Metro

Concerts planned across region

Imani Milele Choir, a group of children from Uganda, will present concerts at various churches in the coming days. The choir lifts up Christ through vibrant worship, dance and storytelling while raising awareness and support for orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda.

The choir will be at Hick’s Memorial Methodist Church, 1211 Third Ave., Duncansville, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 19; at Tipton Baptist Church, 708 Deborah St., Tipton, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 20; at Trinity UMC, 434 E. Main St., Roaring Spring, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. June 21; at Grace Bible Church, 164 Laurel Lane, Hollidaysburg, during the 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services on June 22; at the Martinsburg Church of the Brethren for a 7 p.m. service on June 22; at 7 p.m. June 24 at Real Life Church, 621 W. Pitt St., Bedford; and at 6:30 p.m. June 25 at Faith Assembly of God, 4870 Cove Mountain Road, Roaring Spring.

Churches host Bible school

– “Magnified” vacation Bible school will be held at Providence Presbyterian Church from 6 to 8 p.m. July 20-24. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. to those participating. At Magnified VBS, kids, ages 3 through fifth grade, will be encouraged to look closely at the details of God’s amazing world and magnify the greatness of God. Providence Presbyterian Church is at 2401 Broad Ave., Altoona. For more information, call 814-944-7258 or check out the church’s website at www.providencepc-altoona.org.

– Vacation Bible school will be held from 6 to 8:45 p.m. June 23-27 at Faith Baptist Church, Fourth Avenue and 40th Street, in the Highland Park section of Altoona. There will be classes for children ages 3 through 12th grade. Each night will begin with a free dinner at 6 p.m. Children ages 3 through sixth grade will study the champions of the Bible in “Champions of Christ.” Youth in 7th through 12th grade will gather for fellowship, games and Bible study. Transportation is available in the Altoona area. Preregister online at www.fbcaltoona.org. For transportation or more information, contact the church office at 814-944-2894.

– Children and youth entering grades 1-12 and their families are invited to join the Camping and Retreat Ministry staff from the Susquehanna Conference of the UMC and church volunteers during a three-hour camping experience at Christ Community UMC, 5715 Roselawn Ave., Altoona. This free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 28, and will include games, crafts, archery and lunch. Families should register on the church website at http://www.ccumc.us or on the church’s Facebook page. Parents or responsible adults are asked to stay on-site with their children.

– Summer Bible Camp at St. Joseph Church is now accepting registrations for vacation Bible school to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. June 16-20 at St. Joseph Church Social Hall, 623 E. Third St., Bellwood. VBS is geared toward children going into kindergarten this fall through sixth grade.

“True North” will include New Testament Bible stories on the Baptism of Jesus, God’s Law of Love, a Roman Officer’s trust in Jesus, the Crucifixion of Jesus, the Resurrection and the Great Commission. All participating students should bring a light green T-shirt on the first day to silk screen with the logo and theme. There is no cost to attend Bible school

An adult enrichment class video series, “Untold Blessings,” will be offered at the same time for the parents of the students attending, as well as for any interested adults. This class will also be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, in the parish social hall.

Registrations for Bible Camp VBS can be done online at www.saintjosephbellwood.org or by calling the church office at 814-742-7894. Sign up for the adult enrichment class by calling Sister Linda LaMagna at 814-742-7894. Registrations are needed by June 4 so that materials can be prepared in advance.

– The Presbyterian Church of Clearfield will hold vacation Bible school from 5 to 7:30 pm. June 16-20, at 119 N. Second St., Clearfield. This year’s theme is “True North” inspired by the wonders of the Alaskan wilderness — from glistening glaciers to racing rivers — children will trek through a wonderful adventure. VBS is open to all children entering first through eighth grade (children must be potty trained). Children in first through fifth grade will have VBS indoors at rotating stations while those in sixth through eighth grade will venture offsite for local adventures as part of Action Camp.

To register, follow updates at facebook.com/PresbyterianChurchOfClearfield or on the church’s website at https://clearfieldpresbyterian.org/.

A special Preschool VBS is planned for July 21-24, with more details to be announced soon on the church’s Facebook page.

PEACE study continues

Christ Community United Methodist Church, 5715 Roselawn Ave., Altoona, will be continuing its PEACE Initiative Studies at 6:30 p.m. June 18 at the church. The conversation will be based on the book “The Other Side of the Wall” by Rev. Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Christian who pastors the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. All are welcome.

