Metro

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 806 13th Street Altoona, will host Blair County’s Juneteenth Jubilee at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21.

A Commemoration for Freedom Fighters, the program is one of Black history and gospel music, featuring church music groups from Altoona, Bedford, and State College. This free event is open for all. A freewill offering will be held to improve and support the Eastern Light Cemetery, where several Black Civil War veterans are buried. This community event is sponsored by Shaped by Faith, a collaboration of St. Luke’s and Holy Trinity Episcopal Churches, the NAACP, the Blair County African American Heritage Festival, the African American Heritage Project, Brush Mountain Media, the Pennsylvania Military Museum, Railroad City Cultural Center/41st Acre LLC, and the Redd Up Altoona Foundation.

Free lunch available

Second Avenue Global Methodist Church, 130 Second Ave., Altoona, will hold a free luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Dine in or take out available.

Rocker Thon and Car Show

Mt. Zion Willing Workers will hold their second annual Rocker Thon and car show from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at the Activity Building in Pavia.

Bring your old or new cars, motorcycles, jeeps, bicycles or whatever. There will be lots of rocker chair rocking, food, a bake sale, basket raffles and lots of fun.

St. Benedict Parish 90th annual festival set

St. Benedict Church, in the Geistown section of Johnstown, will host its 90th annual Parish Reunion Festival in July. The church is celebrating the Reunion Festival July 11-13 with a full slate of entertainment, food, bakery, games, a children’s area, a basket raffle with over 100 baskets, bingo, indoor flea market and more. New this year will be the Pennsylvania Army National Guard climbing wall.

The festival is held on the church grounds at 2310 Bedford St., Johnstown. Admission and parking are free. There will also be a free shuttle bus service from the Geistown Fire Hall. Handicapped parking and transport to the festival grounds is available every day.

The festival will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. July 11-12 and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 13.

The St. Benedict Parish Reunion is one of the longest running festival events in the Johnstown area.

Musical entertainment will run all three days on two stages and will feature Rosie & The Jammers from 5 to 7 p.m. July 11, followed by Felix & The Hurricanes from 7 to 10 p.m.

Tombstone will take the stage from 5 to 7 p.m. July 12, followed from 7 to 10 p.m. by ‘Ole 97 Johnny Cash Tribute Band.

Echo Valley Bluegrass will entertain from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 13, followed by Three of Hearts from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The annual chicken and waffle dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. July 11 and from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 13 in the air conditioned hall. Cost is $14 for adults and $8 for children under 12. The outdoor kitchen will have hot and sweet sausage, chicken wings, funnel cakes, apple and peach dumplings, eight flavors of ice cream, homemade haluski, pierogies, pizza, hamburgers and cheeseburgers. A 2025 Chevrolet Trax LS or $18,000 cash option will be chanced off Sunday. For more information, visit the church website at www.stbenedictchurch.org, follow them on Facebook, or call 814-266-9718.

Free lunch served

Providence Presbyterian Church, 2401 Broad Ave., Altoona, will host a free lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21. The lunch will include a meatball sandwich, a variety of homemade soups, fruit and a dessert.

Yard sale, craft festival planned

Faith United Church of Christ, 711 Seventh Ave., Altoona, will hold its annual yard sale and community craft festival at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 28. The event will be held rain or shine. There will be a great variety of items, and food and drink will be available for purchase, including ox roast, hot dogs and baked goods. Eat in or take out.

Concerts planned across region

The 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 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.

Yard sale set

A yard sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at 28th Street Church of the Brethren. Spaces are available for $20 per space. Tables are available for an additional $20. To reserve a space, call Deb at 814-207-8293. The yard sale will be held rain or shine and will move inside if necessary.

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 being 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.

Christian motorcyclists to rally

The Christian Motorcyclists Association is hosting its 2025 National Rally at the Blair County Convention Center through June 22. The rally 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.

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

Churches host Bible school

– Altoona Bible Church will hold vacation Bible school from 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 23-27. Children ages 4 through eighth grade are welcome to participate. The theme is All Aboard to learn about the wonder of Jesus at Wonder Junction. The life of Jesus will be studied each night through fun western-themed activities, music, crafts, games and more. Register by calling the Altoona Bible Church at 814-942-2131 or email altoonabible@altoonabible.org. Children can be registered by joining us any night at the church, 3017 Union Ave., Altoona. There is no fee to participate. There’s room aboard for all.

– “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 seventh 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.

Bible study offered

Duncansville Lutheran Church, 1200 Fourth Ave., will hold a Bible study at 6 p.m. Wednesdays in June. June 25 features Luke 9:51-62, An Apostle’s Story.

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.

Saturate Altoona continues

Saturate Altoona is 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.

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 20, by appointment only. Call Deb at 814-207-8293.

Movie night planned

Movie night will be held Friday, June 20, at Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 28th Street and Union Avenue. Snacks are available at 6:30 p.m., followed by the movie “Standing Firm” at 7 p.m.

Bible study offered

Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran, 1200 Fourth Ave., Duncansville, will hold Bible study at 6 p.m. Wednesdays in June. All are welcome.

Music camp concert is June 20

The 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.

Food pantry to hold monthly 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.

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.

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.

Eucharistic Revival closing with Mass

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 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.

Choral Institute hosts concert

The Choral Institute 2025 concert, hosted by the Academy of Sacred Music and featuring Choral Institute participants, will be held at

7 p.m. Friday, June 27, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Altoona. An offering will be taken up to support the Academy’s mission.

Aldersgate Family conference set

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.

Picnics in the park

The Well Ministry Center will host Picnics in the Park each Tuesday at Grove Memorial Park, SIxth Avenue and 23rd Street. A meal will be served followed by games and a message of hope. The meal is at 5:30 p.m. Picnics in the Park will go on rain or shine. For more information, contact Deb at debneff071@hotmail.com. The Well is located at 605 Burns Ave., Altoona.

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 814-946-7451. Items may also be submitted online through the Mirror’s virtual newsroom at vnr.altoonamirror.com. Deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. Mondays.