NEXT VESTRY MEETING
Sunday, July 19th
St. Luke's vestry will meet on Sunday, July 19 following the service. All are invited to participate.
Please email Padraic Farrell at info@stlukesaltoona.org if you plan to attend.
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH SUMMER WORSHIP AND POTLUCK - July 26 & August 23
The Bethany Lutheran church has cordially invited St. Luke’s to attend their summer worship and potluck events on July 26 and August 23 at Highland Park. The worship services start at 11:00 a.m. followed by a potluck lunch. St. Luke’s plans to attend the August event in lieu of its regular service. There will be no service at St. Luke’s that day. We have also invited Bethany Lutheran to attend our September picnic.
SACRED GROUND CIRCLES
Tuesday, July 21 6:00-8:00 p.m.
The Lutheran Home
916 Hickory St., Hollidaysburg
Through our Shaped by Faith project, we are conducting three Sacred Ground circles. This 11-session series includes powerful documentary films and readings followed by small group discussions. The program is free and includes dinner. The series continues on the following Tuesdays: April 21, May 5, May 19, June 2, June 16, June 30, and July 21 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Lutheran Home in Hollidaysburg.
We will view the Sacred Ground videos for each upcoming session at St. Luke's after church, at approximately 2:15 p.m. on the Sunday before each Tuesday meeting. This is designed to help those registered who may have issues with their internet or prefer to view the assigned video(s) with other participants. Please contact Greg Williams, if you wish to take advantage of these viewings.
Contact Marilyn Pyeatt or send an email to sbfblaircounty@gmail.com if you have questions or want to register. Flyers are available by request or at the back of the sanctuary with more information.
ST. LUKE'S FOOD PANTRY
Thursday, July 23rd
2:00-5:30 p.m.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Eighth Avenue and 13th Street, Altoona, will hold its next monthly food distribution on Thursday, June 25th from 2:00-5:30 p.m.. Food distribution is done on a drive-through basis. Line up along Eighth Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets.
YOUR help is always needed to feed our neighbors, and new volunteers are always welcome, especially for the food distribution and the two days previous. In March we distributed food to the largest number of households we have ever done.
Tuesday the 21rst, we will pick up pet food starting about 1:30 p.m.. We will load pet food into Greg's van, and it will stay there until we unload it onto the table on 8th Avenue on Thursday the 23rd. It saves handling and aching backs!
Wednesday the 22nd, we will be packing boxes for our neighbors starting about 10:30 a.m.. Hopefully, we should be done by about 4:00 PM. The order has to be separated, shelved, refrigerated, and so on. We will then start packing boxes for our neighbors.
Thursday the 23rd, we will gather about 10:30 a.m. and continue packing boxes, moving food boxes into the rear of the sanctuary, putting out signs and tables, setting up tents, etc. so we are ready to begin distribution promptly at 2:00 p.m., continuing until 5:30 p.m.. Then we have to put it all away; the signs, tables, tents, and any undistributed food. Luckily, we have often been able to start this process earlier, sometimes as early as 4:00 p.m., so the whole process goes smoothly. Even so, folks who can stay till the end are GREATLY APPRECIATED!
We need your help! WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU! Come when you can, leave when you must, and remember that your help and your prayers are a blessing for all involved. If possible, let Woody or Greg know when you can be there to help.
IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS!
Special Requests for April: canned chicken or tuna, canned pasta, cereal (any kind), jam/jelly, peanut butter, pasta, and pasta sauce
Contact Laura Gottfried-Letsche or Woody Pyeatt.
Monetary donations may be sent to the church or done by using this Paypal link. Thank you!
Food Pantry Facebook Page
2026 Food Pantry Schedule
WORK, EAT, PRAY AT MOUNT ETNA
SATURDAY, July 11TH, 9:00-12:00 p.m.
DIRECTIONS
St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light have hosted a monthly Work, Eat, Pray at Mt. Etna for many years and this particular section of the Lower Trail has been transformed by our work. Since the Fall of 2025, we have been experimenting with scheduling our work at different times of the day, so please be sure to note the time as well as the date of our next gathering. At each work party we spend the first 2 hours doing habitat restoration- removing non-native invasive plants which don't feed our native insects so we can replace them with native plants to help heal the planet that God has given us. This will be followed by a half-hour shared snack and conversation and end with Morning or Evening Prayer from the beautiful monastic tradition.
Please RSVP by emailing Greg Williams or call him at 215-242-0854 and he will send more details and a map.
Everyone is welcome to any or all the events.
CHOIR REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
All those who love to praise God with their voice - or are at least willing to do so - are cordially invited to join St. Luke's Choir.
Our choir is taking a well-earned break, but they do plan to return in the fall. If you or anyone you know might be interested in joining them, please contact the church office at 814-942-1372.
Our neighboring church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, is having their festival on Saturday, July 11. There is special music for the worship service at 4 p.m., and Marilyn Pyeatt and Emily Letsche will be joining their choir for this event.
Questions? Contact Marilyn Pyeatt.
COMMUNITY LUNCH
Interested in volunteering? We could really use your help. Contact Debbie Burgan.
ST. ANDREW'S POETRY CONTEST
St Andrew’s in State College is holding a poetry contest with cash prizes. This year’s theme is “Bearing Witness”.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end. Acts 1:8
The contest is open to anyone residing in North America. Since this is a church-sponsored contest, they are seeking submissions that engage with God or spirituality. All submissions must be original unpublished content written in English. AI is strictly prohibited. Submission deadline is August 15, 2026. For additional details visit: https://artsat. standrewsc.org
CHURCH IN THE PARK
Our Church in the Park worship service will be held on Sunday, September 13th at 1:00p.m. at the Valley View Park. There will be no service at St. Luke’s that day. The park is located at 301 Valley View Blvd., Altoona, PA. Immediately following the worship service will be a potluck lunch. All are welcome. We hope to see you there.
The Episcopal Church
Welcomes You
