• Those who are sick or suffering: Amy, Elsie, Laureta, Norman, Stephanie.
• Those who have died: Brian and those who mourn: Melbourne family.
• 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

As snow blanketed the streets of Edmonton on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, January 25, 2018, Bishop Jane Alexander ordained the Rev. Danielle Lepine a deacon, and the Rev. Aaron Parsall-Myler a priest, amidst the warm glow of All Saints’ Cathedral. With humour and succinctness, the Ven. Lee Bezanson, rector of St. Matthew’s, St. Albert, explained in his homily the significance of St. Paul’s Conversion.

“As Paul’s life was changed forever by Christ’s call, so I firmly believe God continues to call people to undergo a significant change in their lives,” Bezanson continued. “Tonight in this sacred place, on this Feast of Paul’s Conversion, we celebrate the joyous reality that two young people, Aaron and Danielle, have had their own individual Damascus experience: they have been called to service in Christs’ name and for Christs’ sake: Aaron as a priest; Danielle as a deacon.

Jeff Hangar, St. Mary Ponoka's representative for the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, is the guest speaker for this Fundraiser Lunch. He will be speaking about PWRDF's program for maternal, newborn and child health. This is timely, as the Diocese of Edmonton is currently working with the Diocese of Buyé to improve their maternity and pediatric wards! Admission is by donation. St. Timothy's choir will entertain with a humourous sing-along and there will be also be a silent auction. Contact Gen Ashwell if you can contribute a great auction item!

The PWRDF sends its thanks to the Diocese of Edmonton for its recent generous donation of $10,318.40 (funds given through parish offerings). The letter of thanks received this week at the synod office says, "This gift will support preventative health, mother and child wellness, food security and nutrition, clean water and sanitation, Indigenous culture and language reclamation, economic empowerment, and emergency humanitarian response both here in Canada and in more than 25 countries around the world."

St. Faith Anglican Church in Edmonton hosted an ecumenical church service on the opening weekend of Black History Month festivities in Edmonton. Presider the Rev. Adenike Yesufu, deacon at St. Faith’s, welcomed members of the National Black Coalition of Canada (NBCC) – Edmonton Chapter and a dozen church communities from Edmonton, Calgary and Camrose. A joyful celebration of worship and praise, the service continued the running theme of diversity and unity, fellowship and community, individual and collective peace and, this year, friendship. Joanne James brought greetings of love and friendship from NBCC Vice-President Joy Thomas, who acknowledged Bishop Jane Alexander and the Edmonton diocese for hosting the service for a fourth straight year.

Whether she is visiting parishes, leading and educating the community, or providing pastoral support to the clergy, our Bishop is always on the move! Here are some of the events which Bishop Jane will be attending over the next few months:

Parish Visits:

• Feb 11: Holy Trinity Old Strathcona
• Feb 18: Holy Trinity Riverbend
• Feb 25: St. Mary Abbots, Barrhead and St. Mary the Virgin, Sangudo 

Jan 30- Feb 1: Clergy Retreat at Star of the North, St. Albert

Feb 14-16: Preacher at the Diocese of Texas Convention

Mar 15: Speaker for U of A Faculty Women’s Club

January 14 saw the first ever commissioning of Lay Evangelists in the Diocese of Edmonton. Now we're ready to start again! The next two-year formation process for diocesan Lay Evangelists will begin in September, 2018 and will conclude with a commissioning in late spring, 2020. 

These lay evangelists will be volunteer members of the ministry team of a parish, licensed by the Bishop for a specific task. The primary focus of their work will be the ministry of outreach to those currently outside the Christian community, helping them to move toward faith in Christ.

Diocesan Warden of Lay Evangelists, the Rev. Tim Chesterton, would be happy to answer any questions. Contact him at stmrector@gmail.com or 780-437-7231.

A full moon falls on the first weekend in March and that's when we're holding this year's Full-Moon Youth Winter Adventure Camp! Location this year is Elk Island Retreat where we will camp out together in Trappers' Cabins. Camp starts Friday evening on March 2nd to Sunday afternoon March 4th. Registration and transportation details are available on the diocesan website. Sign up! Bring your friends! POSTER

The Neighbourly is a monthly publication of the Capital Region Interfaith Housing Initiative, of which the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton is a founding and active member.

A special award will be presented at the EDCC annual general meeting, to be held on February 4 at McDougall United Church. Jim Gurnett will receive the Rev. Marilyn McClung Memorial Award for Ecumenism, honouring his years of advocacy for social justice and the unity of the Christian community in Edmonton. Julien Hammond, ecumenical officer for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton calls Jim a "social justice legend and ecumenist extraordinaire." Jim is a former MLA, is a past Director of Community Services at the Bissell Centre, and has been involved in organizing the Outdoor Way of the Cross for the past 20 years. Jim currently works as a pastoral associate at Inner City Pastoral Mission and attends the Community of Emmanuel fellowship there. He serves on the Social Justice Committee for the Diocese of Edmonton and has his own Wikipedia entry! 2017 EDCC Annual Report

Please note: the annual Education Chaplaincy Dinner is earlier than usual this year and at a new location!

