• Those who are sick, suffering or in need: for Rhea, Paul, Erin, Bob; for all who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19; all who are struggling with fear or depression; all who are doing their best to serve others, including those who are saving lives by staying home; victims of racial prejudice and violence.
• Those who have died; and those who mourn. 
• Bishop Sixbert and the Diocese of Buyé (Twinned Parishes). 
• Our brothers and sisters in Christ from Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 First Nations, from the Métis Nation of Alberta, and from the Métis Settlements in Alberta.
• Request a prayer Click here to let us know who you would like prayers for in the diocese. We will make sure they are prayed for by name.

This year St. John the Evangelist, Edmonton has developed a five-day video Vacation Bible Camp and Backyard Circus on the theme of The Greatest Commandment. We’re happy to offer this content to any other interested families or parishes! 

Check out our trailer!

The camp is a series of five videos which families can do all in one week, or over the course of the summer.  The camp includes crafts, outdoor activities, bible stories, and discipleship challenges. The content is aimed at elementary aged children, though we have found that kids of all ages have been enjoying it.

Children and parents giggled and waved pool noodles during a game of socially-distanced freeze tag at the kick-off for Christ Church, Edmonton’s “Messy Summer Pigs, Parties, and Prayer: Discovering God’s Love Through the Parables.”

“Thinking up ways to keep kids engaged and learning, while at the same time not eating, drinking, singing or touching the same things or one another, was a tall order,” said the Rev. Susan Oliver, rector.

In addition to pool noodle tag, Messy Church-goers danced to the Village People's “Y.M.C.A.” and completed a self-guided scavenger hunt in the church gardens on Wednesday evening, July 8. The children were then invited to sit in circles on the lawn, at a safe social distance of two metres apart, to listen to Rev. Sue tell Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan.

“Kids have missed church a lot and this is a wonderful way to have them back in the garden running around like they own the joint,” she said.

The steering committee of the Interfaith Housing Initiative has issued an appeal for support.

"The 2020 fiscal year is proving very challenging for the Interfaith Housing Initiative. Like so many of our partners and faith communities, we are facing funding shortages in this season that threaten our continuing work together."

Working under the organisational umbrella of the Edmonton diocese with gifts of meeting space, food, and volunteer energy from faith community members, the Interfaith Housing Initiative facilitates and advocates for important conversations around ending poverty and affordable housing, offering consultation coaching to both communities and developers via the TogetherWise program. It recognises and promotes opportunities for local faith communities to work together to respond to local needs.

You can make a secure, online donation to the Interfaith Housing Initiative through the Edmonton diocese here. Cheques can also be made out to the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, designated to the "Interfaith Housing Initiative" in the memo line. Please mail cheques and donations to the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, 10035-103 Street, Edmonton AB T5J 0X5.

In this time of continued uncertainty, the Church, the Body of Christ, remains a loving and connected community. we hope to do all we can to support each other, and the diocese grateful for any and all donations we receive. If you are able, please continue to support the ministries of the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton. We continue to look for ways to support parishes and to ease the financial burden on those who will be struggling in weeks and months to come. You can make a secure online donation at edmonton.anglican.ca/give/donate. 

While some parishes in Edmonton diocese are beginning, very carefully, to try out in-person worship services again, many parishes in this and other dioceses continue to live-stream and/or record services and prayers online. This page lists online opportunities for prayer, worship, learning and virtual community in this season of physical distancing. 

Want to learn more about your faith? Want to be part of a group that engages in ongoing theological questioning? Consider enrolling in Education for Ministry (EfM), a theological study program that goes beyond traditional bible study, covering Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, and topics in Theology. It is a four-year program, but students commit and enroll for only one year at a time. EfM will enrich your understanding of the nature of faith and give you knowledge and tools to help you answer the questions of faith that arise in your life.

For more information, please contact the Rev. Robin Walker, Diocesan EfM Coordinator, at 587-589-3725, or by email at efm.edmonton@shaw.ca. Detailed program and registration information may be found on the EfM Canada website www.efmcanada.ca.

As we adjust to the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and parishes make plans to safely re-open their churches, what are some of the challenges you face? Where do see God at work? How are you practicing your faith? What keeps you hopeful? If at all possible, please send us a picture that helps tell your story.

This summer, the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) will switch its publications distributor from Parasource Marketing & Distribution (Parasource) to a vendor based in Kanata, Ontario. A new e-store will launch on August 4, 2020, and will be accessible via www.anglican.ca/store (which currently links to the Parasource website). Parasource will cease taking orders for ACC publications on July 9. Between July 13 and August 4, inventory will be transferred from Parasource to the new distributor. Read more.

