Next Sunday, November 19, the Advent will have a Solemn Evensong and Benediction at 5:00 pm.  It will be preceded by an organ recital by John Wessler at 4:30 pm. 

At a light supper to follow, long-time friend of the Advent the  Rev'd Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff will speak about his experiences and perceptions regarding Muslim/Christian Relations in the Middle East, as well as his perceptions of the same in the West, entitled  "For Better or Worse:  Just what do we want in the Middle East?"  It was supposedly said of John Foster Dulles as Secretary of State, that there was no situation which a few words from him could not make worse.  This is not only a caution to those so rash as to speak upon the subject, but also reminds of the long history of missteps and travail in the region.  There is now also a sense of fatigue affecting many who feel that Western efforts to intervene in the Middle East have all too often ended badly.  But probably everyone can at least agree that things are not as they should be.  While the remedies advanced are myriad and fragmented in consequence of a deep diversity of goals among the key actors, it is interesting to ask what a good outcome in the Middle East would be.  What is the place of Christians within that future and of the current religious diversity in the region?  What can we learn by reflecting upon where it all went wrong in the past?

The talk will reflect on or two key turning points and the impact of personal experience in the region upon these large questions.  It is hoped that these reflections will provoke a lively debate given the difficulty of arriving at definitive answers.

Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff is Director General of the World Dialogue Council, which promotes better relations between the many worlds of Islam and the West.  He was formerly Dean of All Saints' Cathedral in Cairo where he has also advised the Anglican Bishop of Egypt, North Africa and the Horn of Africa, the Most Rev'd Dr Mounir Anis, currently Primate of the Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. 

This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. There will be a celebration of the Mass with hymns at 10:00 am. 

The Parish Office will be closed this Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26. On Friday, Morning Prayer is at 9:00 am; Low Mass is at 12:15 pm; Evening Prayer is cancelled. 

Dear Members and Friends of the Church of the Advent,

I would like to announce here on our web site something I announced at the Masses on All Saints' Sunday. And that is, that I have called  the Rev'd Jay Carleton James to come to the Advent and serve as Associate Rector. And . . . Deo gratias!! Father James has accepted my call. He is presently Rector of St. Timothy's Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has served there for twenty-three years. Both he and his wife Betsy have roots in New England, and many of you know them from summer Sundays when they worshipped at the Advent or from the St. Michael's Conference with which Fr. James has been involved for any years. I noticed quite a few distinct smiles throughout the congregation when I made the announcement last Sunday. He is an old friend of mine - I was at his wedding ! - and I look forward to the honor of serving side by side with him.

Father Warren

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 2018 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.