Advent 2022 begins a little earlier this year on NOVEMBER 27th.

These four Sundays before Christmas mark:

• A season of hope and longing for the world to be set to rights
• A season of preparation for the 12-day season of Christmas
• The beginning of a new church year that follows the life of Christ (we begin YEAR 'A' in our three-year reading cycle)

Advent is a season of serious spiritual work.
How will you do that this year?
What do you need to deepen your relationship with God?

I invite you to make church a priority in this time alongside your daily practice of prayer.  You might make use of a prayer app like "Pray as you Go" or "Daily Prayer", and we will also be setting out paper copies of an advent daily prayer book in the narthex.

As well, please make the following events a priority in your Advent spiritual process:

1. The four Sundays of Advent 10am as we light the Advent wreath (Online folks, why not have your own advent wreath at home to light?!)
   1. ADVENT GIVING: We will be collecting in two streams - a) food items for the Food Bank to be brought Sunday morning and placed up by the altar, and b) donations for Primate's World Relief Development Foundation (PWRDF) our Anglican relief agency.  PWRDF is running its World of Gifts again and we're going to 'fill a stable' with gifts for others this Advent!  Donations will be tallied weekly, so let's see what we can do together!
2. 3 Advent Wednesdays Church Family Prayers on Zoom 7pm-7:30pm on (usual zoom link will be sent out weekly.  Dates are Nov 30th, Dec. 7th, 21st excluding the 14th for the L'Arche Pageant)
3. The L'Arche Christmas Pageant on the evening of December 14th please let Rev. Jonathan know if you would like to join with them, a few spots are available.
4. Sunday Service of Lessons and Carols, December 18th, 10am.  A festive service of 9 readings and responding music.  Please let rev. Jonathan or Megan know if you would like to read or offer music on that day.
5. Christmas Eve Service I - 4pm, a simple, kid-approachable candlelight Communion service.  Want to help out?  Let Rev. Jonathan know as he will need 5-6 helpers for the sermon activity.
6. Christmas Eve Service II, 9pm Carols Sing, 9:30pm Candlelight Holy Communion.  Lauretta H. is organizing some goodies for after the service contact her to help out.
7. Christmas Day Service 9am simple communion service.
8. 12 Days of Christmas.  Jesus is born - let us celebrate and make these days special in our homes and families.
9. Twelfth Night Celebration. We close off our Christmas celebration with this ancient tradition.  Thursday January 5th, 5:30pm community potluck and Evening Prayer.  Yes, we will sing the song :)  Bring a main course or dessert or your leftover xmas treats.  Anyone want to make us a big pot of Wassail?
10. We celebrate the Epiphany in church that Sunday January 8th.

NOTE: The Wednesday sharing circle will pause during Advent and begin again the Wednesday after Epiphany

Isaiah 2:1-5

Psalm 122

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:36-44

The season of Advent gets underway at All Saints' Cathedral this Sunday evening with an Advent Lessons and Carols Service, followed by a reception in the church hall. The service will also feature a guest appearance by the Diocesan Children’s Choir.

This past Sunday there was a short update on the st. A's rewilding project.  If you didn't catch it, here it is below:

Coffee is served downstairs after the service. We look forward to seeing you. 

Thank you to our volunteers who serve the coffee each Sunday. A copy is posted on the bulletin board by the kitchen. 

We serve coffee/tea/juice and a snack each Sunday after church. (The snack is provided by the weekly volunteers.)

Please contact Loretta Howard 
lmhoward@shaw.ca
780-466-9510

 NOTE:  Tonight is the last gathering for 2022.  We will resume in mid January 

Come and enjoy a relaxing time of conversation as we reflect together on excerpts from Alice Fryling’s wise and readable book "Aging Faithfully". We will also consider passages from other sources which, I trust, will add to the richness our conversation.

Thursday 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.  

Watch for the monthly calendar

Lindsay Batke and Giselle Parker are hosting a holiday-themed party at St. Augustine’s featuring Young Living essential oils and natural health products. All are welcome! 

Friday, November 25th from 7:00-9:00pm in the lower hall.

If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay at 780-490-7138 or lindsaybatke@gmail.com

RSVP appreciated, but NOT required.

Blue Christmas Service

with St. Augustine’s Anglican Church and Grace United Church

Wednesday, Dec 21, 7 pm at Grace United Church. 

A service for those who, due to personal circumstances, have difficulty in celebrating the “joy” of Christmas.  Held on the winter solstice, this service invites us into the sacred space of the longest night of the year.  There will be a choice of a live service with no cameras or recording on site, or a pre-recorded video service, which will be available on the Grace YouTube channel.

Do you know about Edmonton's L'Arche Community?

There are several L'Arche homes around Edmonton and Sherwood Park, but their Day Program and Offices reside in old Fulton School across the park from the church.

This year St. A's is deeply honoured to be hosting their yearly Christmas pageant, December 14th, 7pm in the sanctuary.

A little bit about L'Arche.  From their website: "Known by many as the Shalom Community, L’Arche Edmonton is a not-for-profit association. Formed in 1972, L’Arche Edmonton became the second L’Arche community in Canada. We have a rich history, and continue to respond to the changing needs of our members. Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our journey. We currently have six L’Arche houses in Edmonton and Sherwood Park and a Day Program where people with and without disabilities live together. We have a Community Centre located in Fulton place where our Day Program administration team work and our community gatherings take place.  We are a diverse and multicultural community, and we celebrate the unique gifts of each individual who chooses to live and work with us."

Please be welcome to join in this special evening with our friends.

ACW Communion Reunion is Thursday, December 1

The Diocese of Edmonton ACW invites all members to a Reunion Communion II service on Thursday, December 1, 12:10 pm, at All Saints' Cathedral, 10035 103 St, Edmonton. You are invited to bring a bag lunch to enjoy after the service. Coffee and cookies will be provided. After lunch, we are invited to stay for an Advent bible study, from 1:30 pm to 2:30. Bring along family and friends. All are welcome!

Office: 780-466-5532