DIOCESAN PRAYER REQUESTS, BISHOP'S CORNER

DIOCESAN APPOINTMENTS AND EVENTS

NEWS

RESOURCES (including Church Admin Corner)

GIVE (opportunities for generosity)

PROGRAMS (sign up for formation programs)

EVENTS (parish events by date)

• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Noreen, Josh, Floyd
• 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 to include someone's name 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 pray for Bishop Stephen London as he serves parishes throughout the diocese and connects with our partners and friends beyond the diocese. God willing, Bishop Stephen will attend the following public meetings, events, and services: 

• Saturday, September 13 – Consecration of the Rev. Naboth Manzongo as the Bishop of Rupert’s Land, Winnipeg
• Sunday, September 14 – St. Aidan and St. Hilda, Rexboro
• Tuesday, September 16 - Administration and Finance Committee
• Saturday, September 20 - Deacons' Gathering
• Sunday, September 21 - All Saints' Anglican Church, Drayton Valley

All are invited to support the Rev. Jordan Giggey and the parishioners of St. Timothy's, Edmonton, at 7 pm on Friday, September 19, when he is inducted as rector of the parish.

St. Timothy's is located at 8420-145 Street NW, Edmonton.

In a vibrant show of love and solidarity, over twenty Anglicans marched in the 2025 Edmonton Pride Parade on Saturday, August 23^rd. Organized by Queerly Beloved, a working group under the diocesan Social Justice Committee, the contingent marked the first official Anglican presence at the parade since its inception in 1991. Marching under banners reading “Proud Anglicans,” “Queerly Beloved,” and “Anglican Diocese of Edmonton,” their participation reflected a clear commitment to affirming that 2SLGBTQ+ people are truly beloved of God.

Decked out in rainbow colours and carrying placards and flags, the Anglican contingent brought both celebration and protest to the streets. “It was affirming and energizing to be greeted by thousands of people waving flags and shouting encouragement,” the Reverend Mark Vigrass, deacon at St. George’s, Edmonton, shared. “To walk with and among people who accepted and affirmed me as a beloved queer child of God—and extended that affirmation to others—was deeply moving.”

The Diocese of Edmonton is sponsoring a brand new regional youth group this fall, led by experienced youth minister Mr. Blake Holt. This group will gather youth (grades 7-12) from across the Diocese for fun and discipleship.

The first event will take place on Saturday, September 20, from 7:30-9:30 pm at Launchpad Trampoline Park.

Launchpad is located at 6142 - 50th Street NW, just a bit north of Whitemud Trail.

It's free and friends are welcome! (Registration is required. Follow the link for the form and to fill out the waiver.)

Click here to register

Mark your calendars now for upcoming gatherings on Saturday, October 11 and November 8.

Join the Lodgepole Communitas, Diocese of Edmonton, and community partners at Rundle Park for a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event on Sunday, September 28.

The event begins with a Pipe Ceremony at 9:00 am and continues with live performances, inspirational speakers, vendors, and a free BBQ.

The September 2025 issue of The Messenger includes Edmonton and Athabasca delegates' reflections on General Synod 2025, a story and pictures from the Pentecost ordination and installation service, a farewell message from Edmonton editor Margaret Glidden and more.

Click here to receive a print copy of The Messenger or change your subscription address. The Messenger and the Anglican Journal are mailed to subscribers for a suggested $15/year donation.

When was the last time you backed up your digital files? If it was more than a few days ago, or only at our last reminder (six months ago), or you cannot remember, it is time to make a plan for secure digital storage.

Here are some ways to make backups easier:

- External Hard Drive: Have an external hard drive that you back up all digital files to on a weekly or monthly basis. Ideally, such a drive would be housed offsite, but it is better to have it onsite and doing the backups than having it offsite and not doing them.
- Google Drive or Dropbox: Even better than an external drive is a cloud-based drive. For both Google Drive and Dropbox, you can set up desktop folders and then save directly to these drives. Online servers offer excellent security and multiple servers so your data remains accessible. Both of these options are reasonably priced and well worth the cost. One parish admin had a situation where their work computer fully crashed and the full hard drive was lost, but they were back to work in minutes as everything was in Dropbox.

When dealing with digital records, it is imperative to complete regular backups. So, do not delay, back up today (and every day!).

