The final service at Morrin United Church this Sunday will mark the end of an institution dating back more than 100 years.
    The Morrin United Church board made the difficult decision to amalgamate with the United Church in Drumheller and this Sunday, May 26 they will be holding their final service in their community.
    “Our congregation is pretty small now so we are going to amalgamate with Knox United Church in Drumheller,” said Marilyn Trentham. “It was a very tough decision. It has been coming for quite a while. We just got to the point we had to do something.”
    This faith community in Morrin began with the building of the Union Church in 1911, representing Methodist, Presbyterians, Baptist, and Anglicans. Harry Jackson was the first minister. In 1925, the Methodists, Congregational, and Presbyterians joined together to become the United Church. In 1953, work on a new church began with the existing church adjoined to the new construction to be used as a church hall and Sunday School.
    Up until the closing, the church had a minister come twice a month for services. Compounded on the small congregation is the lack of finances.
    “It is just the way of a lot of small communities. A lot of their churches had to make difficult decisions,” said Trentham.
    She explains, for the amalgamation to happen they had to approach Knox United in Drumheller to get its blessing.
     “We contacted them and had a meeting with them and they were very receptive to having us join, so that has worked out well,” she said. “That’s what one of the advisors said to us, ‘first you look after the people,’ and then you look after the property, your possessions, and artifacts you have collected over 100 years.”
    They are also looking at options for what to do with the church building in the community.
    “We are putting it out to the community to see if we can find someone who might like to take it over for some kind of a museum or something,” she said.
    At the Wednesday, May 15 Village Council meeting it was brought up for discussion.
    The final service is to be this Sunday, May 26 at 2 p.m. The congregation is inviting everyone to this special service. They have invited some of the former ministers including Mary Ellen Moore and Harold Hunter. There will be refreshments and fellowship following the service.

The Big Country Antique and Classic Auto Club is inviting the community to boogie this Saturday, May 25, at Boogie in the Badlands.
    The annual car show is a great way to dust off your jalopy, boost the battery and start the cruising season. This year the club is working with Mike Todor who organized the last couple of Boogies, to put on a great show.
    The Club is in its second year after being revived.  Secretary Shauna Jensen says they have about 30 members who are dubbed Valley Cruisers.
    “We are an inclusive group so we will take cars, trucks, bikes, tractors, we just want to have a strong club,” said Jensen.  It is a nice group, we have a really good core of members who volunteer. We ‘re pretty freewheeling and relaxed.
    She says it is a great experience being in a car club and it is a great way to be a part of a community. Often members have knowledge, advice or connections to others in the community.
    The club has revived Cruisin’ the Dub at A&W Thursday night. They are also looking at more events such as pop-up shows, and cruises. First priority on their schedule, however, is the Boogie on  Saturday, May 25.
    The Boogie in the Badlands is open to all makes, models and styles. These can be concourse ready classics, to garage projects. The common thread is a love for cars and trucks. Registration begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. Cars will be lined up on Centre Street and 3rd Avenue in the core. They have a live band, as well as food trucks on site and as much chrome, steel and rubber you can handle.
    “We have lots of donors for silent auctions and door prizes,” said Jensen. “We have five trophies this year for muscle car, rat rod, street rod, truck, and people’s choice.
    The day will go until about 3 p.m. with door prizes being drawn at 2 p.m.
    “We are hoping some will stick around to join us on a cruise afterward,” said Jensen.