Our four kids who attended camp had a wonderful time! We are especially excited to share that Connor Schultz was baptized while at camp. Be sure to congratulate him the next time you see him at church!

Our Youth Group also had a fantastic outing this past Saturday. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the day such a success. Next week, the group will head to Williamsport for their Mission Trip. We will have a special time of prayer over them during this Sunday’s service before they leave.

Our Block Party is quickly approaching! Join us on Saturday, August 22, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. If you’re able to help in any way, please sign up in the sanctuary.

This Sunday, August 2, we will celebrate Holy Communion during the morning worship service.

On Sunday, August 9, we will be blessed to hear a testimony from Dottie Hileman. We hope you’ll plan to join us!

Looking ahead, our next Potluck Lunch and our end-of-summer picnic at the Stuckey’s will both take place in September. We are waiting to confirm the dates and will announce them as soon as they are finalized.

Please continue praying for the pastor God is preparing for our church. While we may not know who that person is yet, God already does. We also ask that you pray for our committees, staff, and congregation. As we continue through this season of transition, our ministries, missions, outreach, and worship remain strong. We are committed to continuing the work God has called us to do.

If you have questions about decisions being made or the direction of a ministry, we encourage you to speak directly with a staff member, an SPRC member, or someone from Church Council. We’re always happy to explain the “why” behind what we’re doing. Open communication helps prevent misunderstandings and strengthens our church family.

Upcoming Meeting Reminders:

• Wednesday, July 29 – Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 4 – Trustees, 6:00 p.m.; Church Council, 6:45 p.m.

This Sunday, Rev. Steve will be preaching from Romans 8:28–39, sharing the message, “Sometimes Prayer Is Harder Than We Think.” We’ll also be blessed by Gabriella playing the hymns on the piano and a special flute prelude by Jenn Murphy. Be sure to arrive early so you don’t miss it!

A sign-up sheet will be available this Sunday for volunteers to help with our upcoming Block Party. Please take a moment to see where you can lend a hand—we appreciate everyone who is willing to serve!

The Social Events Committee invites you to a Family Game Night & Ice Cream Bar on Friday, August. 7, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Be sure to check this Sunday’s bulletin for all the details.

Next Sunday, August 2, we will celebrate Holy Communion. Jill is looking for four volunteers to assist with serving by intinction. If you are willing to help, please let Jill know.

VBS officially wrapped up on Friday, and the children shared their theme song during worship yesterday—bringing VBS 2026 to a wonderful close! A special thank-you to Ashley for organizing such a fantastic week, and to everyone who helped make it possible.

Thank you as well to everyone who prepared soup and served at Saturday’s luncheon. Your generosity and service are truly a blessing!

If you were unable to attend church yesterday, Rev. Steve announced the passing of Don Kling. Please keep Don’s family and loved ones in your prayers. Friends will be received from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Myers-Somers Funeral Home, Inc., 501 Sixth Avenue, Altoona. A funeral service will follow at 6:00 p.m., with Rev. Steve Moore officiating.

The Social Events Committee will host a Family Game Night & Ice Cream Bar from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7. Everyone is welcome—bring a friend and your favorite game! Please RSVP at the table in the sanctuary. This is an all-ages event, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Contact the church office for additional information.

Our Block Party is quickly approaching! Save the date for Saturday, August 22. A volunteer sign-up sheet is available in the sanctuary. Please take a look and consider how you might be able to help.

We are currently seeking an organist or pianist who can play hymns and a prelude regularly during our 10:15 a.m. Sunday worship service. If you have a musical talent we may not know about—or know someone who might be interested—please contact us!

The kids will perform their VBS theme song and dance for the church this Sunday. We will return to our regularly scheduled children’s song sing-along next week!

Rev. Steve will continue his series from Matthew 13 this Sunday as he answers the question, “Is There Any Good in Weeds?” Sunday School will be held from 9:00 a.m.– 10:00 a.m., Coffee & Conversation will take place in the Gathering Place from 9:30 a.m.– 10:15 a.m., and worship begins at 10:15 a.m.

Our monthly Soup & Sandwich Luncheon is tomorrow from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to stop by and enjoy this free meal!

Upcoming meeting reminders:

SPRC: Tuesday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m.

Finance Committee: Wednesday, July 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Trustees: Tuesday, August 4 at 6:00 p.m.

Church Council: Tuesday, August 4 at 6:45 p.m.

Don’t forget that our church potluck luncheon will be held Sunday, July 26, following the worship service. Please sign up in the sanctuary and let us know what you plan to bring. Our next potluck will be held in September. We are still working on the date and will share it soon so you can mark your calendar.

Jill will be away from Thursday evening, July 23, through Sunday evening, July 26. Please contact her early next week with any needs so she can assist you before leaving. Emails and messages received after noon on Thursday will not be returned until Monday, July 27. During this time, please contact Wendy Lucas in the event of an emergency.

