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Saints Peter & Paul festival
Ss. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church Festival will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 12. The church and festival grounds are located at 143 Church Drive, just off of Munster Road, Route 164, Portage Township.
Those attending are urged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating.
That Oldies Band will perform hit songs from the past from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The food menu includes homemade ethnic dishes, barbecue chicken, halushki, halupki, piroghi, kielbasa, hot dogs and hot sausage, along with wing dings and french fries.
The bake sale will feature homemade gobs and a variety of baked goods, candy apples and other items, as well as funnel cakes and ice cream. Soda, bottled water, beer and wine coolers will be available.
Activities include a basket raffle, cash raffle and other games of chance. Children's games include prizes and a stuffed animal booth.
The church building is open throughout the afternoon, with a brief guided tour offered at 3 p.m. to explain the icons and features of the beliefs and practices of the Byzantine Catholic Church.
Rummage sale, block party
St. John's United Church of Christ, 117 E. Julian St., Martinsburg, will host a rummage sale and block party on Friday, July 17.
The Rummage Sale runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church basement, featuring housewares, puzzles, decorations, movies, books, gadgets and more. Food and beverages will be available for eat-in or take-out throughout the sale.
The block party runs from noon to 6 p.m. in front of the church, with live music, face painting, temporary tattoos, a bounce house and games.
This event is St. John's way of practicing extravagant welcome, being a good neighbor and giving back to the community. Everyone is welcome.
For more information, visit St. John's website at www.StJohnsMartinsburgPa.org, or contact Pastor Bonnie Skelley at 814-505-3208.
Food distribution planned
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, July 23.
For more information, check out the church's website or Facebook page, or call the church at 814-942-1372. Leave a message for a return call.
Campfire church
Campfire church will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 19, in the parking lot of Christ Community United Methodist Church, 5715 Roselawn Ave., Altoona. Those attending should bring a chair. Snacks provided. The group will move inside if it rains.
Clothing giveaway date changed
Grace's Closet at Grace Lutheran Church, 1114 N. Cambria St., Bellwood, will host a clothing giveaway from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 18. This is later than normal due to the July 4 holiday. Summer clothing is available. Masks are optional. For more information, call the church at 814-742-7501 or 814-742-7416.
Food pantry available
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 a.m. Fridays, July 10 and July 24, by appointment only. Call Deb by Thursday at 814-207-8293.
Free lunch
A free lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 28th Street and Union Avenue. The meal includes hot dogs, baked beans and watermelon.
Movie night
Movie night will be held Friday, July 17, at the Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 28th Street and Union Avenue. Snacks will be served from 6:15 to 7 p.m., with the movie, "Left Behind" part 2, set to begin at 7 p.m.
Annual picnic planned
Altoona Restoration Church of God will hold its annual picnic at Legion Park, Hollidaysburg, at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 12. Everyone is invited to come for a fun afternoon of great food, white elephant auction (no joke gifts), raffle baskets, door prizes and family fellowship. The church will be providing hamburgers, hot dogs, sides, desserts and drinks. The blind auction has wrapped items marked for family, male, female, child, etc. In the family items, there are two sets of four Curve tickets with a parking pass. In the basket raffle, there will be gift cards, DelGrosso Buddy Bucks cards and many more themed baskets.
Carnival set
Fourth Street Church of God will hold a carnival from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18, instead of the regular Saturday meal. There will be food, games and more.
Clothing, food donations sought
Donations of clothing and non-perishable foods will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at 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.
Concert
Everett Church of the Brethren will host Nathaniel Maxwell in a piano concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26. The church is at 119 E. Second St., Everett.
Maxwell is a faculty member at The New School of Music Study in Kingston, N.J. He began studying piano at age 6 and later studied with David Heid at Duke University and J. P. Murphy at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a master's degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. In 2023, he received the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts at Duke University and was a prizewinner in the 2024 Donna Turner Smith Piano Competition at the University of Oklahoma. He continues to serve as administrative assistant for the World Youth Wind Project, held in Staufen, Germany, during the summer of 2026. This fall, he will begin doctoral piano studies at the Conservatory of the University of Missouri - Kansas City with Sean Chen while pursuing a secondary master's degree in composition.
His Everett concert will feature Brahms, Chaminade, Khachaturian and more.
Churches host Bible school
– Fields Of Harvest, 3620 Fifth Ave., Altoona, will hold vacation Bible school -- "We all belong to the family of God" -- from 5 to 7 p.m. July 13-17. Children ages 4-16 are invited to learn about God's love. Participants will travel to the seven continents to see that God loves us no matter where we come from or what we look like.
There will be Bible stories, crafts, singing, games, followed by a big pinata and splash party on Friday night (weather permitting). The children will be served dinner each night. For more information, call 814-207-1664.
– Riggles Gap BIble Church will host Bible school from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
July 27-31. "Pioneers and Prairie Dogs" will have participants traveling to the old West with fun songs, silly skits, snacks, crafts, "Clem Coyote" the puppet, prizes and Bible stories. Bible school is free. The church is at 613 Lear Road, Altoona. For transportation, call the church at 814-946-3376.
– Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran Church invites children entering Pre-K through 6th grade to experience Rainforest Falls VBS: Exploring the Nature of God, taking place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 20, through Thursday, July 23.
Throughout the week, children will journey deep into the rainforest as they discover God's amazing love and faithfulness through exciting Bible stories, uplifting music, hands-on crafts, engaging games, snacks and interactive activities. Each night is filled with opportunities to make new friends, grow in faith and create lasting memories in a safe, welcoming and fun-filled environment.
Vacation Bible School is free to attend. Registration is now open. For more information or to register, contact Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran Church or visit the church's website or social media pages. Registration is also availble online at www.mydelc.org/happenings.
– "Road Trip -- On the Go with God" vacation Bible school will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. July 13-17 at Christ Community United Methodist Church, 5715 Roselawn Ave., Altoona. Activities will remind us that God is always with us wherever we go and whatever we do. "Travelers" will sing along with music videos, hear Bible stories, make crafts, engage in science activities, play games and enjoy snack time as they journey with Scout, the mascot and the navigator, on their road trip adventures. Children aged 3 through 12 are invited to attend. Pre-registration is encouraged by calling the church office at 814-942-5586 or through the church's Facebook page.
Picnics in the park
The Well Ministry Center is sponsoring Picnics in the Park at Grove Memorial Park, 23rd Street and Sixth Ave., every Tuesday.
A meal will be served at 5:15 p.m., followed by games, crafts and a short message of hope. The whole family is welcome. Rain or shine. The Well is located at 605 Burns Ave., Altoona.
Grief support offered
The grief support group meets at 6 p.m. every other Thursday at The Well Ministry Center, 605 Burns Ave., Altoona. The next meeting is Thursday, July 23. This is a safe place to share, heal and find hope and comfort. For more information, call 814-201-2548.
DELC partners on karate
Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran Church has partnered with Champion Martial Arts and Master Gates to offer affordable karate instruction to the local youth community.
The new program offers participants the opportunity to develop confidence, discipline, physical fitness and self-defense skills in a supportive and encouraging environment. Classes are held at DELC and are open to area youth interested in learning martial arts regardless of experience level.
Classes meet from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays and from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost is $5 per session.
"This program aligns with our commitment to serving our neighbors and creating opportunities for our area youth to connect and thrive," said Derek Detrich of Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Register online at mydelc.org/happenings.
For additional information about karate classes or other community programs offered through DELC, visit the church website at mydelc.org or contact the church office at 814-695-0508.
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.