This Week at the Advent

  October 4-10, 2015

 
In This Issue
Entr'acte this Sunday
The Feast of St Francis
Advent Meal Rota: The Baldwins
Syrian Refugee Crisis
"Shelf Life": Brent Nelson
Can You Help with Deliveries?
Entr'acte Continues this Sunday

This Sunday and next, October 4 and 11, Fr Wood will talk about Laudato si, Pope Francis' encyclical which has been the object of great interest to many people, not just members of the Roman Catholic Church. If you wish to read Laudato si, copies are available in the Bookstore.
This Sunday: The Feast of St Francis
This Sunday, October 4, we will keep the Feast of St Francis at the morning Masses, with Blessing of the Animals at 3:00 in the afternoon in the chancel.

If you can, donations of pet food, old towels or blankets, kitty litter, peanut butter, cat and dog toys, hand sanitizer, etc., which will be given to Angell Memorial. "Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it . . . If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." --Saint Francis of Assisi

Advent Meal Rota: The Baldwins
Welcome to the world, Baby Abel! Abel August Baldwin was born to Melissa and Eric on September 16 , weighing 10 lbs 7 ounces! Mom and baby are at home and doing great, and now we want to show them some Advent love and care! If you can provide a meal to the Baldwins (they live in Cambridge), please click on the link below and select a date on the Advent Meal Rota website. Then contact Melissa (info on the website) to set up a delivery time. https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/625294.
 
Syrian Refugee Crisis
Urgent Need - Assistance to Syrian Refugees - Missions & Outreach Campaign // In the worst humanitarian crisis of our time, more than 12 million people have been displaced, half of them children. Every day, new, heart-rending photos and statistics are published. The Advent Missions & Outreach team has launched an online fundraising campaign, designating an initial $1,000 gift to relief efforts. You can support this effort by joining the campaign ( http://diy.rescue.org/support_syrian_refugees). Additionally, if you wish, you can sign a petition urging our government to assist with accepting and resettling refugees ( https://www.change.org/p/your-government-officials-make-all-refugeeswelcome).
 
"Shelf Life": Brent Nelson
Want to know more about your fellow parishioners? How better to get to know people than asking about their reading life. That's what "Shelf Life" is for - every so often we ask a parishioner to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lives as readers.

This month, get to know Brent Nelson.

What's on your nightstand right now?
1) Three months' worth of The Economist
2) Duct Tape Parenting by Vicki Hoefle
3) Handbook of Catholic Apologetics by Kreeft and Tacelli

What are you learning about life and following Jesus?
I am trying to be better at defending Christianity from its detractors, and advocating for it positively among those who are willing to listen.

What are some books you regularly re-read, and why?
1) Geometry, Topology and Physics by Mikio Nakahara. Good reference for my work - and I can't keep technical mathematics in my head
2) The Bible - I re-read it once every two years. I tend to forget so many of the passages, it feels new each time
3) The Confessions by St. Augustine. Very edifying.
4) The Tragic Sense of Life, by Miguel de Unamuno. If you have no idea what this book is, get it and read, immediately! Nothing else I have read gets so deeply at the emotional side of theology. It's definitely the Spanish pathos - not the Anglo intellectualism of Chesterton or Lewis...

What books have most profoundly shaped how you live and love God and others?
1) The Tragic Sense of Life (see above).
2) Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
3) Butler's Lives of the Saints

What biographies or autobiographies have most influenced you and why?
1) The Confessions (see above)
2) Ben Franklin's AutobiographySoon I hope to get to the "Life of St. Teresa of Avila, by Herself".
 
Can You Help with Deliveries?
Help Wanted // Deliver Clothing to Charity Drop-off // Many Locations!
 
Solutions at Work, the non-profit group we were working with for donated clothing, is sadly going out of business.We have 11 bags of clothing and are looking for willing people with cars to take a bag (or more) to a convenient dropbox. Please see Deacon Daphne if you can help.

 
This email highlights just a few of the items in this week's announcements. For much more, go to http://theadventboston.org/geninfo/announce.htm.

Parish Office
Church of the Advent
Sunday's Collect
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant unto thy people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of thee delight in thy whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List