Metro

Free Lenten concert

All ages are invited to join Altoona-area young adult Catholics for a free Lenten concert, “The Cathedral Candlelight Concert,” at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The event will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13.

The evening will feature local Catholic young adult musicians and the Cathedral’s historic Steinmeyer organ. The program includes “Be Thou My Vision,” “Pie Jesu,” “Adagio for Strings,” “Ave Maria,” “Attende Domine,” and other sacred works. A social and time of fellowship in the parish hall will follow the concert. Musicians include Ian Brannan, Ava Adams, Claude Fabinyi, Brandis Ajay, JJ Colombo and Peter Sweeney.

All are welcome.

Free clothing, food offered

Geeseytown Lutheran Church, 462 Route 22, Hollidaysburg, will hold a free clothing and food giveaway from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7.

Clothing for all ages, including coats, hats, gloves and scarves, as well as other accessories, including toys, blankets and housewares items, will be available at the rear basement entrance to the church. Nonperishable food items will be available at the side entrance.

The event is free and open to the community. The church is located across from Geeseytown Fire Company. Contact pastormartyjo@gmail.com with any questions.

The Geeseytown-Newry Lutheran Parish is a member of the Allegheny Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Ecumenical prayer service

First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1401 12th Ave., is hosting an Ecumenical Lenten Taize Service at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15, in cooperation with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church. The Rev. Kevin T. Shock, Bishop of the Allegheny Synod ELCA, will preside at the service.

A taize service is a contemplative service originating from the monastic community in France, typically characterized by candlelight, prayer, and meditative song.

A reception will follow. The event is free and open to the community.

Free lunch offered

– The Fourth Street Church of God will host its monthly luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7. The meal includes cornflake chicken, mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, cornbread and dessert.

– Free lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 28th Street and Union Avenue, Altoona. Menu to be announced.

– St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s community lunch will be held at noon Wednesday, March 11, in the fellowship hall at St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1407 Eighth Ave., right down the street from St Luke’s. The meal is free; donations accepted. The menu is baked fish, macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, cole slaw, appetizers and dessert.

Ham loaves available

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 335 Locust Street, Johnstown PA 15901 is holding its annual Ham Loaf Sale. Ham loaves are sold frozen with basting sauce and instructions for baking. A 2-pound loaf is $17; 1-pound loaf is $9. All ham loaves must be preordered. To order, call St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at 814-535-6797. Order deadline is 2 p.m. March 13. Preordered Ham loaves may be picked up at the church between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 23-27; schedule a time for pick when you place your order. Proceeds benefit ECW Ministries and St. Mark’s.

For additional information, call the church office at 814-535-6797 or email stmarks@breezelinebiz.net.

Communal Penance Services

The season of Lent is a time to seek the Lord’s healing and forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The following are the dates and times of Communal Penance Services scheduled at various Blair County parishes in the coming weeks. A diocesan-wide schedule is available on the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown website and Facebook page. Please consult individual parishes for other Reconciliation opportunities leading up to Easter.

– March 11 at 7 p.m. — St. Rose of Lima, Altoona

– March 12 at 5:30 p.m. — St. Mark, Altoona

– March 14 at 10 a.m. — St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Altoona

– March 15 at 4 p.m. — St. John the Evangelist, Altoona

– March 15 from 4-5 p.m. — St. Catherine of Siena, Duncansville

– March 19 from 5-6 p.m. — St. Catherine of Siena, Duncansville

– March 23 at 7 p.m. — Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Altoona

– March 25 at 6 p.m. — Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona

– March 26 at 5:30 p.m. — Our Lady of Lourdes, Altoona

– March 29 at 4 p.m. — St. Mary, Hollidaysburg

– March 30 at 5:30 p.m. St. Mary, Altoona

– April 1 from 6-7 p.m. — St. Catherine of Siena, Duncansville

– Saturdays in Lent at 5:30 p.m. — St. Patrick, Newry

Wild game dinner offered

The annual wild game dinner, hosted by Foot of Ten Baptist Church, will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the Blair County Christian School gymnasium, 1140 Foot of Ten Road, Duncansville. Guest speaker will be Ken Hammel, president of Mountain Hollow Game Calls.

There is no cost to attend. Attendees are asked to bring a wild game dish, regular dish or a dessert to share. There will be tons of door prizes. For information, call the church at 814-695-2763.