Clothing giveaway

Grace’s Closet at Grace Lutheran Church, 1114 N. Cambria St., Bellwood, will host a clothing giveaway from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 14. Summer clothing is available. Masks are optional. For more information, call the church at 814-742-7501 or 814-742-7416.

Christian motorcyclists to rally

The Christian Motorcyclists Association will host its 2025 National Rally at the Blair County Convention Center June 18-22. The rally will feature daily worship services, seminars and activities. Admission is free.

One of the highlights for the community is the parade, which will be held on Saturday. It leaves the Blair County Convention Center parking lot and turns left onto Logan Bouldevard then right onto Front Street/Park Ave. From there, the parade takes a left onto Frankstown Road then a right onto Pleasant Valley Boulevard, followed by a left onto Tennyson Avenue. The parade ends in the parking lot of Altoona Alliance Church. Spectators are encouraged to watch and join in the bike games immediately following the parade.

Services are scheduled nightly at the convention center at 7 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday mornings at 9 a.m., with a closing service on Sunday at 8 a.m. Speakers include John Ogden Sr., CMA’s CEO/chairman of the board, the senior vice president, National Evangelists, and Ministry Partners. Worship precedes each message led by Jerry Williams. Childcare and youth activities are also provided.

The Christian Motorcyclists Association is an evangelistic outreach primarily, but not exclusively, to the motorcycling community. Their mission is to inspire leaders and members to be the most organized, advanced, equipped, financially stable organization, full of integrity in the motorcycling industry and the Kingdom of God.

For more a full schedule, visit www.cmausa.org.

Food pantry distribution set

The food pantry at Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 28th Street and Union Avenue, is available for those in need. Distribution will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 13 and Friday, June 20, by appointment only. Call Deb at 814-207-8293.

Music camp concert is June 20

Wehnwood Music Camp Concert will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, June 20, at the First Church of Christ, 113 Good Shepherd Road, Altoona.

Summer lunch for children

West Decatur Charge of the United Methodist Church will hold a summer lunch program for area children from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday through Aug. 14. Lunch will be held at Calvary United Methodist Church, 167 Blue Ball Road, West Decatur.

Summer hours in effect

The Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 28th Street and Union Avenue, began summer hours Sunday, June 1. Worship service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday school will not be held this summer.

Indoor yard, bake sale set

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church will hold an indoor yard sale and bake sale from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, in the church hall, 2716 Broad Ave., Altoona. Use the alley entrance.

Faith talk focuses on grief

Faith Talk, “Let’s Talk About Grief,” will be offered at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, at Llyswen United Methodist Church, 308 Coleridge Ave., Altoona. The program will offer a time of learning, sharing and conversation around the topic of grief, that everyone experiences but rarely talks about. Joe Bilka, who is part of the Healing Patch Grief Program in Altoona, will facilitate the program.

Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 814-942-5586.

Free lunch served

The free community lunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday June 14, at Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 28th Street and Union Avenue. The meal includes hot dogs, baked beans and watermelon.

Saturate Altoona returns

Saturate Altoona will again be held in Heritage Plaza in downtown Altoona every Sunday night in June. Activities begin at 5:30 p.m. with Blessing Booths providing snacks and giveaways for children and adults. At 6:30 p.m., a service begins with music, prayer and ministry provided by many city churches. Everyone is invited to see the church of Altoona in action. Those attending are urged to bring lawn chairs for seating.

Spaghetti dinner fundraiser

St. John’s Reformed Church of Loysburg will hold a spaghetti supper from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28, in the church fellowship hall, 1698 Woodbury Pike, Loysburg. Tickets are by donation. The event is sponsored by the Women’s Guild of the church to help raise money to pay for recent renovations of the church kitchen. The fellowship hall can be entered from the parking lot via the basement door under the pavilion at the rear of the church.

A full-course spaghetti supper will be offered. The church is now in its 178th year of existence.

Eucharistic Revival closing

The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown will mark the closing of the Eucharistic Revival in the Catholic Church in America with a Mass and other special observances on June 22 — the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ — at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona.

Bishop Mark Bartchak will preside at the Mass at 5 p.m. Prior to the liturgy, the faithful will have the opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing throughout the afternoon.

