• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Rayden, Jordan, Mark, Alice, Aaron, Terry, Joanne; John; Josh; Rhea, Megan, Bob, Paul, Grayson.
• Those who have died: Joyce, 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, May 28: Episcope Circle
• Thursday, May 29: Saturday, May 31: Emmanuel and St. Chad Convocation in Saskatoon
• Tuesday, June 3: Legislative Committee Meeting
• Wednesday, June 4: Examining Chaplains Meeting
• Saturday, June 7: You Are Leaven Conference, St. Paul’s, Edmonton, 10 am to 4 pm
• Pentecost Sunday, June 8: Good Shepherd, Edmonton
• Pentecost Sunday, June 8: Ordination Service, All Saints’ Cathedral, 7 pm
• Tuesday, June 10 to Thursday, June 12: Clergy Camp, Star of the North Retreat Centre

An estimated 180 people, including individuals, parish vestry groups and congregations, attended three online information sessions led by members of the Executive Council last week to delve deeper into A Way Through the Wilderness, our roadmap to adaptive change. 

Rooted in Six Guiding Principles, the diocesan workplan was shaped with input gathered over several months through parish engagement sessions, online surveys, one-on-one interviews and guided conversations at the 69th Synod in October. An extensive report by Another Way consultant Anna Bubel and more than 40 pages of Synod discussion notes were reviewed and refined by Executive Council members who worked to identify desirable outcomes, actions and resources. The resulting document, launched as the Diocesan Workplan, A Way Through the Wilderness, on May 15, will help guide our journey together as co-workers of God and a family of churches until the next Synod in the fall of 2026. You can read our plan and find resources to help implement the plan in your own parish context at edmonton.anglican.ca/pages/a-way-through-the-wilderness

Pictured above: Executive Council member Suzanne Oswald speaking at the Diocesan Workplan Launch Party on May 15.

The Synod of the Diocese of Edmonton is seeking to hire a compassionate and innovative leader (ordained or lay) with theological training as a full-time Coordinator of Missional Renewal.

This two-year role is designed to foster adaptive change and faithful imagination in parishes at various stages of vitality and transition. The Coordinator of Missional Renewal will lead and accompany parishes as they discern sustainable and purposeful futures. The Coordinator will work closely with congregational leadership to identify and implement their next faithful step from a menu of multiple pathways for ministry expression.

The June 2025 issue of The Messenger, a collection of news and stories from the Dioceses of Athabasca and Edmonton, features articles about the Athabasca diocese's annual Holy Week Bible Reading Marathon, a road map to help guide the churches of the Edmonton diocese "through the wilderness," and a new, welcoming parish in west Edmonton.

Note: The Messenger is not published in July or August. Please send submissions for the September issue by August 1 to editor Margaret Glidden, anglicanmessenger@gmail.com .

As summer approaches, it is a great time to review the administrative processes of your parish and set aside some time for your annual administrative planning.

Did you know there is a Parish Administration resource for parish administrators, clergy (or anyone doing administrative work in your parish)? You can access this resource in the Parish Info section of the diocesan website here. The Word version (as opposed to the PDF) includes embedded resources, such as a rental contract template, that might be useful. Both the PDF and Word versions contain useful links and information.

RJ Chambers, Office Administrator, churched@edmonton.anglican.ca

The Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) has announced it is helping raise funds for two children's initiatives in the Diocese of Edmonton through the 2025 Say Yes! to Kids campaign. AFC will match the first $1,000 raised by every Say Yes! to Kids team.

Good Shepherd, Edmonton wants to raise $2,500 for a library where children, teens and families can explore their faith and grow in literacy together: "From colourful storybooks to meaningful teen reads and accessible Bibles, this new library will help us nurture young minds and hearts!"  Donate to Good Shepherd's Campaign Here! 

Since 2021, when the Diocese of Edmonton Children’s Choir began with seed money from the Anglican Foundation, it has enriched worship services in our diocese and local community. Your gift will help keep this choir a sustainable and inspiring part of worship life in our diocese. You can help developing choristers grow in faith, while learning teamwork, leadership and perseverance, by donating to the Diocesan Children's Choir Campaign Here!  POSTER / BULLETIN INSERT

St. George’s Anglican Church, 1 St. Clair St, Devon, invites you to a fun night of Trivia and Fellowship on May 28 at 7:30 pm. This FREE event is open to everyone — bring your friends, your family, and your best random facts! Did you know? The dot over a lowercase “i” or “j” is called a tittle — now that’s a trivia gem! Snacks, laughter and great company are guaranteed. We can’t wait to see you there!  

St. Augustine 's-Parkland, 131 Church Rd, Spruce Grove, will welcome in concert the Lac St. Anne Community Choir on Friday, May 30, at 7 pm. All are welcome. Admission is by donation. POSTER

The LGBTQ+ parents group of First Mennonite Church is kicking off Pride month by hosting a screening of the film 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture at 3650 91 St NW, Edmonton, on June 1 at 3 pm. The screening of the film, an exploration of the addition of the word homosexual to the Bible in 1946 and the implications that followed, will include snacks and discussion. Hope to see some members of your parish congregations there!

