INNISFAIL – With the town experiencing one of its busiest weekends of the year, hundreds of citizens still managed to find time to get together for a movie and barbecue.
From 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 the parking lot at Eastgate Centre was packed with Innisfailians, many of them attending the Innisfail Triathlon or the Weekend of Wheels earlier in the day, taking the opportunity for free food, an outdoor movie and meeting friends and neighbours.
The event was hosted by the Innisfail Alliance Church, a kickoff for its fall season of ministries, which are available for everyone in the community, no matter what their religious denomination may be.
“We haven't done something like this for a number of years,” said Pastor Andrew Rilling. “We thought we would do it just to invite the community, and a chance to meet more of our neighours.”
The event was especially important for the children and youth of the community, with scores playing games in the parking lot, having their faces painted and taking a romp in a bouncy house. When dusk came, everyone was treated to a 90-minute movie called The Case for Christ.
“We have at least a couple of hundred people here. We have some from our own church and there are neighbours, family and friends,” said Rilling, adding the church's ministries for children and youth will begin with Clubs Carnival during the evening of Sept. 21. “There will be outside activities that night too, mostly inside, but some outside as well.”
He said the fall season for the community's young includes Thursday clubs for children from grades 1 to 6, along with programs for youth from grades 7 to 12 on some Friday nights, as well as regular Wednesday evening activities.
Rilling emphasized his church's children's and youth programs are open to all the young of the community.
“We are happy to have anybody from the community join. Anybody is welcome,” he said.
For more information on the church's programs citizens can call 403-227-6655, or visit the website at www.innisfailalliance.com.
Pastor Andrew Rilling
"We haven't done something like this for a number of years. We thought we would do it just to invite the community, and a chance to meet more of our neighours."