At 3 p.m., a Holy Hour for vocations will be prayed, and priests will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed at 4 p.m. for the intention of welcoming Catholics home to the church, and then at 4:15 p.m., Bartchak will lead a Eucharistic Procession inside the cathedral, leading up to the 5 p.m. Mass.

Basket raffled planned

St. Mark’s Church in Altoona will sponsor a Basket Raffle on Sunday, June 22, in the church rec hall. Doors will open at noon. Admission is $5 and includes a light lunch, door prize ticket and 25 basket raffle tickets. There will also be a Blackstone Grill, a Lottery basket, cash and $100. Gift Certificates to be chanced off in separate drawings. Drawings will start about 1 p.m.

Bible study offered

Duncansville Lutheran Church, 1200 Fourth Ave., will hold a Bible study at 6 p.m. Wednesdays in June. June18 features Luke 8: 26-39, A Confused Man’s Story; and June 25, Luke 9:51-62, An Apostle’s Story.

Night of worship planned

Holy Spirit Ministry will host a night of worship at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, at St. Michael Church, Hollidaysburg. Bob Sutton will speak on “Water into Wine: How knowing God is supposed to change us.” There will be praise and worship music, with a prayer ministry to follow the talk.

Food pantry distribution

St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Eighth Avenue and 13th Street, Altoona, will hold its monthly food pantry distribution from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26.

Food distribution is done on a drive-thru basis. More information is available on the church’s website or Facebook page, or call the church at 814-942-1372. Leave a message for a return call.

Donations to the food pantry, either in money or in nonperishable food, are always welcome.

Blueberry sale benefits HUB

The Mission Central HUB is holding its annual blueberry fundraiser, with proceeds used to pay rent, utilities and to purchase supplies for the outreach. The Mission is volunteer-driven and helps local nonprofit agencies.

Blueberries are $34 for 10 pounds. The berries are picked 24 hours before delivery. They will be available on Wednesday, July 2.

Orders are due by June 15 and can be dropped off or mailed, with checks payable to Mission Central HUB. Those ordering berries will be notified for pickup time. Mission Central HUB is at 1738 N. Branch Ave., Altoona, in front of the drivers license center, and is open from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday and Wednesday.

In addition, the Mission Central HUB would like to help the people of Kentucky with items collected. Anyone planning a trip to help disaster victims should contact the HUB at 814-201-2123.

Choral registration open

Registration is now open for Choral Institute 2025 offered by the Academy of Sacred Music. Academy founder and Hollidaysburg native Robert Long will lead singers who are interested in developing their skills in the art of choral singing. Participants will learn techniques including breathing, posture, pronunciation, phrasing and dynamics through a challenging, yet rewarding, repertoire.

The choral intensive workshop consists of two evening skill development sessions on Wednesday, June 25, and Thursday, June 26, followed by a public performance on Friday, June 27.

All sessions will take place at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 344 Baynton Ave., Lakemont, Altoona. Registration is $25; deadline to register is Thursday, June 19. To register, send check, name, voice part and email address to: Academy of Sacred Music, 1668 Sylvan Drive,

Hollidaysburg. For more information, email academyofsacredmusic@gmail.com.

The public is invited to attend the Choral Institute Concert at 7 p.m. Friday, June 27, in St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Altoona. An offering will be taken up to support the Academy’s mission.

Aldersgate Family conference

The regional Aldersgate Family conference will be held June 27-29 at The Well Ministry Center, 605 Burns Ave., Altoona. The event is geared toward all ages and includes teaching, worship and movement of God.

To register, go to www.aldersgaterenewal.org/altoona-2.

Engage Fest coming to Tyrone

Engage Fest PA, a free three-day Christian event, will be held July 24-26 by Truth Quest Ministries at Quest Haven Lodge, 520 Schoch Hollow Road, Tyrone.

This family-friendly event includes Christian artists and musicians, seminars for adults and teens, and speakers who will inspire and uplift.

Speakers and artists include Kim Walker-Smith, Roo-akh, Josh Shaffer, Seven, UVF Worship, Feet on the Street, Dan Mohler, Micah Marshall, Kevin Holland, Matt Lake, Jessica Bryan, Jim Kilmartin and Stephen Gallaher.

Those attending are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs for seating.

Grounds open at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 24, with activities to start at noon and continue through 10 p.m.. Events run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26.

While the event is free, registration is requested. For more information, visit engagefestpa.com. To register, click on “Explore Engage Fest 2025!” and then click on “Register Now.”