This Week's Announcements

November 25, 2012
The Feast of Christ the King
(Proper 29)

If you are visiting or new to the Advent, we hope that you will feel welcome and at home. Please, if you will, fill out a visitor's/newcomer's card so that we can keep in touch.

All persons baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit are invited to the Altar to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you wish to receive a blessing, come to the Altar and cross your arms over your chest.

Infant & Toddler Nurseries. The Infant Nursery is located on the 4th floor of the Parish Hall. This space is for infants during the 9 AM Mass.

9:00 AM Toddler Nursery. Located in Moseley Hall, this space is for toddlers during the 9 AM Mass.

Childcare: Childcare for both infants and toddlers is available on the 3rd floor during the 11:15 AM service.

Childcare for children who do not require one-on-one supervision and who are potty-trained is available on the third floor of the Parish Hall during the 9 AM and 11:15 AM Mass. Follow the signs or check in with Emily Litman.

The flowers at the High Altar are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Frances Lee McCormick and Barbara McCormick. The flowers on the screen are given in loving memory of Staff Sgt. Matthew Albert Pucino, U.S. Army Special Forces.

9:00 Coffee Hour: Nancy Macmillan and Frank Van Halesma host the Coffee Hour this morning. Next week the hosts will be Tony & Jaeger Ashton, Bette Boughton and June Knowles. The schedule is posted on the website at http://theadventboston.org/parilife/9coffee.htm. New coffee hour hosts are always needed; please contact Barbara Boles by phone, 617-625-1857, or email, if you're interested or have questions about what is entailed.

11:15 Coffee Hour: Michael & Janelle Saur and Shannon & Jed Hubbs are the Coffee Hour hosts this morning. We still need hosts for next week's coffee hour! To view the schedule of available dates and select a date to co-host, go to http://coffee.theadvent.org, or speak with Nan Ritenour during Coffee Hour.

Our guest preacher this morning is the Rev'd Edward Thornley. Fr Thornley, who lives in Dereham, England, is presently part of a clergy team which serves five country parishes in the vicinity of Norfolk. He and his lovely wife, Devon, were with us this July and it is a great pleasure to welcome them both back.

New Theology on Tap Series: Join us for Theology on Tap's next series, "Got Virtue? The Liberating & Mirthful Depth of Christian Belief" at the Rattlesnake Bar at 384 Boylston St. at 7 PM. on Tuesdays in November and December.

Is it possible to become a virtuous person? If so, how do you obtain the virtues in your life? Or to put in another way, how do you "get virtue"? It's an old question, one that, for example, the philosopher Aristotle dealt with extensively in the Nicomachean Ethics around 350 BC. He articulated and expanded upon an intuition held by many people, that virtue is acquired by habit, through practicing the virtues until they form a virtuous character. However, for many people such a path to virtue seems long, difficult, and perhaps even the cause for despair in light of their moral failure. In this series we look at how Jesus Christ, who came into the world "full of Grace and Truth" (Jn. 1:14) in pursuit of you and your good, changes your assumptions about the pursuit of virtue. Join us to be "surprised by virtue" in light of the liberating Gospel of Grace.

—November 27: "Small Talk on Three Knotted Theological Virtues: Humility, Gratitude, and Generosity" by Fr. Malcolm Reid.

Fr Malcolm is Assistant Rector and Director of Outreach at Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church. From 1968 to 2007 he taught in the philosophy department at Gordon College. He serves on the boards of the Anglican Relief and Development Fund, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Uganda Christian University Partners, Dallas, Texas. He was born and raised in New Zealand and, with his wife Dolly, returns each January or February to swim and fish, read and write, and visit old friends.

Beginning with the early Fathers much has been written on the unity of the virtues. Whatever word is used the idea is to ponder how the virtues are not just interrelated and interdependent - knotted - but also how they enrich each other in our existential experience of them. This talk is a thought experiment on how this may be true and an enlightening of the three indispensable theological virtues: humility, gratitude and generosity.

