Community
Acolytes and Servers
The Advent’s liturgical life is made possible by a corps of dedicated altar servers. Crucifers, thurifers, acolytes (candle-bearers), and masters of ceremonies (MC’s) who support the clergy in the celebration of the Mass on Sundays and other days throughout the year, as well as at such services as Matins and Evensong. Together with the clergy and choir, the servers lead the congregation in worship.
Acolytes are needed for Sunday Sung Mass, Solemn Mass, Evensong, and weekday Special Masses
Servers must be “team players” mindful that while “on stage” and possibly wearing colorful vestments or swinging a smoking thurible, servers are never to be the focus of attention which must always be the liturgy itself.
Requirements for service in this ministry include the ability to
· follow visual as well as verbal cues
· move gracefully at an appropriate pace while carrying liturgical objects
· attend Sunday worship regularly whether or not assigned to serve
· attend occasional weeknights
Training is provided for each position before it is undertaken; there is a rota and sign-up process for each role. Those interested in learning more, and the parents of interested children, should contact Fr McCormack, Juliane Turé (re the 11 am Mass) or Paul Roberts (re. the 9 am Mass).
See more about the Liturgical Customary here.
See the Acolytes Schedule here.
Altar Guild
This is one of the most important ministries in a highly liturgical parish, one that ensures that all services are “done decently and in order” (I Corinthians 14:40).
The guild undertakes:
· the cleansing and preparation of sacred vessels
· cleaning and preparation of altar linens
· laying-out of sacred vestments and checking their condition for any needed repairsThose interested in learning more about this ministry should contact Fr Thompson, Fr McCormack, or Michael and Glenys Szczuka.
Daily Office Leaders (For Morning and Evening Prayer)
Approved lay leaders are put forward by a member of the clergy (Fr. Thompson or Fr McCormack) and endorsed by the Rector for licensing by the Diocese for service within this parish. They may then lead fellow parishioners in the Daily Office (at Morning and Evening Prayer).
Approved candidates must complete the requisite number of Safe Church Modules and the appropriate application, as well as undertake the short appropriate liturgical training given by clergy.
Readers
Together with the clergy and choir, Readers help to lead the congregation in worship by reading scripture passages appointed in the Lectionary for the day. It is important that they learn and practice after the basic training given so as to be able to:
· speak “on stage” loudly and slowly, in front of a large group of people
· spend 15-20 minutes ahead of time preparing to read the passage effectively
Currently readers are needed for the Sunday 9 AM Sung Mass
Those interested in learning more about this ministry should contact Fr Thompson or Paul Roberts.
Ushers
Ushers play an important role in welcoming all who attend services and in helping the flow of people at times of movement within services (e.g. during Communion). They are likely to be a potential new parishioner’s first point of contact; they must be warm and welcoming to all who attend – and especially to those who are new.
Additional duties include handling out programs, counting numbers present and the plate collections.
Requirements include:
· being comfortable approaching and welcoming all who attend – especially those who are not recognized
· having the time to arrive at least 20 minutes before a service starts
· willingness to observe the dress code, requiring a coat-and-tie or formal dress while on duty
Currently, Ushers are needed for the Sung Mass and Solemn Mass on Sundays as well as Evensong and occasional special services.
Those interested in learning more about this role should contact Fr Thompson, Paul Roberts for 9 AM Mass, or Kyriell Palaeologue for 11 AM Mass.
Flower & Garden Guilds
The Flower Guild’s mission is to beautify our church by arranging and caring for the flowers, plants, and floral decorations inside the church and its buildings. Floral arrangements are provided by devoted volunteers in the parish carrying on a tradition that goes back to the earliest days of the parish. The Guild provides floral arrangements in the church for Sunday and feast day Masses as well as the extensive floral decorations at Christmas and Easter. It also usually makes the flower arrangements for weddings, funerals, and baptisms.
The Guild is always eager to welcome new designers. Designers work in teams, and novice arrangers are paired with more experienced designers as they learn. No previous flower arranging experience is required to join.
The Garden Guild’s mission is to beautify our church by caring for the gardens, shrubs, trees and flowering plants in the grounds outside the church, which also includes the Garden of Remembrance.
Participation in these groups requires:
· Availability to serve one Saturday per month from 10:00 am until approximately 1:00 pm.
Those interested in learning more about this work should contact Fr Thompson or Mindy Davies for the Flower Guild and Maria Denslow for the Garden Guild.
Community Supper
The community supper’s mission is to help parishioners share the gospel with our neighbors by serving a nourishing meal on Tuesday Evenings to those in need of food and/or fellowship.
Volunteers help one or more times a month as part of the preparation and serving team. Volunteers receive training appropriate to the several aspects of this work, which ranges from the technical and hygiene rules to be observed while serving food, to how best to manage interactions with guests who can have highly varied needs and sensitivities.
Team members help to:
· prepare the tables
· prepare and provide, tea/coffee, water and soft drinks
· cook, plate, and serve a main course and cookies and/or ice cream
· cleanup and use the dishwasher
· Offering a monetary donation to the program
Tuesday Night Schedule
4:30 pm: Guests are invited in for a Bible message by one of our priests
4:30 – 5:00 pm: Volunteers arrive to service the meal and join in fellowship with the guests
5:00 – 5:30 pm: Guests are served coffee, tea and cold drinks
5:30 – 6:15 pm: Guests are served nutritious hot or cold meal (depending on the season)
6:15 – 6:30 pm: Guests are given to-go meals (if leftovers are available)
6:30 – 7:00 pm: Time to finish their meal or fellowship / Clean up
New volunteers from the Parish are always needed and those interested should contact Fr Thompson or Fr McCormack.