Taize Tuesdays

Zion Lutheran Church, 500 Allegheny St., Hollidaysburg, will host Taize Tuesdays at 7 p.m. March 10, March 17 and March 24. This special Lenten program will begin with light discussion, followed by a Taize style of evening prayer, using simple chants, silence and candles.

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, March 13 and March 27, by appointment only. Call Deb at 814-207-8293.

Jewish Film Festival continues

The 2026 annual International Jewish Film Festival continues Thursday, March 12, at the Penn State Devorris Downtown Center, 1431 12th Ave., Altoona. Films begin at 7 p.m. and admission is a $5 donation; students admitted free. On March 12, the movie will be “Torn.” There will be a meal before each movie from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Agudath Achim Social Hall, 1306 17th St., Altoona. The cost is $20 per person. Contact altoonafed@gmail.com for reservations (required).

Rhett Walker in concert

Rhett Walker’s Faith & Family Tour, with special guest Olivia Lane and local act Follow, will be making a stop at Second Avenue Global Methodist Church, 130 Second Ave., Altoona, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15. Tickets are on sale now. Contact the church office at 814-943-2072 for more information or visit the church website at www.2ndavechurch.org.

Wild Game Feast set

Altoona Alliance Church will host its 19th annual Wild Game Feast on Saturday, March 14. Doors open at 4 p.m. where people can visit area business and ministry vendors set up in the church. The meal of various wild game dishes and traditional foods will be served at 5 p.m.

Outdoorsman/singer Tony Bolton from Franklin, Tenn., will be the speaker. Many door prizes will be given out.

Tickets are available for a $20 donation and can be picked up at the church office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday or by calling the church office at 814-944-0171.

The Altoona Alliance Church is at 3220 Pleasant Valley Blvd, Altoona, PA. 16602.

Stations of the Cross scheduled

The faithful are invited to pray Stations of the Cross throughout Lent. The following are the dates and times at various Blair County parishes in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

– Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona — Fridays at 5:30 p.m.

– St. Rose of Lima, Altoona — Fridays at 5 p.m.

– St. John the Evangelist, Altoona — Fridays with Adoration at 5 p.m., and Stations at 5:30 p.m.

– Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Altoona — Every Friday in Lent, except Good Friday, 2 p.m. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 5:30 p.m. Assumption Chapel

– Sacred Heart, Altoona — Fridays at 5:30 p.m.

– St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Altoona — Fridays at 7:30 p.m. (except Good Friday)

– St. Mary, Altoona — Fridays, March 6, March 20 at 6 p.m.

– Our Lady of Fatima, Altoona — Fridays, March 13, March 27 at 6 p.m.

– St. Catherine of Siena, Duncansville — Fridays at 6:30 p.m.

Coin club meets

The Coin Club will meet at Faith Baptist Church of Altoona from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 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 offered

St. John’s Reformed Church, 906 Maple Ave., will host the Hollidaysburg Churches’ Free Soup Program on Saturday, March 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. St. John’s will also offer a sandwich each Saturday. The meal is free; donations accepted.

The rest of the schedule is as follows:

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

Bible study planned

Duncansville Lutheran will hold a bible study every Wednesday night during lent at 5:15 p.m. The dates of the Bible study are March 11, March 18 and March 25.

Lenten lunch series offered

Wehnwood United Methodist Church will host Lenten lunches with guest speakers. Donations will be accepted to support food ministries.

“The Great Way: A Heart Prepared for the Cross” series includes: March 11: “Walk Humbly,” Rev. Ed Preston; March 18: “Love God,” Rev. Denise Haskins; March 25: “Love Your Neighbor,” Rev. Dr. Joleen Willis and April 1 “Make a Difference,” Rev. Ray Kovach.

Video discussions offered

The Central Pennsylvania Creation Fellowship will host a series of monthly video discussions on “Is Genesis History?” The next session is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Faith Baptist Church, 647 Valley Vista Drive, State College. The video will feature geneticist Dr. Rob Carter’s presentation on “Extraordinary 4-D Design of DNA and Using DNA as a Clock.” There will be a time of discussion after the video.

On April 12, the presentation will feature Dr. Kurt Wise and Dr. Larry Vardiman speaking on “The Post-Flood Effects of the Ice Age and Our Climate.”

The series is free and open to the public. Light refreshments are offered after each meeting.

For more information, visit centralpacreationfellowship.org or call 570-452-5000.