Join Us Sundays at 11 a.m. for Friends, Faith and Fun

Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986)

With a $72,000 annual cost for college at USC in California, financial aid dollars don’t always stretch, making free meals a necessity for many students. At San Jose State, nearly 15% of the student population has been homeless at some point, creating the demand for a shelter. Read the story by clicking HERE.

After a fatal cyclist accident caused by an inebriated bishop triggered intense scrutiny from the public, the Diocese of Maryland's road toward recovery has been marked by soul-searching conversations and policy changes, as well as a willingness to name and confront the challenges of addiction. At least two parishes host a Recovery Eucharist, support for AA has grown five-fold, and one congregation hosts 14 different recovery groups. Our local church at Advent has been ahead of the curve with its support of AA for several years now. Read the story by clicking HERE.

Is Advent's lovely building made entirely of limestone? No! While painting windowsills a few weeks ago, your senior warden noticed a walnut-sized white granite stone embedded in the mortar. It is at eye level. The stone is on the south side of the building in a buttress. Did the stone mason(s) of 1855 have a sense of humor? Was this some sort of custom? Where did they get that little rock? Why did they do that? We may never know, but we are left with an anomalous non-Kentucky rock that has a left-looking "face" with gargoyle-like charm. Was that on purpose, too.?

•

Here is one stonemason tradition: https://www.europeanstonemasonry.com/blog/two-coins-in-the-stonework. Maybe there are others.

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the Feast of Christ the King, is a relatively recent addition to the Western liturgical calendar, having been instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI for the Roman Catholic Church. In 1970 its Roman Catholic observance was moved to the final Sunday of Ordinary Time. Therefore, the earliest date on which it can occur is November 20 and the latest is November 26. Traditional Catholics observe it on its original date, the last Sunday of October. The Anglican, Lutheran, and many other Protestant churches adopted it along with the Revised Common Lectionary, occasionally referring to it as Christ the King Sunday.

— Wikipedia

Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as the return of Jesus at the second coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming." For Christians, the season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from three different perspectives. "Since the time of Bernard of Clairvaux (d.1153) Christians have spoken of the three comings of Christ: 1) In the flesh in Bethlehem; 2) In our hearts daily; and 3) In glory at the end of time." The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his second coming.

Advent is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, sometimes known as Advent Sunday.

— Wikipedia

Advent's annual meeting will be Dec. 9. Be sure to attend to enjoy great food, great folks and to hear about the great year Advent has had and its plans for the next one. Details to come.

•

This Sunday, Nov. 18: The lector is Amy and the altar guild is B.T. November 18 is Pentecost 26, Proper 28, Year B. Year C begins on the first Sunday in Advent. To see this Sunday's readings and the vestment colors, click HERE and select the date.