A huge thank you to Sherry Falbow and Vicky Plummer for their hard work organizing this year’s Blessing Booth at Saturate Altoona! We are grateful for their dedication and for everyone who has volunteered throughout the event. There is only one Sunday remaining, so if you haven’t had the opportunity to attend yet, be sure to join us next week. The Blessing Booths open at 5:30 p.m., followed by a community worship service at 6:30 p.m. in Heritage Plaza.

Although it was announced during worship yesterday that we would be having a church potluck on Sunday, June 28, the potluck has been rescheduled to the last Sunday in July following our combined 10:15 a.m. service. A sign-up sheet will be available beginning this Sunday. We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your understanding. We look forward to sharing this time of fellowship together in July!

Vacation Bible School is quickly approaching! If you would like to volunteer, register your child, or donate snack items, please stop by the VBS table in the sanctuary. If you have any questions or would like more information, please see Ashley. Thank you for helping make VBS a wonderful experience for our children and community!

2nd Ave Kids would like to remind everyone that our children’s ministries continue throughout the summer! Sunday School meets from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., and Jr. Church is available during our 10:15 a.m. worship service. Attendance has been a little lower during the summer months, and Miss Wendy and Miss Ashley are missing all of our kids’ smiling faces! We hope you’ll join us as we continue learning, growing, and having fun together each Sunday.

Sherry Falbow has taken over the connections and contact with our at-home members. She has reached out and left messages with folks; but if you know of anyone who would like to be visited or contacted, please let me know so I can add them to the list.

 

We hope you can join us this Sunday! Sunday School will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., with Coffee Hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.. Our worship service starts at 10:15 a.m. We will also be recognizing and honoring all fathers and men in attendance with a small gift from the church. Be sure to stop by the entryway table and pick yours up!

Exciting news! Vacation Bible School registration is now open! This year, VBS is available for children ages 4 through those entering 5^th grade. We are also excited to welcome 3-year-olds who attend with a parent or guardian who will remain with them during the program. Join us July 13–17 from 6:00–8:00 PM for a fun-filled week of faith, friendship, games, music, and more! Register today using the link below.

VBS Registration

Beginning this Sunday, a VBS snack donation board will be available in the sanctuary. If you would like to help support our Vacation Bible School ministry, please stop by the board and consider donating one or more of the requested items. Thank you for helping make VBS a great experience for our children!

This Sunday marks the third week of Saturate Altoona! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered at our Blessing Booth so far, as well as those who will be serving in the weeks ahead. Your willingness to share Christ’s love with our community is greatly appreciated. The Blessing Booths open at 5:30 p.m., and the worship service begins at 6:30 p.m. We hope you’ll join us for this special community outreach and worship experience.

Upcoming:

• June 26 – Food Pantry
• July 6 – Office Closed
• August 7 – Game Night & Ice Cream Sundae Bar (more info. TBA)
• August 22 – Block Party
• August 30 – Altoona Curve (sign up and pay for tickets by August 9)

A huge thank-you to everyone who has volunteered at our Blessing Booths during Saturate Altoona over the past two weeks! We still have two Sundays remaining and would love to see more of our church family join us. Blessing Booths open at 5:30 p.m. each Sunday, with worship beginning at 6:30 p.m. Come be a blessing to our community!

This evening we have the privilege of hosting dinner for Team Effort. Thank you to everyone who helped prepare the meal and to those who will be serving tonight. We also extend our gratitude to all who donated toppings for the ice cream sundaes. Your generosity and willingness to serve are greatly appreciated!

Vacation Bible School is just around the corner! Ashley will be setting up a snack donation board this week, so be sure to stop by and pick up a tag or two. Your donations help make VBS a great experience for our kids, and every contribution is appreciated!

Join us this Saturday for our monthly Free Community Luncheon! Everyone is welcome to enjoy a meal and fellowship from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!

This Sunday, we will be honoring the fathers in our church with a small gift as a token of our appreciation. Fathers, please be sure to stop by the table in the entryway and pick one up. We are thankful for all the dads and father figures who make a difference in the lives of their families and our church!

