• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Fariborz, Susan, Wendy, Donna, Rhea, Megan, Jen, Becky, Bob, Justin, Raymond, Gail, and Dorothy.
• Those who have died and those who mourn.
• Health care workers, school staff, church leaders, and the many in various situations navigating the ending of provincial COVID-19 restrictions.
• Archbishop Sixbert and the Diocese of Buyé (Updated list of Twinned Parishes).  
• Our relations in Christ from Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 First Nations, from the Métis Nation of Alberta, and from the Métis Settlements in Alberta.
• Click here if you would like someone's name included in this prayer list. We will use first names only. Names are kept on the list for two weeks unless intentionally renewed.

Canon to the Ordinary Scott Sharman visits Christ Church, Edmonton to share in worship and prayer with the community by reflecting on what the scripture tells us about our vocation as ambassadors of Christ in the Church of God.

Diocese of Edmonton Regional Deans: Chris Cook (Yellowhead), Tim Chesterton (Whitemud), Jonathan Crane (Battle River), Colleen Sanderson (Cold Lake) and Heather Liddell (Edmonton West) gathered (with Sparky the labradoodle) on March 29 at Dean Alex Meek’s house for a day of planning and visioning together about the deeply important role deaneries play in the animation of the life of the diocese. As a regional dean Crane who is the rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Edmonton, says he appreciates his role in helping “shape the culture and foster relationship and sharing within our area.”  As well, he has the opportunity to be a “pastoral presence” and build a “structure of unity between our parishes.” Photo: Alex Meek 

Bishop Stephen London joined with the leadership team and church family at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Edmonton on March 27 to officiate at a service of confirmation and baptism.  

Anya Thomas, Chidel Ugwoke, and Siri Pellegrino were presented for baptism. Chioma Ugwoke was confirmed. St. John’s rector, the Ven. Richard King, says it was pure joy to be with these families as they took these steps of faith; families who are “involved at St. John’s and part of the life and health of the church. I’m so grateful for all they bring to our church family."

On March 20, 2022, Bishop Stephen London officiated at the induction of the Rev. Madeleine Urion as rector of St. George’s by the U of A in Edmonton. Having been appointed to St. George’s as interim priest-in-charge in December 2019 and then as rector in June 2020, the service was a long time coming; greatly delayed by pandemic restrictions. For that reason, St. George’s worked with Bishop Steve to “change things up” from the usual induction service, which is written for a priest and parish who are new to one another.

On a recent Sunday, Nancy Addison, people’s warden for St. Mary’s and St. George’s, Jasper, prayed that God would help her find a way to help Ukrainian people fleeing war.

Addison went home from church, googled “Canadians helping Ukrainians with housing and work” and found a website for Ukrainians seeking help. She and her husband had raised their four children and decided they had space for at least two people. She spoke to her friend who runs a restaurant and he said he could provide work. Addison posted her offer of help to the site: 

“I live in Jasper National Park in the province of Alberta,” Addison wrote. “You don't need a car in this town. Everything is within walking distance. Stay, work, rest and save your money. Please google Jasper National Park. It is a tourist destination. We have elk, bear, moose, squirrels, trails to hike, lakes to swim in. This might be the place you need to ease your worries while you await safer days back home. All Canadians want to help Ukraine. We wish you peace.”

Almost immediately, her Facebook inbox started filling up with messages and friend requests from Ukrainian families displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Most people are women who have had to leave their husbands, sons and brothers behind to fight in Ukraine.”

A retired schoolteacher, Addison now devotes a full day (up to 12 hours) to connecting Ukrainians with members of the Jasper community who can provide lodging for one year and/or employment.

In the past, she had witnessed the community where she has lived for 35 years coming together to support nine Syrian refugees sponsored by her parish. A 10th person is awaiting approval from Canadian immigration.

On March 25, Addison posted to her Facebook page that there are so far 32 Ukrainians confirmed to be coming to Jasper. As of March 27, that number had climbed to more than 40.

“All have been given free housing by generous families willing to make space... and businesses willing to give. Some of the Ukrainians will come with their children. Almost all are women. Some have dogs... and there is 1 special cat too!” 

