Many area churches have planned Lenten activities, from fish fries to worship services.
Catholic
St. Patrick Church, Newry, will hold a Lenten all-you-can-eat seafood buffet in the school hall from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday during Lent including Good Friday. The cost is $9.50 for ages 13 to 55 and for takeouts, $8.50 for ages 56 and older, $4.75 for ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and younger.
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Haley Crider of Tyrone receives ashes from the Most Rev. Joseph V. Adamec, bishop of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Wednesday at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.
The menu includes baked fish, fried fish, popcorn shrimp, clam strips, macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, hush puppies, french fries, baked potatoes, soup, vegetable, coleslaw, applesauce, desserts, beverage and other assorted dishes.
Hollidaysburg Ministerium
Hollidaysburg Lenten lunches will be held at noon Thursdays during the Lenten season. The meals will be served at Zion Lutheran Church, Allegheny and Union Streets, and will be prepared by a different congregation each week. Pastors of the ministerium will lead a short worship service after each meal.
On Feb. 25, the focus of the service will be the poor widow, led by the Rev. Dr. D.L. Brinton Shafer of First United Methodist Church of Hollidaysburg. The meal will be prepared by First United Methodist.
On March 4, the focus of the service will be the servant girls in the high priest's courtyard, led by the Rev. Rich Morris of Hicks Memorial United Methodist Church, Duncansville. The meal will be prepared by Hicks Memorial United Methodist.
On March 11, the focus of the service will be Pilate's wife, led by the Rev. Marlys Hershberger of the Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren. The meal will be prepared by Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren.
On March 18, the focus of the service will be the "daughters of Jerusalem," led by the Rev. Cory Hartman of First Baptist Church, Hollidaysburg. The meal will be prepared by First Church of God, Hollidaysburg.
On March 25, the focus of the service will be Mary, the mother of Jesus, led by the Rev. Chuck Monts, of First Presbyterian Church, Hollidaysburg. The meal will be prepared by First Presbyterian.
On April 2, Good Friday, the focus of the service will be the women who followed Jesus from Galilee, led by the Rev. Greg Harbaugh of Zion Lutheran Church. The meal will be prepared by St. John's Reformed Church, Hollidaysburg.
Lutheran
Bethany Lutheran, 200 Third Ave., and St. James Lutheran, 1407 Eighth Ave., will join on Wednesdays for a soup supper at 5:45 p.m., followed by an evening prayer service, "The Psalms of Lent," at 6:30 p.m., led by Pastor Betty Landis and Pastor Peter Helmers.
The schedule is as follows: Wednesday at Bethany, March 3 at St. James, March 10 at Bethany, March 17 at St. James and March 24 at Bethany.
A Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 p.m. at St. James.
A Good Friday service will be held at 2 p.m. at St. James.
First Evangelical Lutheran, 1401 12th Ave., will hold prayer "Matins" at 10 a.m. and Bible study at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Stations of the Cross will be held at noon Fridays. A Saturday morning Lenten breakfast will be held at 8:30 a.m. each week. All services will be led by Pastor Thomas Ekstrand.
Midweek Lenten services will alternate weekly between Newry Lutheran Church and Geeseytown Lutheran Church beginning Wednesday at Newry; Geeseytown on March 3; Newry on March 10; Geeseytown on March 17; and Newry on March 24. All services start at 7 p.m.
A Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 p.m. April 1 at Newry.
The Good Friday service will be at 7 p.m. April 2 at Geeseytown.
Geeseytown Lutheran will hold an Easter sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. and an Easter worship service at 10:15 a.m.
St. Matthew Lutheran, 115 E. Penn St., Martinsburg, will hold a Lenten meal at 6 p.m. each Wednesday, followed by a worship service at 7 p.m. The services will be led by Pastor Jack Timm and Pastor Judith Simonson.
Simpson-Temple United Parish, 2212 Sixth Ave., will hold devotions and a soup/ salad lunch at noon on Thursdays, led by Pastor Denise Arpino.
