• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Gail, Kenn, Iona, and Marie.
• Those in areas of Alberta affected by fire or the threat of fire, and all affected by a hot dry start to the planting season.
• 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.
• People who are trapped in places of conflict and persecution around the world. We pray especially for people in Sudan, Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.
• 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.

May to August 2023 Prayer Cycle
now available on the diocesan website.

Bishop Steve London had the great joy to visit St. Margaret's Anglican Church in Edmonton on April 30. As he noted on his Facebook page, "It was a joyful celebration of many people saying yes to Jesus through baptism, confirmation and reaffirmation of vows." The bishop will be back at St. Margaret this fall for a diocesan Christian Basics course.

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.

• May 6: ACW Annual General Meeting, St. Matthias, Edmonton
• May 7-12: Study leave - Living Our Vows, Part 2
• May 21: St. Peter's Filipino Congregation, St. Matthias, Edmonton

Last weekend the Diocesan Children's Choir held its final concert of the season. in collaboration with the Cantabo choir. As Bishop Steve shared on Facebook: "The Diocesan Children's Choir is a new initiative designed to be both a place where children in the Diocese can get to know each other as well as to be a place to learn to make music. Every child who wants to be in the choir is welcome. I loved the concert and look forward to next season."

The Christian families of St. Mary the Virgin, Vegreville Parish and the Vegreville United Church came together recently for their second ecumenical gathering in as many weeks.

A week ago, on April 23, they enjoyed a wonderful service with Bishop Stephen London presiding at St. Mary’s for three baptisms, four confirmations and one reception into the Anglican Communion.

Looking ahead to National Indigenous Peoples Month in June, on Sunday, April 30, they welcomed Fiona Brownlee, Aboriginal and Rural Communities Liaison Officer in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, to the United Church.

Brownlee spoke about the “good and hard work of reconciliation” with our many Indigenous and Métis neighbours, especially those in our rural communities; thus, remembering that Jesus calls us to love our neighbours as ourselves.

The Social Justice Committee of the Edmonton diocese met on Saturday, April 22, for a strategic planning session to discuss how to better structure the committee and its working groups to pursue justice throughout the diocese.

Representatives from 10 parishes, urban and rural, encompassing a wide variety of ages and backgrounds and representing each working group added their voices to the conversation.

The Immanuel Reconciliation Team is committed to raising awareness of the ongoing crisis of Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, & 2 Spirit folk. For the third year, we will be hanging red dresses in Jubilee Park in Wetaskiwin. On Friday, May 5, at 5:00 pm, we will gather at the Peace Cairn in Wetaskiwin for a remembrance of Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women, Girls & 2 Spirit folk. All are welcome to join us.

St. John's, 4926-50 St, Sedgewick, is holding a garage sale and hotdog barbecue (dessert available) on Friday, May 5, 5 to 7 pm, and Saturday, May 6, 11 am to 2 pm. Have a bite to eat, hunt for bargains and show your support for rural ministry! 

All women in Edmonton diocese are invited to the ACW Diocesan Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 6, from 9:30 am to 3 pm, at St. Matthias Parish Hall, 6210 - 188 St NW, Edmonton. Please bring a bagged lunch and your own mug. Coffee, tea and muffins will be provided. Pre-registration is required. For more info and registration, see the attached invitation. Diocesan ACW President Elaine Dickie says this is a pivotal meeting for the organisation. Bishop Steve will be with us through the day and there will be a facilitated discussion about planning for present and future good works. All are welcome to share ideas!

All Saints' Cathedral, 10035 103 Street NW, Edmonton, will host a Choral Evensong on Sunday, May 7 at 7 pm, with prayers in recognition of the coronation of His Royal Majesty King Charles III. Join us for an evening of prayer and celebration!

Bishop John Stephens has asked that the following prayer be shared and offered in diocesan parishes and personal prayers leading up to/and on the day of the Coronation of King Charles III on May 6.

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,
bless our Sovereign Lord, King Charles,
and all who are in authority under him;
that they may order all things
in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace,
to the honour of your name,
and the good of your Church and people;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Church of England)

Teeny Tiny Books of the Old Testament Bible Study! You are invited to join the Rev. Danielle Key, rector of Holy Trinity, Edmonton, as she dives into some of the smallest books of the Old Testament. Together you will explore four interesting, often forgotten, books over a four-week Bible Study every Wednesday on Zoom @ 7 pm.

