Community lunch set

Fourth Street Church of God, Fourth Street and 21st Avenue, will serve a free lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. The meal includes rigatoni and meatballs in marinara sauce, tossed salad, roll, dessert and drink.

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 11:30 a.m. Fridays, Feb. 13 and Feb. 27, by appointment only. Call Deb at 814-207-8293.

Free lunch on Valentine’s Day

A free community lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 28th Street and Union Avenue. The meal will include tomato soup, toasted cheese sandwiches and dessert.

Grief Group meets weekly

The Grief Group at The Well Ministry Center is a gathering of men and women who are going through the loss of loved ones. We are here to comfort anyone that feels lost, alone and shares in understanding those feelings. The group meets at 6 p.m. Thursdays at The Well, 605 Burns Ave., Altoona.

Coin club meets

The Coin Club will meet at Faith Baptist Church of Altoona from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 and April 4. The club will meet in the church basement. Each participant will be required to purchase two Penny Books to display pennies from 1959 to 2025. Pennies will be provided to search for needed dates to complete books. Books cost $10.

Anyone interested should contact the church office at 814-944-2894 or email fbc@fbcaltoona.org.

Free soup program continues

First Presbyterian Church, Penn and Walnut streets, will host the Hollidaysburg Churches’ Free Soup Program on Saturday, Feb. 7. The lunches are held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meals include hot soup, bread, butter, dessert and choice of coffee, tea and water. The meal is free; donations accepted.

The rest of the schedule is as follows:

– Feb. 14 and Feb. 21 – St. Mary Catholic Church, Mulberry and Clark streets.

– Feb. 28 and March 7 – St. John’s Reformed Church, 906 Maple Ave.

– March 14 and March 21 – Hollidaysburg Church Of The Brethren – Penn and Hawthorne streets.

UM churches host joint Ash Wednesday service

Juniata United Methodist Church, in partnership with other United Methodist congregations throughout the Altoona area, invites the community to a joint Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18. The service will be held at Juniata United Methodist Church, 808 N. Fourth St., Altoona.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season when Christians prepare for Easter through fasting, repentance and spiritual discipline. The observance emphasizes two central themes: recognition of human sinfulness before God and awareness of human mortality — both of which are redeemed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During the service, worshipers may receive the imposition of ashes on their foreheads in the sign of the cross, an ancient practice that uses ashes as a symbol of repentance and mortality. The ritual recalls God’s words in Genesis 3:19: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return,” which calls believers to recognize their humanity while remembering the hope found in Christ.

The service provides an opportunity for the community to gather in worship and begin the Lenten journey together. For more information, please contact Juniata United Methodist Church at juniataumc@atlanticbbn.net or 814.942.6065.

Fat Tuesday dinner kicks off Lenten season

The Lenten season will begin with a Fat Tuesday dinner at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran Church.

On Ash Wednesday, the church will offer two services of worship and imposition of ashes — at noon, the spoken service will be in the chapel; at 6 p.m., the full service will be in the Nave.

Fellowship and dinner will be held at 6 p.m. each Wednesday beginning Feb. 25 and continuing throughout Lent.

Theology lecture scheduled

Christ Reformed Church, 502 Main St., Alexandria, will host the fourth annual Aurandt Lectures on Theology. At 9 a.m. Saturday, March 21, the group will consider the Sovereignty of God in the Eternal Decree of God. How should a Christian today understand the reality of God’s sovereign will over all things and human responsibility in the world? The Rev. Daniel L. Arter, Mark A. Deckard and the Rev. Angelo O. Valle will provide insight on answering the beautiful harmony of the eternal decrees of God.

There is no charge for the seminar; an offering will be taken. For registration and more information, visit www.CRCAlexandria.org or call 814-669-4135.

Lenten musical meditation

Grace Lutheran Church, 205 S. Garner St., State College, will host a Lenten Musical Meditation at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25. The free program includes a choir of more than 90 singers from 14 churches will present “I Believe: Songs of Faith, Hope and Joy.” The concert will include strings, a jazz mass and handbell choir.

The program focuses on the Nicene Creed, the foundational statement of Christians around the world as it celebrates 1700 years. Highlights are Vivaldi’s Credo with organ and strings; Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass with jazz combo; and Onovwerosuoke’s Afro-Caribbean Credo. The program also includes selections by Brenda Austin and Cathy Moklebust rung by The Bells of Grace and several congregational hymns. A community meal is available from 5 p.m.; prelude music by Nittany Brass begins at 6:40 p.m. There is no cost to attend; offerings accepted. For more information, call 814-238-2478.

Sight and Sound trip planned

The Mission Central HUB is hosting a bus trip to Lancaster on April 9 to view Sight and Sound Theatres’ new production “Joshua.” The cost is $198 adults and $129 (12 and under). Price includes travel, show and meal. To reserve a spot, call 814-329-1074.

Fish fry lunches available

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1 Cathedral Square, Altoona, will serve its annual Lenten fish fry lunches again this year. The lunches will be available from 10:30 to 1 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, and then every Friday during Lent except for Good Friday. Cost is $12 and includes a fish sandwich, mac & cheese and coleslaw. Meals are available on a drive-thru basis at the Cathedral Alley door. Orders of 10 or more will be delivered to those who call ahead, 814-944-4603.

Fish dinners planned

– Our Lady of Lourdes Lenten Fish Fry will be held Fridays beginning Feb. 20 through Good Friday, April 3, in the Church Hall. Take Out begins at 3:30 and eat in at 4:30 p.m. The menu includes fried or baked haddock, a choice of mac and cheese or French fries and stewed tomatoes and cole slaw or applesauce. There will be a dessert station for a choice of a dessert. Drinks are included for those dining in and soda is available to purchase. The cost is $16 per meal. Our Lady of Lourdes is located at 2716 Broad Ave., Altoona. There is a handicapped entrance off of the alley with an elevator.

– St. Patrick’s seafood buffet, 731 Patrick Lane, Newry, will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 20-April 3. The buffet includes baked/fried haddock, butterfly shrimp, macaroni & cheese, stewed tomatoes, pierogies, french fries, coleslaw, green beans, soup, roll, dessert and beverage. Cost is $22 for adults ages 13-59; $20 for seniors aged 60 and older; $10 for youth ages 5 to 12 and free to those younger than 5 years old. Cash or checks only.

– Fish fry dinners are available at the Unter Uns, 1401 Van Buren Ave., Altoona, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays during Lent. The public is welcome to eat in or take out. Meals are $15 and include choice of baked or batter-fried haddock, choice of scalloped potatoes or mac & cheese, with coleslaw, stewed tomatoes and a roll. Ala carte items also are available. Crab cake dinners are $22 and will be available only on Feb. 27, March 20 and April 3.

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.