Parishes of the dioceses of Athabasca and Edmonton are invited to observe September 21 as Alongside Hope Sunday. As they did last year, diocesan reps are preparing resources, including a sample Order of Service for parishes to use, if they so choose. Donation envelopes and additional resources will be mailed to parishes from the Synod Office.

POSTER

Alongside Hope Service

Since 2019, when General Synod adopted the Season of Creation in the Anglican Church of Canada as a time of prayer, education and action, Canadian Anglicans have united with millions of Christians worldwide to celebrate the Season of Creation. This year’s theme: “Peace with Creation.” 

At the 2025 General Synod, the Feast of the Creator was adopted as a major feast within the church calendar. The feast may be celebrated on September 1, to usher in the Season of Creation, or transferred to a Sunday within the season. Lectionary texts and trial use prayers from the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee will be available in 2026.

Since 2018, parishes in our diocese have raised funds through an autumn coffee-hour appeal, inviting individuals to give $5 to make a difference in the lives of many of our brothers and sisters living in Burundi.

Last year, people of the Edmonton diocese raised $8,077 for the Buye diocese to purchase medical cards. Each card costs $5, enabling people to save 80 per cent of the cost of medical care for a full year. Sadly, this coverage is out of reach for most people living in the Diocese of Buyé. 

"Throughout September, we encourage each parish to hold a collection dedicated to purchasing medical cards. All funds collected go directly to this worthwhile cause, and there are no administrative fees," said the Rev. Rebecca Harris and the  Rev. Danielle Key, who started the initiative six years ago.

Please send all donations directly to John Gee, diocesan treasurer, at the Synod Office. Individuals can also donate online through the diocesan website - select "Buye Medical Cards" from the dropdown menu.   BULLETIN INFO | POSTER

Aaron Parker, a local musician, video producer and member of the Edmonton Anglican parishes of St. Augustine’s and St. George’s (where he leads music twice a month), has launched a website and crowdfunding appeal for Traditional Approaches to Healing (TATH), an Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton)-based initiative.

Started eight years ago, by Cree Elder Russell Auger in partnership with E4C, in response to the community's need for emotional and psychological healing, the circle group, now under the umbrella of the Lodgepole Communitas, meets year-round in eight-week cycles at St. Faith’s Anglican Church, 11725 93 ST NW, Edmonton.

Watch Video and Donate

Explore the practice of Centering Prayer this fall with St. Mary's and the Lodgepole Communitas. 

The Diocese of Edmonton Children's Choir (DECC) welcomes young singers in grades two and above to register for its 2025-26 season, beginning September 17. The choir will rehearse on Wednesday evenings, 5 to 6 pm, at Christ Church, 12116 - 102 Ave, Edmonton.

The choir conductor, Laura Hawley, has extensive experience leading children's choirs in the Anglican faith tradition and choral conducting.

There is no cost to join the choir, which is supported by a "Say Yes! to Kids" grant from the Anglican Foundation of Canada. REGISTER TODAY! 

Looking for a structured and guided approach to uncovering the heart of your call to serve God and God’s people? Spiritual directors, the Ven. Jonathan Crane (Archdeacon for Mission and Discipleship) and Pat Jameson are offering the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius starting in September, at St. Augustine of Canterbury, 6110 Fulton Rd, Edmonton. If you are interested in learning more, email ignatianspirit46@gmail.com. They intend to facilitate a Spiritual Exercises Retreat in Daily Life with a small group of participants.

Space is limited. Click the button below to learn more and complete the application form. You will be contacted for a one-on-one conversation preceding our entry into the exercises.

Have you lost a loved one to death? Divorce? Estrangement? Addiction? Have you experienced: Financial losses? Job losses? Health losses? Are you grieving in some area of your life and looking for a safe space to make peace with your broken pieces? The Heart Circle, a nurturing space for anyone who is navigating grief in various aspects of their life, warmly welcomes people from all walks of life and spiritual backgrounds. Beginning on September 24, sessions will be held at 7 pm on the last Wednesday of every month at St. George's, 1 St. Claire ST, Devon. For more information, call or email the Rev. Lisa Wojna, 780-860-0313 / ldwojna@gmail.com

POSTER / PAMPHLET

Retired Anglican priest the Rev. Tim Chesterton is excited to take Christian Basics, a short course about the central Gospel message, on the road. He is offering this opportunity to every parish in the diocese. 

