• Those who are sick or suffering; Amy, John, Brian, Elsie.
• Those who have died: the Rev. Roy Embley; Sharleen, and those who mourn: the Rev. Stuart Ravnsborg, Honourary Assistant at St. Luke's Anglican Church in Edmonton, family and friends. Sharleen's funeral will be held at 1:30pm on January 6, 2018 at St. Luke's.
• For distress lines, particularly at this time of year; both for those who call and for those who listen.
• Our brothers and sisters in Christ from Treaty Six and
  Treaty Eight First Nations.
• Bishop Sixbert and the Diocese of Buyé (List of Twinned Parishes).
  Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Buyé diocese who continue to suffer the effects of drought.
• Request a prayer

Please see the parish info section of the diocesan website for the Word or PDF version of the January-April Prayer Cycle.

The Synod Office will be closed Christmas Day until January 2. We wish you a blessed Christmas filled with hope, peace, joy and love!

Every year the Diocese of Edmonton participates in the 'No Room in the Inn' project. Organized by the Edmonton and District Council of Churches, this project provides financial support to a different agency each year; one that is working to house the homeless in the Edmonton area. This year, 'No Room in the Inn' has chosen to support the Edmonton Region of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Brochures and offering envelopes are available for pickup at the Synod Office, 10035 103 Street NW, Edmonton. 

Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift? The hospital in our partner Diocese of Buyé, Burundi, is in need of renovations to the pediatric ward. Last year our diocese sponsored the construction of a maternity ward in Buyé, which has allowed them to serve approximately 5,400 women each year, providing a clean and safe space for deliveries and c-sections. Now they would like to move forward with a much needed ward to treat ill and malnourished children, and have asked for our help. We are almost there but need another $12,000 to make this dream a reality for the children of Buyé. Please consider giving to this important project. Please make cheques payable to The Diocese of Edmonton and mark "Buyé Pediatric Ward" in the memo line. Donations can be mailed to or dropped off at The Synod Office, 10035-103 St, Edmonton AB, T5J 0X5.

Each year, parishes of the Diocese of Edmonton join in the Ecumenical Service celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU). The 2018 service will be held Sunday, January 21, 2017 at McDougall United Church. Reception to follow. 

It is our pleasure to announce that Bishop Jane Alexander intends, God willing, to ordain the Rev. Aaron Parsall-Myler to the priesthood and Danielle Lepine to the diaconate on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, January 25, 2018 at 7:00 pm at All Saints' Cathedral, 10035-103 Street, Edmonton. Your prayers and presence are requested. Clergy are invited to vest. The colour is white.

This is a silent retreat led by Canadian Franciscan friar, Jean-Pierre Ducharme, OFM. It runs from registration, starting at 3:00 pm Tuesday to supper-time on Thursday (supper is optional). Registration forms are due by noon on January 19. Please bring your Bible, BCP, BAS and Common Praise (1998).

Mark the first weekend in March on your calendar and stay tuned for more information. Plans are underway for another Winter Camp from Friday March 2nd to Sunday March 4th, 2018!

Contacts: 
Sharon Pasula, Oskâpêwis / Aboriginal Cultural and Educational Helper: oskapewis@edmonton.anglican.ca / 780-439-7344
Fiona Brownlee, Aboriginal and Rural Communities Liaison: f.brownlee@edmonton.anglican.ca / 780-312-9070

Resources: Please see the Indigenous Ministries section of the diocesan website for leaflets, web links and other resources to help you pray and act for reconciliation. Please see the City of Edmonton Indigenous Relations Office to subscribe to their Community Bulletin.

Our Common Ground, a four-part celebration of urban Indigenous culture and spirituality in Edmonton, concluded Saturday evening, December 16, with more than 60 people participating in a smudging ceremony, feasting on homemade bannock and stew and holding hands for a round dance at Alex Taylor School. Members of the organizing committee representing Indigenous Ministries of the Anglican Diocese, Inner City Pastoral Ministry (ICPM) and Moving Forward with Reconciliation of the United Church Presbytery were honoured with gifts and danced the first round. Large crowds turned out for each of the Our Common Ground gatherings funded by the Anglican Foundation of Canada. Please note: this was the final gathering of the series. There will not be an event on December 21.

Nine churches in the town of Edson celebrated the 50th anniversary of their church-run community thrift store with a Journey to Bethlehem walk on December 8 and 9. The idea came from Ken McCarthy who was a guide for the Ft. Assiniboine version of Journey to Bethlehem for five years before moving to Edson. “It went well and we are planning to continue the tradition next year, hoping to make it even better,” says Ken. Watch the February issue of The Messenger for a reflection by Myrna Downer, a member of St. Catherine’s/Grace, who shares her experience as an innkeeper and fellow traveller on the road to the manger. “How very inspiring to walk that road past Roman soldiers, shepherds, angels, wise men and servants, fishermen, census takers, inn keepers and, finally, to arrive at the manger before Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus,” says Myrna. Photos: Ken McCarthy, Russell Butts and Maxine Armagost  

GriefShare: This 13-week video and discussion based program helps participants walk through different challenges of grief in a safe and supportive atmosphere. The only cost is $20 for the workbook and people are welcome to join at any time. Join us at St. Thomas Anglican Church, 4A Raven Drive in Sherwood Park on Wednesday mornings, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon, until December 20 (weeks 1-7), and January 10 to February 14 (weeks 8-13). For information or to register: 780-467-5730 or sttomsherwoodpark@gmail.com POSTER

Welcome Home: Are you a person who enjoys the journey, not the destination? Would you enjoy building a new life-long friendship? If so, put your faith into action by spending time with someone who is making the transition from homelessness to home. Volunteer with Welcome Home! Visit: https://www.cssalberta.ca/Our-Ministries/Welcome-Home or call (780) 378-245.

