The Synod Office will be closed from noon on Wednesday, December 24, through Thursday, January 1. It will reopen on Friday, January 2. There will be no Synod Scene on Dec. 30.

Merry Christmas from your diocesan staff!

• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Garry, Paul, Bob, Rhea, Mitchell, Jen, Carol, Elliott, David, Elaine
• 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.
  
• Click here for the Diocese of Edmonton, Anglican Communion, and ecumenical prayer cycles.

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, December 13 - RAPS luncheon at Holy Trinity, Edmonton
• Sunday, December 21 - St. John's, Onoway
• Wednesday, December 24 - All Saints' Cathedral, Edmonton
• The Synod Office is Closed December 25 to Jan 1
• Sunday, January 4 - St. George, Devon
• Tuesday, January 6 - Legislative Committee Meeting
• Friday, January 9 - Innovative Stewardship Meeting

Note: A new resource with bulletin announcements is now linked in the "Please Promote" section further down

News: Puzzle Donations Help Mustard Seed

New Epiphany resource for parishes

Ways to connect with the Diocese of Edmonton

Call for photos

The newest edition of In Touch from the ACW

The Church Admin Corner: Prayer Cycles

The Synod Office is hiring a part-time Administrative Assistant (apply by Dec. 15)

The December issue of The Messenger is now available online

From the Rev. Dr. Eric Kregel:

As many folks know, The Mustard Seed works in a variety of ways to eliminate poverty: housing, shelters, coaching, advocacy, supports, and emergency needs. Rev. Dr. Eric J. Kregel, an Anglican Priest, works as one of the chaplains with this organisation out of the Old Strathcona Community Impact Centre.

At the Strathcona site, help is offered for hunger, sobriety, unemployment, and housing. However, we do it over coffee, snacks, and puzzles. This is the Strathcona Puzzle wall. These have all been donated, specifically from Strathcona Baptist Church, Holy Trinity Edmonton, St. David Anglican Church, St. George's Church by the U of A, and St. Thomas Anglican Church. There are 49 puzzles on this wall. Most are around 1000 pieces.

People talk better side-by-side, working on puzzles, than face-to-face in a clinical setting. When people talk, there is a possibility that they can imagine their lives differently and better. From imagination, then we can help our friends on the street in accessing supports.

Merry Christmas, Y'all. And no, I did not take these pictures. They are from the camera of Chelsy Bouwman.

Download the resource from the Parish Resources page of our website.

We would love to connect with you!

• Sign up for The Messenger or manage your subscription through the Anglican Journal website
• Read The Messenger online
• Sign up for the Synod Scene by emailing communications@edmonton.anglican.ca

We take your personal information seriously and do not sell or share it with third parties.

Do you have photos of Christmas events, Lessons and Carols, decorated churches, and Christmas Eve services?

Send them to communications@edmonton.anglican.ca for the Synod Scene and Messenger.

**Important: by submitting photos, you agree that you have secured permission from anyone appearing in them to have their photos shared in the Messenger and/or Synod Scene, which are also shared on the diocesan website, edmonton.anglican.ca, and may be shared on social media. This is especially important regarding children and youth.** 

The latest news from the Anglican Church Women (ACW) is available.

Click here to read the December issue of In Touch.

Did you know that there are prayer cycles for the Diocese, the national Anglican church, and for the worldwide Anglican Church? Each of these provides ways to pray for the church at many different levels of ministry.

The Diocesan Cycle of Prayer is produced three times a year (January-April, May-August, and September-December) and includes the various parishes and ministries of the Diocese.

The Anglican/Lutheran cycle is produced on an annual basis (starting at the beginning of the liturgical year). It includes ministries to remember in prayer for both the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), which is a full communion partner.

The worldwide Anglican Cycle of Prayer is produced every three years and includes the Anglican Dioceses from around the world.

To access any or all of these prayer cycles, please visit https://edmonton.anglican.ca/parish-info/pages/prayer-cycle.

The Synod Office is hiring an administrative assistant. This is a temporary (one-year) part-time position beginning in January 2026.

The application deadline is Monday, December 15, at noon.

Read the job posting: Administrative assistant

Download the December 2025 issue of The Messenger, a collection of news and stories from the Dioceses of Athabasca and Edmonton.

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 donation of $15/year.

