Chili lovers gather in Carseland

Times Reporter 

 

With cooler weather in the forecast the thought of warm food has suddenly become appealing again. With that thought in mind, and with a plan to meet new people, the Bow River Alliance Church in Carseland is holding an open house and chili cook-off on Sept. 29.

“This is the third year we have done it. The church is doing it and we use it as an opportunity to kind of start our new season and invite people to come and check us out,” said Pastor Andy Wiebe. 

“I think last time we had about 15 chilies that people brought, and some pretty good varieties. Some were pretty hot and some were more tame.”

The church is inviting everyone, whether you live in Carseland or not, to come out and see what they have to offer and try some great chili. 

Church service normally begins at 10:30 a.m. with everyone gathering together. Just before the sermon, which is only for adults, the children and youth go off to their classes. 

At the open house, which begins at 10:30 a.m., Wiebe said he will discuss the upcoming fall programs. One of the programs is the Christmas choir. Every year one of the members of the congregation runs the choir, which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 1, with a performance on Dec. 1. 

The youth program will begin on Oct. 4. The church also has care groups, said Wiebe. The care groups are weekly meetings where smaller groups of people meet in homes and study the bible together, but also kind of walk through life together and encourage each other. 

The chili cook-off was an idea that was mentioned three years ago and has taken off since. 

“We have had people that have never been part of the church come bring their chili and that’s awesome. We really want to be a community church and we really want people to feel welcome and be able to do that,” said Wiebe. 

“If people want to enter the chili (cook-off) all they need to do is contact us at the church here and tell us you’re bringing a chili and tell us what the name of it is. Bring it in a Crockpot, that way everything stays hot.”

The chili cook-off winner’s prize has not been determined yet. In the past it has been a fun prize of chili things, hot sauces and chips. 

Anyone who would like to enter the chili cook-off, or would like to know more information can contact the Bow River Alliance Church at 403-934-9337, or by e-mail at office@bowriveralliance.com.