• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Joyce, Howard, Rhea, Mitch, Megan, Jen, Grayson, Maria, Asia, and Kiahnah.
• Those who have died and those who mourn.
• Those affected by wildfires in Canada and around the world; those fighting fires and those offering support to the displaced.
• 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 at the end of those two weeks.

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to appoint the Rev. Barry Rose as Rector of St. Peter's, Edmonton, as of September 10, 2023.  

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.

• September 10: Sunday service, St. Patrick's, Edmonton
• September 14, 7pm: Service of Ordination, All Saints' Cathedral, Edmonton

The Rt. Rev. Stephen London is pleased to announce that, God willing, he will ordain to the transitional diaconate Jordan Giggey of St. Mary's, Edmonton; and to the priesthood the Rev. Lisa Wojna of St. Paul's, Leduc. The ordination will take place on Holy Cross Day, September 14, 7 pm at All Saints' Cathedral, 10035 103 Street, Edmonton. Clergy are invited to vest. The colour is red. All are welcome! Please keep Jordan and Lisa in your prayers as they take this next step in their ministry journey.

The next Diocese of Edmonton Clergy Day on the theme of "Discipleship - A Calling for All," will be held September 21, from 9:30 am to 3 pm, at All Saints’ Cathedral. This event is mandatory for full-time clergy. All clergy are warmly invited and welcome to attend. We will hear from Dawn Davis of Huron College in London, Ontario who will tell us about the Revive program which we plan to launch in our diocese to raise up and equip new leaders in our common call to ministry as disciples of Jesus. Local speakers will also be invited to talk from the context of our diocese at present and into the future. REGISTER ONLINE by September 14.

Do you like to wrestle by faith and intellect with the big questions and challenges of our time? Do religion and theology studies interest you? Might you be discerning a call to ministry and leadership for the changing church of the future?

The Edmonton diocese invites you to join Dawn Davis of Huron University College on Friday, September 22, from 7 to 9 pm, at All Saints’ Cathedral, for a reception and information session. Light refreshments will be served.

Youth (ages 14 to 18 years) from parishes across the Edmonton diocese and all their friends are invited to the Fall Youth Festival taking place October 13 to 14 at St. Matthias Church Hall, 6210–188 Street NW, Edmonton. There are also opportunities for young adults to join the leadership team. The cost is $100 per participant. Scan QR code on POSTER or click the button below to register online by October 4.  

The Diocese of Edmonton Children's Choir (DECC), directed by Laura Hawley, is gearing up for its second season! The choir is made up of enthusiastic singers from across the diocese, providing opportunities for children and youth in grades 2 and up to learn music to offer at church services and special liturgical events throughout the diocese. Beginning in September, the choir will meet Wednesday evenings from 5 to 6 pm at Christ Church, 12116 - 102 Ave, Edmonton. There is no cost to join.

Do you have an interest in doing work for your community? Are you searching for ways to kindle a spark of inspiration into a flame of passion? The Social Justice Committee of the Diocese of Edmonton is looking for partners in action to work alongside the diocese and its parishes in furthering the cause of justice and God's peaceable Kingdom. We currently have several working groups for various justice priorities: Anti-Racism, Environmental Justice, LGBTQ2SIA+ Affirming work, and Disability Inclusion & Accessibility. If you feel called, but none of the current portfolios speak to you, we invite creating new ones! For more information, please reach out!

Through music, artwork, games, crafts and constant motion, 13 campers and 3 Leaders-in-Training connected with God the Creator's gifts of water, air, and food and with each other at Compassion Camp.

“Archdeacon Jordan and the rest of the volunteers did a great job of creating a safe and inclusive camp community,” says Michelle Yee, Parish Administrator at Good Shepherd. Yee helped run the Compassion in Action station where, through a different activity each day, campers were encouraged to think about how they can share and protect the resources “Every Living Thing Needs.” 

She says she enjoyed hearing the children’s discussions as they worked through activities while identifying times when they helped or had been helped by others, as well as ways they could reach out to their neighbours (safely and with the help of a grown-up).

St. John the Evangelist parish in Edmonton welcomed a new member of staff during the Blessing of the Backpacks service on Sunday, September 3. The congregation joined in commissioning Abigail Curle as Children and Families Minister, with a large group of parishioners coming to the front of the church to pray for her and the work she will do. The commissioning was a special way to begin her ministry.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to come alongside families in teaching the children of this parish about God and His word,” Curle says. “And I am very much looking forward to seeing how God will use children’s ministry to reveal His love to each child and parent in powerful and personal ways...." 

