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.

Please help us spread the word that going forward (until announced otherwise)  Sunday school will be 9-10 a.m. and we will have one service at 10:15 a.m. which will follow the format of the combined services we’ve had over the years.

We will be blessed with Rev. Steve Moore sharing the message on May 24 and throughout June & July.

Sunday, May 31 we will welcome Rev. Allyce Logue to 2nd Ave to share a message. Communion will be the first Sundays in June & July, we will have two stations for intinction (dipping the bread into the cup) and one for the separate elements which was generally done at 8:15.

Tomorrow 5/19 voting will be held in the Wesley (former Narnia) Room; unless you come here to vote, please do not use the glass entrance for coming or going.

The office will be closed next Monday, May 25 for the Memorial Day holiday.

The June/July Newsletter & daily devotionals will be available to pick up beginning Sunday at the church as well as emailed out and copies will be mailed to our home-bound folks this week as well.

Summer office hours begin Monday, June 1. We will be open Mon-Thurs 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and emails will be checked and returned through 3 p.m.

We hope you can join us this Sunday for a special day of worship and fellowship. Pastor Brian will share his final message at 2nd Ave, we will celebrate Holy Communion, spend time in special prayer, and enjoy a meal together following the service.

We are expecting around 150 people for the meal. Reserved seating will be available for the Sandell family and church staff. We ask that everyone please fill in seating as needed and avoid leaving single empty chairs between guests. To help prevent long lines wrapping through the social hall, tables will be dismissed one at a time for the meal.

The ROCK wrapped up the school year on Wednesday with a fun-filled night and a special treat from Brainfreezers! Be sure to thank Ashley for all the hard work and dedication she puts into this ministry, and a huge shoutout to all the volunteers who helped make this year so amazing!

As we begin this interim season between pastors, we are looking for people who would be willing to help serve in a variety of ways. Please watch for emails and sign-up sheets for opportunities such as scripture readers, announcement readers, greeters, and those willing to help lock up and turn off lights after services. Jill will also be reaching out to some individuals about helping with home visits for our at-home members. If you see a need or would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Jill.

The next newsletter will be a combined June/July issue and will be distributed next week. Printed copies will be available at the church for anyone who would like one, and the newsletter will also be sent by email. Due to increased postage costs, mailed copies will only be sent to those who are unable to regularly attend church in person.

It’s hard to believe that Pastor Brian’s final week is already here. We hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we celebrate the Sandell family during a combined 10:00 a.m. service. Please note there will be no Sunday School or staffed nursery. We will also share in Holy Communion together.

If you would like to help by baking cookies for the luncheon, please let me know. A sheet cake has already been ordered, but with the number of guests expected, we want to ensure there is plenty of dessert for everyone.

This Wednesday marks the final ROCK for the 2025–26 session. We are so grateful to everyone who has volunteered, donated, and prayed for this incredible outreach ministry! The ROCK has become a well-known blessing in our community, impacting many children and their families. It’s especially meaningful to see parents who once attended the ROCK now bringing their own children. Beginning in September, the ROCK will expand to four days a week. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday will focus on homework help, meals, and gym time, while Wednesday will continue as the regular program the kids know and love. Please prayerfully consider giving your time to this growing ministry. Whether you’re able to help with math, supervise in the gym, serve dinner, or support in other ways, you are needed! For more information or any questions, please contact Ashley.

Beginning Sunday, May 24, we will move to a new schedule with Sunday School from 9:00–10:00 a.m. and one worship service at 10:15 a.m. This service will follow a blended format, incorporating elements from both of our combined services, including hymns, creeds, children’s messages, praise songs, and more. We are also pleased to welcome Rev. Steve Moore, who will be blessing us on May 24 and throughout the month of June. (We will provide an update regarding May 31 as soon as it is available.) Please continue to keep our church staff in your prayers and extend grace as we transition through this interim season.

Join us this Sunday as we honor all the moms and ladies at 2nd Ave. This will also be our final two-service Sunday for the time being. Services this week will be held at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

This Sunday is the final opportunity to sign up for the farewell luncheon honoring the Sandell family. The luncheon will follow the combined 10:00 a.m. service on May 17. Since it is being catered, we need to submit a final headcount, so please be sure to sign up by Sunday.

