The warm sounds of live music and the hot taste of homemade chili will give visitors to the New Life Fellowship church on Sunday a reprieve from the winter cold.
Local Christian band, Crown, will not only be performing songs: the musicians will do the entire Sunday service, explained the Rev. Janie McDonald. The service will be followed by the church’s second annual Chili Cook Off.
The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the church, located at 50 Sullivan Road, Bradford. The Chili Cook Off will begin immediately after, with judging being held at roughly noon.
The event is free and open to the public.
Organizers explained, “The band, made up of Doug Yingling, Bruce Jack, and Pastor B. J. Simms, will bring a powerful message of faith, as well as favorite Christian songs, old and new, that will have those in attendance clapping and singing along.”
The event provides a little break from the monotony of winter.
“The holidays are over and, really, if your teams aren’t playing in the Super Bowl, now what? It’s just winter — not even a nice winter, just muddy,” she said. Inviting Crown to hold the church service “keeps things lively and lift people’s spirit.”
The Rev. Matthew McDonald, pastor of the church, said he is looking forward to a fantastic morning, and stated, “This is a great way to throw off the post-holiday ‘blues.’ There’s nothing like lively music and a bowl of hot chili to warm the heart…and the belly.”
People in attendance Sunday morning can expect a laughter- and joy-filled start to their day, according to the Rev. Janie McDonald.
“It’s a lively morning; It’s a fun morning,” she said. “It’s not your typical church service.”
After the service, members of Crown will be the honorary judges for the Chili Cook Off, McDonald noted.
A winner will be chosen in each of four categories: “traditional Texas-style,” which she explained has no fillers like beans or corn; “homestyle,” which is what many people are familiar with that include items like beans and corn; hot and spicy, aka “flame thrower”; and “non-traditional,” which can include anything from vegetarian to white chili, or even a wild game chili.
Last year, winners each received a medal on a lanyard and a gift card.
McDonald encouraged members of the community to come and bring a pot of chili to share. Attendees are invited to bring a dessert, too.
The church will provide bread, crackers and beverages.
There is no charge to attend, but a love offering will be taken for the band during the service, McDonald said.
The church’s first cook-off was held in January 2018.
McDonald explained that the church’s planning committee, which meets about every six months, had some newer members last year who suggested the idea for the chili cook-off. At that time, she recalled talking to a member of Crown the summer before, and he had been interested in performing at the church. McDonald thought the new event was the perfect opportunity to have the musicians visit.
“We could just make a whole big day of it,” she explained.
And they did.
“It was small, but we thought it was successful,” said McDonald, who’d like to see it continue to grow and remain an annual event.
After last year’s event, Crown said they’d love to come back, McDonald added.
For more information, call the church office at 368-3605.