The September 2023 issue of In Touch, the quarterly newsletter of the Diocese of Edmonton ACW, is available to download or read online.

The Edmonton diocese's 5th Mark in Action committee has compiled various RESOURCES for parishes to use during the Season of Creation, beginning with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1.

Help us, Lord, to know the sanctity and interconnectedness of life. Help us to be like the moose who sheds its antlers, so that we shed the old ideas, habits and opinions that no longer fit. Help us to let go, to be open to new learning, growth, and the teaching of the spirit. Help us to see the Earth as the community to which we belong, so that we may accept the responsibilities you have given us.  Amen.

Level 1 of this program (for children ages 3- 5), designed to let them know about the Good Shepherd’s personal and unconditional love for each one, is being offered at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, 125 Larose Drive, St. Albert, AB beginning Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 9:30 am to 11:00 am. Please download the attached registration form. To register by September 8, and for additional information, please email stmattscommunication@gmail.com.

Speaker Series is coming back to Holy Trinity Anglican Church, corner of 101 St and 84 Ave, Edmonton, for a 2023-2024 run! With the new Lutheran, Anglican, and Moravian full communion agreement, "One Flock, One Shepherd" being passed at General Synod 2023, our first Speaker Series of the year will focus on the Moravian tradition and how Anglicans and Moravians can walk side-by-side! Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 9, at 11 am, for a presentation from James Lavoy, pastor at Rio Terrace Moravian Church, and Rob Key, an ordained Moravian worshipping in an Anglican Church.

Join us at St. Paul's in Edmonton, 10127–145 Street NW, for our Fall Kick-Off BBQ and block party from 11:30am-1pm on Sunday, Sept. 10! POSTER

This summer we have seen an unprecedented season of wildfires, along with record-breaking temperature increases in the oceans and on land. The climate is changing, and the majority of scientists believe that humans are playing a big part in this.

What is our responsibility as Christians regarding the care of God’s creation?

A Rocha is an international Christian charity working for the protection and preservation of the natural world. A Rocha UK has produced a 12-week study series entitled "Creation Care with A Rocha UK." We will be using this series for our fall study group at St. Margaret’s, 12603 Ellerslie Rd SW, Edmonton. It will run on Tuesday evenings, from 7.30 to 9.00 pm, at the church until the weather and/or the church construction project makes this problematic, at which point we will move onto Zoom. The first session will be on September 12 and the final session will be on November 28. All members of the diocese are welcome!

If you would like a taste of what the study sessions will look like, you can find them here: https://homegroups.org.uk/.../creation-care-with-a-rocha-uk/

Please register for this course by emailing Tim Chesterton at stmrector@gmail.com

The ACW Yellowhead/Edmonton West Regional Meeting will be held Saturday, September 16 at St. Augustine-Parkland, 131 Church Road, Spruce Grove. Check-in is at 9:30 am, and the service will begin at 10:00 am. Please bring a bagged lunch and a cup. Muffins and beverages will be provided. The registration fee is $10, register by September 1. All women of the diocese are welcome. For more info and to register, contact Betty at betty.squance@gmail.com

All are welcome to participate in Ecumenical Prayer for Creation in the style of Taize on Sunday, September 17, 7 pm, at St. Luke's Anglican Church, 9424 95 Ave NW, Edmonton.

Christian music duo, Infinitely More, is bringing its Keeping The Light On Tour to our community!  Married couple and musicians Allison Lynn and Gerald Flemming bring their signature vocal harmonies, prodigious finger-style guitar, and infectious spirit to this new non-denominational concert experience. The Keeping The Light On Tour is a celebration of God's unconditional love and faithfulness in all seasons. POSTER

St. Columba in Beaumont is celebrating its 40th anniversary on September 17, 2023. The celebration starts with the service at 10:30am and continues after with refreshments. We are so excited to see old and new friends, to share worship and enjoy fellowship. St. Columba's is located at 5703 – 50 Avenue in Beaumont. If you can join us to get reacquainted with the St. Columba family please RSVP to: stcolumbabeaumont@gmail.com  before Sept. 10. See you there!

The Cursillo Community will be helping serve dinner at St. Faith's Anglican Church September 29, 2023, and we would love for you to join us.

• When: Friday, September 29, 2023
• Where: St. Faith's Anglican Church, 11725 93 Street, Edmonton
• Time: 4:00 - 7:00pm

Holy Trinity Anglican Lutheran, Edson is sharing the Remembering the Children weaving with the Edson community at the local Friendship Centre (5014 3rd Ave) on September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The church has been seeking guidance from the Friendship Centre to support growth and understanding on their path to Truth and Reconciliation. Leading up to this, the congregation will learn about the Doctrine of Discovery using the Anglican Church of Canada resource and study guide. 

