Lampeter United Methodist Church (LUMC), 1101 Village Road, Lancaster, will host a free outdoor concert from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9. Members of the community are invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy refreshments and fellowship while listening to live music from local band Midst the Noise. The concert is part of LUMC's Second Friday series of community events.

Complimentary refreshments such as hot dogs and chips will be offered to attendees of the show. Coffee and dessert items will be available to purchase from Joe on the Go Coffee Co.'s food truck. Although the event will be free, guests are encouraged to register online to help LUMC prepare enough food. To register, visit http://www.lampeterumc.com/upcoming-event.

The evening will begin with a short prayer, after which Midst the Noise will perform an arrangement of rock songs and popular hits. The band has performed at several previous Second Friday events at the church, including LUMC's trivia night and themed bingo activities. Midst the Noise also shares members with LUMC's praise and worship band, which plays for Sunday services, and the outfit has grown popular among community members after playing at local fundraisers and First Friday events in downtown Lancaster. "They were such a big hit during trivia, but they didn't have time to play full sets between rounds," said Zachary Frantz of LUMC. "We wanted to bring them back, and it's a great band we knew our community would enjoy."

LUMC held its first event in the Second Friday Series in January 2024. The goal of creating the series was to offer a free, family event to residents of communities in the Southern End once a month. Since January, the series has included a board game night, movie screenings and games such as trivia and bingo. In July, Second Friday attendees painted ornaments for residents of local retirement homes as part of LUMC's Christmas in July activities.

"(The Second Friday Series) is something we had been thinking about doing for a while," Frantz said. "It's about creating interactions between our church family and people in the community. There's always devotionals and things for people to take home, and members of the congregation are always present to answer questions, but we give space for people to just come do something different." Frantz added that the series is loosely based on the First Friday series downtown, but it offers an alternative for local residents who may not have access to transportation into the city.

In addition to the free community events, LUMC offers various programs and activities through its ministries. The church hosts a free community meal on the first Wednesday of every month, and its members participate in the Soup Angels program to combat food insecurity in Lancaster city.