Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed;  Kindle, we pray thee, in the hearts of all men the true love of peace, and guide with thy pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquillity thy kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

BCP p. 50

For some of the events in the diocese with different congregations click on the picture above.

If you have an event happening in your parish please let the office know at dioath@telusplanet.net or call 780-624-2767.

For a list of the different services around the diocese during Advent and Christmas click on the button below.

There is a diocesan PWRDF Zoom meeting.  All are welcome to attend.  Come find out about PWRDF Giving and the World of Gifts.  There will also be a suggestion of a Diocesan Christmas Giving Project. 

The meeting is Tuesday, November 19, 2024 starting at 7:00 pm.  Contact the synod office for the Zoom invitation link at dioath@telusplanet.net.

You can also find out about PWRDF World of Gifts by clicking on the button below.

The parish of Christ Church, Grande Prairie is doing a Gift Bag Collection for the Mustard Seed. 

The parish is collecting items to put into Christmas Gift Bags for those in Grande Prairie struggling with chronic homelessness. If anyone is in the area and would like to donate items to this initiative, they can contact the Rev. Dr. Maryann Amor (revdrmaryann@gmail.com). The church community is looking for: socks, long underwear, chocolate, gloves, mittens, toques, hand warmers, hygiene items, and lip balm.

The Rt. Rev. John Watton, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Central Newfoundland in collaboration with St. George's College in Jerusalem has prepared letters and devotions to be used during Advent this year.  

The Rt. Rev. David Greenwood, bishop of the Diocese of Athabasca gives his endorsement if parishes or diocesan members wish to use the attached in their advent devotions.

Click on the picture to get a copy of the letters and devotions.  

The Anglican Foundation of Canada has given several grants to the Diocese of Athabasca over the years.  Click on the link to see a the letter and a description of the grants.

Here is the latest from the national church.

Not feeling well?  We have a solution.

Cold and flu season is upon us, and COVID persists in all its variations. Please remember that a minor infection for one person can be a major sickness for someone else, especially the more vulnerable members of our communities. If you are feeling unwell (ie. have a cough, runny nose, sore throat, chest congestion, fever...), let your parish (or us!) know, so we can pray for you.  And perhaps give yourself a break by staying home if you can — as we know, this also helps to prevent spreading germs to others. 

Worried about missing worship? Don't be! There are plenty of options for worshipping online with a parish community in the Diocese of Athabasca.  Click on the button below to find out more!

Dear friends in Christ,

A few years ago, I was asked to give a series of talks about why we go to church. Of course, there are lots of great reasons to go to church. We might enjoy the community or the music. Perhaps closer to the core, we do well to offer our thanks and praise to God each week.

The scriptures teach is one very specific and important reason to go to church, and this is perhaps counter-cultural. This coming Sunday’s lessons bring us crucial verses from the letter to the Hebrews:

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

We meet to encourage one another. But we also gather so that we can provoke one another. Sometimes I need someone to urge me to deeper commitment. Maybe I can offer words of encouragement or, if needed, chastening, to a fellow Christian.

Our church has to do better than “nice.” Sure, let’s be kind. But let us also hasten to provoke one other to love and good deeds, just as the scriptures call us.

We are fast approaching Advent, a whole season devoted to preparing ourselves to meet and to worship Jesus. Perhaps amidst the chaos and turmoil of this world, the quiet season of Advent is just what we need. As we focus on Jesus as our aim and our hope, we can urge others to do the same.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Gunn
Executive Director

Would you like to celebrate the birth of Christ with a special set of videos and resources for a meaningful Christmas event?

Create Your Own Chosen Christmas Experience with "Christmas with The Chosen: The Shepherd". This customizable package includes a special feature episode, powerful cast monologues, and flexible slots for your team to personalize with worship, carols, and a Christmas message that you can personalize for your congregation.

Click the learn more button below to start planning your Christmas celebration today.

What’s happening in your parish?  We are happy to help spread the word.

We are happy to share news and pictures or help promote upcoming events (ie. youth gathering, parish fundraiser, worship service, community outreach, public lecture, etc.) in the Diocesan Weekly Email, our weekly e-newsletter to clergy, parishes and subscribers. Please click the link to the form below to tell us about your news and event . Upload a graphic or picture (horizontal / landscape orientation; 1500x784 px), and your event poster (if you have one). Submissions must be received by Tuesday at noon to guarantee their inclusion in the current week's newsletter. Have questions? Email Benita Greenwood, dioath@telusplanet.net or call 780-624-2767.