It’s summer! What a wonderful time to look ahead and plan for the fall. Would you like to do something special with your spouse? Marriage Encounter is a gift with long-lasting effects… Check out our website and hear directly from past participants. POSTER

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

Team Anglican is doing an amazing job! With just less than a third of the year left, they have donated just over a third of the units needed to reach our 2023 goal! Well done! If you have considered joining this team, quietly giving behind the scenes in this important way, please don't hesitate. To book your lifesaving appointment, call 1-888-236-6283 or visit Canadian Blood Services. Check your eligibility, then click here and enter our Partner ID: ANGL696986 to join Team Anglican. You won't just make a difference. You can make all the difference.

St. Paul's Anglican Church, 10127 145 St. NW, Edmonton is seeking a part-time, temporary Kid's Crew Facilitator. If you are organised with loads of energy, please submit your cover letter and resume to the Director of Community Outreach, Michelle Schurek michelle@stpauls-anglican.ca. 

This is the second year of this program. Kids Crew starts October 5, 2023 for 5 sessions of 5 weeks each and will wrap up May 2, 2024. Additional time for planning and clean up will be added as needed. 

The Anglican Parish of Christ Church has a great group of Junior High aged kids and we're looking for someone to engage with and teach them on Sunday mornings. Our ideal candidate is someone in university or older; someone with a winsome and lively faith who has great communication skills; someone who is organized, animated and reliable! This position requires five to ten hours per week at a competitive rate of pay. Click below to read about other perks of the job and how to apply.

All Saints' Cathedral, 10035 103 St. NW, Edmonton, is seeking a part-time administrative assistant to work out of the Cathedral office. Read Ministry Profile. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to admin@allsaintscathedral.ca 

Season of Creation resources, designed as a kind of ‘grab bag’ for parishes to use to help shape their Sundays between September 1 and the feast day of St. Francis, can now be found on the diocesan website.

The Fifth Mark in Action Sub-committee of the diocesan Social Justice Committee provides a theme, prayer resources, resource links, hymn suggestions, challenge ideas, and a small video that can be used on Sunday or in a small group setting. Care of creation is a team effort, so lay members who are passionate about this could offer to lead these portions or to support their priest’s lead in this regard.

St. Matthias Parish Hall, located in Edmonton’s west end, offers many amenities and conveniences that make it the ideal place for your next reception, corporate function, fundraiser, or family reunion! For more information about our venue, click the link provided below, or email us at rental@stmatthiasedmonton.ca

"In this year of unprecedented wildfires from coast to coast, PWRDF is establishing a fund specifically for in-Canada emergency response." You can donate to directly to the In-Canada Emergency fund at any time. You can also mail a cheque to PWRDF at 80 Hayden Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, ON, M4Y 3G2. Please indicate In-Canada Emergency in the memo field. You may also donate during business hours by calling 416-822-9083 (or leave a message toll-free at 1-866-308-7973) and we will return your call.

Students heading to the University of Alberta in Edmonton this fall are invited to check out the activities of the Lutheran Student Movement (LSM), an initiative from the Lutheran Campus Ministry supported by the congregations of the Synod of Alberta & the Territories of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. As a registered club through the University of Alberta. LSM acts as a community of faith for young adults in Edmonton, hosting weekly events.

Join us on September 11, 2023 from 10am to 1pm at 20303 33 Street NE, Edmonton, AB for a chance to connect in person on the land and learn about some of the great initiatives that are happening to promote food sovereignty and growing! Following a brief presentation by Lady Flower Gardens, we’ll go for a tour of the gardens, get to put our hands in the dirt to help with some harvesting while deepening our connections and networking with each other. Lunch will be provided.

Please RSVP to Jessica at jessica@jhcentre.org by Wednesday, September 6. Do let us know in your RSVP if you need any support with accessibility or have dietary needs.  POSTER

How do you nurture your inner sense of quiet, faith and wellbeing in the midst of this fast-paced world with its many demands? Do you recognise a longing for inner silence and healing? Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, join us for this brief introduction to a contemplative practice called Centering Prayer on Tuesday, September 12 at 6:30 pm. Suggested Donation: $10. Register at 780-459-5511 or at starofthenorth.ca/prayer

Take a day in the outdoors to explore the impact of landscape on your faith journey. Pack a lunch, tools for expression (journal, paper, pens/pencils etc), a chair or blanket and a heart open to discovery. Dress for the weather and join us as we become students of nature in the sanctuary of creation for a day!

