This Week’s Announcements

If you are visiting or new to the Advent, we hope that you will feel welcome and at home. Please join us after Mass for Coffee Hour downstairs in Moseley Hall, and, 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 Sarah Connor.

The flowers at the High Altar are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Frederick L. Haupert. The flowers in the Lady Chapel are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Ruth & Andrew Oliver and Jean & John Jolliffe.

Monday, February 20, Presidents’ Day will be observed. The Parish Office will be closed and the holiday schedule in effect - Morning Prayer at 8:30 AM, Low Mass at 9:00; Evening Prayer is cancelled.

9:00 Coffee Hour: The hosts this morning are June Knowles and Bette Boughton. Next week the hosts will be Emily Litman and Debbie Smith. 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 , if you’re interested or have questions about what is entailed.

11:15 Coffee Hour: Pam Covert, Jane Causey and other Advent Angels host the coffee hour this morning. Next week the hosts will be Meg & Brent Nelson, Nathan Cleveland and Elizabeth Woodruff. To view the schedule of available dates and select a date to co-host, go to http:/coffee.theadvent.org/11coffee, or speak with Nan during Coffee Hour.

Children’s Church: Directly following the Gospel reading during the 9 AM Mass, school-aged children will process out of the sanctuary and participate in Children’s Church. These young parishioners will be ushered back into the service to join their families in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Advent Tour: This morning our Verger, Raymond Porter, will give a tour of the church building. Ours is a fascinating, complicated, and historic building. Mr Porter will provide a ten to fifteen minute overview of its many facets. Meet him in the Baptistry. The tour will begin immediately after the Postlude.

Today is the Sunday known as Quinquagesima, which, with its companion Sundays, Septuagesima and Sexagesima, make up the season formerly known as pre-Lent. In the current Prayer Book these Sundays were dropped and became just additional Sundays after the Epiphany. The logic for this was simple: since Lent is itself a season of preparation, to observe an additional time of preparation before Lent was unnecessary. Why prepare to prepare?

This may look good on paper, but it’s not quite true psychologically or spiritually, because, in fact, we often need to prepare to prepare. In this instance that is especially the case. You and I need to begin now thinking about what we will do during Lent. How will we use the season to our soul’s benefit? How will we exercise ourselves so that we grow spiritually during Lent? Let Septuagesima - and Sexagesima and Quinquagesima - be a warning that that holy and intentional season is coming up, and it’s time to give it some thought. Prepare to prepare!

A note on names. Septuagesima: in context the word means seventy days before Easter. There is a problem here, however, for it’s not seventy days before Easter. It’s sixty-four. And yet, exactitude in this would have us saying sexagesima quarta and quinquagsima septimus, rather than septuagesima and sexagesima. And so in her wisdom and in order to avoid the long and cumbersome tags, the Church decided to number by tens rather than sevens. Who cares if it’s accurate? It’s easier to say.

Today being the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, the Easter Dismissal - ”Depart in peace. Alleluia! Alleluia!” - is used to conclude the Mass. We will not hear the word “Alleluia” again until the Resurrection is proclaimed on Holy Saturday.

We regret that the lift at the entrance to the Parish Hall is still out of order. A couple of items were found unsatisfactory in last week’s inspection, and are being addressed.

Palms for Ashes. There is a basket in the All Saints’ Chapel to receive last year’s palms from Palm Sunday. They will be burned to make the ashes for the liturgies of Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on February 22.

THIS WEEK!

Monday February 20! Lundi Gras! - 6:00 PM. Time to break out your secret baked beans recipe, best devilled eggs, or store-bought loaf of sourdough! Bring something to share: food or drink, or both. Following dinner, there will be a judge-free and non-judgemental talent show. Bring your harmonica, guitar solo, whistling, recitation, tap dance, or favorite impersonations.

Wednesday, February 22 - Ash Wednesday. Masses at 7:30 AM, 12:15 PM and 6:30 PM. Imposition of Ashes at all Masses. Frs Warren and Wood will be available to hear confessions following the 6:30 PM Solemn Mass or they may be made by appointment.

Lent Starts This Wednesday! Lent, the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter, begins this week. Historically, Lent was a period of preparation for those about to be baptized, and over time it became a period of penitence, self-examination and special devotion for all Christians as they prepared to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.

Lent, however, was more than just an individual discipline. It was something in which the whole community would engage together. This year, we at the Advent plan to recapture the corporate nature of Lenten practice, and we call on every member of the Parish to consider joining others in the following common discipline. Each week, those participating will fast together from a particular pleasure, whether it’s sweets, coffee, or television/social media, etc., and we will all read and meditate upon the same scriptural passages each day. A common Devotional Guide will be made available in the rear of the nave and online ( PDF), and it will list the suggested fast for each week along with daily scripture readings. Also available will be a statement expressing your intention to take upon yourself this corporate discipline with others in the Parish. It can be included with the collection at the Masses on Ash Wednesday when your intention will be offered and blessed at the Offertory of the Liturgy.

Engaging in communal fasts and corporate devotional practices will deepen our sense of community, as well as provide support and accountability for each of us in this rich liturgical season. If you have questions about this, get in touch with one of the clergy who will be happy to discuss it with you.

Please note that this corporate discipline does not replace the public devotions which will be prayed here during Lent. Stations of the Cross and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will be prayed on Thursdays at 6 PM, beginning with Thursday, March 1. Fr Wood will lead a special Lenten class on historic liturgies of the Church on Wednesdays, following the 6 PM celebration of the Mass.

