This Week’s Announcements

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.

Childcare is provided for infants and toddlers during both the 9 AM and 11:15 AM Masses.

9:00 AM - Infant nursery is located on the first floor in the room beyond the Parish Office. The Toddler nursery is located downstairs in Moseley Hall.

11:15 AM - Infant and Toddlers are cared for on the first floor in the room beyond the office.

If you have questions or special needs we want to hear them. Contact Sarah Connor at 617-480-3017 or .

The Advent Wreath is given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Norman MacGregor Post, priest, and Jane Irene Post.

9:00 Coffee Hour. Barbara Boles and Joseph Srednicki host the Coffee Hour this morning. The hosts next week will be Mary & Paul Roberts and Cassie & Jack Gurnon. New coffee hour hosts are always needed; please contact Barbara Boles by phone, 617-501-7572, or if you’re interested or have questions about what is entailed.

11:15 Coffee Hour. Alfred Duhamel and Ginnie Pierce host the Coffee Hour this morning. Next week the hosts will be John Ross Campbell and others. We are in need of more volunteers to do the coffee hour. Please contact the Coffee Team to volunteer. To sign up or if you have any questions, please contact or or .

There is no Church School today; instead, gather in the Library where you can make your own Advent wreath.

Entr’acte will not meet this morning, the First Sunday of Advent. It will resume next Sunday, December 6 when Adam Rutledge will talk about John Henry Cardinal Newman, one of the most important, fascinating and puzzling of the persons involved in the Catholic revival. We will begin following the 9 AM Sung Mass (around 10:25 AM) in the Library. Please try to be on time.

---

Community Dinner. This year, instead of sweaters, guests at the Tuesday Evening Community Dinner will be given Gift Cards to Dunkin’ Donuts as their Christmas gift from the Advent. This will allow them to go to a warm place and get hot coffee and something to eat during the cold months of winter. If you wish to make a donation - and we hope you do - send it in marked Donuts.

This morning at both the 9 AM and 11:15 AM Masses Stewardship pledge cards for the year 2016 will be presented and blessed. This will take place just before the Great Thanksgiving (Consecratory Prayer) of the Liturgy.

Community Groups at the Advent: Interested in being part of a small group? These are the groups currently, or soon to be, meeting on a regular basis.

• The Arts & Letters Group meets for reading and discussion most Wednesdays starting around 6:45, after the conclusion of the Healing Mass. Our reading selections are determined by consensus and range from contemporary commentaries on scripture and theology to the classic historic writings of the church. On October 14 we began exploration of a new book, God and the New Atheism: A Critical Response to Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens, by John Haught. These discussions will be moderated by Michael Gnozzio. Arts & Letters is open to all parishioners and guests. Please contact for info.

• The Beacon Hill Group meets at the home of Sammy and Renée Wood. For info, contact or . All parishioners from the Beacon Hill area are welcome. The group meets every second and fourth Wednesday at the Woods’ house.

The Advent urges every one of her members to be part of a small group where we form deep friendships, do in-depth study, worship and pray, encourage each other, and serve together. Whether you’ve been in small groups for decades or you’ve never been to one at all, you’re invited!

Advent Quiet Day - Saturday December 12, 9 AM to 2 PM - Take half a day away from the business of the season to slow down, listen for God’s voice, and reflect on Advent. Fr Wood will offer some reflections throughout the day, but the main attraction is the silence. There’s no charge for the event (includes a light lunch), and you may register by contacting at 617.697.8528.

SSJE Retreat at Emery House on March 4 - 6, 2016: The Advent is sponsoring a retreat during Lent at Emery House (http://ssje.org/emery.html), the SSJE (Society of St John the Evangelist) house in West Newbury, Massachusetts. One of the brothers will direct the retreat, which runs Friday, March 4, through Sunday, March 6. The suggested rate is $135/night for two nights, and a non-refundable deposit of $135 is due by Sunday, December 6, to reserve a spot. For more information, contact .

Help Make Beacon Hill Beautiful - Next Sunday, December 6 from 2 to 5 PM - Hanging of the Greens: Every December our neighbors on Beacon Hill volunteer to decorate over 1,000 gas lamps that adorn our streets. On Sunday, December 6, join other Advent parishioners to hang garlands and bows on the lamps on our street from 2 to 5 PM. No experience necessary - just dress warm and be ready to work outside! For more info or to volunteer, contact . Seek the good of the city where I have sent you . . . . (Jeremiah 29.7)

We received the following message from Ryan and Erin Bennett, missionaries in Paris whose work is assisted by the Advent.

Many people have been asking how we are doing and also wanting to know how you can pray for Paris. . . . We really appreciate the care and concern so many of you have showed in reaching out and praying. Thank you so much. We were wrapping up a training in Italy on Friday so we were not in Paris at the time of the attacks, we didn’t even know what had happened until Saturday morning and we flew home later in the day. It felt strange to be away when this happened and it is good to be back home in Paris, our city, so we can grieve, pray and respond alongside our Parisian brothers and sisters. Of course, now that we are back it is not easy to know how to respond. So here are some ways you can pray.

• For God’s comfort for the family and friends of those who died so suddenly and needlessly.
• For the survivors and all who were directly affected. They will remember and for some relive this tragic day for the rest of their lives.
• For peace and justice to be restored as the Government searches for those involved.
• For a response of love and restoration to spread throughout the city and country.
• For wisdom for us and others in knowing how to respond and share the love of Christ with our neighbors and friends.
• For many to put their hope and trust in Christ, the only true light that exists in the darkness of our world.

As I prayed this morning for our city, God led me to this verse that brought me comfort . . “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John 14:27

Thank you again for your incredible prayer support during this time,
Ryan & Erin Bennett

Pledges for the 2016 Canvass are coming in. Thanks to everyone who pledged so promptly!

As of this past Tuesday we have received 110 pledges, pledging a total of $292,947. 41 have increased their pledges by 9%, and there are 9 new pledges. Thanks be to God! We have still to hear from 113 parishioners who pledged a total of $220,182 last year. Last year at this time we had received 105 pledges for a total of $272,920.

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 the 2016 stewardship packet in the mail, there are Stewardship brochures and pledge cards on the tables at the rear of the Church. And you can pledge on line by going to the parish website www.theadventboston.org and clicking the “Pledge Online” button.

Parishioner Kyle Pilares has designed seriously good-looking neckties and bowties, which will be the official ties and bowties of the Church of the Advent. For the ladies he has designed really gorgeous scarves, which will bear the same imprimatur. These are on sale during Coffee Hour. Bowties - $30. Neckties - $40. Scarves - $50. Buy one for yourself. Buy others for gifts.

Discount Vouchers for the Boston Common Garage are available for $9.00 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? .

Vestry Nominations. Please note that several members of the Vestry, a Treasurer and a Clerk will be elected at the Annual Meeting to be held on Sunday, January 24, 2016. It is not too early to think about members of the Parish whom you think would serve effectively on the Vestry. A Nominating Committee consisting of John Higgins, Jack Gurnon, Thatcher Gearhart, Father Warren, and the Wardens, Tom Brown and Kara Rodgers, is ready to receive the names of those whom you wish to nominate. Please speak to them beforehand to make sure that they are willing to run.

Christmas Service Schedule