King’s Now Offers Continuing Education Courses: Starting the second week of January 2018, The King’s University will offer a variety of non-credit personal enrichment, child care, business, music, and spirituality courses on evenings and weekends. There are no prerequisites, text books, essays, or exams. It’s learning and personal development at its most relaxed. Learn about infant development, how to write a book in 40 days, technology strategies for business, and many more! See the full listing here.

Winter Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) Conference: Join us at The King’s University on January 24–25, 2018 for our winter IS conference, with keynotes by Rev Dr. Margaret Aymer of Austin Theological Seminary, where we will consider a prophetic challenge to the way we live by exploring practices (both individual and communal) that might lead to greater shalom for all. The conference sessions are free and open to members of the public.
We will also host an evening performance of “Freud’s Last Session” on January 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the play are available at www.kingsu.ca/isconf or through King’s Bookstore. For more details, contact Rebecca Warren at rebecca.warren@kingsu.ca or 780-465-8332.

Ecumenical Ministry Seeking Bible Camp Coordinator: On Eagle’s Wings is looking for an individual to fill the positon of Bible Camp Coordinator beginning February 1, 2018. The position is half-time equivalent with flexible hours. The position is based at the head office, the Katzman Centre, in Edmonton. The Bible Camp Coordinator will primarily be responsible for coordination of the Bible Camp ministry and will also assist in the daily operations of the corporation. For more info, see attached Job Posting

What is the basis of our Christian faith as it applies to stewardship of God’s creation? Where do we start as Stewards and where will we go? Please join us as we explore your passion for Creation Care and pose and answer questions on the subject. This is the first session in a series exploring a Christian’s duty to Creation Care. Mark Polet has been a biologist for 40 years. He has had the privilege to speak and work on Creation Care on three continents. Mark will present on work done in this field in different places around the world. A table discussion will follow. Please confirm your presence to Mark at 587.988.8136 or email markpolet@ualberta.net . For more info, see attached DOCUMENT. Admission is free. A freewill donation will be requested to cover the cost of the evening and support the work Mark and his wife Terri are doing. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

Brian Doerksen is in concert with The King’s University Choirs and A Call to Worship Band on Saturday, January 20 at 7:00 pm. This benefit concert for the King’s University Choirs Netherlands Tour in May 2018. It takes place at South Pointe Community Centre, 11520 Ellerslie Road, Edmonton. Doerksen is author of many contemporary worship songs, including Refiner’s Fire, Faithful One, and Come, Now is the Time to Worship.

An afternoon of quiet reflection, some sharing and rest to honour those who are in for the long haul of caring for someone with little ability to care for themselves. A time to be spiritually embraced and uplifted for the continuing journey. Facilitator Helen Gledhow is a certified grief counsellor and former pastoral associate. She has developed programs of support for the often weary journey of care giving. It takes place Wednesday, January 24 from 1:00-4:00 pm for a cost of $25 (financial subsidy will be available if needed). Register at: 780-459-5511 or online. POSTER

So you are adopting! This is an exciting time in your life. Soon you will be welcoming your forever child into your lives. This four session art therapy workshop is designed to help you navigate this journey, share your innermost heartfelt thoughts and feelings about your journey to adopt, and record the start of your and your child’s journey. By the end of the four sessions you will have completed four significant pieces for your child’s life journal. Each night will include teaching and discussion, an art therapy activity and sharing, plus helpful handouts. Each two-hour session runs from 7 - 9 pm on consecutive Thursday evenings: February 1, 8, 15, 22, 2018. The cost is $20 per session per participant ($80 for the four weeks); $150 / couple for four weeks. Payable by cash, cheque or e-transfer (no refund after Jan 26, 2018). For more information, see attached BROCHURE and contact Wendy Goetze: kinderhavenwg@gmail.com; 780-481-3843; www.kinderhavencounselling.com

2018 Winter Seminars begin the week of January 17

No seminars during reading week Feb. 21 - 24

Wednesdays, 11:30 - 12:30 pm, weekly, to be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Sherwood Park: ‘Believe in the Good News’, The Gospel of Mark, Hosted by Stéphane Saulnier,

Thursdays, 12:10 - 1:00 pm, weekly, to be held On Campus: ‘Be Holy as I am Holy’, The Book of Leviticus, Hosted by Stéphane Saulnier

More info at www.newman.edu

Something lacking in these days is a spiritual vocabulary that speaks to many men. Retreat leader, Richard Groves, will reach back to the Grail Quest story to address that need. Groves, an ordained Catholic priest for 15 years, also served as chaplain in the Oregon Correctional System and as assistant chaplain in the US Air Force. The retreat will include engaging films, a creative process for reflection and conversation, and inspiring ritual. It takes place January 26-28 at Providence Renewal Centre, 3005 119 Street Edmonton.