For the first months of the COVID-19 crisis, Canadian Blood Services closed it's mobile community donor centres. These have reopened for July and August, although by appointment only. Please book online, on the app, or by calling 1-888-2DONATE. Answers to questions regarding covid precations can be found at www.blood.ca/en/covid19 . 

Register here for the Partners for Life program to make your donation count toward the Diocese of Edmonton annual donation goal of 100 units. Our code is: ANGL696986. Registration must be done online. Even if you've given blood before, if you register, your donations can be included retroactively toward our goal.

A full job description for this position, along with the process for application, can be found on the St. Paul's parish website. 
Closing date: July 20, 2020 or until position is filled
Hours: A maximum of 10 hours per week
Date Available: August 1, 2020
Salary: $18-20 per hour (dependent on experience and qualifications) with an increase of $1 per hour following three-month probationary period.     

Contacts: 
*The Ven. Travis Enright, Archdeacon for Indigenous Ministry: rev.enright@gmail.com / 780-477-5931
*Fiona Brownlee, Aboriginal and Rural Communities Liaison: f.brownlee@edmonton.anglican.ca / 780-312-9070
*The Rev. Lori Calkins, Priest: loriinkster@gmail.com 

Resources:
Please see the Indigenous Ministries section of the diocesan website for leaflets, web links and other resources to help you pray and take action for reconciliation. See also the Anglican Church of Canada Reconciliation Toolkit.

The third season of Sacred Teachings: Dismantling Racism ventures into the timely discussion of racism and its place in the world. It includes a discussion with Dr. Ryan Weston, ACC Lead Animator for Public Witness for Social and Ecological Justice. Raw discussions and teachings will be featured in the next eight episodes; all of which have been recorded remotely across Canada whilst we continue through the pandemic.

Sacred Teachings is a joint initiative of Indigenous Ministries and Anglican Video at the Anglican Chuch of Canada. Find the podcasts on Vimeo, Spotify and PodBean.

Indigenous Ministries of the Anglican Church of Canada has now hosted two live-streamed Gospel Jamborees, one on June 5 and one this week on Canada Day. Both of these 'sing and share' celebrations, hosted by National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop, The Most Rev. Mark MacDonald, were recorded and are now available for viewing anytime on the ACC website.

All who have watched any part of the video are encouraged to complete a brief survey to help inform future online events. Submissions for consideration in the next Gospel Jam on August 14 are also open.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Athabasca University's Bannock and a Movie is moving to an online environment. The ongoing theme will revolve around Indigenous groups and their stories. Each month until August, we will provide documentary links and a discussion board to discuss the documentaries. We have included a bannock recipe for your use. The facilitators of the series will be Ivy Lalonde and Priscilla Campeau who will answer questions in the discussion rooms. We hope you will enjoy this. June - Two Spirit; July - Inuit, Inuk; August - First Nations  

Please access Bannock a and Movie here. The first time a person visits they will need to click on the “Create new account” button (at the bottom of the sign-up page) and create a username/password. After that they can visit Bannock and a Movie and click the “Enrol me” button.  

Over the centuries, Mary Magdalene has held enormous fascination for the faith community. By exploring scripture, legend and new discoveries regarding this special friend of Jesus, we will derive insights into the meaning of healing, friendship and Easter faith in our own spiritual lives. Sr. Teresita Kambeitz, OSU, will facilitate this retreat live from her home in Saskatoon, Sask. It will be live-streamed onsite at Star of the North or at home online. As government regulation allows, on-site gathering will be limited in numbers, with social distancing observed at all times.

Friday, July 17, 7:00pm to Sunday, July 19, 2020, 1:00pm
Cost: Live-in: $250; Online: $90; Commuter: $190

Step away from your routine to refresh your spirit and restore your soul. Savour the sights, sounds, and silence of summer while you pray with Isaiah 55. This at-home silent retreat includes the option of daily morning prayer and individual spiritual direction each day on Zoom.

Five-day option:  Sunday, August 16 (7 pm) to Friday, August 21 (noon) $250.00
Seven-day option: Sunday, August 16 (7 pm) to Sunday, August 23 (noon) $350.00

The pandemic has had a profound impact on people in Canada and around the world. PWRDF recognises that individuals and parishes are facing financial challenges. This relentless virus has brought to light how truly connected we all are. Now, more than ever, we see the importance of caring for our neighbours, near and far. Many of the communities in which PWRDF's partners work are vulnerable, with limited or no access to clean water to wash their hands, and live in close quarters, making physical distancing impossible. Regardless, partners are doing their best to educate communities on handwashing and physical distancing best practices by providing access to accurate, scientific information.