through Deb Shawley for a special price of $41 and must be paid by April 3rd. Please contact Deb (or Jill in the office) with any questions.

There are sign up sheets on the round table in the sanctuary for the following:

• Easter Sunday breakfast (please sign up so the kitchen knows how many to prepare for)

• Our March 26 Potluck Lunch (please sign up with how many are attending and what you plan to bring)

• Making/providing meals for families with new babies, other life changes, people just out the hospital, etc.

Our Soup & Sandwich Luncheon is next Saturday, March 18^th. Ron is looking for some volunteers to make the following soups: wedding soup, chili, vegetable soup, broccoli cheese, chicken noodle (or if you have another soup you’d like to make, that would be great too!). Please sign up in the sanctuary or call the office.

All kids 5^th grade and under (and their parent/guardian, this is not a drop off event) are invited to an Easter Egg hunt on Sunday, April 2^nd! Following the 10:45 service, there will be lunched served in the social hall and then the egg hunt will follow! Please register so we know how many to prepare for! Egg Hunt Sign Up

Easter flower order forms are available on the round table and are due, with payment, no later than March 26^th.

Our Holy Week Schedule is as follows (copies are also available on the round table in the sanctuary, feel free to use this as an invitation to invite a friend to church!):

   • April 2 Palm Sunday: services at 8:15 & 10:45 am

   • April 6 Maundy Thursday: service at 7 pm

   • April 7 Good Friday: reflection time 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, Good Friday Evening service at Juniata UMC at 7 pm

   • April 9 Easter Sunday: Sunrise service 7 am, breakfast 8:15 am, combined service 9:30 am

(we will be having a 24 hour prayer vigil, more information coming soon)