The dinner is an important fundraiser for the diocese's Anglican Student Ministries. Tax receipts are issued for a portion the cost of the ticket as well as all donations made. The theme this year is "Gracious Speech" with guest speakers Andrew Murtagh and Adam Lee, authors of Meta: On God, the Big Questions, and the Just City (an Uncommon Exchange).

Bishop Jane Alexander will help lead a Women of the Bible pilgrimage in Jerusalem, from June 5-14, 2018.  The 10-day course, offered by St. George's College, tells the ancient stories of women in the Bible and their struggle, joy and tragedy.

Contact: 

The Ven. Travis Enright, Archdeacon for Indigenous Ministry: rev.enright@gmail.com / 780-477-5931

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.

pîkiskwe-speak is a collaborative project involving Cree artist Lana Whiskeyjack and documentary filmmaker Beth Wishart MacKenzie. Beth's 37-minute film follows Lana as she works to complete a sculpture of a tortured face; the face of her late uncle, George. The sculpture is called "Lost My Talk" and is an effort to break the silences surrounding the Indian Residential School legacy. Along with more of Lana's work, it will be displayed at Galerie Cité, 8627 91 Street, Edmonton from January 21-March 31. A special screening of the documentary, titled "Lana Gets Her Talk," will be held Thursday, February 1 from 7:00-9:00pm with reception and discussion to follow. Admission is free. POSTER

Get your tickets now! There are only two performances in Edmonton:
Sunday, February 11 and Tuesday, February 13 – BOTH at 7:00 pm
Location: Boyle Street Community League (101 Boyle St Plaza, Main Gym)

The University of Alberta is hosting this production by Theatre for Living, which offers an opportunity to explore and examine shifts in perceptions and behaviours required for true and meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada. See the trailer.

Tickets are $15. Some complimentary tickets have been set aside for those who cannot afford to buy them.

Because a great day starts with a great breakfast, the Mission of St. Saviour, aka 'Team Jesus,' joined parent volunteers, staff and students for the Wabamun School Community Breakfast on January 26.

St. Saviour’s used Reach Campaign proceeds to purchase a grill for the school kitchen and to pay for the food for this breakfast, says rector the Rev. Coleen Lynch. Several members of the parish, including Coleen and her husband the Rev. Mike Lynch, braved winter driving conditions to scramble eggs, chop fruit and serve around 200 people at the community breakfast last Friday.

All Saints' Cathedral, 10035-103 St: Join us from 5:30-7:00pm. Everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.   

Christ Church, 12116-102 Ave: Mark your calendars for pancakes on February 13th at 5:00 pm in the Christ Church parish hall! Our Youth Group and Men's Group will be joining forces to serve gluten-free pancakes, our famous blueberry sauce, sausages and ham. Bring a friend and see you there!   

Holy Trinity, 10037-84 Ave: Join us at 6:00 pm in the Lower Hall for a fabulous night of fun, fellowship and feasting on our extra delicious pancakes! Festive or Mardi Gras dress enthusiastically encouraged. Tickets are $15/family or $5/individual. Advance tickets are encouraged, and can be purchased through the church office (780-433-5530 church.office@holytrinity.ab.ca). Gluten-free pancakes will be available.

St. Luke's, 8424 95 Ave: Pancakes are hot off the griddle from 5:00-7:00pm $7 per person. Kids under 12 eat free.  POSTER

Please join us for an exciting and enlightening lecture-discussion series on monthly Saturday mornings at Holy Trinity. A 30-minute lecture is followed by 30 minutes of discussion. Refreshments provided. 11am to 12pm in the Upper Hall.  

February 3 – Amy Fisher: “Galilean Archeology: A Brief Introduction” 

March 3 – Marian Allen: “Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job: Wisdom Relevant Today?”

April 7 – Nathan Kowalsky: “Evil, nature, and God”

May 5 – Mildred Thill: "Forgiveness in the Bible and What it Means to us Today"

For more info: 780-433-5530 or church.office@holytrinity.ab.ca

The new Alpha film series begins at St. John the Evangelist, 11111–57 Avenue NW, Edmonton on February 21 with a FREE supper at 6:00 pm. Alpha is an opportunity to explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment. Consider who you might invite and bring along! TryAlpha.ca

Job Opportunity: Star of the North Retreat Centre is looking for a cook to work part-time / casual (mainly weekends). See the attached job description or visit their website.

St. Paul: Accepting the Challenge to Follow ‘The Way’: presented by Rooney Punyi Educational Theatre on Wednesday, February 7 from 7:30-9:00 pm. Cost is $25. POSTER

Companions on a Healing Journey: A Recovery Retreat from 7:00 pm February 9 to 1:00pm February 11. Live-in: $250 / Commute: $150 (subsidy available) POSTER

Lectio for Lent: February 21 from 7:00-9:00 pm. "Lectio Divina" is a Latin term meaning "divine reading". It describes a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us. Facilitator: Elizabeth Poilievre, FCJ. Cost $20.

