• Those who are sick, suffering, or in need: Greta, Doreen, Lois, Carol and Jack, Lorelei, Gail, and April.
• Those who have died and those who mourn.
• 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.
• 2023 January to April Prayer Cycle - PDF / WORD

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.

• January 22: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Ecumenical Service, Trinity Lutheran, Edmonton
• January 29: Confirmation Service, St. Timothy's, Edmonton

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Trina Holmberg as rector of the shared ministry of St. Andrew's, Camrose and St. Mary's, Ponoka, as of January 1, 2023.

The Edmonton and District Council of Churches (EDCC) invites you to the 2023 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Ecumenical Service on Sunday, January 22, 7 pm, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 10014 81 Ave NW, Edmonton. All are welcome! POSTER

The Venerable Susan Oliver, Archdeacon for Children, Family and Youth Ministries, will lead two training sessions for Sunday school teachers, youth leaders and all who work with children and youth in parishes. We will discuss Safe Church best practices and how to keep our children safe while in our church spaces and involved in church activities. These training sessions will be held via Zoom on February 14 at 1 pm, here is the Zoom link; and February 15 at 7 pm, here is the Zoom link. Please let the synod office (churched@edmonton.anglican.ca) know if you will be attending by Friday, February 10. 

St. Matthias’ parishioners, friends of the Rev. Andreas Sigrist, and several clergy of the Edmonton diocese gathered on the evening of Wednesday, January 11 to celebrate the beginning of a new ministry. Appointed as St. Matthias’ rector in November 2022, Sigrist moved from Jasper and began the process of settling in with his wife Melanie and their four sons. Wednesday’s service marked his formal induction to the post, with Bishop Stephen London officiating. Sigrist worked with the Bishop and others to include elements of Indigenous ceremony at the start of the induction liturgy...

The vocational deacons of the Edmonton diocese met with Bishop Stephen London on Saturday morning, January 14. It was the first such opportunity since London began as Bishop in September 2021. The Bishop celebrated Eucharist with the group, followed by a time of open discussion; catching up and clarifying issues regarding the diaconate. All hope to reinvigorate the diaconate in Edmonton diocese going forward.

Edmonton diocese has 11 active vocational deacons, each with unique gifts and ministries, serving in eight different parishes. Pictured from left: Mark Vigrass, Jane Piercy Ballard, John Gee, Judy Purkis, Sheila Moorey, Sandra Arbeau and Alison Ward Westervelt on Zoom, Shelly King, Adenike Yesufu. Not pictured: Maralyn Benay and Arlene Young.   

In the second installment of Keeping the Faith, Kathy Bowman, one of the first women to be ordained to the priesthood in the Edmonton diocese, reflects on being a person of faith in the Anglican tradition. Here is an excerpt of Karen Simons' interview with Kathy:

As I look back, it's hard to remember what my faith was when I began. I found that God was always bigger than I figured, and I think that is continuous, and I think that’s probably a common thing. When you start out you’re trying to get a handle on it: 'Well, God is like this or is like that.' But you realise from a lot of experience that God is always more. I find God in very unexpected places, or in unexpected people. So faith becomes much broader. For example, if you’re keen on church, you always put God in the church, and you figure everyone outside the church isn’t much of a Christian, or they’re just a token Christian. But after a while, you get to know a person or two, and you realize that there are people who are very, very active Christians who have no connection with the church. And you think, 'Okay, there’s a broader picture here than I know.'

 Kathy Bowman's "New Frontiers"

Donate a Car Canada will turn vehicle donations into generous support for ministry in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton. Working on our behalf, Donate a Car will accept your vehicle for a donation -- running, or not! Old or new! There is no cost to you, and the process is simple. Donate a Car Canada will facilitate all aspects of your car donation from the pick up to the final sale, ensuring that your vehicle will be sold for the highest sale outcome possible. They will then forward the net proceeds to us here at the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt within two weeks of us receiving your donation. 