• May 10 – Haggai
• May 17 – Habakkuk
• May 24 – Zephaniah  

All are welcome and all translations are welcome. In fact, the more translations the more interesting our exploration! Please read the book ahead of the study!

St. Augustine’s Parkland Anglican Church 131, Church Road, Spruce Grove, is holding its annual Mother's Day plant sale with a twist! On Saturday, May 13, from 10 am to 2 pm, find the perfect gift among hanging baskets, a variety of planters, individual geraniums, dahlias and begonias. Or rehome your unused items at the Community Garage Sale. Simply register your vehicle with Michelle in the church office, into a stall, grab a table and display your treasures.

There will be a table for used books, and the BBQ will be fired up for hot dogs. POSTER

St. Luke's Anglican Church, 8424 95 Ave, Edmonton, is holding an affordable Children's Clothing sale Saturday, May 27 at 10 am. Clothing will include items for newborns to 12 years of age and will be sold for $1 each. If you would like to donate clothes for this event, please drop off items at the church on any Thursday before May 27, between 12 pm and 4 pm; Sundays between 11 am and 12 pm or by appointment: 780-405-6938. All clothes should be clean and in good condition without requiring mending. Please, no underwear. Proceeds will help support St. Luke's Missions.

The Rev. Kevin Kraglund will be inducted as the rector of St. Augustine's Parkland, 131 Church Road, Spruce Grove, on Saturday, June 3 at 4 pm. There will be a potluck supper following the service. All are invited to join is this celebration of new ministry! Clergy are invited to vest. The colour is white.

Join the Ven. Travis Enright, Archdeacon for Reconciliation and Decolonization, and the Rev. Canon Dr. Scott Sharman, Canon to the Ordinary and Ecumenical and Interfaith Coordinator, for the 8th Canadian Forum on Inter-Church Dialogues, organised by The Canadian Council of Churches, in partnership with The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism and The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism. Offered June 8-10 at All Saints' Cathedral, ᐯᐦᐅᓇᐣ / Pêhonân – A Gathering-Waiting Place will feature workshops highlighting the experiences of Indigenous followers of Jesus in the ecumenical movement. Register on Eventbrite.

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The Ven. Susan Oliver, Archdeacon for Children, Family and Youth Ministries, invites families to Save the Date for the Diocese of Edmonton and Friends Family Retreat Weekend to be held the weekend of July 7 to July 9, from 2pm Friday to 1pm Sunday at Camp Van Es, located a half-hour southeast of Edmonton. 

Led by Archdeacon Sue, this weekend will be a time for families to get away from their everyday routines and come together to enjoy the outdoors. There will be times for learning and for fun. There will be cabins to rent or places to park your RV. Save the date and watch for updates!  Registration will open soon. 

There are just a few spots left for the 2023-24 school term for affordable community living for Christian students close to downtown Edmonton. 

Christ Church Mosaic (120th St and 102 Ave) is a house next door to Christ Church parish,  where six young adults from various parts of the country live out their faith and their lives together.

Attending a variety of schools and programs, these young people form an intentional Christian Community during the school year. Living as housemates, these residents work together to decide the “rule of life” that will shape their common experience over the course of the year. Supported by Christ Church Parish in their spiritual journey, Mosaic residents gather twice a month with parish volunteers to engage in Bible study and discussion.

Apply to be a resident for the 2023-24 term by completing this FORM. 

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

Canadian Blood Services has a limited inventory of blood types B-negative, shared by only 1.4% of Canada’s population, and O-negative, the universal blood type used in times of emergency. If you are able to give blood or plasma, please donate on behalf of Team Anglican. To book your lifesaving appointment, call 1-888-236-6283 or visit Canadian Blood Services . Check your eligibility, then click here to enter our Partner ID: ANGL696986. Make your life-saving donation today!

The Edmonton diocese continues to hold in gratitude all those who helped us reach our CBS donation target of 120 units donated through 2022. Our goal for 2023 is 130 donations.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Old Strathcona, Edmonton, is looking for an administrator. Please see the job description for details. Interested parties can send their resume to the Rev. Danielle Key at danielle@holytrinity.ab.ca .

St. Margaret’s Anglican Church, 12603 Ellerslie Road, Edmonton, is looking for a pianist to play for our services for the months of July, August and September.