VBS week is here! We are so excited to welcome kids to Snowball Mountain where they will learn how to find their strength in God! We will be sharing daily wrap ups on Facebook each evening so be sure to check that out. And if you have kids or grandkids attending, be sure to check out the songs we’ve posted so they can practice!

Just a reminder that there will be no evening activities at the church this week as our building will be in use for Vacation Bible School. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Yesterday at church we announced it was Braydon’s last day here with us playing the organ and playing in the praise band. While we will miss him very much, we wish him well and know he will be on many stages performing in the future! If you know any organists who may be looking to play on Sunday mornings, please have them send a resume, cover letter and a video of their playing to office@2ndavechurch.org.

{We will still be having hymns as well as a traditional prelude on Sunday mornings, so please don’t worry about that!}

There is still time to sign up and pay for the church night at the Altoona Curve, on August 30! The last day to sign up and pay will be August 9 (sorry no late payments will be taken). If you’ve sign up and haven’t paid yet, please remit a payment at your earliest convenience.

I would just like to take a moment to thank our interim pastor, Rev. Steve, as well as the rest of the church staff who has really been stepping in to help fill spots not only during Sunday worship, but throughout the week as needed. I see how much of a blessing each one of them are and hope you do also! It would not be possible to keep it all running so smoothly without each and every one of them!

We hope you’ll join us this Sunday! Rev. Steve will be sharing a message titled “Should You Plant a Garden?” Worship begins at 10:15 a.m., with Sunday School from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. and Coffee Hour from 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. We look forward to worshiping with you!

If you picked up a VBS snack donation snowflake, please bring your donated items to the church on Sunday and place them in the kitchen. This will help Ashley make sure everything is ready for the week. Thank you for your support!

Attention VBS Volunteers! Please arrive at the church no later than 5:30 a.m. on Monday so Ashley can review a few important details before the evening begins. Thank you for serving!

A reminder that Vacation Bible School will be held Monday through Friday next week. There will be no other evening activities at the church during VBS. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Attention Youth Group families: Be sure to check the Facebook post or contact Nic Harclerode for details about the special activity planned for July!

Our Soup & Sandwich Lunch will be held on Saturday, July 18, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Please sign up in the sanctuary if you are able to provide a soup or volunteer to help.

Food Pantry Update: Beginning with the Friday, July 31 pantry distribution, the Food Pantry will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., or until supplies run out, whichever comes first. Please note the new hours.

A reminder to sign up and submit your payment for the Altoona Curve game no later than Sunday, August 9. Tickets must be paid for by the deadline to attend.

Join us for a church potluck lunch on Sunday, July 26, following the morning worship service. Please sign up in the sanctuary to let us know you’ll be attending and what dish you plan to bring so we can plan accordingly.

If God has blessed you with musical talent and you would like to share your gifts by playing a prelude, providing special music, or participating in another musical role during worship, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out and let us know. We are always excited to welcome more musicians to our worship services.

VBS begins in less than one week! There’s still time to register your child and join our volunteer team. If you have any questions, please contact Ashley. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the church by 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 13, to help prepare for an exciting first night of VBS. We can’t wait to see everyone there!

We’re excited that four of our 2nd Ave kids and teens will be attending GMC Camp July 19–24! Please join us in praying for each camper, the counselors, and the camp staff as they spend the week encountering God, growing in their faith, and building lasting friendships. We pray it will be a life-changing week for everyone involved!

We’re looking for individuals and families to join our Care Community through Keystone Family Alliance! Our team provides a meal on Tuesdays, on a rotating schedule, for a grandmother who is caring for her grandchildren through foster care. The family occasionally attends our church while remaining active in their home church.  If you’re interested in serving, a virtual training session will be held next Monday. For more information or to get involved, please contact Stacey Wombacher, our Care Community Team Leader and Advocate. We’d love to have you join us in supporting this family!

Upcoming Events:

• Sunday, July 26 – Join us for a church potluck lunch immediately following the morning worship service! Bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy a great time of food and fellowship with our church family. Everyone is welcome!

• Friday, July 31 – Mark your calendar for our next Food Pantry beginning at 11:00 AM. Food will be distributed while supplies last. Please help us spread the word to anyone in our community who could benefit.

• Friday, August 7 – Save the date! Join us for a Family Game Night and Ice Cream Sundae Bar. Bring the whole family for an evening of fun, fellowship, and delicious treats. The time will be announced soon—stay tuned for more details!

• Saturday, August 22 – Mark your calendar for our Community Block Party from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.! There will be food, games, activities, fellowship, and fun for the whole family. Invite your friends, neighbors, and loved ones—we hope to see you there!

• Sunday, August 30 – Join us for an evening at the Altoona Curve! We’ll enjoy a buffet dinner together before the game, with festivities beginning at 5:00 p.m. It’s a great opportunity for fellowship and fun—we hope you’ll make plans to join us!  Please note that tickets must be purchased in advance to attend. See the church for ticket information and purchase details.

 

We hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we gather for worship. We will celebrate Holy Communion, with both an intinction station and individually packaged communion elements available.  Rev. Steve will bring the message, “Lord, I Need Rest!”, based on Matthew 11:16–19, 25–30.