Ideas for spiritual formation will be bubbling up during a one-day conference offered by the diocesan Discipleship Committee on June 7, 10 am to 4 pm, at St. Paul's, 10127 145 St. NW, Edmonton.

You are Leaven will be an opportunity to reflect on the idea that as members of a church family, we are called to ferment cultures of spiritual formation (a lifelong process of growing in faith, understanding and attentiveness to God), in each other and our parishes.

We encourage the participation of two to four people from every parish. Come discover new practices and old ones in new ways. Invite the Spirit to work in you and see what bubbles up! POSTER

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 bookings for Christian Basics, and these parishes are happy to welcome visitors from other churches to their courses. Please contact the parish directly to reserve your place on the course. NB: Course registration is required.

• June 2, 9, 16 and 23 (Monday evenings): St. Augustine's-Parkland, 131 Church Rd, Spruce Grove AB T7X 2K4: (780) 962-5131; staugustinesparkland@gmail.com
• June 13-14 (Friday night and Saturday): St. Augustine's of Canterbury, 6110 Fulton Rd NW, Edmonton AB T6A 3T3: (780) 466-5532; office@staugustinesedmonton.com
• September 23 and 30, October 7 and 14: St. George's, 10029–99 Ave, Fort Saskatchewan, (780) 998-3620; parishstgeorges@gmail.com

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to announce his intention to ordain, God willing, Mr. Gordon Hills, Mr. Fred Matthews, Ms. Suzanne Oswald and Ms. Betty Tyszkiewicz to the Holy Diaconate; and the Rev. Helen Chan Bennett and the Rev. Jordan Giggey to the Sacred Priesthood.

He will also install Ms. Fiona Brownlee as a Lay Canon in the stall of Julian of Norwich. 

The service will be held on Pentecost Sunday, 2025, 7 PM, at All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral, Edmonton. Members of the clergy are invited to vest, the colour is red. All are welcome!

*Please note: This service will follow the new ordination liturgy; incense and smudge will be used.

Sometimes our loved ones ask us to change how we address them by choosing new names or pronouns. Loving them as we do, and as Jesus commanded, we want to support them by respecting their wishes, but we might need help. Join us on Saturday, June 14, 10:30 am, at St. Luke's, 8424 95 Ave NW, Edmonton, as we learn from Jamie Hurlburt: 

• Why people use different pronouns
• What a combination of pronouns means (ex. she/they)
• The singular use of they
• What to do when you make a mistake

Please call or email to register: 780-428-6323; admin@allsaintscathedral.ca / POSTER

Join St. Mary's Anglican Church, 5120 49^th Ave, Ponoka, on Saturday, June 14, for its 10th Annual Steak and Lobster-fest. Doors open at 5 pm. Choose from the following three options: $55 for Lobster dinner, $35 for Steak dinner, OR $80 for Steak & Lobster. Meals include: baked potato, coleslaw, dessert and beverages.

For tickets and info, call Deb: 403-704-3152 or Heather: 403-704-4041. Meals must be ordered by June 9, 2025

(Proceeds from this event will support Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse.) Dinner Ticket Holders are eligible to win 2 tickets to the June 28 Ponoka Stampede! POSTER

Indigenous Studies professors at UBC (Okanagan) and the archives of the Anglican Diocese of Kootenay invite you to the webinar Moving Toward Reconciliation: National Conversations about Local Reconciliation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 11 to 2 pm MST.

Join Holy Trinity Anglican Church at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10014 81 Ave NW, Edmonton, on June 15, at 10:30 am for their annual Tri-Lateral Trinity Sunday Service with our Moravian and Lutheran full communion friends! All are welcome and encouraged to attend. A light time of snacks to follow the service.

The Anglican parish of Christ Church, 12116 102 Ave NW, Edmonton, is thrilled to host Vacation Bible School from July 21 to 25, 9 am to 12 pm. Led by our dedicated team of adult and student volunteers, under the guidance of our Children’s Minister Karianne Rillera, True North is designed for children from kindergarten to grade 6. This fun-filled week of learning will not only deepen their understanding of faith but also help them build lasting friendships and a strong sense of community. Email admin@christchurchedm.ca to register.

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

The Anglican Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians (AHFJC) was established in 2021 by the Anglican Church of Canada for survivors of abuse by former Anglican priest Gordon Goichi Nakayama, who abused an estimated 300 boys from the 1930s to the 1990s. Three healing streams now provide confidential mental health counselling and education grants in support of survivors, survivors’ families and communities. Copies of informational brochures and booklets are available at the Synod Office. For confidential help or any other details, contact Wendy Matsubuchi, Facilitator/Project Manager: jcworkinggroup@gmail.com / 778-836-8250 or visit the website.

Does your church need funding to partner with a local organization to help meet a need in your community? The Anglican Foundation of Canada’s 2025 Request for Proposals will focus on supporting projects that foster collaboration between Anglican churches and external community partners. Grants of up to $15,000 will be available this fall for both local and regional initiatives that build stronger communities through shared mission and ministry. Learn more now!