Our instrument is a digital piano (Roland HP330). Through the summer we will hold one service each Sunday from 10 to 11:15 am. We sing four hymns or songs, and the pianist usually plays music before and after the service, as well as during communion. Hymns would be chosen in consultation with the rector, from our hymn book Hymns Old and New: Complete Anglican Edition, and our parish songbook.

An honorarium of $75 per service would be paid. We will require a commitment to play every Sunday through the three months, except, of course, in case of emergencies.

If you are interested, please contact the rector’s warden, Melanie Eriksen, at melanie.eriksen@telus.net.

The Anglican Parish of Christ Church is hiring a Youth Minister to nurture and grow a youth group for pre-teens and teens in the parish, as well as a separate young adult group for post-high school folks. If interested, please submit your CV and a one-page letter describing what interests you about the position and what strengths you think you might bring to this ministry to Archdeacon Susan Oliver: sue@christchurchedm.ca  MINISTRY PROFILE

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 

Six graduates of the Studion School for Spiritual Direction walked across the stage to receive their program certificates at King’s University on Saturday, April 29. The formal ceremony was part of a weekend of celebrations for the nine grads of the Studion’s 3rd cohort. The festivities included a banquet and presentations Friday evening and a family pizza party Saturday evening before the Oilers’ game.

Covenant Health Palliative Institute (ECHO) invites you to its first online session: Introducing Death Cafe: Facilitating Conversations About Death Over Coffee, Tea and Cake, on Thursday, May 4, at 3 pm, on Zoom. This is an opportunity to hear from a panel of Death Cafe facilitators who will provide an overview of Death Cafe, explain why they facilitate them, share insights about effective facilitation, and answer questions. The Palliative Institute will also share resources and tools to help you facilitate your own Death Cafes. Organizations interested in promoting open conversations about death and dying are encouraged to attend this session. Register Here

You are invited to walk in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous people on May 5, Red Dress Day. The march will begin at Churchill Square at 10 am and continue down Jasper Avenue to Beaver Hills House Park, at 105 St NW, for bannock and tea. Wear Red and come for a day of sharing and caring.

What can we learn about psychology and mental health from the spiritual practices of Christian mystics through the ages; people like Catherine of Siena, Bernard of Clairvaux, Ignatius of Loyola  and many others. Did they know as much about these things as we do today? Maybe more? The Rev. Ron Klok, founder of Heartisan Counselling and co-founder of The Studion School for Spiritual Direction, will unpack this fascinating topic in a series of workshops, online and in person at The King's University (9125 50 Street NW, Edmonton), on the evenings of Thursday, May 4, Friday, May 5 and all day Saturday, May 6. 

You are invited to join Heather Mattson McCrady at Providence Renewal Centre for this workshop on Saturday, May 20 (9:30 am to 3:30 pm) and Tuesday evenings, May 23, 30 and Jun 6 (7:00 – 8:00 pm), to learn from the teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating and others. Cost is $100. Register by May 15. 

Mondays: May 29 and June 26, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, at Star of the North Retreat Center. Come to one or both. Cost for each day is $55 with discounts available for teams or couples.

These retreat days are designed for those in ministry, training for ministry, retired from ministry, and spouses. The day will begin with a contemplative prayer practice, followed by a morning of silence to rest, reflect, walk, journal, pray, etc. After lunch, we'll have another contemplative prayer practice and more time for personal reflection. We'll end the day in a closing circle.

Facilitators: Julianne and Jon Gilchrist, Gilchrist Coaching and Adventures.

Westwood Unitarian, 11135 65 Avenue, Edmonton, invites you to the Beyond Land Acknowledgements Reconciliation Speaker Series on Cultivating (re)Connection, on June 11, from 3 to 4:30 pm. Together with guest speaker Miranda Jimmy, a community connector committed to the spirit and intent of the Treaty relationship, let's explore what connecting to the Land as an act of reconciliation means in a modern, capitalist, urban environment. POSTER

Weaving teacher Jamie (Ali) Hurlburt, a lay evangelist of the Edmonton diocese, is teaming up with longtime Sorrento Centre leader David Taylor to offer a course combining spiritual reflection and hands-on crafting, from July 23 to 29. A range of beginner crafty activities will be offered, and absolutely no experience is required. POSTER

Online registration is now open for Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth CLAY 2023: Ashes & Embers, to be held August 10-13 in Waterloo, Ontario. Please spread the word to youth and leaders in your parishes!