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, and various informational workshops.
You can read more here about the 2020 Orange Shirt Day walk: https://edmonton.anglican.ca/news/orange-shirt-day-walk-in-wetaskiwin
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.
Because of Covid restrictions we have not met lately but here is an example of a project that was undertaken. 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 had to be cancelled due to guidelines issued to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We were not able to host Lenten Lunches in 2021 because the church was closed due to Covid-19 restrictions and will not host lunches in 2022 as well.
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 four Sundays a year 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.