• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Justin and Alicia; Lorelei, Marie, Sue, Doreen; Paul, Bob, Rhea, Jen and Megan; Amanda.
• Those who have died; and those who mourn.
• Those affected by conflict or natural disasters around the world.
• 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.

Today, March 21, is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Through the campaign #FightRacism, we are encouraged to "Learn, Speak Up, Act! and raise awareness for a global action on racism, discrimination, xenophobia and other intolerances.

Check out the resources provided by the Diocese of Edmonton's Anti-Racism Team HERE

The ordination of Stephen and Stephanie London 20 years ago was newsworthy all on its own, but that they were ordained by Bishop Victoria Matthews, the first female diocesan bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada, attracted the attention of local media. Our diocese is blessed by the leadership of Bishop Stephen, 11th Bishop of Edmonton; and Stephanie, rector of St. Columba in Beaumont.
Photo: Bruce Edwards, Edmonton Journal

Bishop Stephen London travelled to Brandon MB to preach at the Consecration of Bishop Rachael Parker (formerly rector of Dayspring Ministry Parishes and Archdeacon for Rural Ministry), held on March 18, at St. Matthew's Cathedral. "It was a beautiful and holy ceremony," said Bishop Steve on Facebook.

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. The following event and/or service dates have been scheduled:

• Thursday, March 21: Executive Council, 7 to 9 pm
• Palm Sunday, March 24: St. Andrew's, Camrose, 10 am
• Tuesday, March 26: Clergy Chrism Mass, All Saints' Cathedral, 9:30 am
• Wednesday, March 27: 10th Anniversary of TRC National Event
• Saturday, March 30: Diocesan Easter Vigil, All Saints' Cathedral, 8 pm

The Anglican Diocese of Edmonton invites you to listen in spirit to where we are as a diocese and discern where God is calling us today. All are invited to speak into the future of the diocese by participating in parish listening exercises, to be led by Anna Bubel of Another Way Consulting, this spring. Watch this space and the Synod Scene for more information about how you can participate in this process.

The 7th Truth and Reconciliation National Event was held in Edmonton in March 2014. These gatherings, held across Canada, acknowledged the pain, suffering and multi-generational trauma of First Nations, Metis and Inuit Residential School survivors.

The Ven. Travis Enright, Archdeacon for Reconciliation and Decolonization, invites members of the Diocese of Edmonton to a community conversation on March 27, at the Edmonton Intercultural Centre, 9538 107 Ave NW, to continue "to hear stories, heal memories, engage the truth and look for ways to reconcile." 

"Over the past 10 years, we've made many strides in reconciliation and healing, but it's time to remember again...  I invite you, please attend this event," the Ven. Travid Enright, Archdeacon for Reconciliation and Decolonization

The event will begin with a Pipe Ceremony, 8 am, and Welcome Prayer, 9 am, followed by community conversations. The day will conclude with a feast, 4 pm, followed by a Round Dance, 5 to 10 pm. For more details, email the Ven. Travis Enright at rector@stfaithsanglican.org

“Who remembers Elvis?” a guitarist strumming the chords of “Love Me Tender,” asks a small group of older adults sitting in the front pews of St. George’s Anglican Church in Edmonton. 

“Oh, yes! Ed Sullivan instructed his cameraman to only film him from the waist up,” a member of the group is quick to reply.

“The first date I went on was to see Blue Hawaii in a theatre in South Africa,” says another.

It is a Tuesday morning in March, the first day of spring, and as sunlight illuminates a wall of stained-glass windows, music director Alieda Jaehn and pianist Cherie Larson ask if anyone has a song request.

The Rev. Madeleine Urion, rector of St. George's, 11733 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, and Dr. Anne Fanning, coordinator, Music Mends Minds, invite people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers to make music together on Tuesday mornings, from 10:45 am to 12:15 pm. For more information and to register, contact Anne Fanning: 780-966-9861 / anne.fanning@ualberta.ca

This program is supported by the Anglican Foundation of Canada

This Lenten season, St. Paul’s, Edmonton invites all to join together online for Morning and Evening Prayer. We pray together on Zoom, each morning (except Thurs and Sun when we meet in person), from 8 to 9 am; and every evening, from 7 to 8 pm. 

Come and just be! We have learned through reading scripture that Jesus often withdrew from all the crowds around him to pray and to remind himself of his relationship with God and how this needed to come before anything else in life. Every Lenten season, our sanctuary is transformed into a desert. The invitation is open. Come... be. There is no agenda. There is no expectation. There is simply a space that is open and quiet... just for you! St. Matthew's sanctuary, 125 Larose Dr, St. Albert, is open daily, Monday to Thursday, from 12 to 1 pm.

