Funerals are always difficult, but they are important as a way of allowing family and friends to say goodbye to someone the loved, to remember and celebrate their life, and to pray and commit them to the love and mercy of God. A funeral carries loved ones into the next stage of grieving, and reminds us of God's never-failing care.
We want to help you grieve well and with hope and in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We work closely with funeral directors to surround the death of your loved one with prayer and grace. We are also able to provide pastoral care, end-of-life spiritual care (including last rites), prayer and grief support, as well as resources and referrals to other organizations for further assistance.
Please contact the church office as early as possible in your funeral planning process.
Baptism marks the beginning of a Christian life. It is an expression of God's grace extended to us, without regard for whether or not we 'deserve' it. In the Anglican church, we welcome people at all stages of life to the sacrament of Baptism. Along with all other trinitarian Christian denominations (e.g. Catholic, Lutheran, etc.), we baptize in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Baptism requires preparation. The clergy meet with candidates for baptism (or their parents, in the case of infants and young children) talk through the sacrament and its promises.
If you are interested in baptism for yourself or your child, we encourage you to start worshipping with us and contact the church office to speak with one of the clergy.
If you were baptized at St. Thomas and need a copy of your baptismal certificate, please contact the office. We maintain recent records at the church. Older records are stored at the Provincial Archives of Alberta.
Marriage is a holy joining of two lives, designed to reflect the love of God. We also understand how stressful weddings can be, and are here to help you begin your married life held by God's grace.
Further considerations:
We require that you speak with one of our clergy before setting a date. With the exception of very unusual circumstances (e.g. impending death), we require at least 90 days' notice for weddings. The church building is generally not available for booking as an independent wedding venue.
In cases of remarriage after divorce, you must provide a certificate of divorce, and this must generally have been finalized not less than a year before the proposed date of remarriage.
The Anglican Church of Canada and the Diocese of Edmonton (the larger organizations to which St. Thomas belongs) are in evolving conversations regarding the blessing of same-gender unions. Please call the office so we can work with your specific needs.