Coffee Hour
The Coffee Hour is a vital time of fellowship and community at the Advent. The mission here is to offer a friendly and welcoming ministry of hospitality for all our guests and parishioners. The coffee hours uplift congregation members through fellowship in a highly practical application of the gospel, seeking to draw all those involved closer to God.
Coffee Hour Hosts are parishioners who:
· offer their time to host a coffee hour (once or more) each quarter and usually as one of a team (of one to three people) for each particular day
· bring, prepare, and lay out food to share (or sometimes give a donation for this)
· greet parishioners and newcomers
· serve the coffee and tea
· clear away and tidy up after the coffee hour ends
Those interested in learning more about this service should contact Fr Thompson or Fr McCormack.
Meeting and serving together
Small groups are an opportunity for every member to connect more deeply. These are hosted throughout the Boston metro area and are where we form deep friendships, conduct in-depth study, worship and pray, encourage each other, and serve together.
Bible Study, one day Colloquia, speaker events, and classes are offered throughout the year along with an Annual Anglo-Catholic Conference which is usually held in November each year.
The newly launched Grafton House (GH) initiative is expected to play a particular role in offering and further developing these offerings.
GH’s intent for these educational opportunities, together with related publications and online content, is to serve both the needs of parishioners and the cause of educating the wider church in North America and beyond in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicansim for which this parish from its inception has served as a flagship institution.
Entr’acte presentations are offered most Sundays between the two main Masses (9 AM and 11 AM), and feature a short and focused talk for adult continuing education. These are further supplemented by sessions with presentations and discussions held over a light dinner on weeknights as announced.
Informal theology events also occur in a secular social context a few times a year for fellowship, for the purpose of outreach and education to non-parishioners. These events feature a guest speaker.
Look for further information about Grafton House to be placed on the website as it expands its ministry in the months and years ahead.
Church School Program
The Church of the Advent offers classes from 10:00-10:45am on Sundays for ages three to eighteen. Our program works alongside parents, teaching children to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest God’s Word. We provide Christ-centered lessons and Spirit-led fellowship to humbly and eagerly seek God through the Bible.
For more information, please contact Lauren Mojarrab.
Little Saints (Pre K–K)
The Believe Storybook illustrates stories from both the Old and New Testaments, teaching students how they can become more like Jesus in their beliefs, in their actions, and their character.
Pilgrims (1st-3rd)
The Ology, Ancient Truths Ever New ushers children into a story of adventure, mystery, and wonder in which they discover life-changing truths about God, themselves, and the world around them.
Scholars (4th-7th)
Connect gives students a closer look at the Bible’s narrative arc, not only recounting God’s plan in its own time, but also revealing it in ours.
Knights (8th-12th)
In a guided reading of Proverbs, chapter by chapter, students will learn how to engage in the spiritual disciplines of study and prayer- and why they matter.
Grafton Junior Fellows
Those students or young professionals interested in joining the Grafton Young Fellows program (for whom it is planned to offer a small stipend and subsidized accommodation in return for regular attendance at the Daily Office and support of the liturgical and other ministries of the parish) should contact, in the first instance, Fr Ian McCormack GH Director, or Fr David Thompson.
Studium
Studium’s mission is to provide a place for students and young professionals to accomplish their personal studies, work, and/or leisure activities. This time is book-ended with collegiate-styled Anglican prayer services. The schedule follows the pattern of study and prayer modeled by Houses of studies in Oxford and Cambridge.
On designated days, when in session, the day starts with Morning Prayer and a light breakfast followed by two hours of study, Coffee, another two hours of study and a light luncheon. The pattern then continues with tea after two hours and after a further two hours Evening Prayer. The day may conclude with a social excursion and or dinner.
Future dates and times for this will be announced and will appear on the website.
Men’s Group
The mission of the Advent men’s group is to grow fellowship among the men of the Advent. This group is made up of men of all ages who meet for a meal and fellowship at the church, usually once a month, or once quarter.
Women’s Group
The mission of the Advent women’s group is to grow fellowship among the women of the Advent. This group is made up of women of all ages who meet monthly for a light supper at the church. The group has also scheduled picnics, gone to museums, and organized meal rotas for parishioners with new babies, or other needs.
Mother’s Morning
Mother’s Morning provides an opportunity for mothers and their children to gather for food, fellowship, and play. Mother’s Morning is open to both the parish and surrounding community and is an opportunity for refreshment, encouragement, and prayer.
Mother’s Morning meets twice a month, once on a Wednesday and once on a Saturday at 10:00am. Please check our calendar for upcoming Mother’s Morning events.
20’s & 30’s Group
The mission of the 20’s and 30’s group is to gather young adult parishioners in their 20’s and 30’s (interpreted with some leeway) for food, fellowship, prayer, and education. They enjoy dinner and drinks together once a month. This group is restricted to young adults and invited speakers.
Beacon Hill Group
The Beacon Hill Group which is made up mainly of Beacon Hill residents who gather at the church twice a month to share a light supper and fellowship with discussion of a section of the Bible or a book that they read together.