Cathedral College

For those of you who are interested in continuing education this year, the All Saints Cathedral College is offering some interesting classes.  You have the option of taking them for credit or non-credit.  Most people forego the for-credit assignments and come to learn some interesting things about our faith!

• Introduction to the Old Testament

The Very Rev. Neil Gordon

Wednesday evenings, September 12 to April 10

Location: Concordia College

Cost: $75 (to be paid at first lecture)

• PAUL – Apostle to the Gentiles, and a Man of Letters

The Rev. Canon Gwen Bright

Saturday afternoons, January 19, 26 and February 2, 9 and 16, 2013

Location: Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 10037-84 Avenue, Edmonton

Cost: $75 (to be paid at first lecture)

• Discovering New Insights into the Love of God: Rethinking Christian Faith in the 20^th Century

The Rev. Stephen London

Note: this is a two-part (fall and spring) course

Fall: Saturday afternoons, November 10 to December 8

Spring dates and location: TBA

• The Church After Christianity

Dr. Stephen Martin, the Rev. Scott Sharman and the Rev. Dr. Myron Penner, plus respondents and moderators from the Diocese of Edmonton and All Saints’ Cathedral College

Thursday evenings, October 25, November 1, 8 and 15

Cost: a free-will donation is encouraged to help offset costs

To register for the above courses, please call All Saints’ Cathedral College: 780-429-6379. For more information about the cathedral college, visit:www.allsaintscathedralcollege.com. Course descriptions 

Highlights from the Diocese

Here are some pieces of note from this week's Synod Scene.  The diocese wants your opinion in this survey, and the document attached to it details some of the exciting initiatives that have been going on in our wider community.

“Rich Inheritance – Fresh Future” Case for Support: As a Diocese we continue to respond to God’s call to renew and revitalize our vision for the ministry and mission of our church. This vision leads us forward to new possibilities that require the engagement of each Anglican in every community of the diocese.

Over the last four years, we have put into action our mission to: “Proclaim the Gospel, Make Disciples and Further the Kingdom.” As a result, many good things have been happening here. Much of our work has focused on better equipping leaders in the church – clergy and lay - to meet the challenges of a new age. Results from our early initiatives have been encouraging and these ministries require continued funding. 

We need to engage parishioners across the diocese in the second phase of a Planning and Feasibility study process to determine our potential to raise $7.5 million, over five years, in support of our ground-breaking ministry initiatives, local parishes, and the national church.

This part of the study will gather information and opinions from clergy and parishioners. We invite you to review the “Rich Inheritance – Fresh Future” study and complete an online survey at: http://www.mminternational.ca/survey-edmonton. Please share your opinions with us!

For university students:

Worship Room Live: Anglican Student Ministries will kick off the fall semester with a “Worship Room Live” concert, BBQ and outdoor eucharist on September 9^th, at St. George’s, 11733-87^th Ave., Edmonton. More information online at:www.anglicanstudentministry.ca, or contact University Chaplain the Rev. Sue Oliver Martin at: gikhyi@gmail.com. Poster attached.

For the family:

Fringing at Holy Trinity: A record number of 75 Fringe performances are being held at Holy Trinity in Old Strathcona, until Sunday, August 26.

The theatre schedule for 2012 brings seven exciting productions, including two of the best children’s matinees in town, in three fabulous venues. To view the performance schedule, visit: www.holytrinity.ab.ca. Kompany Family Theatre Info Sheet

In addition to theatrical offerings, the parish will offer the interactive chart-art creation (On the Fringe of Heaven), Fr. Chris’ Lemonade and Prayer Stand and the Green Room Tea Room (open daily, except Sunday, between 1 and 5 pm) which boasts the “best scones in Edmonton”!

Would you like to receive the Synod Scene every week?  Send an e-mail to churched@edmonton.anglican.ca.

Pancakes! Pancakes!

Our annual free pancake breakfast is this morning from 9:00 to 11:00.  The batter is mixed, the sausages are sizzling and it looks like the weather will hold!  Come on out.

Summer Time Change

We are moving to our summer time change for worship services. During the summer we will have only one service on Sunday mornings at 10am. Everyone is most welcome!

Blessed Easter to All!

