85
WINTER
2016
|
Foralmost twentyyears,
ValerieScheinhadbeenattendingSundaymorningchurch
services ona regular basis. But when she joinedoneof the local ski clubs three years, ago, the
regularityof her attendance tookahit. During the regular ski season, she found that beinga ski
clubmember had takenona lifeof itsownandwasbothphysicallyand sociallydemanding.
Thewinter season in theBlueMountainareaoffersagreat varietyofwinteractivities,between
mountain sports, hiking, snowshoeing, evening entertainment, andother delights.Manyweek-
endersare visiting specifically for thepurposeof skiingand snowboardingandmanyaremem-
bers at ski clubs, who have their children registered in programs that run on Sundaymornings.
Formostweekenders, italsooffers theopportunity fora rich social life. For local residents,winter
provides seasonal andweekendemployment opportunities at the ski hills, in theVillage, and in
area retail stores.
Enjoying theEscarpment winter opportunitiesmeans regular attendanceat Sundaymorning
churchservicesbecomesachallenge. That raises thequestionofhowmanyweekendersand full-
time residents alike, find themselves forced to choosebetweenweekend recreational activities
andchurch service.
In the springof 2015, BlueMountainCommunityChurch (BMCC) heldameetingwhere its
members andattendees couldoffer ideas to helpgrow the church.With thewinter experience
fresh inmind, Valerie asked the boardof BMCC to consider a Friday night ski season service.
Shewasdelighted to findPastorAaronand theboardofBMCC tobeenthusiasticallysupportive.
Local REALTOR
®
, KevinGilchrist, anactivemember of BMCC, witha similar experienceof
missingchurchwhileofficiatingAlpineRaces throughout thewinter, agreed toworkwithValerie
to set anagenda,developamarketingapproachandorganize liveworshipmusic.And soaFri-
daynight servicewasborn.
Theservicewill runonFridaynightsat8pm for8weeks, from January8 toFebruary26.Services
will include inspirational videos, speakers, aswell as contemporaryworshipmusic. The service
schedule isdesigned toallowweekenders enough time todrive to their chaletsanddropoff their
weekendsupplies. Itwillendearlyenough foreveryone togetbackhomeata reasonablehour. In
theprocess, attendeeswill resolve their conflict between the social and the spiritual, andwill start
off theirweekends inarelaxedandpeacefulenvironmentafterahecticworkweek.BMCCmessage
to thecommunity is “ComeAsYouAre”and to serve the ski community, seasonal employees, shift
workersandanyoneelsewho just can’tmake itoutona traditionalSundaymorning service.
|E|
BLUEMOUNTAINCOMMUNITYCHURCH|219BRUCEST. S., THORNBURY
January - “The Fine Art of
Craft”
- 22 artisans from the book pub-
lished last year of FineArt Crafts fromGrey
andBruce. Includes a violinmaker, forger,
woodworker, willowandgrapevineweav-
ings,glassblowers,beaders,weavers, silver-
smiths, potters.
February -“Danfield’s”Exhibit
AnExhibitofofwallartandHeirloompieces
including rug hooking, prints, Innuit art and
paintings.
March -LeahDenbok
-14year-old
photographer fromCollingwood. Leahwill
be the youngest artist to ever show at the
L.E.ShoreGallery.Herblackandwhitepho-
tosareofavarietyof subjectmatter frompor-
traits toanimals to sceneryand still life.
Get me to the
Church on time....
The BlueMountains Public Library
BLUEMOUNTAINCOMMUNITYCHURCH
FRIDAYNIGHTSKI SEASONSERVICES
LeonardE. ShoreGallery -WINTEREVENTS:
For more Information about the Library:
ESCARPMENT
®
community
