First reading and Psalm
Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 22:25-31

Second reading
1 John 4:7-21

Gospel Reading
John 15:1-8

Please welcome St A's Kids Church as they join the main congregation for this week's service.

On April 23rd, at 10:46am, Kaylee and Braden became a family of three with the arrival of their son Kayden. 

We are really grateful to have received a grant from the Anglican Foundation for $5000 to help build our Rewilding project this year.  Look for some updates on build days / planting days coming up this summer and into the fall.  Beyond getting some trees into the ground, we will be constructing the labyrinth this year and edging out the main planting bed areas.

Use paints, leather, fur, beads and more to tell a story on canvas guided by the amazing talents of Linda Wright. 

Linda Wright is of Gwich’in decent, originally from Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Throughout her life, she has worked in and travelled to many communities in the Western Arctic and Sahtu regions, creating a true appreciation for the unique landscapes and cultures of the north. 

Wright’s artwork, "Clothed in Culture" was selected for the 31st annual Great Northern Arts Festival cover art. Over the past several years, Linda has presented her work in Edmonton, at various exhibitions including, the Art Gallery of Alberta and the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Extension, The Extension Gallery. 

Traditional legends and stories illustrate a time when animals and humans spoke the same language, filled with humor and imparting morals. Wright is fascinated by these long-ago stories, which were told by the Gwich’in Elders so that they could be passed onto future generations. She is inspired to create a visual expression of these stories. Through her art, Wright intends to develop a sense of appreciation for the north and provide an insight into Gwich’in oral storytelling traditions.

And WE get to learn from her!! How blessed are we!

Eventbrite link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mixed-media-art-adventure-tickets-872988119967?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Jodi

The Edmonton Grandmothers are hosting their spring fabric Frenzy on April 27, from 9 am to 3:30 pm, at Strathearn United Church, 8510 95 Ave NW, Edmonton.

Find fabrics, yarn, notions and craft supplies for bargain prices!

All proceeds go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation to support grandmothers in Africa.  

The annual Bishop's Fund event returns on May 2, at 5 pm, as a reception with light bites, wine and other refreshments, at the University of Alberty Faculty Club, 11435 Saskatchewan Drive, NW, Edmonton. You are invited to meet members of the Bishop’s Fund who generously organise this fundraiser in support of Anglican clergy. Bishop Stephen London will speak briefly at the reception.   

May Day has its roots in astronomy. Traditionally, it was the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice! In ancient times, this was one of the Celtic cross-quarter days, which marked the midway points between the (four) solstices and equinoxes of the year.

As with many early holidays, May Day was rooted in agriculture. Springtime festivities filled with song and dance celebrated the sown fields starting to sprout. Cattle were driven to pasture, special bonfires were lit, and doors of houses as well as livestock were decorated with yellow May flowers. In the Middle Ages, the Gaelic people celebrated the festival of Beltane. Beltane means “Day of Fire.” People created large bonfires and danced at night to celebrate. 

May Day has a long history and tradition in England. Children would dance around the maypole, holding onto colorful ribbons. People would “bring in the May” by gathering wildflowers and green branches, weaving floral hoops and hair garlands, and crowning a May king and queen. 

This will be awesome! Hope you can be part of it!

Simone

Please warmly welcome the Hamilton Children's Choir on Sunday, May 12th at 10 am.  They are joining us as part of a choir exchange with Edmonton's Cantilon Chamber Choir.  This is one of the lovely benefits of having a music director who works extensively around the city as an accompanist - thank you Megan for the connection!

We welcome Bishop Steve on May 19^th this year to celebrate Confirmation, Baptism, and Anglican Reception.

Confirmation for baptized people is a chance to receive a simple prayer that the Spirit be present and released in your life.  Confirmation is an adult reception of baptism and is associated with several sessions of preparation that cover our way of Christian life in the world.  In confirmation, the bishop lays hands on the head of each candidate and prays for them.  Jonathan would like to provide mentors for each candidate for confirmation to support them in prayer and conversation.

Baptism is our simple entry into Christian faith for people of any age who have not been baptized before.  As we receive baptism in water and in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and are marked with chrism (blessed, fragrant oil), we offer ourselves to receive the love and promises of God and to join the church as the family of faith.  Baptism is not about what we know, but about the direction we set ourselves towards in life.

Anglican Reception is by no means a requirement or even an encouragement for members of St. A’s.  However, sometimes we feel we want to ‘plant down’ and say we are ‘here.’

If any of these ceremonies catch your attention, please let Rev. Jonathan know.  Preparation for confirmation will begin in Lent and baptismal preparation in May.  Jonathan will need some confirmation mentors as well.

Bishop Stephen London is pleased to announce that on Pentecost, Sunday, May 19, it is his intention, God willing, to ordain to the diaconate Christa Eisbrenner.

The Anglican Foundation of Canada, in partnership with All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral in Edmonton, is pleased to celebrate Evensong and host the Anglican Foundation’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls will preach,  and the Rt. Rev. Stephen London will preside. Everyone is welcome. Pre-registration is encouraged. 

The Hanley Home Group welcomes you to join us weekly as we share lives,fellowship, and discussion on scripture, church topics, and anything else we find interesting!

These cold winter afternoons give us a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a relaxing time ofconversation with friends.

This session we will focus on a another one of Rev. Dr. BarbaraBrown Taylor’s well-known books. Holy Envy is filled with warmth and humour as Taylorrecounts her experiences of discovering the sacred in unexpected places while teaching the aWorld Religions course to undergraduates in rural Georgia. Her deep and reflective thoughtsreveal how God delights in confounding her expectations! We will also include material from other sources to add richness to our conversation.

Sharing in circle has a long history of transformation and community strength in both indigenous and addictions recovery traditions.

Administration, address updates, etc: Cheryl at office@staugustinesedmonton.com, 780-466-5532