Programs

Alpha
Alpha is a ten-week course designed as a practical introduction to the basics of Christianity with plenty of opportunity for debate and discussion. The style of Alpha is deliberately friendly and informal. Each week people get together for a meal, a talk on topics such as "Who is Jesus?", "Why Did Jesus Die?" and "How Can I be Sure of My Faith?", followed by small group discussion. There is a day or weekend retreat midway through the course which focuses on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Alpha can benefit those who have never set foot in a church, those who once attended, and those who are regular churchgoers. Whether investigating Christianity for the first time, or revisiting your faith, Alpha has a great deal to offer. For information on upcoming courses, check with your local parish or visit the national website.

Anglican Church Women (A.C.W.)
The A.C.W. is a community of Anglican Church Women gathered together in Christian service to support and promote the total mission of the church through prayer, work and stewardship. There are 27 ACW's in the Diocese at present. Our newsletter, "In Touch" is published four times a year and includes important dates, regional reports, board reports and more! All women of the Anglican Church are welcome to become ACW members. For more information, please contact the ACW President, Betty Squance at (780) 962-5574.

Cursillo
Cursillo (pronounced kur-see-oh) is a Spanish word meaning "short course". The first Cursillos were held in Spain in the 1940s. One of the many renewal ministries within the Anglican Church, Cursillo weekends are a personal, lively and informative event that invites you to deepen your Christian faith, experience the love of God in a caring and prayerful setting, and examine what it means to be a Christian in today's world. The weekend revolves around a series of talks given by a team of lay people and clergy. The talks are followed by small group discussions. There are also times for fellowship, personal reflection, fun, prayer and singing. The weekend is a time to be strengthened in your spiritual journey, enabling you to follow Jesus more faithfully and effectively. The Cursillo weekends usually occur each Spring in the Diocese of Edmonton, with a seperate weekend for men and women. If you are interested in attending, please discuss this with your parish priest. The Cursillo movement also holds monthly gatherings, called Ultreyas. All are welcome to come to these events, usually held the third Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m., at St. Timothy's Anglican Church, Edmonton. For more information please visit the Edmonton Cursillo web page.

Hospital Chaplaincy
Going into hospital? Anglicans are more likely to receive pastoral support if they tell their rector, and if they ask to be listed as Anglican when they are admitted. A group of mature men and women, who have been well trained, make weekly visits to Edmonton and area hospitals and continuing care facilities. Their compassionate pastoral visits with those who have identified themselves as Anglicans have been very appreciated over the years. Rectors of parishes outside the Edmonton area are encouraged to contact the coordinating hospital chaplain when they have parishioners coming into Edmonton hospitals. Either a visitor or one of the clergy who serve as chaplains to Anglican patients will do their best to visit these parishioners. For more information on how to become involved in this ministry, please call the Synod Office at (780) 439-7344.

Marriage Encounter
Marriage Encounter is a weekend experience dedicated to helping couples strengthen and enrich the quality of their lives together. It provides an opportunity for married couples to explore important areas of their relationship in a spirit of love and understanding. This is a time for you and your spouse to be alone together, away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, to rediscover each other and share your feelings, hopes and dreams. A series of presentations allows you and your spouse to look deeply into your relationship with each other and with God in a positive and affirming way. Marriage Encounter is a weekend about love. It is not a retreat, marriage clinic, or a substitute for counselling. Marriage Encounter is primarily designed to make good marriages into great ones! Couples who have been married for only a few months or over forty years have found the weekend to be a rich and rewarding experience. It has been described as "the 48 hours that will change your life. The next marriage encounter weekend will be October 17 - 19, 2008. For more information, please contact Virginia and Gottfried Haase at (780) 438-3892.

Summer Camps
The Anglican Diocese of Edmonton Summer Camp Program offers Camps every July and August for children and youth from Grade 2 to 12. There are also volunteer positions as camp counsellors for older teens and young adults who wish to be involved in this children's ministry and gain specific leadership skills through training and experience. For more Summer Camp Information, please visit the Camp page of this web site.

Teens Encounter Christ
Teens Encounter Christ is a young adult weekend that stemmed from the Roman Catholic Cursillo movement in Lansing, Michigan in 1965. It has grown and spread throughout the Anglican, Lutheran, and United Churches, in many countries throughout the world. In our Diocese, the first TEC weekend occurred in 1993. The weekend is designed to introduce youth (age 16 - 23) to the Easter mystery through a loving and supportive community. Over a period of three days , youth hear talks given by peers and older adults that explore the essentials of the faith. The talks are supported by small group discussions, worship and a backbone of prayer. In this way youth learn about and experience God's love in Christ in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Since the introduction of TEC to Edmonton it has grown to include much more than the main weekend event. Realizing the need to continue the community of support after the initial May weekend, TEC now holds monthly praise and worship services, called "Prayer and Praise", normally held on the third Sunday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at St. John's Anglican Church, Edmonton. They are open to anyone who would like to attend. The TEC team also offers two mini-weekends that focus on building understanding of the Christian walk. The first weekend , "Holy Habits", explores prayer, Bible study, and worship. The second weekend, "Holy Action" deals with spiritual gifts, servanthood, and evangelism. These weekends are open to anyone over 16 who is interested. The goal of TEC is "to become a stepping stone to living a life in the crucified and risen Christ in the world." In this way we hope to reach youth both within and outside our diocese and show them the path to safety, hope, joy, and love; the path to Christ.
Click here for more TEC information.

Theological Students
The Anglican Diocese of Edmonton currently has theological students studying in several institutions across Canada and in the United States, including: Newman College, St. Albert, Alberta; College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Wycliffe College, Toronto, Ontario; These students come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, all with a common interest in theological studies. The advisor to theological students in the Diocese is the Reverend Dr. Eileen Conway. Any individuals inquiring about possible ordination should contact our Diocesan Administrator, The Very Rev. Dr. Jane Alexander.

Youth Ministry
The Anglican Diocese of Edmonton has a strong commitment to the youth of today. Many activities are offered within parishes and through the Diocese year-round to encourage the spiritual and intellectual growth of our youth. For information on upcoming Diocesan youth events, please visit our Youth page.