Sunday, May 17 will be Pastor Brian’s final Sunday at 2nd Ave. We will gather as one church family for a special 10:00 a.m. service, which will include Holy Communion. Please note there will be no Sunday School or staffed nursery that day.

Beginning Sunday, May 24, Sunday School will take place from 9:00–10:00 a.m., followed by a combined worship service at 10:15 a.m. The building will open around 8:50 a.m. for those attending Sunday School.

This Wednesday will be the final ROCK night of the 2025–26 season. The kids will enjoy an evening outdoors filled with games and a special treat from Brainfreezers. The ROCK program is fully supported through grants and designated donations. Looking ahead, we’re excited to share that a partnership with the Kathleen and Gerald Sheetz Foundation will allow ROCK to expand to four days next year and provide transportation through a van donated by the foundation. While funding makes the program possible, it’s our volunteers who truly make it thrive. If you’re interested in helping next year, please reach out to Ashley for more information.

Second Ave will once again host a Blessing Booth at Saturate Altoona, which takes place on Sunday evenings throughout June. Sherry Falbow and Vicky Plummer are coordinating this outreach and are looking for volunteers to serve each week. If you’re interested in helping, please reach out to them for more information or sign up using the sheet located on the table in the sanctuary.

OTHER UPCOMING HAPPENINGS:

• May 16 – Soup & Sandwich Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• May 25 – Memorial Day Office Closed
• June 1 – Office will switch to Summer hours Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• June 6 – Church Picnic at Canoe Creek
• June 15 – Team Effort Meal (volunteers will be needed)

Do you have a 2026 high school or college graduate you’d like us to recognize in the June newsletter? Please submit their information—name, school, future plans (if they’d like to share), and an optional photo—by Tuesday, May 12.

A reminder that this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. is Muffins for Mom! All children and the special women in their lives are invited to attend.

This Sunday, we will celebrate all the ladies of 2nd Ave for Mother’s Day. Join us for a special coffee hour from 9:30–10:30 a.m., along with a small gift from the church for each lady. Worship services will be held at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m.

On Sunday, May 17, we will share the Sandells’ final Sunday with us at 2nd Ave. There will be a special combined service with communion at 10:00 a.m., followed by a catered luncheon. Please note there will be no Sunday school. If you plan to attend the luncheon and have not yet signed up, please do so this week so we can finalize numbers.

Beginning Sunday, May 24, our schedule will shift to Sunday school from 9:00–10:00 a.m. and one combined worship service at 10:15 a.m. This schedule will remain in place until further notice. This adjustment helps support both visiting pastors and staff as they take on additional responsibilities. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.

Save the date: Saturday, June 6, for a church picnic at Canoe Creek! More details will be shared soon.

The ROCK program is wrapping up for the 2025–2026 year, with only two weeks remaining. Please keep Ashley, the children, and all volunteers in your prayers during these final weeks and throughout the summer. The ROCK will return in September and will expand to four days per week. If you’re interested in helping next year, please reach out to Ashley.

Please note the church office will be closed this Wednesday. Email will be checked periodically, and phone calls will be returned on Thursday.

We invite you to join us this Sunday as we celebrate Holy Communion at both 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., along with a coffee hour in the Gathering Place during that time.

After the 10:45 service on Sunday, all kids and their grown-ups are invited to stay for lunch and enjoy some time hanging out and playing with the Sandell kids.

Tuesday, May 5 is our Executive Committee meeting night: Trustees will meet at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Church Council at 7:00 p.m.

The church office will be closed next Wednesday (previously communicated as Tuesday, but that has changed) so Jill can move her daughter home from school for the summer. The office will be open regular hours on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

On Saturday, May 9, the Social Committee will host “Muffins with Mom” for all children and the special women in their lives. Please sign up at the table in the sanctuary.

On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, we will have a special coffee hour from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., along with a small gift for all the women of the church.

Please be sure to sign up for the Sandell family farewell luncheon on Sunday, May 17. This catered luncheon will take place following the combined 10:00 a.m. service. (There will be no Sunday School, staffed nursery, or Jr. Church that day.) The deadline to sign up is Sunday, May 11.