October 1 will be a Sunday devoted to Mission here at The Church of the Advent. Eric Fialho, our former seminarian, is returning this year as Pastoral Assistant and focusing part of his ministry on mission and outreach. Eric will lead the first Entr'acte of the season on October 1: "Anglo-Catholicism and Mission: Its History and our Roots".

Mission has always been a part of the life of the Advent. In fact, mission was a part of its founding: "To secure to a portion of the city of Boston the ministrations of the Holy Catholic Church: and more especially to secure the same to the poor and needy in a manner free from ungracious circumstances." Accordingly, it was a "free" church (no pew rents) and everyone without distinction-high and low, rich and poor, of any nationality and race-was encouraged to attend and become a part of the Parish family. Among mission projects in the past, have been a role in the founding of the Floating Hospital for Children in 1884, now part of the Tufts Medical Center, and the work of the Sisters of St Margaret among the poor and disenfranchised of the former West End.

Today, the Advent houses and supports the Tuesday Evening Community Dinner for the homeless and needy, which has been a part of our life for over thirty-eight years. Last year, though the Diocese and by direct contribution the Advent devoted over $85,000 of its budget to mission.

On Sunday, October 1, there will be envelopes in the pews marked "For Mission." Parishioners are encouraged to give towards projects which are coming up. One of these will be a trip to provide assistance in Houston, just as we took post-Katrina to Mississippi several years ago. Please be generous.

Neighborhood Groups Start in October! Old and new small groups are starting in October in neighborhoods across Greater Boston.

Which of these fits your schedule and lifestyle? If none does, why not consider hosting or facilitating a group in your own neighborhood? For more information, speak to one of the hosts listed above or contact Fr Sammy ( [email protected]).

Reformation at 500-Luther Reading Group Begins in October - Five hundred years ago this Halloween, an intense, scholarly Augustinian friar named Martin Luther posted a series of theses about the sale of indulgences on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.  Within a few years, the world in which he had come of age was utterly transformed. Ever wanted to know what was going on in his mind, one of the great minds of the universal Church?  For several years before this momentous event, Dr Luther diligently walked into his classroom at six o'clock in the morning to lecture on Paul's Letter to the Romans, and we can now read along with him as he grappled with the foundations of the Catholic faith.  To mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, a group gathers every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 7 pm in Fr. Wood's office (second floor of the Parish House) to learn about Luther's world and to study the Bible as he and his students did by reading and discussing his Lectures on Romans, one of the treasures of Christian thought.  For information, contact Ben Crowe ( [email protected]) or Fr Wood ( [email protected]).

The Church of the Advent's Theology on Tap returns Tuesday, October 3, with the Rev'd Mrs Fleming Rutledge -now at our new location!  Fleming Rutledge inaugurates the 2017 season of Theology on Tap with a highly appropriate topic:   The Once and Future Season: Advent :  Why is the Advent season so uniquely important, yet so misunderstood?  Mrs Rutledge will talk about the cultural conflict between the "holiday season" and the unique themes of Advent.  It is our delight to welcome Mrs Rutledge to speak on this subject, which is timely and fitting for our parish, named as it is for this imminent and significant season in the church calendar.

One of the first women to be ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, Mrs Rutledge has a book on Advent coming out next year.  She is the author of many other important books, including "The Crucifixion:  Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ"; "Not Ashamed of the Gospel:  Sermons from Paul's Letter to the Romans"; "And God Spoke to Abraham:  Preaching from the Old Testament"; and "The Battle for Middle-Earth:  Tolkien's Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings".

Join us at 7 pm on October 3 at our new location:  Carrie Nation Cocktail Club
The Beacon Room-11 Beacon Street, near the State House. 

Evening Prayer will be said at the Church at 5:30 pm.  All are welcome to say the daily office together and then process from the parish church to Carrie Nation.

Mark your calendars now for a special event in advance of the American Academy of Religion Meeting in Boston: "Anglo-Catholicism: Uncovering Roots", November 15-16, 2017.

PLEASE REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 8!

What  is Anglo-Catholicism? This brief conference, on the eve of the annual meeting of the AAR, will delve into our broad tradition in a bid to remember and retrieve the best of the past for a faithful future. Inspired by the Anglo-Catholic congresses of the 20th century, young scholars will deliver papers on the holy, catholic, apostolic pattern of Scripture, sacraments, prayer, and the Church herself, formed by God in Christ. 

For more information or to register