Join us Sunday as we continue our Lenten series, “Glimpses of Heaven” with this week’s message What to Watch For.  Sunday’s scripture is from Matthew 24:1-14   We will also celebrate Holy Communion at the 8:15/10:45 services.

This Sunday at 3:15 pm will be our special church conference.  Please arrive around 20 minutes early to get checked in and receive your ballot.  You must be in person to vote and cannot be late.  

We will have a Church Potluck Lunch on Sunday, March 26^th following the 10:45 service. Sign up sheet is on the round table, so we know how many will be attending and what you plan to bring.

Thursday, March 9^th, we will host an evening worship time at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary.  All are welcome to attend.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of our Lenten journey.  Pastor Brian will be in the sanctuary from 9:00 am – 10:00 am for ashes and communion, then we will have our Ash Wednesday Service around 7:10 pm following the ROCK (Please enter through the sanctuary doors or glass elevator doors as it will be ROCK dismissal at this time).

Our Food Pantry is this Friday at 11:00 am.  Any Blair County resident in need is welcome.  Thank you to everyone who donated this month! Our SOUPER Bowl Sunday food drive was a big success! 

After this past Wednesday’s presentation on disaffiliation and the survey that followed, our church leadership met and after reviewing the survey results, it was determined that we would continue on and hold a Special Church Conference on Sunday, March 5^th at 3:15 PM.  A letter is attached and copies will be in the mail by tomorrow to everyone we have a mailing address on file for.  If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Brian or a member of church council (You may also contact Jill in the office and she will make sure someone gets back to you). Please see the Second Ave UMC Church Leadership Letter

Thank you to everyone for participating in SOUPER Bowl Sunday–the table was filled yesterday and all items will be donated to our February Food Pantry!

**Reminder** Anyone who ordered chocolate covered strawberries, they will be available to pick up tomorrow, Tuesday February 14^th during office hours 7:30 am – 1:30 pm.  You will be buzzed in and you can just proceed to the kitchen refrigerator to pick them up.  If you have trouble with the stairs, please call ahead so we can to meet you at the door.  814-943-2072

Wednesday at 7:30 pm there will be a presentation from a conference representative pertaining to disaffiliation. We encourage everyone to attend. Please reach out ASAP if you missed church yesterday and need caught up with what will be happening. The office will be open 7:30 am – 12:00 pm on Wednesday as I will be back here to run sound/record the meeting in the evening (we’re hoping we’ll be permitted to record the meeting so we can share with anyone who cannot make it).

This Saturday is our monthly Soup & Sandwich luncheon; Ron is still looking for someone to make vegetable soup & corn chowder. Everyone is welcome, lunch is free, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm (dine in or take out).

Planning ahead
• There will not be a livestream of the services this coming Sunday, February 19^th
• The office will be closed on Monday, February 20^th
• Ash Wednesday, February 22: Ashes & Communion 8:45 am – 10:00 am, service following the ROCK 7:10 pm.

Join us Sunday as our guest speaker, Kirth Benson, will bring the message “The Biography of Every Believer.”

Sunday is the day!  Bring in your canned soups and other non perishables for SOUPER Bowl Sunday! Items can be placed on the table at the front of the Elevation Room. All items will be donated to the February Food Pantry here at 2nd Ave.

Chocolate covered strawberry orders are due with payment no later than Sunday!  You will be able to pick up your order on Tuesday, February 14 from 7:30 am – 1:30 pm.

Wednesday’s church conference to vote on disaffiliation has been postponed. There will be a representative here from the conference to present information at 7:30 pm.

February/March offering envelopes: We are aware some people did not receive their envolopes. The envelope company is looking into it so please just use an envelope available here at the church and put your name and envelope number. (if you know it)

The Youth Group is looking for cake mixes and ingredients (icing, oil, etc.) so they can prepare cakes for the fish dinner desserts. Please place items in the kitchen on the counter and mark them “fish dinners.”

Tuesday, February 7^th our Trustees will meet at 6:00 pm and Church Council will meet at 7:00 pm

Thursday, February 9^th  at 7:00 pm will be the final opportunity to have any questions answered or concerns addressed prior to the February 15^th disaffiliation vote. The vote will take place on Wednesday, February 15^th at 7:30 pm. All members are encouraged to attend and vote. Please plan to arrive 7:05-7:10 pm to the glass elevator entrance and proceeded to the Narnia Room were you’ll will be checked in, then proceed upstairs. Let us know ASAP if you have any questions.}

Saturday, February 11^th is our Game Night, all ages welcome! 6:00 pm in the Social Hall (bring a snack to share if you like)

This is the last week to order chocolate covered strawberries. $12/per dozen (payment due with order)–pick up on Valentine’s Day here at the church from 7:30-1:30 (please contact Pastor Brian to make other arrangements if this doesn’t work for you).

This Sunday is our SOUPER Bowl Sunday! We hope to fill the table in the Elevation Room with soups (and other non-perishables) for our February Food Pantry (donations can be dropped off during office hours as well).  

Join us Sunday for our message “New Beginnings: The End of An Era.”  We will celebrate Holy Communion at both services (8:15/10:45 am).