CBS is always in need of donations! To book your lifesaving appointment call: 1-888-236-6283 or visit Canadian Blood Services.

The diocese also invites you to consider joining Team Anglican. First check your eligibility, then click here to enter our Partner ID: ANGL696986. The Edmonton diocese continues to hold in gratitude all those who helped us reach our CBS donation target of 120 units donated through 2022. Stay tuned for an updated 2023 goal.

Last year at the beginning of Lent we began the diocesan Remembering the Children weaving project. At the summer solstice, National Indigenous Peoples Day, we blessed the finished project at a special service at the Cathedral. We now have the weaving available to visit parishes. You might think the only good time to have the weaving visit your parish is in September or October. Not true! Anytime you want to deepen your parish's connection to the ministry of reconciliation in our diocese is a good time to do it. Please contact Fiona at f.brownlee@edmonton.anglican.ca for more information or to ask if a particular date is available.

Good Shepherd Anglican Church, 15495 Castledowns Road, Edmonton, is starting a monthly potluck to support our Community Pantry. Each month we will have a donation theme to highlight some of the different items or meals we need to stock the Community Pantry. Everyone is invited to join us with a favorite dish to share, (which can match the theme if you like), and a donation for the pantry. Our Pantry Potlucks are open to all community members. They are a great place to introduce friends, relatives and neighbours to Good Shepherd. We picked an earlier dinner time so that families with younger children can still make it home before bedtime and those who prefer not to drive after dark will have a safer drive. See you on Friday, January 20 at 4:00 pm.

Interface Worship at the Anglican Parish of St. Paul, 10127 – 145 Street NW, Edmonton, blends ancient spirituality with innovative expressions to create generative worship events. All are welcome to join us at 7 pm on Saturday, January 21, as we bring to life the message of Epiphany:

Stargazing brought us here
To this young master's door
To discover we are stardust
One in God forevermore
One in God forevermore"
from 'The Magi' by Alana Levandoski

On Sunday, January 22, 7:30 pm, at All Saints' Cathedral, Chronos Vocal Ensemble will present its first complete sacred music program since the pandemic (actually since April 2019). We're pretty excited about it! It represents a collaboration with cathedral music director, Jeremy Spurgeon, and features unaccompanied repertoire in addition to larger works together with Jeremy at the organ. In addition to classic British composers like Parry and Stanford, we have the music of Jonathan Dove and James MacMillan, as well as some 20th-century French composers and new Canadian works.

Archdeacon Jordan invites you to join our Wednesday morning Lectionary Bible Study. Each week we will study the readings for the upcoming Sunday. This is a great time to really lean into the lessons of our services, to connect more deeply with our traditions and practices, and reflect on why these particular readings might have been selected. Lectionary Bible Study will be happening shortly after our Wednesday Eucharist service and coffee hour. You are welcome to stop by for the service at 9:00 am, and join us for coffee and fellowship before the bible study starts at 11:00 am. Good Shepherd Anglican Church is located at 15495 Castle Downs Road in Edmonton.

This group meets on the third Monday of the month at 2:00 pm at Good Shepherd Anglican Church, 15495 Castle Downs Road, Edmonton. From Greek, Klaio means to mourn, weep, or lament. Grief and loss are difficult burdens to carry, and the support of others can help lighten the load. Klaio is a drop-in, grief support group open to all members of the community who are coping with loss. If you are looking to connect with others to share your experiences with grief and loss, please join us. The next meeting is on January 16. 