Alleluia! The Lord is Risen!
           The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Holy Week Services

Sunday, April 1
Palm Sunday 9am & 11am
(This service celebrates the day that Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem and was proclaimed by the people. It begins as a joyful service with palms and singing as we process around the church, but it turns ominous as we come to see that the same people who celebrated Jesus turn against him and call for his crucifixion. The three highlights of this service are the procession around the church, the reading of the entire passion narrative and the leaving the church in silence.)

Wednesday, April 4

Tenebrae 7pm
(This is a sparse service of the reading of the psalms and lesson. And in fact it is the sparse nature of the service that makes it so attractive. Through the psalms we look in great detail at God’ s plan for redemption and our human response. We also enact symbolically Jesus’ going down into darkness.)

Thursday, April 5

Agape Meal 5:30pm
(Join us before the service for a simple Agape Meal. The word Agape means love and it refers to the love feasts of the early Christians. It is a time of fellowship and prayer as we begin the central part of Holy Week.)

Maundy Thursday Service 7pm

(This is a powerful service. We commemorate the first Eucharist, the washing of the disciples’ feet and the betrayal of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. The highlights of this service are the washing of feet, the chanting of Psalm 22 and the deeply moving stripping of the altar.)

Vigil at Gethsemane All Night Long

(Jesus asked his disciples in the garden if they could just watch with him for one hour. Over the night we try to honour that request by sitting with Jesus for an hour. We overlap the watches so that there is someone in the church throughout the entire night. Many people find this a moving time of prayer and silence. You can pray in silence, write in a journal, follow the devotional materials provided, study Holy Scripture or do your own devotionals. Whatever you choose to do, I think that you will find it a powerful experience.)

Friday, April 6

Good Friday Liturgy 10am
(This service is the liturgical reflection on the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross and the burden of sin that he bore. It is a stark service and opens us up to the depths of God’s love for us. The service is designed to make us look deeply within ourselves to look at our own sins and failings and where we profoundly need the healing of the cross. The highlights of this service are the reading of the passion story according to St. John, the presentation of the wood of the cross and the partaking of the pre-sanctified Sacrament. After this last part there is no more sacramental presence of Jesus in the church and the presence light is extinguished.)

Saturday, April 7

Great Vigil of Easter 7pm
(The death of Jesus is not the end of the story. In fact the whole Christian story is the movement of darkness to light. This service tonight is the most important service that we celebrate all year. This is the celebration of God pouring new life into a dying creation through the awesome Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The highlights of this service are the lighting of the new flame, the singing of the central hymn of the church, the Exsultet, the renewal of the Baptismal vows and the renewed consecration of Sacrament. It is truly a celebration of joy.)

Sunday, April 8

Feast of Resurrection
Easter Sunday 9am & 11am
(This Sunday morning is the Sunday on which every other Sunday is patterned, because every Sunday celebrates this great and central truth: God pouring life into the world and into all of our lives through the Resurrection of Jesus. The Christian faith is about life, more life and abundance of life. This morning we gather as a family of Christians to celebrate and praise God for all of his goodness. The highlight of this service is the sheer joy of new life.)

Soup and Theology

Our next Soup and Theology is this Wednesday. We are looking at the question of prayer and temperment. The Christian tradition has lots of resourses for prayer, and different ways of loving God. Come find out something about yourself and perhaps a different way to connect with God. We always have great conversations. Come and join us this Wednesday, Feb 29 from 6-7:30. Dinner is $3.

Announcements for the week of February 27

2012 Lenten Appeal from the Diocese

Dear Friends,
As we have pledged to walk along with our Indigenous brothers and sisters in Christ to address the legacy of cultural loss and abuse, it is appropriate that we continue to seek a road of healing and wholeness. I invite you, during this Lent, to join with me in supporting the (Council of the North) Suicide Prevention Program. Donations can be made through the Synod Office marked for “SPP”. Whether you choose to host an ongoing collection, a one-time offering contribution, or a special fundraising event, I hope this will be discussed in your parish so that we may offer both our financial and our prayer support to this important project.
I thank you for your consideration of this request, and I join with you in offering my prayers for all those for whom hope and light seem far away.
In Christ, the Rt. Rev. Jane Alexander, Bishop of Edmonton

Announcements

 Come to the church on Marck 17^th and celebrate ST. PATRICK’S DAY. We will decorate in green. We will have a potluck and maybe even sing! Join us from 6-8pm. All Welcome.