DOWNLOAD THE MESSENGER

Visit our new Advent and Christmas Services page to find an event at an Anglican church near you!

If you administer a parish and would like to submit a service or event, please use this form.

See below for new events listed this week, and visit the "Join In" section for other Christmas season events.

This is a free, fun family event with an amazing display of more than 200 crèches and nativities from around the world, as well as some other fun seasonal displays. Donations to the local food bank are gratefully accepted.

Friday, Dec. 12 - 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Saturday, Dec. 13 - 10:30 am to 4:30 pm

Join Holy Trinity, Edson, for caroling with some special guest performances! Light refreshments to follow while you browse our Christmas Craft sale. Silver collection at the door. 

Sunday, December 14, at 7:00 pm

617-50 St., Edson

Join us for an afternoon of crafts and games to get into the Christmas spirit. All ages welcome!

December 21, 2025 from 1 to 3 pm at Holy Trinity, Edson.

Kindly RSVP by December 14 so we can be sure we have supplies for you!

A family-friendly community worship event at St. Mary the Virgin Anglican and Vegreville United Church. Come listen to the retelling of the Christian story of faith from the fall of Adam to the coming of the Word Incarnate.

This service follows a format of nine lessons, which include biblical passages from the Old and New Testaments, interspersed with carols and anthems sung by choirs, soloists, and the congregation. 

Sunday, December 21, at 7:00 pm

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.

**NEW: for these events in an easy-to-copy format for bulletins and slide shows, click here**

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

Dec. 31 - Praying in the New Year diocesan night of prayer and praise at All Saints' Cathedral

No Room in the Inn, the annual Advent campaign from the Edmonton District Council of Churches

Bishop Stephen's Lenten Retreat Feb. 27 to March 1 at the Providence Centre

This section contains events from parishes across the Diocese.

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

Find more Advent and Christmas services across the Diocese here

Dec. 13 - Christmas Bake Sale at St. George's, Edmonton

Dec. 13 - A Christmas Carol dramatic reading at St. Augustine Parkland

Dec. 14 - [SOLD OUT An Evening of Story and Song with Steve Bell at St. Thomas, Sherwood Park]

Dec. 22 - Heavenly Peace: A 2SLGBTQ+ Advent Celebration of Peace, Justice, Hope & Worship at St. Timothy's, Edmonton

Dec. 31 - Diocesan New Years' Eve prayer and praise at All Saints' Cathedral

Feb. 21 - Awakening Your Purpose new Diocese of Edmonton conference on discernment and call for everyone (not just ordained ministry!)

WEEKLY EVENTS

Wednesdays at 11 am Lectionary Bible Study at Good Shepherd, Edmonton

Fridays at 9 pm Night Prayer Livestream from Good Shepherd, Edmonton

Daily except Sundays at 8 am: Morning Prayer at St. Paul's, Edmonton (Zoom)

Daily at 9 pm: Evening Prayer at St. Paul's, Edmonton (Zoom) 

No Room in the Inn, the annual Advent campaign from the Edmonton & District Council of Churches, is raising money to repair a playground at WIN House. 

Alongside Hope Christmas Cards are now available to order. Help support sustainable relief and development in Canada and around the world.

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.

Find resources here to support your ministry and parish administration.

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

Hospital Stays and Spiritual Care: If you or your loved one is in hospital and you would like the Anglican Hospital Chaplain to visit you, you will need to give written consent during your hospital stay (the hospital will provide you with the form). Only then will the Anglican Hospital Chaplain receive your information and be able to provide spiritual care. - The Rev. Regula Brandle, Anglican Hospital Chaplain

Arrange an Alongside Hope mapping exercise for your parish, facilitated by the Rev. Helen Chan Bennett.

Application information for Christ Church, Edmonton, now hiring a full-time Associate Priest.

Retreats and Spiritual Formation programs: The Edmonton area is blessed to have two active retreat centres offering spiritual direction and programs to help you grow in your discipleship of Jesus Christ. Follow the links to explore offerings at the Providence Centre (southwest Edmonton) and Star of the North (St. Albert). 

Grief and dementia support resource for congregations: 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.

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. Because the Synod Scene is public and posted to the diocesan website every week, please use parish (not personal) contact information in your submissions whenever possible. Have questions? Email communications@edmonton.anglican.ca or call 780-439-7344