We like to say that our church feels like a family, and that's true. But we are also a church that welcomes the whole family - of all ages! Once a month, the kids takeover our Sunday service to remind us how to worship God like a child. Come and see all we offer to God’s children at every age.
Good Shepherd loves our neighbours, and demonstrates that love throughout the whole of Edmonton. We host a neighbourhood mutual aid pantry, where all can contribute to sharing what we have in this time of rising food costs. We also work with our local YMCA, support the students at Calder School, and have gone beyond our neighborhood to serve at Prayerworks Commons, the Bissell Centre, and the Edmonton Food Bank.
We are also known for opening our space for neighbours who need a rental venue. Click here to learn more about ways to hold your event at Good Shepherd, or to get involved with us in mission throughout our city.
You are warmly invited to join us for worship! We would be glad to see you in-person or online. Log into Zoom worship at 10:30 AM Sundays here. We ask that you mute yourself for the duration of the worship service, and introduce yourself using the chat function.
In-Person worship begins at 10:30 AM and lasts about an hour. On festival Sundays or when there is a baptism it might last 1 hour and 15 minutes. All the words of the service will be on the screen in front of you to help follow along. You are encouraged to read the parts of the screen printed in bold as a congregational response, and to sing along to the hymns!
The main floor of our building, including the nave (worship space), narthex (lobby), and washrooms, is wheelchair accessible, and a T-loop hearing system is available. In addition, we use a large projection screen to share the words of the service and lyrics of the hymns. In the nave we use individual chairs, so it is easy to accommodate space for any mobility aids. If you would like to inquire about any other accommodations you or a family member may need, please reach out to Archdeacon Jordan.
Kids are welcome at Good Shepherd. They are encouraged to join in Playful Pastures during the Opening Hymn and return to the nave in time to receive Holy Communion. Playful Pastures meets in the upstairs hall and is staffed by screened and trained volunteers. They offer programming for littles and for upper elementary students ready to go deeper. Children are also welcome to remain in the nave for the entire service if they so choose. God put the wiggle in children, and we are not concerned about chirps or giggles, or even cries. Please don’t feel embarrassed by kids doing what kids do!
Anglican services involve a lot of movement! You may see people bowing or making the sign of the cross at various times. We adopt a risen posture such as standing when singing or praising God, we sit to hear God’s Word proclaimed, and we kneel to express awe or penitence. Kneeling cushions are available at the back of the church. But we also believe in radical freedom to express these postures however best suits your body - you can rise up while seated, or express awe by standing. The priest may issue an invitation to adopt a particular posture, but these are not commands. Please do what draws your heart to God, and don’t worry about matching your neighbour.
At communion, you will be invited to come forward as the greeters direct. Communion in both kinds will be available. Intinction (dipping the wafer into the wine) will not be allowed. Communicants uncomfortable with drinking from the chalice should be aware that all spiritual benefits may be obtained through Communion in one kind. All baptized Christians of any denomination or background are welcome to share in Holy Communion with us, regardless of how long it has been or what you have been practicing since. If you are not baptized, or prefer not to receive, please cross your arms when you come forward (like the Wakanda salute) to indicate to the priest you would like to receive a blessing. If you would like to be baptized, please speak to the priest before or after the service.
The Church of the Good Shepherd was first founded in 1910 in a tent on the corner of 123 Street and 130 Avenue, before there was even a diocese of Edmonton. Since then, we've worshipped in homes, a shack, a fire hall, a jail, multiple church buildings, and a school. We moved to our current home, a former Roman Catholic Church, in 1991. While we've demonstrated that we are willing to worship God anywhere, we've never forgotten where we come from. Our worship space features stained-glass windows from the Old Church Building on 127 Street.
Over our 100+ years as a community, we have been blessed to be served by many clergy and lay leaders. Visit the team page to see our current leadership.
-
Good Shepherd Anglican Church