— December 4: "Happy are They that Laugh: Humor as Christian Virtue" by Fr Gareth Evans, Priest in Charge, Church of the Good Shepherd, Acton, MA

— December 11: "The Theological Virtue of Hope" by Dr Dominic Doyle, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Boston College

You can learn more at bostontheologyontap.com.

Community Groups are small gatherings, usually held weekly, where Advent parishioners study God's word in the Bible, pray, and encourage one another in our Christian lives. In these small communities, we build deep relationships where we give and receive, serve and are served, love and learn how to be loved in return. Groups typically comprise between six and ten people, and they give us opportunities to grow in our faith and learn how the gospel applies to all of life. Our hope is that everyone who calls the Advent home will be involved in a community group, so contact Fr Wood at the Parish Office or by email to get involved. Also, please let Fr Wood know if you can't attend any of the following groups and would like to host/facilitate another group.

Beacon Hill Group	every other Monday	Sammy & Renée Wood	617-697-8528
Salem/North Shore Group	Wednesdays	Sam & Gretchen Keyes	978-745-2549
Arts & Letters	Wednesdays	at the Advent	508-358-3583

• — Next Sunday, December 2 - the First Sunday in Advent, our Feast of Title & Dedication. Wreath making at 10:15 AM in the Library. In the afternoon, an Organ Recital at 4:30 PM, followed by a Service of Advent Lessons & Carols at 5:00 PM, and concluding with a gala reception in Moseley Hall.
• — A schedule of Christmas services appears below.
• — On the last page of the service leaflet you will find the form for giving Christmas flower memorials or thanksgivings. Please note that these need to be into the Parish Office by Monday, December 17.

Today: an opportunity to join in ministry at Cambridge Rehab & Nursing Center. One Sunday afternoon per month we offer either a service of Holy Communion or Evening Prayer for residents of the Cambridge Rehabilitation & Nursing Center near Central Square in Cambridge.

Our next visit will take place this afternoon, Sunday, November 25. We'll depart from the Advent's Brimmer Street entrance at 2:30 PM. If you prefer you can take your own transportation to 8 Dana Street, Cambridge, which is a 10-minute walk from the Central Square station. The service of Evening Prayer service begins at 3 PM.

This is a chance for you either to participate in the liturgy or to sit with residents during the service, and to spend some time talking with them afterwards. Your presence will be most appreciated, especially since most of the residents are confined to the building for short-term rehabilitation or long-term nursing care. Anyone is welcome to come along and you do not need to make any long-term commitment to participate. Just come along with us following the 11:15 AM coffee hour. We will typically go on the fourth Sunday of each month and our next visit will be on next Sunday, November 25.

If you would like to participate or have any questions please contact Fr Sammy Wood or Mark Davidson.

Advent Youth Mission Project on December 1. Recently parishioners at the Church of the Advent have been volunteering with a Beacon Hill organization called Christopher's Haven, a family cancer treatment house located just behind Massachusetts General Hospital on the second floor of One Emerson Place. Christopher's Haven provides housing for families while their children are going through cancer treatments here in Boston. On Saturday December 1 from 5:15-9:00 PM, the Advent Youth Group will host a "Parents Night Out" - making pizza, playing games, and hanging out with kids of all ages while their parents get the night off. For more info or to volunteer, please email Renée Wood.

Celebrate the mission of Amirah, Incorporated, on Friday 7 December: Amirah's second annual Evening of Hope celebration will be held on on Friday, December 7, from 6 to 9 PM at the Danversport Yacht Club, and the Advent is sponsoring a table. You're invited to celebrate the advances of the past year in supporting survivors of human trafficking. There are spaces available at our table, so if you are interested in attending, please email Fr Wood.

Advent calendar available to order: New this year! Created especially for the Church of the Advent, featuring stunning photos of our rituals and celebration throughout the year, these "Advent calendars" cover January through December 2013. Priced at $20, with proceeds benefiting our Missions & Outreach activities. A sample is on display in the bookstore. Order by Christ the King (November 25) and have in hand this Advent. This is the very last day to order these calendars! See Deacon Daphne or Julianne Turé with questions.