Photo: Jason Stockfish, Jasper Fitzhugh  

The digital edition of the April 2022 Messenger features a diocesan weaving project in remembrance of Indigenous children who died at residential school. It also contains stories about a bible-centered support group, an Edmonton priest appointed to a national Creation Matters working group, the newly appointed chaplain to the Edmonton diocesan ACW, aid for Ukraine from a second-hand boutique in northern AB and much more!

The Messenger welcomes articles, opinion pieces, personal reflections and photo submissions relating to news and events of the Athabasca and Edmonton dioceses. Submissions are accepted until the first of the month, one month prior to the publication date (for example, April 1 for the May issue). Please send submissions to anglicanmessenger@gmail.com

Following their morning Eucharist service on Sunday, March 27, parishioners at All Saints', Drayton Valley shared fellowship over a pancake brunch served with toppings such as whip cream, strawberries, and lots of syrup offered alongside sausages. All Saints' took Lent as "40 days less Sundays" to heart and held a special feast on this Laetare Sunday. Members expressed great appreciation and joy for being able to share fellowship and a meal in person made possible by the phasing out of pandemic-related restrictions. A collection was taken in support of the ongoing humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine through the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF). Photo: Shelby Cook

Following are opportunities to support Ukraine financially:

• Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal
• Canadian Red Cross Information
• PWRDF supports Ukrainians forced to flee

The Government of Canada has put new measures in place to help Ukrainians fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel

Ukraine immigration measures: Open work permits for Ukrainians

Both of these measures must be applied for by Ukrainians or family members. This includes extending or offering visas to Ukrainians currently in Canada. They do not include the possibility to officially sponsor Ukraine citizens as refugees. For more information, please see the Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Services website.

In getting to know the diocese, Bishop Stephen London continues to travel to parish communities, meeting and praying with as many people as possible. He is also scheduled to attend provincial and national Episcopal gatherings this spring:

• April 2-3: Provincial House of Bishops
• April 4-8: House of Bishops
• April 9: Palm Saturday at St. John's 
• April 12: Clergy Renewal of Vows & Blessing of Oils at All Saints' Cathedral, Edmonton  
• April 17: Easter Sunday at All Saints' Cathedral, Edmonton    
• April 22: Cursillo Secretariat Commissioning at St. Timothy's, Edmonton
• April 24: Confirmation Service at St. George’s
• April 27: Deconsecration of St. John the Baptist, St. Paul
• April 28 to May 1: Provincial Synod, Prince Albert, SK

An informal Zoom gathering to hear Bishop Stephen London speak about what's been happening at the national, provincial and local church levels, and answer your questions. Wednesday, May 4, 12 pm  /  Wednesday, May 4, 7 pm

St. Paul’s, Edmonton is excited to announce our Tent Theology Lenten program with Dr. Stephen Backhouse. Our sessions will take place on Wednesdays during Lent 2022, at 7 pm, and will be hybrid sessions, live-streamed on the web simultaneously with in-person attendance. The recording will also be available on our YouTube channel. More INFO and SCHEDULE

You are invited to join us in person at Holy Trinity, 10037-84 Ave, Edmonton, for our Lenten Concert Series. Every Tuesday in Lent, concerts will begin at 12:00 noon and go until 12:50 PM. Free admission. Donations accepted. For more info and schedule, click here.

This program, running Thursday evenings now until March 31, is for community elders, seniors and knowledge keepers to connect and learn about the drum from a traditional and multicultural view. Proof of vaccination is required to attend these in-person sessions. Contact Cynthia at programs@creatinghopesociety.ca for more information. 

Every Sunday in Lent, at 9:30 am, join your church family in exploring our faith together with themes from the film Encanto. We will gather on Zoom for a 15-minute activity and focus together. Email nick@trussell.ca for the Zoom link. There will also be opportunities for in-person gatherings at parishes throughout the diocese. Click below for weekly resources for your parish or at home. Bulletin Graphic for April 3 submitted by Michelle Yee, Good Shepherd Anglican Church

Two of Kokopelli’s adult choirs, Vacilando and ChandraTala, are presenting a mix of contemporary and traditional choral music in a cabaret-style setting. “After Dark” will take place on Saturday, April 9, 7:30 pm,  in the Holy Trinity Anglican Church basement, 10037 84 Ave. NW. Because of the adult-themed nature of the show, tickets sales ($25) are restricted to ages 18 and up. Click here for details and tickets.

