• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Brian; Amanda and Curtis; Jim; Helene; Rhea, Paul, Jen, Mitch, Bob, Kohen.
• Those who have died; The Rev. Canon John Matheson. For those who mourn: The Matheson and Brownlee families.
• 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.

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:

• April 25: Joint Clergy Day with Ecumenical partners, Glory Lutheran, Sherwood Park, 10 am
• April 27: Anti-racism Policy Lens Training, 9 am
• April 28: Baptism and Confirmation Service, St. Luke's, Edmonton, 10 am
• April 28: Final Celebration of Ministry for Holy Trinity Riverbend, Providence Renewal Centre, 2 pm
• April 28: Cursillo Moonlight Service, St. Timothy's, Edmonton, 7 pm

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to appoint the Rev. Laureta Blondin as Interim Priest at Dayspring Ministry (parishes of St. Thomas', Wainwright; St. Mary's, Edgerton; St. Saviour's, Vermilion) effective May 1, 2024.

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to announce that on Pentecost, Sunday, May 19, it is his intention, God willing, to ordain to the diaconate Christa Eisbrenner.

He will also be welcoming to the diocese the Rt. Rev. Nigel Shaw, Anglican Bishop Ordinary of the Anglican Military Ordinariate, as he intends to ordain Helen Chan Bennett to the diaconate.

At this service, we will also be pleased to install Mr. Rob Reynolds, K.C., as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Edmonton.

The service will be at All Saints’ Cathedral at 7:00 pm. Members of the clergy are invited to vest and the colour is red.

Photo: marek-studzinski-TyA49J14w40-unsplash

The annual Bishop's Fund event returns on May 2, at 5 pm, as a reception with light bites, wine and other refreshments, at the University of Alberty Faculty Club, 11435 Saskatchewan Drive, NW, Edmonton. You are invited to meet members of the Bishop’s Fund who generously organise this fundraiser in support of Anglican clergy. Bishop Stephen London will speak briefly at the reception.   

Tickets to attend the Bishop’s Fund Reception are $100/person; $75 for clergy. All funds paid will go directly to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund and will be eligible for a tax receipt.   

Tickets can be purchased by calling Carmen Kohlman at 780-448-9275. Please advise of the number of tickets you require. You can donate to the Bishop's Discretionary Fund HERE, or by e-transfer to treasurer@edmonton.anglican.ca. Please include your name, and indicate that the funds are for the Bishop’s Fund Reception in the comment section.  

The response to the Listening in Spirit surveys has been tremendous. All but 10 parishes are represented in the responses. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

This is the last day to comment anonymously on the strengths and challenges of your faith community via the online survey. If you have not already done so, please take five minutes to complete the survey by following this LINK.

Don't worry, this is a dynamic listening process, and you will have another opportunity to be heard, at your parish engagement session facilitated by our consultant Anna Bubel of Another Way, next month or in early June.

For more information about the Listening in Spirit | Shaping Our Future Together process, please see Frequently Asked Questions

The music team Companions on the Journey, from St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church in Vegreville, led a lively community Gospel Sing-Along on Sunday afternoon, April 21. Admission was by donation with all funds supporting an ongoing Anglican presence in the local community.

Pictured, l to r: Jim Bragg (guitar); Lisa Topilko (guitar); Janet Rowlands (piano) are Companions on the Journey. Photo: Rosanne Fortier

Continuing his travels throughout the diocese, Bishop Stephen London celebrated with the Rev. Dr. Renée Desjardins and the community of St. David’s, Edmonton on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 21. Thank you to Yaqub Dickens for the photos of the visit.

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. There will be a time of networking, fellowship, worship and prayer, from 10 am to 3:30 pm. Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided. Register here by April 17. 

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

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 101 St and 84 Ave NW, Edmonton, is holding a two-day Spring Rummage Sale on Friday, April 26, 3 to 8:30 pm; and Saturday, April 27, 10 am to 3 pm. Donations will be accepted from April 21 to 24 at noon. 