Theology on Tap Returns! “Truth, Justice, & The Way of the Cross: The Gospel in a Post-Christian Society”. Join us again at the Rattlesnake for another riveting Theology on Tap at 7 PM Tuesdays February 21 & 28 and March 6! This series will explore how, as Christians in a post-Christian society, we might preach a gospel that remains true in an age that seems prone to perpetual change and the vicissitudes of impermanence. If all truths are true, what primacy can the gospel of the risen Christ as the true Word of God have?

2/21: Lesslie Newbigin and the Gospel in a Pluralist Society with Mr Christopher James, PhD candidate in Practical Theology at Boston University whose presentation will focus on Newbigin’s argument for understanding the Gospel as public truth for post-modern, post-Christian Western society. Chris is a candidate for ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and served most recently as Minister of Community Life at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. He enjoys exploring Boston with his wife Lindsay, dancing with his two-year-old daughter Ginny, and blogging at jesusdust.com.

2/28: Being Digital Disciples: Following Jesus Christ into the Tech and Back out again, with the Rev’d Adam Thomas, Associate Rector at St Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Cohasset. Fr Thomas’s new book Digital Disciple, examines the effects of technology on discipleship from the perspective of someone who has never known a world without the Internet. Join him for a conversation that explores some of the dangers and opportunities for followers of Jesus Christ, who follow our Lord into the wilds of the virtual world. No technological proficiency required to attend. You can find him blogging online at wherethewind.com.

3/6: TBD

Drink good beer. Think deep thoughts. Meet great people. Theology on Tap meets on the se-cond floor of the Rattlesnake Bar, 384 Boylston St, Boston (right across from the Arlington T stop).

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 to be involved in a community group, so contact Fr Wood at the Parish Office or 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	Mondays	Sammy & Renée Wood	617-697-8528
Salem/North Shore Group	Thursdays	Sam & Gretchen Keyes	978-745-2549
Somerville Group	3rd Wednesdays	Eric & Melissa Baldwin	857-540-1363

COMING UP

Evensong & Benediction, Supper & Talk. Next Sunday evening, February 26, at 4:30 PM, Organist Graham Schultz from the Cathedral in Albany returns to play a half-hour organ recital. At 5:00 PM, Evensong & Benediction will be sung by our Parish Choir featuring settings by Morales, Palestrina and Sheppard. Our series of Evensong & Benediction Talks continues at 6:00 PM when our rector, Fr Allan Warren, will discuss the “Theology of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.” Each month this winter/spring, immediately following Evensong and Benediction, we gather in Moseley Hall for a light supper during which we will hear a short talk about some aspect of this act of worship. E&B Talks are open to everyone, especially younger parishioners and guests who may not be as familiar with our rich Anglican liturgical heritage. Each evening will comprise a short talk followed by a period for Q&A. Even if you aren’t able to RSVP, please join us - we’ll have extra food on hand for last-minute guests! (But please do RSVP if you can; it helps us estimate how much food to lay in.) Contact to volunteer to help set up, clean up or provide food. Come to pray and for the exquisite worship experience of Evensong & Benediction, then come downstairs to be part of this series examining the theology and implications of our worship.

Do you need help? Do you need assistance with everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, running errands, or other assorted tasks? Do you know somebody who might be in need of such assistance? Over the past month, we have pulled together a pool or volunteers that are willing and able to help others with such tasks. Please email to be paired with one of our own Advent volunteers.

The Broken Consort will perform its new program “Burgos, 1275” on February 24 at 8:00 PM at the Church of St John the Evangelist on Bowdoin Street. A professional vocal trio comprised of three of Advent’s own 11:15 AM choristers (Emily Lau, Clare McNamara, and Ca-mila Parias), the Broken Consort will be joined by guest artists Peter Walker (bass-baritone and narrator) and Brian Kay (lutenist). You are all cordially invited to attend this dynamic, unique blend of 13th-century Iberian sacred & secular music, interspersed with narration and poetry from the time period. (Tickets $15/$10; www.thebrokenconsort.com)

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? .

2012 Offering Envelopes are available! If you have turned in your pledge card and requested envelopes for weekly offerings, they will be found on the tables in the rear of the Church arranged alphabetically, God willing. If you cannot locate your envelopes, call the Parish Office during the week, 617-523-2377 x122, or .

• This Week at the Advent
  February 20-26, 2012

• Monday, February 20
  Presidents Day (Parish Office Closed)

• 6:00 p.m.
  Lundi Gras Pot Luck

• Tuesday, February 21

• 10:00 a.m.
  Beacon Hill Seminar
• 5:30 p.m.
  Community Supper
• 7:00 p.m.
  Theology on Tap

• Wednesday, February 22
  Ash Wednesday (imposition of ashes at all Masses)

• 7:30 a.m.
  Low Mass
• 12:15 p.m.
  Low Mass
• 6:30 p.m.
  Solemn Mass

• Thursday, February 23
  (Polycarp of Smyrna)

• 10:00 a.m.
  Play Group
• 7:00 p.m.
  Advent Choir Rehearsal

• Friday, February 24
  Saint Matthias the Apostle

• 10:00 a.m.
  Play Group
• 7:00 p.m.
  Library Concert

• Saturday, February 25

• 8:30 a.m.
  Morning Prayer
• 9:00 a.m.
  Low Mass
• 10:00 a.m.
  Parish Choir Rehearsal
• 8:00 p.m.
  AA Meeting

  • Sunday, February 26
    The First Sunday in Lent

• 7:30 a.m.
  Morning Prayer
• 8:00 a.m.
  Low Mass
• 9:00 a.m.
  Litany in Procession & Sung Mass
• 10:15 a.m.
  Church School / Entr’acte
• 11:15 a.m.
  Litany in Procession & Solemn Mass
• 4:30 p.m.
  Organ Recital
• 5:00 p.m.
  Solemn Evensong & Benediction & Lecture