Join us on Sunday, August 30, for a fun-filled evening at the Altoona Curve! 2nd Ave will be hosting a church outing, and we’d love for you to be a part of it. Please sign up in the sanctuary if you plan to attend. The cost is $33 for adults and $24 for children, which includes a buffet dinner served along the third-base line from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Don’t miss this great opportunity for fellowship, food, and baseball!

 

We hope you’ll join us this Sunday as Rev. Steve shares the message, “What Is Your Fleece?” Sunday School and Coffee Hour begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by worship at 10:15 a.m.

Jill will be away Friday morning through Sunday evening with limited cell phone and email availability. If you have a pastoral emergency during that time, please contact Wendy Lucas or Rev. Steve.

On Monday, we will be serving dinner to more than 130 teens and adults with Team Effort. If you would like to help, Vicky is looking for volunteers to assist with preparation and serving, as well as donations of ice cream sundae toppings. Toppings may be dropped off in the kitchen on Sunday or during office hours on Monday.

Vacation Bible School is only about a month away! Kids ages 4 through those entering 5^th grade are invited to join us July 13–17 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. for the Snowball Mountain Challenge. See Ashley for more information.

Please stop by the sign-up table in the sanctuary for the following opportunities and events!

• Soup & Sandwich Luncheon — Saturday, June 20
• Night at the Altoona Curve — Sunday, August 30. Tickets are $33 for adults and $24 for kids 12 and under and include a picnic on the third base line from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The game begins at 6:00 p.m.

If you have not yet picked up a copy of the June/July newsletter, reading plans, or the free daily devotional booklets, they are available on the table in the sanctuary.

There will be a visitation for Jane White at Myers-Somers on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and again here at 2nd Ave on Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Her funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., with Revs. Brian Sandell and Steve Moore co-leading the service. Please note that the office will close around 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, as Jill will be assisting with slides for the service.

This Saturday, a group will be working at the parsonage and is looking for experienced adult painters to help. If you are available, please contact the church office for Priscilla’s phone number, or simply come by at 9:00 a.m.

Jill will be out of town from Friday morning through Sunday evening. If you have a pastoral emergency during that time, please contact Wendy Lucas.

We are aware of the sound issues affecting our recordings and livestreams at this time. Since no changes have been made to the system, we are working to determine the cause and resolve the problem as quickly as possible. We currently do not have a sound technician on staff, but we are doing our best to address the issue. We encourage everyone who is able to join us in person whenever possible.

We hope you can join us this Sunday as we celebrate Holy Communion during our 10:15 a.m. service. Communion stations will include both intinction and a station with separate elements. Sunday school classes for ages 4 through adults meet from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

On Sunday evening, we invite you to attend Saturate Altoona at Heritage Plaza in downtown Altoona. Blessing Booths open at 5:30 p.m. and worship begins at 6:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, June 10, we will gather to celebrate and remember the life of Jane White during an 11:00 a.m. memorial service. The service will be co-led by Revs. Brian Sandell and Steve Moore.  A visitation will be held Tuesday at Myers-Somers (time to be announced), as well as Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. here at the church prior to the service.  We will also need volunteers to help serve a meal following the service. If you are able to help, please let Vicky Plummer or me know.

Next Saturday at 10:00 a.m., we will be hosting Donuts with Dads. Please sign up on the table in the sanctuary if you plan to attend.

Vacation Bible School will be held July 13–17 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. for all children ages 4 through those entering 5th grade this fall. Please register online using the link below! https://www.cognitoforms.com/TheROCKAt2ndAve/_2026VacationBibleSchoolRegistration

Beginning today, summer office hours are in effect. Jill will be in the office Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and available by email until 3:00 p.m. each day.

We learned on Saturday that our dear sister in Christ, Jane White, went home to be with the Lord on Friday evening.

Visitation will be held at Myers-Somers Funeral Home on June 9 (time to be announced), and again at 2nd Ave on June 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.

Following the service, a luncheon will be provided at the church. We will need volunteers to assist with serving and hospitality. Additional details and volunteer opportunities will be shared as they become available.

Please keep Jane’s family and loved ones in your prayers during this time.