Thursday, September 14, 2023 (10:00 am – 3:00 pm)
$45 (pack your own lunch)

Facilitator Carol Sebastian is a prairie-born farm girl who has recently responded to nature’s invitation to feed and grow her soul by returning to the landscape of her roots. She shares as she learns through conversations and retreats. Carol is a trained and experienced spiritual director rostered at PRC.

A Night of Grief & Mystery, September 13, 7:30 to 9:30 pm, at the Garneau Theatre, Edmonton, combines stories and observations by author/culture activist Stephen Jenkinson, drawn from his decades of work in palliative care, with original songs/sonics by recording artist Gregory Hoskins.

These two Canadian artists have been exploring the intersection of their work for 8 years, across 3 continents, in 3 recordings and 2 short films. They come to the road now in 2023 as they did in the beginning: the two of them, a singer and a storyteller, out into the mystery days.

The School of Women in Ministry is accepting registrations for its next cohort beginning Saturday, September 16 at Taylor Seminary, 11525 23 Ave NW, Edmonton. SWM provides women interested in serving in ministry with an opportunity to grow in faith theologically, practically and spiritually. For more info, email academics@womeninministry.ca   

Join us at Hastings Lake Bible Camp on Sunday, September 17 as we thank God for the incredible summer we had and for 85 years of faithful camping ministry!

• 2:30pm - Chapel Service
• 3:30pm - Coffee, inflatable slide, basketball, games
• 4:30pm - Supper 
• 6:00pm - Campfire sing-a-long request hour

The World Council of Churches (WCC) invites people and churches all over the world to pray, advocate, and stand in solidarity with people in the Holy Land during the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel from September 16 to 23. Resources including reflections, prayers, and more are now available to help observe this week. In addition, the International Day of Prayer for Peace is observed on September 21. Church organizations, congregations, and people of faith are encouraged to bear a common witness by participating in worship services, educational events, and acts of support in favor of peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis. 

On July 2, 2023, The Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) approved a joint resolution calling on the Prime Minister for stronger action to address conditions in Israel and Palestine. 

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Mt 25:35).

Join us at Star of the North Retreat Centre, on September 26, at 6:30 pm, for a simulation exercise that allows participants to experience what refugees go through when they must flee their country. Participants will become aware of the challenges and dangers that refugees face by making hard decisions similar to those refugees make every day. The exercise  invites us to put ourselves in the refugee’s shoes, helping us to become aware that a refugee is first and foremost a human being, whose life is not all that different from our own, and whose existence has been turned upside down. 

If you are a health professional with palliative care experience who may be interested in training as a facilitator, or if you are part of a community organization that may be interested in hosting these courses, we invite you to attend the PalliLearn ECHO series this fall. The series includes a pilot of each PalliLearn course as well as a three-hour facilitator training session:

Session 1: Your Role in a Compassionate Community
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, 12 – 1:15 pm  

Session 2: What is Palliative Care?  
Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, 12 – 1:15 pm

Session 3: How to Have Conversations About Dying and Grief
Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, 12 – 1:15 pm

Session 4: What Matters Most?
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, 12 – 1:15 pm

Session 5: PalliLearn Facilitator Training
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, 9 am – 12 pm 

If you have any questions about PalliLearn courses or facilitator training, please reach out to Mary-Ann Shantz at mary-ann.shantz@covenanthealth.ca.

Join a community at the intersection of faith & contemporary issues: creation care, social justice & reconciliation. Our fall module, Good News: An Invitation to Everyone starts September 29 and will feature presenters Sr. Teresita Kambeitz, Dr. Linda Gibler, Ron Rolheiser and more. To join us in person at Star of the North Retreat Centre or online, register at 780-459-5511 or at starofthenorth.ca/goodnews 

On October 4, 2023, at 12:30pm, as a celebration of the Feast of St. Francis, Providence Renewal Centre is joined by Fr. Dave Norman, OFM for the Blessing of the Animals.  Please join us and bring your feathered, furry, and scaly family members to receive a blessing.  Light refreshments to follow. There is no charge, but registration is encouraged in order to prepare the right amount of refreshments.

The Vancouver School of Theology (VST) is hosting its annual Explorer's Weekend from October 5 to 7. This is an opportunity for people who are considering degree-level (Diploma/Master) coursework in ministry and theology to attend class and worship, interact with current students, staff, and faculty, and have some personal-communal discernment time on the beautiful UBC campus. If you are curious about what it’s like to be a graduate student at a collaborative theological school, then why not be an Explorer? For more info, see the attached POSTER and click the button below to register by September 24.