Many people "give something up" for Lent. This year, you're invited to receive something for Lent! And it's free! Get a prayer and a picture each day, sent by email from Bruce Elhert at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Sherwood Park. Many of the prayers come from ancient sources, others are more contemporary. All have been chosen because they are concise and thoughtful. If you'd like to sign up, send an email with "subscribe" in the subject line to pastor.bru@mountolivet.ca   POSTER

Lights! Camera! Action! Spiritual Care in a Media-saturated Culture   

As Christians, we are called to speak and live the Good News. We are sent to our culture as it is, not as we would like it to be.  Whether we like it or not, the media is the modern-day marketplace where minds and hearts are won and lost. Richard Leonard, SJ, will help us explore strategies to critically engage with our media-saturated culture while holding true to our faith. Fr. Leonard is  director of the Australian Catholic Office for Film & Broadcasting. He completed graduate studies at the London Film School and earned a PhD from the University of Melbourne. The workshop runs February 7 from 9:30am to 4:00pm. POSTER

Deepening Centering Prayer with Susan Storey
Deepen your experience of silence and solitude through the practice of Centering Prayer. This weekend course runs from Friday, February 16 at 7:00pm to Sunday, February 18 at 1:00pm. It will include periods of Centering Prayer and teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating. It will take place in the context of community and will appeal to those who are committed to the daily practice of Centering Prayer.   

For all programs, register online or call 780-701-1854.

Gather a team, bundle up and walk two, five or ten kilometres in support of The Mustard Seed and members of our community experiencing poverty and homelessness: "Many of our clients come to us after walking through harsh weather conditions. By participating in Coldest Night of the Year, we invite you to not only help us raise funds to operate our program, but also to experience a small taste of what it means to experience homelessness during Edmonton’s often brutally cold winter nights." For more information, visit the CNOY website or email Development Coordinator Alex Scivoletto or call 780-720-7925.

Make some meatballs and compete or just come, enjoy and eat! Tasting from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Contact your church office for more information. Hosted by Ascension Lutheran Church. Freewill donation in support of E4C. All are welcome!

March 2-4 is the weekend of the diocesan winter youth camp (see above).
But if you can't go to camp, here's an option for March 2nd. The Edmonton Oil Kings would like to invite all churches of the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton to their annual Faith, Family and Fun Event at Rogers Place as the Edmonton Oil Kings take on the Calgary Hitmen at 7:00 PM. Following the game (approximately 9:30-11:00 pm), all groups and youth members are invited to an exclusive post-game event being held for the various faith-based groups from Edmonton and area. POSTER

Highlights include:
*Post-game celebration for youth groups to socialize in a fun and relaxed setting
*Games and activities – ex. table tennis, bubble hockey, video games, themed photo booth 
*Best available group seating to make this a great social event for your congregation
*Special rate tickets are $18
*Pop and refreshments available for purchase  

 For info or to register contact Kevin Mack at 780-409-5889 or kmack@edmontonoilers.com

There are lots of opportunities this spring for relaxation, recreation and renewal at Kuriakos on Sylvan Lake. POSTER

**Elementary Retreat (February 16-18) for kids age 6-12 (accompanied by an adult) exploring the theme "Light of the World."
**Youth Retreat (March 23-25) Don't wait for summer! Youth ages 13-18 welcome.
**Renew Retreat (April 6-8) A new spiritual retreat for women led by guest speaker Terrie Coombs.
**Family May Days (May 18-20, FREE)  Come help out on our annual Work Weekend. 

This September, 2018, the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine in Toronto will begin the third year of its Companions program. It is a FREE opportunity for women aged 21 and up to spend a year living alongside the Sisters – building community, learning from a healthy traditional community, and developing spiritual disciplines that they can take out into their future lives. For more information, or if you would like a Sister to come to your parish to speak about the program, you can email Sr. Constance Joanna Gefvert, Companions Coordinator at: cj@ssjd.ca  Applications accepted until June 15, 2018. BROCHURE / POSTER

The Anglican Church of the Ascension, Cadenabbia Lake, Como Italy is hosting a retreat from October 7-12, 2018. Lake Como has always attracted visitors and was set up to serve them. We hope this retreat will provide visitors and church members alike a chance to slow down and reflect about our lives in these very special surroundings. 

How can we refresh our discipleship and be willing to move forward on our journey of faith? How can we cope with changes in ourselves, our circumstances, the church and the world? These are some of the questions we hope to address through daily worship, bible study, spiritual exercises, discussion groups and times of meditation, as well as visits to sacred places.

There will be free time each day for relaxation, walks and companionship and to enjoy the views. Retreat conductor, the Rev. Lyn Philips, is a retired Church of England priest originally from Cardiff. He served in parishes in the Welsh Valleys, Cardiff, London and Wolverhampton and also as a full time hospital chaplain. He is a trained spiritual director offering individual accompaniment as well as quiet days and retreats.