The Immanuel, Wetaskiwin ACW is presenting "Stepping Outside the Shadow: Domestic Violence: The Ongoing Pandemic" on Saturday, February 11, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. For tickets ($20 each), contact Fiona at 780-312-9070. POSTER

Let us help you promote your upcoming event 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 event (ie. youth gathering, parish fundraiser, worship service, community outreach, public lecture). Upload a graphic or picture (horizontal / landscape orientation; 1500x784 px), and your event poster. Events must be submitted by Tuesday at noon for inclusion in the current week's newsletter. Have Questions? Send us an email: churched@edmonton.anglican.ca

St. Timothy’s Anglican Church in the Laurier Heights neighbourhood of Edmonton is seeking a leader for our Sunday Morning “Kids’ Church” program.  We are using the sermons4kids resource. This provides a short sermon, colouring sheet, activity pages, song suggestions to accompany the weekly Lectionary Gospel. The leader would be supported by volunteers to maintain the necessary Safe Church ratios of children:adults and to provide musical support. This is a paid position. For more information, please contact the Rev. Clare L. Stewart at clare@sttimothy-edm.ca or 587.687.1490 

The parish of Holy Trinity Anglican Church (Old Strathcona) in Edmonton is looking for a half-time Assistant Priest. The Assistant Priest will work alongside the Rector in continuing to grow and develop many areas of ministry including but not limited to stewardship, youth and young adult’s ministry, and working in various areas of social justice in the community of Old Strathcona.  Job Profile

The 2023 theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is “Do good; seek justice.” Isaiah challenged God’s people to learn to do good together; to seek justice together, to rescue the oppressed together... The prophet’s challenge applies equally to us today. Join an ecumenical prayer gathering led by Julian Hammond and Maria Di Castri followed by a simple fellowship luncheon, on January 25th.

Star of the North Retreat Centre has a number of offerings over the coming months. Visit their website to learn about the Courage to Teach series held one Saturday a month from January 28 to May 27, the Bridges to Contemplative Living series held Wednesdays in February and March, and a Reconciliation through Justice evening, February 16.

This silent retreat will draw on parables of Jesus and the example of St. Therese of Lisieux as inspiration for spiritual transformation in the movements of our everyday lives. The retreat will include Centering Prayer periods, teachings by Fr. Thomas Keating, Lectio Divina and quiet reflections. The retreat is intended for those who are familiar with Centering Prayer. Register by January 19. POSTER

Providence Renewal Centre is offering a number of retreats over the coming months. Visit their website to learn about a Self-Care Day planned for Monday, January 16, an Enneagram retreat February 10-12, and a Lenten retreat March 17-19.

The Network of Biblical Storytelling Canada is hosting an online festival, February 3-5, 2023. Titled “Biblical Telling: A New Way Home,” the online gathering will explore ways in which the culture we grow up in can lead us to make assumptions about the meaning of the biblical texts we read and tell. Uncovering these assumptions and values is a way of knowing ourselves better, respecting the biblical witness more fully, and becoming more sensitive to those of cultures different from our own.

On January 17, 7 pm, at St. Peter's, 11035-127 St, Edmonton, Ryan Lacanilao will speak about how the Alberta Living Wage Network is creating a culture of dignity for workers and their families by fostering a spirit of cooperation with employers across the province. All are welcome!

The Rev. Brenda Haggett, an ordained minister with the Free Methodist Church in Canada,  doing research on ministers’ awareness of the impact of trauma not only on themselves but for the people in their respective parish settings. She has developed a survey and will make the findings available upon request once her degree has been conferred. Read More Here

Jeannette Austin-Odina Thursday, a member of All Saints' Cathedral, will lead the public learning event “Me? Racist?” at the Norquest College Library on February 9, 10:00 to 11:30 am. This interactive presentation will explore personal /individual examples of racism by allowing participants to examine their own experiences and understand why it is important to know their history. Participants will have the opportunity to explore complex definitions of racism by identifying
· Individual vs. systemic racism (including White Privilege)
· Intersectionality and why it is important
· Ways that we all participate in Racism (unwittingly or intentionally)
· Suggestions for how to become anti-racist
Jeannette is an Elder on the Board of the Council of Canadians of African and Caribbean Heritage (CCACH), where she has held the position of Director of Education.