A few reminders:

• Saturday, June 6 – The Summer kick-off picnic at Canoe Creek 
• Saturday, June 13 – Donuts with Dads at 10:00 a.m., please sign up
• Monday, June 15 – Team Effort meal (volunteers needed, contact Vicky Plummer)
• Saturday, June 20, Soup & Sandwich Luncheon 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Sunday, June 21 – Father’s Day
• Friday, June 26 – Food Pantry day 

This Sunday, we are pleased to welcome Rev. Allyce Logue, Associate Pastor of Hicks Methodist Church in Duncansville, where she serves alongside Rev. Rich Morris. Rev. Logue will bring the message, “God’s Peace, Our Peace,” during our 10:15 a.m. worship service.

This Sunday will be the last day the nursery will be staffed before our summer schedule begins. From June through August, the nursery will remain available as a cry room, and children ages 2 through 5th grade are invited to attend Jr. Church. During the summer months, Jr. Church will be divided into two age groups: ages 2–5 and ages 6 through 5th grade.

Beginning Monday, our summer office hours will be in effect. I will be in the office Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and available by email until 3:00 p.m. each day.

Next Saturday, June 6, we will gather for our Summer Kickoff Picnic at Canoe Creek State Park! The Social Events Committee asks that everyone planning to attend please sign up and indicate what dish or item you are able to bring. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m., with lunch being served at 12:00 p.m. We will be meeting at Pavilion #3 on the fishing side of the park. We hope you’ll join us for a great time of food, fellowship, and fun!

During this interim period, if you experience a pastoral emergency, please contact either Wendy Lucas or me. We will ensure that Rev. Steve or another GMC pastor is notified and available to provide care and support.

Adam Edson, Chair of SPRC, will continue to provide updates as our pastoral search progresses. Any new information will be shared during Sunday morning announcements. Attending worship in person—or joining via livestream if you are away—is the best way to stay informed about what is happening.

Finally, please keep the Sandell family in your prayers as they travel and begin this new chapter in their lives. We have been truly blessed by their presence over the past 10 years. While we will miss them, we are grateful for the impact they have had here and look forward with joy to all they will bring to their new church and community.

If you missed Sunday’s service, it is now available on our YouTube channel. Following the announcements, our SPRC Chair, Adam Edson, shared an update on the pastoral search process. Be sure to take a few minutes to watch and stay informed.

This Friday is our monthly Food Pantry distribution day. If you are available to help, please meet in the Wesley Room (formerly the Narnia Room), located just inside the glass doors, by 9:45 a.m. Thank you for serving our community!

The Social Committee has planned a Summer Kick-Off Picnic at Canoe Creek on Saturday, June 6. Additional details are available on the table in the sanctuary. If you plan to attend, please be sure to sign up.

Throughout the month of June, we will be hosting a Blessing Booth at Saturate Altoona on Sunday evenings. We are still looking for volunteers to help staff the booth. If you would like to serve or have any questions, please let us know.

Beginning next Monday, the church office will observe summer hours, generally being open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

If you would like to read scripture in June, please let me know so we can begin scheduling several weeks at a time. I will also be reaching out over the next week to a few individuals about helping to fill some additional roles on a temporary basis.

We hope to see you this Sunday! Rev. Steve Moore will be sharing the message, “God at Work.” Sunday School will be held from 9:00–10:00 a.m., followed by our worship service at 10:15 a.m. The building will open at approximately 8:50 a.m.

There will be no Youth Group this Sunday due to Memorial Day weekend. Youth will instead have a summer kick-off event at the Stuckey’s next Sunday. A permission slip is required. Please see Nic Harclerode for more information.

The church office will be closed on Monday in observance of the holiday. Regular office hours will resume for the remainder of the week.

Our monthly Food Pantry distribution will take place on Friday, May 29. If you are available to help, please arrive around 9:45 a.m. in the Wesley Room (formerly Narnia), located inside the glass doors.

Saturday, June 6 will be our church picnic at Canoe Creek. If you plan to attend, please sign up at the table in the sanctuary.

2nd Ave will be hosting a Blessing Booth at Saturate Altoona, which takes place Sunday evenings throughout the month of June. We are looking for two volunteers each week to help run the booth. Please sign up on the sheet or see Sherry Falbow or Vicky Plummer for more information.

We invite you to keep the church staff, committees, and congregation in your prayers, along with Pastor Brian and his family, and our future pastor as God leads.

The church is the people, and during this season we encourage everyone to continue showing up for one another through prayer, worship, and open dialogue.