Trinity Lutheran, 408 N. Sixth St., Juniata, will hold Lenten worship services at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday led by Pastor Elizabeth Hess.
United Methodist
Second Avenue United Methodist, 130 Second Ave., Altoona, will hold its youth-sponsored all-you-can-eat fish dinners on Fridays during Lent, beginning today. The dinners will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
The cost is $8.50 for adults and $4.50 for children younger than 12.
Takeouts are available by calling 943-2072.
Lenten luncheons will be held each Wednesday during Lent at Second Avenue United Methodist, 130 Second Ave., Altoona.
Soup and sandwiches will be served at noon downstairs in the social hall, followed by a Lenten concert in the sanctuary.
Warriors Mark United Methodist, 1840 Centre Line Road, will hold fish fries from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today, Feb. 26, March 5, March 12, March 19 and March 26. The cost is $8 for adults, $4 for ages 5 to 10 and free for ages 4 and younger. For more information, call 632-6906.
Today's menu includes deep-fried fish, baked fish, ham/green beans/potatoes, baked macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, applesauce, roll and chocolate trifle.
Other menus are:
-- Feb. 26: Fried fish, baked fish, shepherd's pie, Harvard beets, succotash, tossed salad, roll and assorted desserts.
-- March 5: Fried fish, baked fish, baked turkey and stuffing, scalloped potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, coleslaw, roll, fruit salad and cookies.
-- March 12: Fried fish, baked fish, baked rotini with meat sauce, sweet potato bake, mixed vegetables, fruit Jell-O, roll and pistachio fluff.
-- March 19: Fried fish, baked fish, Spanish rice, calico beans, corn, tossed salad, roll and assorted desserts.
-- March 26: Fried fish, baked fish, beef and noodle casserole, scalloped potatoes, mixed vegetables, relish tray, ice cream and brownies.
Wehnwood United Methodist Church, 2511 Juniata Gap Road, will host its traditional Lenten luncheon series on Wednesdays through March 31. A light lunch of soup and sandwiches is served, and a different local clergy person will give a message each week.
The speakers will be Wednesday, Rev. Jon Neeley; March 3, the Rev. Dennis Otto; March 10, Father Timothy Grimme; March 17, the Rev. Keith Schmuck; March 24, the Rev. Joe Fleck; and March 31, the Rev. Art Shotts. The luncheon is free. For more information, call the parish secretary at 944-1911 or visit www.wehnwoodumc.net.
Woodcock Valley
The Woodcock Valley Lenten worship services will be held at 7:30 p.m. as follows:
-- Wednesday, Feb. 24: Zion United Church of Christ, Marklesburg, the Rev. Levain Fouse.
-- March 3: Jacob's Church, Carol Grove.
-- March 10: St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Marklesburg, Jack Russell.
-- March 17: James Creek Church of the Brethren, the Rev. Lloy Blattenberger.
-- March 24: St. Matthew United Church of Christ, Entriken, night of music.
-- April 1, Maundy Thursday: St. Matthew United Church of Christ, Entriken, the Rev. James Patterson.
-- April 2, Good Friday: St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Marklesburg, the Rev. Rick Klotz.
-- Easter sunrise: Zion United Church of Christ, Marklesburg, the Rev. James Patterson, with breakfast preceeding worship.
The theme for the services is God for the City 2010. Offerings will benefit the community.
Juniata Valley
The Juniata Valley Lenten worship services will be held at 7 p.m. as follows:
-- Wednesday, Feb. 24: First Presbyterian Church, Alexandria, the Rev. Rick Klotz.
-- March 3: Waterstreet Evangelical Church, Alexandria, the Revs. Mark and Sherri Mohnkern.
-- Faith United Methodist Church, Manor Hill, the Rev. Steve Cort.
-- March 17: Nazarene Church, Petersburg, the Rev. Bruce Boyles.
-- March 24: Alexandra Reformed Church, Alexandria, the Rev. Alan Atchison.
The theme for the services is God for the City 2010. Offerings will benefit the community.