Beginning this Sunday February 5^th you can start bringing in soup (and other non-perishables) for our SOUPER Bowl Sunday.  There’s a table in the Elevation Room and you can use your donation to vote on the team you think will win the BIG GAME!  All donations will go to the February Food Bank here at 2nd Ave.  

Sunday February 12^th will be the last day to turn in chocolate covered strawberry orders.  Forms are available in the sanctuary or by clicking here.  Payment is due with your order (please only exact change only or checks made payable to 2nd Ave UMC with “strawberries” in the memo).

**Reminder** The special church conference to vote on disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church will be held Wednesday, February 15^th at 7:30 pm. Please plan to arrive around 7:05 pm to get in line to be checked in and given your ballot. Please ONLY use the glass elevator entrance to enter the building for this meeting.  You will be checked in and handed a ballot and will then be able to proceed up to the sanctuary.  The only thing on the agenda is the vote. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, they need to be addressed prior to February 15^th with a member of church council.  Below is a copy of the letter from church council that was sent out earlier in the week:

Disaffiliation Vote Letter

Our Church Conference to hold the disaffiliation vote was moved to Wednesday, February 15^th at 7:30 pm.

Order your chocolate covered strawberries!  $12/per dozen (money due at time of order) pick up on Valentine’s Day during office hours.  Forms are available in the sanctuary and can be emailed as well. The last day to order is February 12^th.

Game Night, Saturday February 11^th at 6:00 pm. All ages welcome

SOUPer Bowl Sunday: February 12^th we will be collecting non perishable items in the Elevation Room. You will be able to choose who you think will win the BIG GAME!  (You can bring items in beginning February 5^th)

Church, 

Last Sunday, January 15, it was announced at both services that Ad Council voted unanimously to hold a special Church Conference to vote on disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. As I’m writing this to you, I pray that we spend this time seeking the Holy Spirit’s wisdom for this decision. The church conference will be held on Thursday, January 26, at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary.

My prayers are with you, Church, as you reflect, pray, dialogue, and eventually vote to disaffiliate or stay United Methodist. Walking through this process with you all the last few months, I cannot tell you how proud I am of you, Church, for your honesty, authenticity, wisdom, the good questions you asked, and your faithfulness during these days. The decision to hold the disaffiliation vote was not taken lightly by our Administrative Board. Personally reflecting on our leadership, I am proud of their hard work, prayer, discernment, participation in our three large church group meetings, and time spent reflecting on the survey data collected at the church meetings.

I plan to send a second letter next week detailing more specific details about the vote. Here are a few final points of consideration:

1) You must be a voting member by profession of faith or through transfer to vote on January 26. If there’s any doubt, please clarify your membership this week. The middle of next week will be too late. Please call the church office if you’re in any doubt about your membership.

2) Regarding our homebound members voting on January 26, our leadership team has sent that question to the conference leadership team, the conference leadership did respond that members need to be present to vote at the church on January 26. If you have questions about this please contact the District Office.

3) To have the disaffiliation vote pass, 2/3 of the votes tallied need to be in favor of disaffiliation for the vote to pass.

4) Second Ave. is committed to staying in our church building, the neighborhood surrounding it, and as a church, we are committed to keeping our staff and seeing their ministries grow. 

5) Please know, Church, I will be praying for you, especially during these days. Know that God has equipped you and prepared you for this moment.

Blessings, Pastor B

Join us Sunday as we continue our series “New Beginnings” with this week’s message God Is For You (Deuteronomy 2:1-23). Services are at 8:15/10:45 and can be streamed on YouTube as well (keep in mind this is mostly for hearing the speaking parts).

Jr. Church is in need of snacks and small waters.  You can order from their Amazon Wish List here and have items shipped directly to the church or use it for ideas.  Donations can be dropped off during office hours or on Sundays to the Jr. Church classroom.  Jr. Church serves approx. 25 kids each Sunday so your donations are greatly appreciated!  

We are currently taking orders for chocolate covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day pick up.  They are $12 per dozen, money is due with order (no later than Sun, 2/12) and all proceeds benefit the 20/20 Vision Fund here at 2nd Ave.  Forms are available on the round table in the sanctuary or can be emailed.  

Upcoming dates:

• Thursday, January 26 – 7:30 pm – Special Church Conference to vote on disaffiliation
• Friday, January 27 – 11:00 am – Food Pantry
• Saturday, February 11 – Game Night here at the church. All are welcome
• Look for the February Newsletter to be emailed out early next week!

As Pastor Brian announced yesterday at both services, Church Council has unanimously voted for there to be a vote to disaffiliate from the UMC. This vote is scheduled to happen on Thursday, January 26^th at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary.  (You can listen to his announcement using this link, it begins around the 1:30 mark of the recording YouTube link )

You must be a member (either joined the church or transferred your membership) to vote. If you are not sure of your status, please check ASAP by contacting me in the church office. (Just because you’ve attended church here for years, if you did not ever officially join the church, you would not be a voting member. Please contact Jill with any questions)

There needs to be a 66.6% vote to disaffiliate. If vote doesn’t reach the required 66.6%, we would remain in the UMC for now.  Please reach out to Pastor Brian or a member of church council for information on the vote

There are times available to speak with Pastor Brian prior to this vote, contact the office for days/times available)