Come and join us in an intentional journey to the cross this Lenten season as we gather on Tuesday evenings, at 7 pm, to celebrate the Eucharist. We will gather, break bread, and spend some quiet reflection time in the desert that has been created in St. Matthew's sanctuary, 125 Larose Dr, St. Albert. Come. Be. 

Holy Living, Holy Dying Lenten Series: During this Lenten season, Good Shepherd Anglican Church, 15495 Castle Downs Road, offers an opportunity to come together, on Saturday mornings, to explore common experiences of living our lives. Through conversation and presentation, we offer the gift of delving into some topics that we sometimes haven’t found the right moment to explore yet. Dementia, Wills, Funeral Home Options and Planning a Celebration of Life Service, Medical Assistance in Dying, Holy Living and Holy Dying - A Good Death. We’ll start each week with coffee and muffins at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at approx. 11:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome!

The next clergy day, a Chrism Mass, will be on the Tuesday in Holy Week, March 26,  at All Saints' Cathedral, Edmonton. This is the annual renewal of ordination vows and the blessing of holy oil. Clergy are required to register.

From Sorrow to Joy: Good Friday for Families at All Saints’ Cathedral, 10035 103 St NW, Edmonton, on March 29, at 1 pm. All ages are invited to journey together to the cross and to our Easter joy through prayer, art, songs and an Easter egg hunt! POSTER

Following our warmly received gathering last year, we invite parishes to come together for the Diocesan Easter Vigil Service on March 30, 8 pm, at All Saints' Cathedral. 

If your parish is not holding an Easter Vigil, please let your community know about the diocesan gathering. You can help us spread the word by including an invitation in your weekly service bulletin and/or announcements.

If you would like to participate in the service by reading or serving, please email Sarah Kemp at assistant@edmonton.anglican.ca .

St. Matthew's, 125 Larose Dr., St. Albert, is elated to host authors Dawn Hurley and Argentine Imanirakunda on Sunday, April 7, 2 pm, for an afternoon of conversation and connection. These authors met in the Congo and then, with the help of the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, found themselves reunited in Athabasca, AB! The story is a great one and you will most definitely want to venture out to St. Albert to be a part of this conversation and reflection on faith, friends, and fears!

This event is free to attend, but pre-registration is required. Please email Leanne at llaroc18@gmail.com to register or with any questions! POSTER

Bishop Stephen London invites youth from the Edmonton diocese to join him at an Ecumenical Youth Event, hosted by the Alberta Synod & the Territories, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. This will be an opportunity for Anglican, Lutheran and Moravian youth to connect over food, games and conversations. The event will be hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church, 10014 81 Ave NW, Edmonton, on Sunday, April 14, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Click here to register

Church leaders will have another opportunity to hear about how the gospel is being lived out in different contexts at a Joint Clergy Day with ecumenical partners on Thursday, April 25 at Glory Lutheran Church in Sherwood Park (22577 AB-16, Sherwood Park). Registration link coming soon...

Join Queerly Beloved as we engage in the spiritual practice of forming a rule of life from a queer context in a safe and open environment. Beginning on April 26, we plan to meet every fourth Friday of the month for 12 gatherings in person at Lodgepole Communitas Highlands, 11203 68 Street NW, Edmonton, from 7 pm to 8:30 to 9 pm. We will provide coffee, tea and light snacks. Please note: the book we are using for this book study, Crafting a Rule of Life,  is not written from a queer viewpoint, but we will be engaging it from a Queer Christian lens. To Register, or information, email queerbelonging@lodgepolecommunitas.ca

Have you considered going deeper in your faith by attending a Cursillo Weekend? The weekend runs from Friday evening, May 3 to late Sunday afternoon, May 5. It revolves around a series of talks given by a team of laypeople and clergy. Small group discussions follow the talks. There are times for worship, fellowship, personal reflection, prayer, and song. As a Christian, the weekend is a time for you to be strengthened in your spiritual journey. This weekend is open to all Christians 18 years and older. For more info, e-mail cursilloedmonton@gmail.com | BROCHURE | POSTER

"Cursillo means a little course in Christianity. But it is so much more. It is, in fact, a profound experience of deep Christian community. It is a weekend of learning, but also of fellowship, worship, laughter and friendship." Bishop Stephen London

The Anglican Foundation of Canada, in partnership with All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral in Edmonton, is pleased to celebrate Evensong and host the Anglican Foundation’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls will preach,  and the Rt. Rev. Stephen London will preside. Everyone is welcome. Pre-registration is encouraged. 