*Note that Tim currently has the following booking for Christian Basics this fall. Please get in touch with St. George's, Fort Saskatchewan, directly to reserve your place on the course. NB: Course registration is required.

• September 23 and 30, October 7 and 14: St. George's, 10029–99 Ave, Fort Saskatchewan, (780) 998-3620; parishstgeorges@gmail.com

Applications are now being accepted for the next Edmonton Anglican Cursillo Weekend, to be held from November 7 to 9, 2025, at the Star of the North Retreat Centre in St. Albert.

The weekend runs from early Friday afternoon to late Sunday afternoon. 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. This weekend is open to all Christians 18 years and older. For Further Information, email: cursilloedmonton@gmail.com

POSTER / BROCHURE

The Anglican Church Women (ACW) of Good Shepherd, located at 15495 Castle Downs Rd, Edmonton, invites you to High Tea on September 13. Tickets are available now for $20 per person. As always, hats and fascinators are optional, and we enjoy seeing your fabulous styles! There will also be door prizes this year to add a little more fun to one of our favourite events of the season. POSTER

Are you ready to delve deeper and learn more about what it means to decolonize both yourself and your work in your community? Jenny Stuart and Canon Fiona Brownlee, lay leaders in the Diocese of Edmonton, invite you to join them for "Decolonizing Self and Community," Monday evenings beginning September 15, from 7 to 9 pm, on Zoom.

With our instructor Andrea Montgomery DiMarco, PhD, CEO, The Flourishing Foundation: Global Women Seeking Change, we will explore how colonization and white supremacy have historically and continue to shape Canadian society and institutions. There will be opportunities for meaningful conversations about our own stories. To register or ask a question, please email Andrea at contact@flourishingfoundation.org.

St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Viking is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a special service on Sunday, September 21, at 2:00 pm. Refreshments will follow in the Legion Hall. All are welcome.

The parish of St. Matthew began as a mission in the early 20th Century. Once the church was built, the congregation served its rural community for the next 70 years. In 2023, the Viking Historical Society took over operations of the church building. For more about the history of the parish, its ministry, and its unique building, click here. 

'Nothing says love like a quilt.'  - Grambo (Beth) Robertson

You are invited to bask in the infinite, radiant love of God through the metaphor of snuggling in a homemade artisan quilt at our next Windswept Meditations.

Bring your favourite 'banky', perhaps one crafted by a person dear to you. We will have spares on hand for those who need them. 

Windswept Meditations is an ongoing project by Doug Parth, Natalie Bryson, and Jim Robertson. They blend meditation, contemplation, and creativity to craft places of spiritual exploration in a mutually supportive environment. Adherence to a religious tradition is not required to attend and participate.

Join us for a day of learning how to be compassionate communities for people living with a serious illness, dying, caregiving or grieving. This seminar is open to clergy, laity and all community members interested in expanding their knowledge and confidence to provide compassionate support. The day will include presentations from the Covenant Health Palliative Institute and the Alzheimer's Society of Alberta & Northwest Territories, a panel conversation, and small group discussion.

Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025
Location: All Saints' Anglican Cathedral
(10035 - 103 Street NW Edmonton)

Start time: 9:30 am for coffee and registration
10 am workshop starts
Lunch will be included
Cost: $15, payable by cash or etransfer on the day

POSTER

Please join Bishop Stephen London and the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton for the consecration of St. Peter the Apostle Anglican Church on Saturday, October 4, 10 am, at 6210 188 St NW, Edmonton. All are welcome!  POSTER

Part of what unites us as a family of churches is the support we give one another and our ministries. We can do this by sharing our news and events (e.g., youth gatherings, parish fundraisers, worship services, community outreach, public lectures) here in the Synod Scene, the diocese's weekly e-newsletter. We have created a form to simplify this task. Click on the button below to upload a graphic or picture (horizontal / landscape orientation; 1500x784 px), and your news/event information. *Note: To promote an event, we require a graphic in addition to a brief description of the event. Submissions must be received by Tuesday at noon for inclusion in the current week's newsletter. Have questions? Email communications@edmonton.anglican.ca; or call 780-439-7344