The Holy Trinity Speaker Series hosts experts on a variety of exciting and enlightening topics. Each month features a different speaker and topic that is relevant to our life and faith. Presenter Adam Conway brings us "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing badly" on Saturday, April 9, from 11 am-12 pm, in the Holy Trinity Upper Hall, 10037 84th Ave, Edmonton. Adam has been at Holy Trinity for 20 years and is enjoying a rich life doing important things badly.

There will be a Clergy Eucharist and lunch on the Tuesday of Holy Week, April 12, 2022, at 11:00 am. This service will include the renewal of ordination vows and the blessing of the oils, followed by a light lunch in the atrium. Please remember to bring your containers for your oil stock! If you plan to attend, please complete this form by Friday, March 25. 

Bishop Stephen London will commission the Cursillo Secretariat at an in-person Ultreya on Friday, April 22 at St. Timothy's, 8420-145 St NW, Edmonton. The regular date is changed for this month because it falls on Good Friday. Join us for coffee, snacks and reconnecting. The gathering will also be live-streamed. More info to follow!

Members of the Edmonton diocese are invited to participate in an all-day, ribbon skirt-making workshop on Saturday, April 23 at All Saints Cathedral, 10035-103 St, Edmonton. Sixteen red dress ribbon skirts will be made collectively for ceremonial use on May 5, when we recognise and honour Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and 2 Spirit (MMIWG2S) folk. We are looking for people to sew and to iron, people to serve coffee and tea and people to prepare lunch for those attending. All are welcome!  If you would like more information, please contact the Cathedral office at 780-428-6323 or Fiona Brownlee, Aboriginal and Rural Churches Liaison, at 780-312-9070. Please watch this space for exact times. 

Back by popular demand… Virtual Marriage Encounter Weekend, May 13-15. For more info or to register, visit www.eame.ca 

"We decided to do a Virtual Weekend last year. We found the sessions & pace very good and we loved the discussions it prompted between us.  It definitely brought us closer together, we’d definitely recommend it to any couples looking for a little spark.” 

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St. Timothy’s Anglican Church, Edmonton is in search of a new rector! This is a full-time position for a vibrant and diverse parish in the heart of Edmonton, Alberta. For more information on St. Timothy’s, Edmonton, and the rector they are looking for, please see the parish profile here. 

St. Mary's Anglican Church in Ponoka is seeking a new rector. This full-time position will combine .75 time with St. Mary's and .25 time with the Church of the Epiphany in Rimbey, a half-hour drive away. This arrangement has been made with the Anglican Diocese of Calgary, of which the Church of the Epiphany is part. The two parish profiles are combined here.

The Anglican Parish of Christ Church in Edmonton is a vibrant and growing city church, seeking an associate priest to join the team and share in supporting ongoing and emerging ministries. For more information, please see the job description. 

Registration is now open for Base Camp 2022, set to take place at Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park from July 3-8. Diocesan Camp Director, Dr. Mark Armstrong, is hopeful that Base Camp can go ahead after being postponed two years in a row because of the pandemic. For continued safe-guarding, all junior high aged teens who have had two COVID-19 vaccinations are invited to sign up to come and enjoy some summer fun.

"Team Anglican" met and exceeded its goal of 100 donations of blood and/or plasma in 2021. For 2022, the bar is set higher, at 120. For privacy reasons, the diocese doesn't know exactly how much each person donates, but we currently have 42 donors on the team. 35 are listed as "active" and 13 of those have appointments to donate at some point in the future. 

Anyone who is able to offer this gift of life is encouraged to do so. If you'd like to join the team, Click here and enter our Partner ID: ANGL696986. To donate blood, call: 1-888-236-6283 or visit Canadian Blood Services.