• Evensong • 5:45 pm
• Reception • 6:45 pm
• Annual General Meeting • 7:30 pm

To pre-register: www.anglicanfoundation.org/2024agm

We are already on the home stretch of February and parishes have either had or are gearing up for their Annual General Meetings. People's wardens and synod delegates should save the date of October 18 and 19, 2024 for the 69th Synod of the Diocese of Edmonton. Details, including the official notice of synod, will be posted at: https://edmonton.anglican.ca/synod

We are happy to share news and pictures, or help promote upcoming events (ie. youth gathering, parish fundraiser, worship service, community outreach, public lecture) 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 news and event . Upload a graphic or picture (horizontal / landscape orientation; 1500x784 px), and your event poster (if you have one). Submissions must be received by Tuesday at noon to guarantee their inclusion in the current week's newsletter. Have questions? Email Margaret Glidden, communications@edmonton.anglican.ca; or call 780-439-7344

Good Shepherd Anglican Church in northeast Edmonton is hiring a temporary, part-time parish administrator for 15 hours/week, starting on May 1. We seek an enthusiastic, qualified candidate to fill a parental leave. Please see our job posting here, and share it widely with anyone who might be interested in applying. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we hope to announce a successful candidate by April 3.

Team Anglican now has 50 members and we are at 26 per cent of our annual donation goal. Thank you for being a Partner for Life.

Donating blood and/or plasma is a lifesaving act of generosity. Not everyone is eligible to be a donor, but if you are, please donate. You will join a community of donors making all the difference for patients across the country. No matter what the season, patient need is constant. Your support ensures that patients have access to essential blood products when and where they need them.

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.

Cold and flu season is upon us, and COVID persists in all its variations. As we spend more time indoors, it is becoming more difficult to contain germs and protect vulnerable members of our communities. Please remember that a minor infection for one person can develop into a major sickness for someone else. If you are feeling unwell (ie. have a cough, runny nose, sore throat, chest congestion, fever...), please stay home.

Holy Week Retreat: Newness of Life in Christ, facilitated by Fr. Dan Gurnick, OFM, Sunday, March 24, 2024 (7:00 pm) to Sunday, March 31, 2024 (10 am)

Life brings about ups and downs. In other words, we share and participate in the dying and rising in, with, and through Christ. Naturally, we have to let go of things as we age, but the newness of life is possible. As baptised pilgrims, we share in the pattern of Christ’s descent and ascent. Let us open ourselves to the newness Christ desires to offer us. Register by March 20 

Please provide information about this event, which is part of Edmonton’s annual Easter activities, to members of your church or organization. You may use this notice or information from it.

The 44th annual Outdoor Way of the Cross invites people to think about the relevance and importance of the Gospel message in our world today. This year’s theme, “Journeying Home,” is based on Isaiah 58:6-7: “Is not this the fast that I choose. . .to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless into your house.”

For more information, contact Marguerite Watson at marguerite.watson@telus.net or visit outdoorwayofthecross.wordpress.com

Interested in initiating or continuing Christian-Muslim dialogue in your community? On April 16, at noon, join the Anglican Church of Canada to learn about the origins of the A Common Word initiative, explore local engagement tools and resources, hear stories from people who have used them in their context and engage in discussion. Register today.

Before we know it spring will be here, and joining a local Christian slo-pitch league is a great opportunity to share fun and fellowship. The ELMSP league, made up of various Christian churches in the Edmonton area, has been going for more than 30 years. Here are some specifics about the league:

• Teams consist of a minimum of 10 players, including at least 3 women and 3 men.
• All players must be at least 14 years old.
• Teams generally play one game per week beginning the first full week of May.
• Games days are Tuesday each week. 
• A year-end tournament is usually held on the third weekend of August.
• League fees are typically $475 per year (may be adjusted depending on how many teams join), plus a $100 refundable deposit per new team.
• If you can't find enough interest from your congregation, feel free to join with another congregation or use this as an outreach opportunity by adding friends to your team.

To play, sign up your team HERE by  April 24. For more info, please email Warren at elmsp.president@gmail.com

The Edmonton Grandmothers are hosting their spring fabric Frenzy on April 27, from 9 am to 3:30 pm, at Strathearn United Church, 8510 95 Ave NW, Edmonton. Find fabrics, yarn, notions and craft supplies for bargain prices! All proceeds go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation to support grandmothers in Africa.  POSTER

Youth Retreat: A Day Just for You

“Young people: They care. They know that this is the world that they are going to grow up in, that they’re going to spend the rest of their lives in.” (David Attenborough). On Saturday, May 11, from 10 am to 6pm, Providence Renewal Centre is hosting a Youth Retreat. It is “A Day Just for You,” a day of activities and programs including Stress Reduction, Art Therapy, Music, God & Sports, and Spirituality & Gaming with the aim of supporting young people. Ages 12 + $75 (first youth); $50 (each additional youth from same family)

Register online for the National Worship Conference, a full-communion initiative of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada since 2001, to be held in Regina, from July 18 to 21. These conferences are wonderful opportunities to explore together in community a particular theme, hear gifted speakers, participate in workshops and, of course, worship.