You will notice some changes to the Synod Scene this week. These include fresh colours that match our Diocesan Strategic Plan branding, as well as adjustments to reduce the length of the newsletter and help you locate different kinds of information more quickly.

Here are the new sections:

1. Let Us Pray: diocesan prayer requests (as before)

2. Bishop's Corner: Bishop Steve's itinerary (as before)

3. New this Week: events and content appearing for the first or second time in the Synod Scene (new)

4. Spread the News: please promote these diocesan items in your parishes (new)

5. Join In: upcoming parish events. Posts move to this section after they have appeared in "New this Week". This keeps them available for reference and avoids burying new events among items you have read before. (new)

6. Quick Links to Programs: information for ongoing programs moves here after it has appeared in "New this Week" (new)

7. Make a Difference: opportunities to support ministries with money or time (new)

8. Resources: administrative, liturgical, and seasonal resources, including those from ecumenical partners (new)

Where are the articles? They're still housed on the website, edmonton.anglican.ca, and available through links (bold, underlined text) in the Synod Scene, but now you don't have to scroll through material you have already read. 

As we are in an interim period at the Communications desk, you may notice other adjustments to this publication in the coming months as I refine the flow of information. I appreciate your patience.

I hope these changes will enable the Synod Scene to continue serving as a valuable resource for sharing information throughout the Diocese. 

- Stephanie London, Interim Communications Director

• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Deb, Wayne, Elaine, Naomi, Noreen, Josh, Floyd, Paul, Rhea, Mitchell, Jen, Bob, Charmaine, Frank
• 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:

• Wednesday, September 24 - Episcope Circle
• Thursday, September 25 - Ecumenical Clergy and Lay Education Day, All Saints' Cathedral
• Thursday, September 25 - Executive Council
• Saturday, September 27 - Cursillo event
• Sunday, September 28 - St. Mary Abbots, Barrhead

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events in Edmonton and Wetaskiwin

The Strathcona County Ecumenical Mission

Upcoming Cursillo Events

The Church Admin Corner

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 parish of Immanuel, Wetaskiwin, will be participating in the Orange Shirt Walk again this year.

Since Immanuel initiated the walk nine years ago, it has grown into a large community event in partnership with the Heritage Museum in downtown Wetaskiwin. Over 200 people attended last year. 

The Orange Shirt Walk begins at the Heritage Museum at 2:00 pm on September 30 and proceeds down the main street to the Peace Cairn, where a brief ceremony will be held with prayer and singing of the Grandmother's Song. Everyone is welcome to participate.

The Grandmother's Song will involve community members this year. A rehearsal of the song, led by Gloria Rogers, one of the leaders of Immanuel's Reconciliation Team, will be held on Thursday, September 18, at 5:00 pm at the museum.  

We are delighted to invite you to the 34th Annual Ecumenical Mission of Strathcona County, taking place October 19–22, 2025.

This year’s theme is “Created for Community”, and we are honoured to welcome Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Retired Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, as our guest speaker. Join us for Bible study, afternoon teas, and evening services as we worship, learn, and grow together in Christ.

All events are open to the public, with a freewill offering supporting the Saffron Centre. For details and a full schedule of events, please visit ecumenicalmission.wordpress.com or our Facebook page.

From the Cursillo community:

We have some exciting gatherings coming up, and we’d love for you to join us.

BBQ & Ice Cream Social Ultreya: Saturday, September 27 from 3:30 to 6:30 pm at St. Timothy’s, Edmonton - Join the Cursillo Community and the Bishop for food, fellowship, and fun! Bring a side dish or dessert, and your own plate, mug, and silverware to help reduce waste.

Welcome & Christmas Celebration: Saturday, November 29, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Location to be announced.

For Cursillo Alumni:

Work Bee: Saturday, October 18, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at St. Matthew’s, St. Albert

Moonlight Service: Sunday, November 2 at St. Timothy's, Edmonton

Clausura Service: Sunday, November 9 at 2:30 PM at St. Albert Roman Catholic Church

We hope to see you, your family, and friends at these wonderful events!

In addition to maintaining the diocesan office, ministries, and providing support for clergy and parishes, apportionment reflects the fact that no local congregation exists in isolation. We are all part of wider families in the Body of Christ. We contribute to them, benefit from them, and do things together that none of us could alone.

Apportionment Acceptance letters have gone out to each parish. Each parish, as part of its Annual Parish reporting to the Diocese, is required to return its completed apportionment acceptance letters to the Diocese by the end of October so that the Diocese can budget for the upcoming calendar year.

To access the Parish Return checklist, which includes all of the required items and the due dates over the year, and to find the applicable forms, please visit https://edmonton.anglican.ca/clergy-info/pages/parish-stats.

We can do more together! Please make sure your parish knows about these important Diocese-wide events and initiatives by including them in your bulletin, announcements, calendars, and other channels.

For more information and promotional materials, click the bold, underlined text links.

Coffee Hour Fundraiser for Buyé - September 1-30

Diocesan Youth Ministry - monthly events on October 11 and November 20. Registration information to come.

Apply for the Edmonton Anglican Cursillo Weekend - Nov. 7-9

This section contains events from parishes across the Diocese.

For more information on each event, click the bold, underlined text link.

Sept. 25 - Compassionate Parishes Learning Day at All Saints' Cathedral. Expand your church's capacity to minister to people living with a serious illness, dying, caregiving, or grieving. Register through the Synod Office.

Oct. 4 - Consecration of St. Peter the Apostle Anglican Church at St. Matthias, south Edmonton

There are many ways for you to get involved in regional discipleship-growing and community-building programs.

Follow the links (bold, underlined text) for more information and to register.

Diocesan Children's Choir - free music ensemble at Christ Church for kids in grade 2 and up led by Laura Hawley

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius: Uncover the Heart of Your Call - begins this month through St. Augustine, Edmonton

Centering Prayer begins Sept. 18 at St. Mary's, Edmonton

Christian Basics begins Sept. 23 at St. George's, Fort Saskatchewan

Heart Circle Grief Support begins Sept. 24 at St. George's, Devon

Traditional Approaches to Healing needs sustainable funding so it can increase its capacity in response to growing community needs. This life-giving healing circle is grounded in traditional Indigenous wisdom and supports emotional and psychological well-being. Led by Cree Elder Russell Auger at St. Faith's, Edmonton.

Alongside Hope (formerly PWRDF) is seeking donations to bring solar-powered healthcare hubs to 49 rural clinics in Mozambique and Madagascar.

Find resources here to support your ministry and parish administration.

To access the links, click the bold, underlined text.

Retreat Centre programs: The Star of the North Retreat Centre offers a sacred space of hospitality, healing, and renewal in St. Albert. This fall, they are offering programs on forgiveness, spiritual resilience, and more. Click here for more information.

Grief and dementia support resource for congregations: September is World Alzheimer's Month. The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories is deepening its commitment to walk alongside people living with dementia and their care partners through a palliative approach and grief support initiative. To enrich the care and accompaniment our congregations already provide, Sarah Rudd, a Lutheran Diaconal Minister, is available for worship service support, dementia compassionate community presentations, or to share more about a peer support grief program. Please reach out to srudd@alzheimer.ab.ca if you’d like to connect or explore how these resources can bless your congregation’s ministry.

The October 2025 issue of The Messenger, includes a reflection on the Pride Parade by the Rev. Mark Vigrass, distributing medical cards in our partner Diocese of Buyé, and news from parish events and celebrations this summer.

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.

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 brief news/event information. 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