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Spiritual notes

Vacation Bible Schools

– Altoona Seventh-day Adventist Church, 509 25th St., Altoona, will host vacation Bible school from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Aug. 6-9. “Lost at Sea” is geared toward children entering first through sixth grades. All children participating will receive a free book bag filled with school supplies. To register, call 660-1729.

– Fairview United Methodist Church will hold vacation Bible school for children ages 4-11 from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 13-15. The church is at 2214 Fifth St. The theme this year is “Who is my Neighbor.”

– Juniata United Methodist Church, 808 N. Fourth St., Altoona, invites children ages 2 to sixth grade to “ROAR! Life is Wild — God is Good” vacation Bible school from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 12-16. Call the church office to register at 942-6065 or visit Juniataumc.net to register online.

– The Beavertown God’s Missionary Church, 1653 Creek Road, Middleburg, will host vacation Bible school, “We’re On A Journey, Destination Heaven,” from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 12-16. Register online at www.beavertownchurch.com or call 570-658-2422 for more information.

Music library reopens

The Sacred Music Library at the First Presbyterian Church, Clark and Walnut streets, Hollidaysburg, is reopening and will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 12. Christmas music is available. After the reopening, the library will return to regular hours — from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays and 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays.

For more information, call the library at 695-5495 and leave a message for a return call.

Back to school giveaways

– Bethany Lutheran Church, 200 Third Ave., Altoona, will hold a clothing and back to school giveaway from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. Aug. 17. There will be a large selection of clothing and shoes for all sizes from infant to adult. School supplies will also be given away to each student who is present, while supplies last. A free lunch will be served to all who attend.

For more information, call the church office at 944-7560 or email bethanyelca@atlanticbbn.net.

– The Faith Baptist Church of Altoona is hosting a backpack giveaway from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 10 in the church fellowship hall, located in the lower level of the building, corner of Fourth Avenue and 40th Street, in the Highland Park section of the city. There will be 200 backpacks filled with school supplies available on a first come, first served basis. There will also be light refreshments and activities for the children. Children in the community in need of a backpack are invited to attend.

For more information, call 944-2894 or visit www.fbcaltoona.org.

– St. John’s Reformed Church, 906 Maple Ave., Hollidaysburg, will hold a school supplies and children’s clothing giveaway from 8 a.m. to noon, or while supplies last, on Saturday. The event is geared toward children in the Hollidaysburg area.

Those attending should enter through the door on the parking lot. Younger children should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

– Juniata United Methodist Church, 808 N. Fourth St., Altoona, sponsors the Angel Feet Ministry Shoe Bank. Children who receive medical assistance or CHIP that are of ages birth to ninth grade are eligible to receive a pair of sneakers, socks and a book when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Fittings are by appointment only. Community agencies and area schools may also refer children to the shoe bank.

For more information, contact the church at 799-5053 or 942-6065 or visit www.juniataumc.net.

– Juniata United Methodist Church is sponsoring a children’s clothing, backpack giveaway, free haircut and eye screening program for school-age children from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 17. Backpacks will be provided on a first come, first served basis and children (elementary, junior high and senior high ages) must be present to receive a backpack.

For more information, contact the church at 942-6065 or visit the website at www.juniataumc.net.

Student Mass

Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will celebrate an outdoor Mass for all students entering or returning to college and their families at 7 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of the Alleghenies Shrine in Loretto. High school graduates from the Class of 2019 who are entering the workforce or the military are also welcome. The bishop will offer a special blessing and a small gift to the students.

Those attending the Mass should bring their own lawn chair. If it rains, Bartchak will celebrate the Liturgy inside the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel.

Wedding anniversary liturgies

The Family Life Office of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese has announced the scheduling of the annual Wedding Anniversary Liturgies honoring couples celebrating their first, fifth, 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th, 55th and 60th+ anniversaries within the 2019 calendar year.

Couples and their families may attend the Eucharistic celebration in Altoona on Sept. 15 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament or Johnstown on Sept. 22 at St. John Gualbert Cathedral.

Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will be celebrant and homilist at both Masses, which begin at 2 p.m.

This public recognition of those who have faithfully lived the vocation to married life provides an opportunity for all to recall the value and importance of such commitments in today’s world.

A beverage and cookies reception will follow the Eucharistic celebrations for couples and their family members.

Couples who wish to attend one of these celebrations should contact their home parish by Aug. 22 to make the necessary reservations.

Corn boil, music fest

Second Avenue United Methodist Church, 130 Second Ave., will host an old fashioned corn boil and live gospel music fest Aug. 10. Those attending should bring lawn chairs for seating.

Food will be available from 5 to 7 p.m., with gospel music planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Cost of two ears of corn and a hot dog is $2.

Friends and family day

Berean Baptist Church, 2465 Mill Road, Duncansville, will host its annual Friends and Family Day beginning at 3 p.m. Aug. 10.

The free event includes games, music and food. Everyone welcome.

Donations accepted

Donations of clothing and non-perishable foods will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren, 1028 Penn St. (Route 36).

The church parking lot will serve as a collection site for the American Rescue Workers. Tax receipts are available.

Free lunch

The Faith Baptist Cafe will serve the monthly community meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The meal is free and open to the public at the Faith Baptist Church, 315 40th St., in the Highland Park section of Altoona. The menu includes sloppy joes, french fries, cole slaw and dessert. For transportation, contact the church office at 944-2894 before 3 p.m. today.

Flea market, bake sale

St. Therese of the Child Jesus will host a flea market and bake sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 9-10 at Father Kelly Hall, corner of 25th Avenue and Fifth Street. All proceeds will benefit the St. Vincent de Paul society.

Deadline

Religious organizations are invited to submit upcoming events, special speakers and other items to be published free of charge in Spiritual Notes. Items can be emailed to religion@altoonamirror.com or call Holly at 946-7451. Items may also be submitted online through the Mirror’s virtual newsroom at vnr.altoonamirror.com.

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