• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Gail, Lorelei, Rhea, Paul, Bob, Jen, Alexandra, Anne and Roger, Iona, and Greta.
• Those who have died and those who mourn.
• 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.

Please hold Bishop Stephen London in your prayers as he serves parishes throughout the diocese and connects with our partners and friends beyond the diocese.

• February 7-9: Clergy Conference
• February 12: St. Matthew's, St. Albert
• February 19: Holy Trinity, Edson
• February 26: St. Peter's Filipino Congregation at St. Matthias', Edmonton

Walk through Lent with Bishop Steve as he explores the call to justice at the core of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every Wednesday in March, from 7:00-8:00pm, Bishop Steve will guide discussions of biblical justice as we hear stories from people doing justice work and discover ways to practice justice in our own lives. POSTER

The February 2023 edition of The Messenger features many stories of ministry in action.

Do you have a story to share? The Messenger welcomes story ideas, opinions (Letter to Editor) and photo submissions relating to news and events of the Athabasca and Edmonton dioceses. Written content should be limited to 500 words. Pictures must be high resolution, a minimum of 1 MB (300 dpi), and include the photographer's name and a brief description of the subject matter.

Note: The Messenger is published 10 times/year. Please send submissions for the April 2023 edition to anglicanmessenger@gmail.com by March 1.

Thank you to everyone who has been moving forward on the Safe Church Policies in their parish. Most parishes have now submitted the names of their coordinators and their list of those who must complete a police check to our Safe Church Coordinator. Thank you for your cooperation as we ensure all those who work with vulnerable people in our diocese have up-to-date screening and training. If you have questions please don't hesitate to contact Rev. Armand Mercier who is our Safe Church Coordinator. His email address is safechurch@edmonton.anglican.ca

The Venerable Susan Oliver, Archdeacon for Children, Family and Youth Ministries, will lead two training sessions for Sunday school teachers, youth leaders and all who work with children and youth in parishes. We will discuss Safe Church best practices and how to keep our children safe while in our church spaces and involved in church activities. These training sessions will be held via Zoom on February 14 at 1 pm, here is the Zoom link; and February 15 at 7 pm, here is the Zoom link. Please let the synod office (churched@edmonton.anglican.ca) know if you will be attending by Friday, February 10. 

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to appoint the Rev. Chelsy Bouwman as Rector of St. Thomas', Sherwood Park, effective February 15, 2023.  

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to appoint the Ven. Kathy Bowman as Interim Priest of Holy Trinity Riverbend, Edmonton for the months of February and March 2023. 

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to appoint the Rev. Sarah Holmstrom as Interim Assisting Priest at St. Paul's, Edmonton, as of February 1, 2023.  

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Joanne Webster as an Honorary Assistant at Good Shepherd, Edmonton, as of February 5, 2023.

On the first Sunday of February, Bishop Stephen London confirmed seven young people at St. Faith’s, Edmonton, and joined the Lodgepole Communitas in celebrating its network of supportive relationships.

During the Bleeding Heart Service – a service of creative reflection incorporating many different voices - the Venerable Travis Enright, rector of St. Faith’s and St. Mary’s, described the Lodgepole Communitas as a network of partnerships casting out from St. Faith’s like a spiderweb. 

The clergy of the Diocese of Edmonton will gather for a few days this week for their annual conference. They will engage in training and dialogue on how to identify the cause and impacts of racism and how to address racism in the context of parish life and ministry. The theme is: Respecting the Dignity of Every Human Being: Equipping Clergy to Build Anti-Racist Communities. This is the first time clergy members have been able to gather for a conference since the clergy retreat held in January 2020.

Immanuel ACW is presenting "Stepping Outside the Shadow: Domestic Violence -The Ongoing Pandemic" on Saturday, February 11, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Learn more about domestic violence, associated behaviours and helping someone in trouble… and what we can do to lead change. Guest presenters to include:

• Jill Shillibeer & Joe Campbell, Alberta Council on Women’s Shelters
• Helga Edwards, Domestic Violence and the Church
• Gloria Rogers, Moss Bag Teachings and Indigenous Peoples
• Nora-Lee Rear, Camrose Women’s Shelter Society

For tickets ($20 each), contact Fiona at 780-312-9070. POSTER

There will be a public reception for the 6th annual "OPEN WALLS" Community Art Show on February 11, 4 to 5:30 pm, at Bleeding Heart Art Space, 11203 68 St NW. Join us for refreshments and mingling with local artists. "OPEN WALLS" celebrates the beautiful chaos of a diverse community. Any artist is welcome to exhibit one work in this show. Gallery Viewing Hours: 11 am to 3 pm, Saturdays from February 25 to March 18. 

Some of Edmonton’s finest poets and musicians weave their works together to warm our hearts this winter. WARM HEARTS is a four-concert series to be held at Bleeding Hearts Arts Space, St. Mary's Anglican Church, 11203 68 St NW, Edmonton. The first concert, to be held on Saturday, February 11, at 6 pm, will feature poetry by Naomi McIlwraither and music by Emmet Michael. These are ticketed events, with general seating available at a range of affordable prices. All ages are welcome. Tickets are available at Showpass.com. Doors open @ 5:30 (following the OPEN WALLS reception)  POSTER

On Sunday, February 12, from 2 to 4 pm, St. Mary's, 5042-48 Ave, Vegreville, invites you to a Good Ol' Gospel Singalong! All are welcome to stay for refreshments. Admission is by donation. POSTER

This group meets on the third Monday of the month at 2:00 pm at Good Shepherd Anglican Church, 15495 Castle Downs Road, Edmonton. From Greek, Klaio means to mourn, weep, or lament. Grief and loss are difficult burdens to carry, and the support of others can help lighten the load. Klaio is a drop-in, grief support group open to all members of the community who are coping with loss. If you are looking to connect with others to share your experiences with grief and loss, please join us. The next meeting is on February 20. 

