NEXT VESTRY MEETING
Sunday, May 24th
St. Luke's vestry will meet on Sunday, April 12 following the service. All are invited to participate.
Please email Padraic Farrell at info@stlukesaltoona.org if you plan to attend.
SACRED GROUND CIRCLES
Tuesday, May 19th
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 14 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, May 28th
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, April 23 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 26th, 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 27th, 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 28th, 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, MAY 9TH, 1:00-4:00 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. Upcoming rehearsals will be on Sundays at noon, on April 26, May 3, and May 10 in preparation for our choral anthem on Pentecost Sunday, May 24. The choir will also sing on Father's Day, June 21; rehearsal dates will be set soon.
Questions? Contact Marilyn Pyeatt.
COMMUNITY LUNCH
WEDNESDAY, May 13 NOON
St. James Lutheran Church
You're cordially invited to join us for lunch on Wednesday, May 13 at St. James Lutheran Church, 1407 Eighth Ave., Altoona. Lunch is available for dine-in or take-out. The luncheon is free, though we gladly accept donations.
Interested in volunteering? We could really use your help. Contact Debbie Burgan.
JUNETEENTH IS COMING!
The 3rd Annual Juneteenth Jubilee Commemorative Service will be held at St. Luke's on Saturday, June 13th at 1:00 p.m. Highlights will include a variety of music and inspirational messages, as well as a West African Drumming group led by Altoona’s own Errol Gutshall. The coming week will include a variety of events, and Blair County Historical Society's exhibit on Blair County's Underground Railroad, now in its 3rd year, will be available. There are also plans being discussed for a community picnic at Prospect Park on the actual date of Juneteenth, the 19th of June.
Other area events include:
Bedford, Mt. Pisgah AME Zion Church, June 14
Johnstown, June 15-20
State College, June 19 & 20
Huntingdon, June 27
Interested in helping plan and prepare for the service on June 13? Email Greg Williams.
BISHOP VISIT JUNE 21
Our Assistant Bishop will be visiting St. Luke's on Father's Day, Sunday, June 21. Do you want or know someone who may want to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church? Do you or someone you know want to be baptized or to formally reaffirm baptismal vows? Please contact Marilyn Pyeatt for more information.
The Episcopal Church
Welcomes You