We’re just over a week away from Vacation Bible School! This week you’ll begin to see the church transform into Snowball Mountain Challenge as we prepare for an exciting week of fun and learning.  Children ages 3 (with a parent or guardian) through those entering 5th grade are invited to join us July 13–17 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. as we discover how to find our strength in God!  Be sure to stop by the VBS table in the sanctuary. Children can pick up a cup filled with fun activities, and adults can sign up to volunteer or donate snack items. If you have any questions, please contact Ashley.  Please note: There will be no evening activities at the church during the week of VBS.

Join us on Sunday, July 26, for a potluck lunch following the worship service! If you plan to attend, please sign up at the table in the sanctuary so we can plan accordingly.

On Sunday, August 9, we’ll enjoy a special “Songs & Scripture” worship service as we explore some of your favorite hymns and praise songs, along with the Bible passages that inspired them. We’re accepting song requests now! To give everyone an opportunity to participate, we’re asking for one song suggestion per person for now. You can submit your request online or complete a request slip at the church and place it in the offering plate. We’ll do our best to include as many of your requests as possible!

The church office will be closed on Monday, and the staff will be off for the day. The office will reopen on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.

Just a reminder that the June/July newsletter, calendar, and Bible reading plan were distributed last month. If you need another copy, I’d be happy to email them to you, and printed copies are also available at the church. The next newsletter, which will cover August and September, will be distributed at the end of July.

Vacation Bible School is just around the corner! Ashley is still looking for two more volunteers and is also accepting donations for VBS snacks. Be sure to stop by the VBS table in the sanctuary to see how you can help. VBS will be held July 13–17 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Children ages 3 (with a parent or guardian) through those entering 5th grade are invited to join us for a fun and exciting week! Register Here

The Youth Group will be traveling to Williamsport for their mission trip from the evening of August 2 through August 8. They are still in need of one additional adult volunteer to accompany the group. If you are interested in serving in this way, please contact Nic Harclerode for more information.

A reminder that Rev. Steve Moore is serving as our interim pastor. If you have any pastoral needs, please don’t hesitate to contact him directly. You may also reach out to Wendy Lucas or me, and we will be happy to connect you with him so he can provide the care and support you need.

We have an exciting summer ahead! In July, we’ll enjoy Vacation Bible School with special VBS music and decorations, followed by a potluck luncheon on July 26. Looking ahead to August, we’ll host a Songs & Scripture Sunday on August 9, featuring your favorite hymns and praise songs—we’ll be taking song requests in the coming weeks. Then, on August 16, we’ll have the privilege of welcoming Jacob Baskin as our guest speaker, followed by a recap of our Youth Group mission trip. We encourage you to join us each week so you don’t miss all that God is doing in the life of our church. Sunday School meets every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m., with Junior Church available during the 10:15 a.m. worship service. Coffee and light refreshments are also available in the Gathering Place from 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. We look forward to worshiping with you!

We are still the church this summer. We are still the church as we await a full-time pastor. We are still 2nd Ave—continuing in the same mission, the same ministry, and the same faithfulness we’ve always known. And through it all, we invite you to walk alongside us on this journey.

 

We’d love for you to join us this Sunday!

☕ Coffee Hour: 9:30 a.m.
📖 Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
⛪ Morning Worship: 10:15 a.m.

This week’s message will focus on Abraham’s faith and his willingness to submit to God’s plan. Plus, our 2nd Ave Kids will be sharing a special song about Abraham during the service.

We look forward to worshiping with you!

This Sunday marks the final Saturate Altoona event of the summer! We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Vicky Plummer and Sherry Falbow for leading this outreach ministry, as well as to everyone who volunteered at our Blessing Booth. Your time, generosity, and willingness to serve have been a tremendous blessing to our community.

The countdown to VBS is on! Now is the perfect time to register your kids, grandkids, neighbors, and friends for an exciting week at Snowball Mountain Challenge!

We’re also looking for snack donations and volunteers to help make VBS a success. Stop by the VBS table near the front of the sanctuary to register, sign up to help, donate snacks, or learn more. We can’t wait to see what God has in store!

Save the date! Join us for our next Church Potluck Lunch on Sunday, July 26, immediately following the 10:15 a.m. Worship Service. Everyone is welcome!

Be sure to sign up in the sanctuary so we can plan for a great time of food, fellowship, and community.

Mark your calendars for our Community Block Party on Saturday, August 22, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.!

We’re looking for volunteers to help make this event a success. There are many ways to serve, including setting up, tearing down, staffing activity booths, helping in the kitchen, and more.

We’re also accepting donations for our Silent Auction. If you’d like to donate a themed basket or items to be included in a basket, we’d love to hear from you. Thank you for helping us make this a fun and welcoming event for our community!

We will be celebrating Holy Communion next Sunday, July 5, during our 10:15 a.m. Worship Service. We invite you to join us as we come together at the Lord’s Table.

Please note that the church office will be closed on Monday, July 6. We will resume normal office hours the following day.