Join us for one of two Lenten Quiet Days that will be held on Zoom and led by Sister Doreen of the SSJD. These will be held February 25 and March 4. The registration deadlines for each respectively will be February 18 and February 25. Our theme will be the deep desire to listen to the call to be more of myself: to be prayer, to be gift, to be whole. Email Dorothy Dahli at dorothydahli@shaw.ca to sign up. Zoom information will be forwarded by email once registrations are complete. POSTER

Last year at the beginning of Lent we began the diocesan Remembering the Children weaving project. At the summer solstice, National Indigenous Peoples Day, we blessed the finished project at a special service at the Cathedral. We now have the weaving available to visit parishes. You might think the only good time to have the weaving visit your parish is in September or October. Not true! Anytime you want to deepen your parish's connection to the ministry of reconciliation in our diocese is a good time to do it. Please contact Fiona at f.brownlee@edmonton.anglican.ca for more information or to ask if a particular date is available.

Let us help you promote your upcoming event in Synod Scene, our weekly e-newsletter to clergy, parishes and subscribers. Please click the link to the form below to tell us about your event (ie. youth gathering, parish fundraiser, worship service, community outreach, public lecture). Upload a graphic or picture (horizontal / landscape orientation; 1500x784 px), and your event poster. Events must be submitted by Tuesday at noon for inclusion in the current week's newsletter. Have Questions? Send us an email: churched@edmonton.anglican.ca

CBS is always in need of donations! To book your lifesaving appointment call: 1-888-236-6283 or visit Canadian Blood Services.

The diocese also invites you to consider joining Team Anglican. First check your eligibility, then click here to enter our Partner ID: ANGL696986. The Edmonton diocese continues to hold in gratitude all those who helped us reach our CBS donation target of 120 units donated through 2022. Stay tuned for an updated 2023 goal.

Donate a Car Canada will turn vehicle donations into generous support for ministry in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton. Working on our behalf, Donate a Car will accept your vehicle for a donation -- running, or not! Old or new! There is no cost to you, and the process is simple. Donate a Car Canada will facilitate all aspects of your car donation from the pick up to the final sale, ensuring that your vehicle will be sold for the highest sale outcome possible. They will then forward the net proceeds to us here at the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt within two weeks of us receiving your donation. 

The parish of Holy Trinity Anglican Church (Strathcona) in Edmonton is looking for a half-time Assistant to the Rector. The Assistant to the Rector will work alongside the Rector in continuing to grow and develop many areas of ministry including but not limited to stewardship, youth and young adult’s ministry, and working in various areas of social justice. In stepping into our specific parish, the Assistant to the Rector should honour and engage well with various aspects of our culture and priorities. These include: • Affirming the full sacramental participation of LGBTQ2SIA+ people in the Church and community. • Willing and able to engage in reconciling work with Indigenous peoples and other racialized groups. In sum, we are looking for an Assistant to the Rector to work collaboratively and maintain our momentum, with the ability to support, encourage, and celebrate the very active lay involvement in all areas of the parish.   

Job Profile

Applicants are asked to send their resume and a brief cover letter describing their interest in the position and the strengths they will bring to the position to danielle@holytrinity.ab.ca

St. Timothy’s Anglican Church in the Laurier Heights neighbourhood of Edmonton is seeking a leader for our Sunday Morning “Kids’ Church” program.  We are using the sermons4kids resource. This provides a short sermon, colouring sheet, activity pages, song suggestions to accompany the weekly Lectionary Gospel. The leader would be supported by volunteers to maintain the necessary Safe Church ratios of children:adults and to provide musical support. This is a paid position. For more information, please contact the Rev. Clare L. Stewart at clare@sttimothy-edm.ca or 587.687.1490 

If you love to bake, we have an volunteer opportunity for you! We are looking for wonderful volunteers to help bake bread for the Lodgepole Bakery. We provide training in using technology and machines in the kitchen and will train you in the Lodgepole Way of baking sourdough bread and Ugandan-style Chapati bread. Some basic bread-baking knowledge would help, though! You will be involved in activities that require quite a bit of movement, including standing, walking, lifting and working with your hands.  

Star of the North Retreat Centre has a number of offerings over the coming months. Visit their website to learn about the Courage to Teach series held one Saturday a month from January 28 to May 27, the Bridges to Contemplative Living series held Wednesdays in February and March, and a Reconciliation through Justice evening, February 16.

Providence Renewal Centre is offering a number of retreats over the coming months. Visit their website to learn about an Enneagram retreat February 10-12 and a Lenten retreat March 17-19, among others.

The Rev. Brenda Haggett, an ordained minister with the Free Methodist Church in Canada,  doing research on ministers’ awareness of the impact of trauma not only on themselves but for the people in their respective parish settings. She has developed a survey and will make the findings available upon request once her degree has been conferred. Read More Here

The Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute's Youth Surge Conference will be held from March 24 to 26 in Camrose. This is a weekend event for Senior High (Gr 9-12) and young adults to come together for worship, fun activities, sharing our faith, and growing in our relationship with Christ. This year's theme, "Examining," aims to examine the life of Jesus, and how he is at work in us (and you) today. For more info and to register for the conference, visit https://clbi.edu/surge/

POSTER

Bishop Stephen London and the Parish of St. Mary's, Ponoka will celebrate the shared ministry of the Rev. Trina Holmberg who will be inducted as rector on Thursday, March 23 at 7:00 pm. Holmberg also serves as rector of St. Andrew's, Camrose. All are invited to show their support for Holmberg, her family and the communities she serves. Members of the clergy are encouraged to attend and to robe. The colour is white.