Click on the button below to see a listing of online resources, including Sunday services and weekly prayer live-streams and videos, online study, music and children's ministry links. We continue to update this list, so please share your creative ways of being church at home! Send your ideas to churched@edmonton.anglican.ca

Drop into Star of the North during office hours (M-F, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm) for a self-guided prayer walk through Kisemanito Pakitinasuwin - The Creator’s Sacrifice. This powerful set of 17 large prints by late Cree artist Ovide Bighetty depict the passion of Jesus Christ and are arranged in a contemplative "stations of the cross" style. 

A Lenten Quiet Reflection Retreat Evening, offered in collaboration with the Edmonton and District Council of Churches (EDCC) will be held at Providence Renewal Centre, 3005-119 St NW Edmonton, on March 31. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the evening concludes at 8:30 pm. Come when you can, for as long as you like. Prayer reflections will be offered in the chapel, alternating with silent reflection time. Event is free but registration is required by March 29. POSTER
6:00 pm Rev. Larry Wright (United Church of Canada)
7:00 pm Sherri Guenther Trautwein (Lendrum Mennonite Church)
8:00 pm Rev. Dr. Myron Penner (St. Paul’s Anglican Church)

How am I empowered for service? What kind of leader do I need to become to work toward the flourishing of the world? What does service look like in a time of important social change? How do I stay engaged in the work, yet avoid burnout/despair, etc.?

Join a community at the intersection of faith and contemporary issues: creation care, social justice and reconciliation. Our upcoming spring module, Leadership: Empowered for Service, will feature contributions from Ron Rolheiser, Joan Chittister, Dr. Ray Aldred, Becky Bonham, Cheryl Whiskeyjack and others. Opening retreat: April 1-3, 2022. For more info, visit: www.starofthenorth.ca/leadership

The Athabasca diocese invites participation in its second annual online Holy Week Bible Reading Marathon, running non-stop from 1 pm on Palm Sunday, April 10, to 5 pm on Maundy Thursday, April 14. Last year more than 100 people from all over the world signed up to take a turn reading from the Bible. Sign up here

Jesus said to them, “Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.” (Mark 6:31). You are invited to spend some time away during Holy Week to pray, to rest, and to refresh your soul during these sacred days. We are offering our suites for your retreat day or days at reduced rates from April 10 to 16. Come! Cost with meals: $100/day; without meals: $60/day Daily mass will be available. Check out our spiritual director roster if you are interested in booking spiritual direction during your retreat time. Please contact the director of your choice to book. Costs vary.   

The Festival of Telling, April 22-24, is presented and hosted by the Network of Biblical Storytellers Canada, an affiliation of people who practise the art and discipline of telling Christian scripture by heart. Keynote speakers for this international online event are the Rev. Bev Brazier and the Rev. John Snow. Steve Bell is our special guest musician.

Caring for others, responding to others, and coping with conflict and change on a continual basis is always part of the ministry of clergy. It can take its toll - especially in the context of a pandemic that has resulted in isolation, grief and loss, financial stress, and for some, despair. We believe that resilience arises and develops when self-awareness, self-care, and community and spiritual renewal are actively engaged. This 3-day workshop, to be held May 1-4, will provide a resilience development program with opportunity to reflect, interact with others, and to be seen, heard, and understood. The retreat is led by three skilled professionals: Marv Westwood, David Kuhl and Lin Langley. 

Apply now for this paid internship. Participants will receive a stipend of $5,000 for this nine-week program as they hone their leadership skills, working with a service organization in Montreal, and respond to some of the most pressing issues of our time. POSTER 

Is your family looking to get away this summer to a place where the sun shines, children play freely and adults find soulful nourishment with others who are also looking for meaningful experiences? Find a program for you and your family at Sorrento Centre. Click here to take a look at the variety of courses and leaders who bring rich and dynamic programming.   

In September 2022, the Anglican monastic community of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine will begin the fifth year of the Companions Program. This is an opportunity for women ages 21 and up to join the Sisters for 11 months either as a residential or online Companion. See attached POSTER for more info.