OUTSIDE OUR CHURCH DOORS
OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Our Reconciliation and Indigenous Committee has worked on ways to help our church respond to some of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as well as on reconciliation of all groups within our community. Activities have included participation in the Orange Shirt Day Walk – Every Child Matters, developing and maintaining a Heart Garden on the church front lawn as an act of remembrance for those children who did not return from Residential Schools, Red Dress Week in remembrance of MMIWG2S, and various informational workshops.
The Immanuel Reconciliation Team is committed to raising awareness of the ongoing crisis of Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, & 2 Spirit People. In April, for the third year we hung red dresses in Diamond Jubilee Park in Wetaskiwin. On May 5 on The National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S we took some time and gathered at the Peace Cairn to pray and remember. Our thanks to Fiona, Gloria, Bonny, Rev. Hugh, our singers Cheryl and Jolene, and to those who attended. Also our thanks to Christina Max, Editor and Reporter for the Wetaskiwin Times, for her faithful attendance and reporting of these events. Please see her news report for more information: https://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/news/recognizing-red-dress-day-in-wetaskiwin-maskwacis
Our ACW focuses on many projects within our own community and in our broader community. In the past, donations have been made to Wetaskiwin and District Victim Services and Wetaskiwin Santa's Anonymous.
On Feb. 11, 2023, the ACW presented a workshop STEPPING. OUTSIDE. THE. SHADOW. focusing on learning more about domestic violence.
We learned more about associated behaviours and how to help someone in trouble . . . and what we can do to lead change. Presenters included:
Jill Shillibeer & Joe Campbell, Alberta Council on Women’s Shelters
Helga Edwards, Domestic Violence and the Church
Gloria Rogers, Moss Bag Teachings and Indigenous Peoples
Nora-Lee Rear, Camrose Women’s Shelter Society
For more pictures and information about the workshop, check out this article by Margaret Glidden of the Diocese of Edmonton:
We hosted a learning day on February 9, 2019 focusing on the theme Women at Risk: Building Compassion. It helped to raise awareness of many issues that women face. You can find more information about our day in this article written by Margaret Glidden from the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton: https://edmonton.anglican.ca/news/building-compassion-for-women-at-risk
Lenten Lunches - In 1989, Immanuel Anglican Church started Lenten Lunches as a time for parishioners and people of various denominations to come together for learning, prayer, and lunch once a week during Lent. This tradition continued every year since its inception and into 2020 with the theme 'The Hope that Heals the Heart' but the last three lunches that year had to be cancelled due to guidelines issued to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have not resumed the Lenten Lunches at this time.
Food Bank - Our church community has dedicated the second Sunday of every month to recognize the needs of those in our community who ‘go hungry’ and we collect food and/or cash for our local food banks.
NOW (Neighbours Outreach Wetaskiwin) - We recognize the contribution that this organization makes to our community and have designated the last Sunday of each month for a special collection for this organization.
September $5 Fundraiser for Buye - Immanuel participates in a Diocesan fundraiser to assist seniors in our sister Diocese of Buye, Burundi, Africa. Each Sunday during the month of September parishioners are encouraged to donate $5 for a cup of coffee for an initiative of the Buye Mother’s Union to provide seniors with much needed medical cards. This is a visible sign of God's work and Immanuel is excited to help. More information can be found at: https://edmonton.anglican.ca/news/companion-partnership-nurtures-physical-and-spiritual-wellbeing-in-buye-diocese
OUR WORLD OUTREACH
- PWRDF (Primates World Relief Development Fund) – Monetary donations can be given to help support PWRDF goals of helping communities and individuals around the world to build a better future.