Please join Immanuel Anglican Church in Wetaskiwin as we remember the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit folk in our community and beyond during Red Dress Week:

• Saturday, April 27, at 2 pm, to hang red dresses in Diamond Jubilee Park
• Sunday, May 5, at 3 pm (at the Peace Cairn), for a short
  memorial

You are invited to the Final Celebration of Ministry Service for Holy Trinity Riverbend on Sunday, April 28, 2 pm, at Providence Renewal Centre, 3005 119 St NW Edmonton. Bishop Stephen London presiding. All are welcome!

Interested in learning about common practices individuals participate in during Lent and Ramadan? Interested in getting to know our neighbours a bit better? Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 10037 84 Avenue NW, Edmonton, is hosting an "Interfaith Conversations and Community Connections" event on April 28, at 2 pm. If you might be interested in attending, please contact Rev. Rob Key (rob@holytrinity.ab.ca) to ensure your spot at the table.

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

On Tuesday, May 7, at 7 pm, please join the parish of St. George's, Devon in welcoming the Rev. Lisa Wojna as rector. All are welcome!

The diocesan Disability Justice Team hopes you can join them for a Neurodiverse Family Service on May 11, 2 pm, at St. Timothy's, 8420 145 St, NW, Edmonton. This accessible and inclusive family service is designed for Autistic, ADHD and Neurodivergent children, youth and adults and is open to all to share in holy, messy community.

Anyone interested in the work of the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) is invited to a spring gathering with Jeffrey Hanger, the representative for the Diocese of Edmonton, on Saturday, May 11, 10 am, at St. George's, 11733 87 Ave NW, Edmonton. Please RSVP to jeffhanger71@gmail.com 

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

Donating blood and/or plasma is a potentially lifesaving gift. Not everyone can be a donor, but if you are able, please donate. You will join a community of donors making all the difference for patients nationwide. Patient need is constant, no matter the season. Your support helps ensure people receive essential blood products when and where they need them.

The Bishop of Edmonton invites applications for the position of Incumbent of Dayspring Ministries. This is a full-time position supporting the ministry of three rural parishes in the Diocese of Edmonton.

Dayspring Ministries is a shared ministry of St. Saviour’s, Vermilion; St. Thomas’, Wainwright; and St. Mary’s, Edgerton led by one full-time priest and several lay leaders from the three parishes. The origin of Dayspring is rooted in the need to ensure the continuation of ministry in rural areas.

For the full parish profile, and for information regarding submitting a complete application, please contact: Sarah Kemp, Assistant to the Bishop, assistant@edmonton.anglican.ca

Closing date: May 24, 2024 For more information, please see JOB POSTING

St. Thomas Anglican Church in Sherwood Park is hiring a part-time music director. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2024. For more information, please see Job Description

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.

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

Saturday, April 27, 10 am to 6 pm, facilitated by Jo-Ann Badley: Before the resurrection, Peter is a coward and betrayer; after the resurrection, he gives leadership to the disciples and preaches boldly. Before the resurrection, Mary ponders these things in her heart; after the resurrection, she is among those waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. Before he meets the risen LORD, Paul is a persecutor of the Christian community; after his  encounter, he forms new communities of followers. By their stories, we can make better sense of our call to follow. Cost: $125 Register by April 22 

On Sunday, April 28 from 1 to 4 pm, join us for an afternoon of gardening workshops in celebration of Earth Day! Brought to you by St. Albert Backyard Gardening Group in partnership with The Star of the North Retreat Centre.

Youth Retreat: A Day Just for You

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

The 2024 Anglican-Lutheran National Worship Conference will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan, July 18-21, 2024. This event will include keynote presentations by Michelle Nieviadomy, the Rev. Chung Yan Lam and Becca Whitla. The conference will also include workshops and networking opportunities among participants. Register online: National Worship Conference,