Christmas Sweaters. Each year guests of the Tuesday Evening Community Dinner are presented with sweaters as a gift. This is often the only gift they will receive during the holiday. We have found a very good and economical source for top quality sweaters, and so this year we ask that members of the Parish support this by making a contribution rather than buying a sweater themselves to donate. Contributions may be included with the collection or mailed to the Church Office. Please make sure that your check is clearly marked for the Sweater Fund.

Screwtape live at the Cutler Majestic Theatre 8 PM on 30 November! The Advent has one ticket remaining for the stage performance of The Screwtape Letters on Friday, November 30 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College! If you're interested (the ticket's $48.50), email Fr Wood.

Discount Vouchers for the Boston Common Garage are available for $5.50 each from Nola Sheffer. You can find her between the 9:00 and 11:15 Masses at the Coffee Hour or Entr'acte. The vouchers can be used after 4:00 PM weekdays, and all day Saturday and Sunday. Questions? email Nola.

STEWARDSHIP 2013

The first returns for the 2013 Canvass are coming in. Thanks to everyone who pledged so promptly!

As of this past Wednesday we have received 72 pledges, pledging a total of $165,042. 31 have increased their pledges by 18%, and there are 5 new pledges. Thanks be to God! We still have to hear from 142 parishioners who pledged a total of $260,621 for 2012.

The Stewardship Committee thanks all who have made a pledge so far. If you have not yet pledged, please do so soon.

If you did not receive a packet of stewardship information, please let the Parish Office know (617-523-2377 x122), or, pick up the information and card at the rear of the Church. Thank you!!

Next Sunday is Ingathering Sunday. The Stewardship Committee invites all who have not yet pledged to bring their pledge cards to the Sunday Masses on our Feast of Title and Dedication.

Sunday, December 23 - The Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:00 AM Low Mass
9:00 AM Christmas Pageant & Sung Mass
11:15 AM Solemn Mass

Monday, December 24 - The Vigil of Christmas
4:30 PM Family Mass & Procession to the Creche
10:15 PM Musical Prelude
11:00 PM Procession & Solemn Mass

Tuesday, December 25 - Christmas Day
11:00 AM Solemn Mass

The Parish Clergy are available for Confession as a preparation for the Feast. You may call and make an appointment.

The Parish Office will be closed on Wednesday, December 26.

Monday, December 31
5:00 PM Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight

Tuesday, January 1 - The Holy Name
11:00 AM Mass

• This Week at the Advent
  November 26-December 2, 2012
  

• Monday, November 26

• Tuesday, November 27

• 5:30 p.m.
  Community Supper
• 7:00 p.m.
  Theology on Tap

• Wednesday, November 28
  Kamehameha & Emma of Hawaii

• 10:00 a.m.
  Beacon Hill Seminar
• 6:00 p.m.
  Healing Mass
• 7:00 p.m.
  Bellringing

• Thursday, November 29

• 10:00 a.m.
  Play Group
• 7:00 p.m.
  Harvard Music Association Meeting

• Friday, November 30
  St Andrew the Apostle

•  
  NO Play Group
• 9:00 a.m.
  Beacon Hill Garden Club Workshop

• Saturday, December 1
  Nicholas Ferrar

• 10:00 a.m.
  Advent Choir Rehearsal
• 8:00 p.m.
  AA Meeting

• Sunday, December 2
  The First Sunday of Advent
  Feast of Title & Dedication

• 7:30 a.m.
  Morning Prayer
• 8:00 a.m.
  Low Mass
• 9:00 a.m.
  Procession & Sung Mass
• 10:15 a.m.
  Wreath Making
• 11:15 a.m.
  Procession & Solemn Mass
• 2:00 p.m.
  Ratio fidei
• 4:30 p.m.
  Organ Recital
• 5:00 p.m.
  A Service of Advent Lessons & Carols