Second Fridays at Lampeter United Methodist Church (UMC) have proven to be popular.

The event that will take place on Friday, July 11, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. might be the biggest one yet.

The band Midst the Noise will perform patriotic songs and music from the '70s to today at the church, 1101 Village Road, Lancaster. Attendees will be encouraged to sing along with the five-piece acoustic group that includes Tracie Kortright, who is also a member of Lampeter UMC's praise band.

Midst the Noise is composed of county residents. Kortright (vocals) is from West Lampeter Township. Allan Dutton (guitar and vocals) and drummer Mike Egge both live in Manor Township. Genise Wade (vocals) hails from Conestoga Township, and Kevin Kresge (bass and vocals) is from West Hempfield Township.

"It's going to be so much fun," Kortright said. "We especially love Lampeter UMC because of how much (it loves) the community and how the church tries to find what the needs of the community are and meet those needs."

Lampeter UMC will provide customary picnic fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, and salads, as well as drinks. Visitors should bring blankets and lawn chairs for seating. If it rains, the concert will be held inside.

Lampeter UMC started its Second Friday tradition 18 months ago, and it runs year-round. Anne Reinert and Velda Emonds, co-chairs of the church's outreach and social witness committee, help organize the events along with Sheila Moore and other volunteers.

"Second Fridays are to bring the community together," said Reinert. "It's to get the kids involved and give the community something to do."

Previous Second Fridays have featured trivia, line dancing, and a magician. "It's always something different, and it's always free," Moore said.

Lampeter UMC volunteers whip up different kinds of food depending on the event, but one item is a fan favorite. "We're getting pretty famous for our homemade pizzas," Moore said.

Pizza will be served at the Friday, Aug. 8, event, which will be held indoors. Visitors will be encouraged to wear '80s attire, and a movie from that decade will be shown.

People who come to Second Fridays are invited to bring goods for the church's Blessings Pantry. The pantry, which serves residents of the Penn Manor and Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S) school districts, is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m., and the first and third Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

It is a choice pantry, which means people shop for items with assistance from volunteers. Blessings Pantry usually has a variety of itms including produce, cereal, paper products, toiletries, laundry detergent, and diapers.

The food bank is supported by grant money and members of the Lampeter UMC congregation. Cub Scout Pack 286 of Lampeter and the L-S School District hold food drives to assist. Families of children who attended vacation Bible school in June also brought donations.

Go to http://www.lampeterumc.com for more information about the church and its activities.