January 2024: ICPM in the news
During the brutal cold, one of our board members and key volunteers was interviewed by CBC about the clearings of camps. Watch the interview here.
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Inner City Pastoral Ministry (ICPM) is an ecumenical Christian ministry of presence serving the people of the inner city of Edmonton. It was started in 1978 by members of the United Church who recognized a need for a church in the Inner City. ICPM is now jointly sponsored by four denominations: United, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran.
Inner City Pastoral Ministry is situated in the heart of the inner city of Amiskwaciwaskahikan (Beaver Mountain House – the Cree name for the City of Edmonton). We respectfully acknowledge that we are located on Treaty 6 Territory. We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Metis and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for many centuries.
One of the main elements of the ministry is our Sunday morning worship service held at 11:00 a.m. in the Bissell West building, followed by a lunch which is served to anyone in the community who wishes to come in for a meal. To learn more about the Sunday morning ministry, click here to watch a short video.
Inner City Pastoral Ministry has developed a wonderful community of donors that include individuals, churches and other organizations. Donors provide financial gifts that enable the work of the ministry team to make a difference. During this Ovid-19 time individual and church donations have become even more important in supporting those who lack food,shelter, and clothing on a regular basis. ICPM continues to provide Sunday bagged lunches. Community donations are valued and can be provided by one of the 3 options below.
Donations by Mail: You can provide financial support for ICPM by mailing a cheque directly to the office. The cheque should be made payable to Inner City Pastoral Ministry and mailed to Inner City Pastoral Ministry, c/o Bissell Centre, 10527 – 96 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5H 2H6.
Online Donations! You can conveniently donate to ICPM at Canada Helps. All donations are much appreciated and donors receive a tax receipt. You can also E TRANSFER directly to ICPM at icpmgiving@gmail.com. Please put your name and address in the transfer message in order to receive a charitable donation receipt.
If you would like more information on donating, please contact us directly.
More news:
Back issues of Straight From The Street – see here.
ICPM Partners With Churches During Covid-19 - We are very grateful for the adapted but continuing Sunday lunches made possible by our partners during these difficult times. Please check out Global’s News Story on this effort. Thank you, dear lunch groups, for your continued support!
Exploring Social Justice Workshops - Have you ever wondered about the circumstances that have brought individuals and families living in the inner city to their current situations? Many of our volunteers have expressed a desire to do more to provide assistance beyond participating in the Sunday morning service and lunch. Under the direction and leadership of our Pastoral Associate, Jim Gurnett, ICPM has developed a workshop program for our faith communities and volunteer organizations to explore how they can participate in social justice issues.
Jim Gurnett has a background of several decades of involvement in social justice within faith communities and the broader community. Issues of focus for him have included immigration, refugees, poverty, homelessness and the environment. The workshops led by Jim consist of a two-four hour period and cover topics such as how to do social analysis of an issue, how to develop a plan for appropriate action that will make a difference and how to evaluate your action.
For more information on the content of the workshops and to contact Jim to discuss setting up a workshop for your congregation or group please click here.
Reflections by Community Members - We have had the honour of sharing God’s love and mercy with the community of the inner city for 40 years. We know that the ministry has a positive impact – this is what people have told us time and time again over the years. Click here to watch a short video of reflections by members of our community on the occasion of ICPM’s 25th anniversary in 2003.