Volunteers need for COFFEE HOUR. What we really need would be people willing to clean up after the fellowship time after the 11am service.  If you can help out from time to time please talk to Fr. Steve or Kathleen Hancock.

MOM AND TOTS: For any mothers who have small children @ home and who would like a chance to get out and visit with other mothers while your children play, Shawna Cain has started a drop in mom and tots group here at the church on Tuesday mornings from 9am-11:30am. There is a $2 drop in fee to cover insurance and other incidentals.

CRAFTS GROUP: drop in on Tuesday afternoons from 1pm to 3pm at the church for a chance to work on crafts, have some tea and have a chance to visit. All welcome.

In the Diocese:

The Diocese of Edmonton social justice conference “We Believe, We Can: end homelessness” will be held April 13-14^th at Prayerworks Hall, 11725-93 St., Edmonton

St Michael's Minute Week of February 5

Announcements

The theme for MESSY CHURCH this month is Valentine’s Day. Children and their family are welcome to come and explore what God’s love looks like through worship, crafts and dinner together. This Saturday from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. All Welcome. Please sign up or tell Fr. Steve if you are coming.

Our MEN’S BREAKFAST is this Saturday morning at 9:30am. All of the men are invited for fellowship and a delicious breakfast!

PARISH LIFE meeting on Monday evening.  All are welcome to come and plan social events for the parish.

Our SHROVE TUESDAY annual pancake dinner is coming up on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. We will be open from 5:30pm until 7pm. Drop by for pancakes, sausages and a chance to visit. There is a small charge for dinner.

Lent is coming up soon. We always begin the season with a moving service called ASH WEDNESDAY. Join us for worship and self-reflection on Wednesday, February 22 at 7pm.

MOM AND TOTS: For any mothers who have small children @ home and who would like a chance to get out and visit with other mothers while your children play, Shawna Cain has started a drop in mom and tots group here at the church on Tuesday mornings from 9am-11:30am. There is a $2 drop in fee to cover insurance and other incidentals.

CRAFTS GROUP: drop in on Tuesday afternoons from 1pm to 3pm at the church for a chance to work on crafts, have some tea and have a chance to visit. All welcome.

OFFICE HOURS on Wednesday Evenings: If you would like to talk to Fr. Steve he will be in the office from 6-8 either about the church or about your prayer life, or even just to visit. Please sign up on the sign up sheet for a space.

Upcoming Events:

Feb 19 Vestry Meeting

Feb 21 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner

Feb 22 Ash Wednesday Service

St. Michael's Minute

Annual General Meeting: Our AGM will take place on the last Sunday of January. We will have a combined service of Holy Communion at 10am, followed by a pot luck lunch and our meeting. The theme will be Re-Laying the Foundations. Please note that all reports are due on January the 15^th.

Messy Church: On Saturday, January 14^th we will have our monthly family service with dinner, worship and crafts. All families with children are invited. This month we will be looking at the day that Jesus was lost! Come and find out what happened. 4:30pm-6:30pm

Games Night: Join us on Friday the 13^th for a fun evening of crib or various board games, fun and fellowship. All are welcome. We will meet here at the church at 7pm.

Soup and Theology: This month’s meeting will be on the last Wednesday, January 25^th. We will be looking at a topic that people often have lots of questions about: the End. What do Christians mean by death, judgement, heaven and hell? There is always good conversation and plenty of food. The cost for dinner is $3. 6pm-7:30pm @ the church.

Mom and Tots: For any mothers who have small children @ home and who would like a chance to get out and visit with other mothers while your children play, Shawna Cain has started a drop in mom and tots group here at the church on Tuesday mornings from 9am-11:30am. There is a $2 drop in fee to cover insurance and other incidentals.

Crafts group: drop in on Tuesday afternoons from 1pm to 3pm at the church for a chance to work on crafts, have some tea and have a chance to visit. All welcome.

Upcoming Events:

Jan 21 @ 5:30pm Dining out at Swiss Chalet

Jan 28 @ 6pm: Youth Group

Jan 29 AGM