Cathedral Church of the Advent: Recent Episodes
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We will be hosting the First Annual Advent Men’s Cookout in the Refectory at the church on Sunday, August 16, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Cost is $12. All men are welcome!
Do you enjoy the smell of meat cooking in a large smoker? Do you enjoy cooking game that you killed to share with other men while completely embellishing how you took down the mighty beast? Is your pallet so sophisticated that you crave grilled meat constantly?
If you can answer yes to any of these deep philosophical questions then you need get down to the church on August 16.
We will be serving delicious, life-changing hotdogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers as well as any meat brought by any aforementioned hunter parishioners. Sides will be provided!
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Join us this fall for Jesus Means Freedom, a 10-week, parish-wide study of Galatians, written by our very own Dean Pinter, Will Fagan, Mary Ann McCarty, and Leslie Housman. This verse-by-verse curriculum explores the freedom that is available to us in Christ: a freedom that Paul is desperate for the Galatians to understand as one that “is not merely freedom from bondage but freedom for something greater.”
We will study Paul’s letter to the Galatians through the lenses of faith, family, and formation. As Dean writes in his introduction, “Christian freedom is grounded in a cruciform faith, expressed in the family of God, and cultivated through a life of Spirit-shaped formation.” Our prayer is for this framework to help you navigate this challenging letter and walk away sharing Paul’s passion for the gospel and its life-giving freedom.
Small groups will begin their study of Galatians the week of September 20 and continue through early December. If you are not currently in a small group and want to participate in the study, contact Fontaine Pope for more information about new groups being formed (Fontaine@CathedralAdvent.com, 205-443-8562).
You may purchase a copy of the study booklet for $10 each in Clingman Commons on Sundays, August 2, 9, and 16.
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We sat across from each other at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and looking out the window at the oak trees. “Would you join an Advent small group with me?” Deborah asked. Fortunately, I swallowed my infamous Initial Negative Response and said yes. Our small group has been together four years, and I count them among my closest friends. They aren’t superficial friends; they are kitchen friends. We are a family, each with our quirks and different personalities, and each accepted and loved for who they are. We pray for each other, and support each other with our whole hearts. Our group strengthens my soul. Some of the members are on their second around-the-world religion cruise, while I am still in a rowboat. We are all searchers, seeking a better understanding of God and the scriptures. Hearing different perspectives, life experiences and levels of knowledge has been a joy.
Marzette Fisher (with a little help from Deborah)
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Subscribe on Spotify1. Open the Spotify app on your phone, tablet, or computer. 2. Tap the Search icon. 3. Search for “Cathedral Church of the Advent”. 4. Select the podcast titled Cathedral Church of the Advent. 5. Tap Follow to subscribe. 6. Turn on notifications (optional) to be alerted when new sermons and classes are posted.
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Subscribe on Apple Podcasts1. Open the Apple Podcasts app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. 2. Tap Search. 3. Search for “Cathedral Church of the Advent”. 4. Select the podcast from Cathedral Church of the Advent. 5. Tap Follow to subscribe. 6. Enable notifications if you would like automatic alerts for new episodes.
Apple Podcasts page:
Cathedral Church of the Advent Podcast on Apple Podcasts
You can also listen directly from the church website:
Cathedral Church of the Advent Audio Page
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Subscribe to Our Email Lists
The Advent uses several email lists to communicate with parishioners quickly about various news and events. You can sign up for any of these four lists at AdventBirmingham.org/Subscribe/. On that page, click the “Subscribe” button to receive Parish-Wide News, Email Adventurer, Women of the Advent, and/or Pastoral Care Notices, which share news of births and deaths in and close to our parish.
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Advent men are invited to lunch on Wednesday, June 18, noon in Clingman Commons. We will hear from our own Curate, Will Fagan, as he shares with us, An Encouraging Word for Fathers and Sons (If you’re reading this you are one or have one).
Lunch from Urban Cookhouse will be provided for $13. Register here or contact Anita Gray (Anita@CathedralAdvent.com).
The post Men’s Lunch on June 18 with Will Fagan first appeared on Cathedral Church of the Advent.
We hope you will join us for all or part of June 27-29 as we welcome Andrew Lazo: a well-known teacher and speaker on the writings and thought of C.S. Lewis.
Known to many as one of the most lucid Christian writers of the 20th century, C.S. Lewis has retained a unique appeal across all parts of the church. Over the course of the weekend, Andrew will concentrate on three of Lewis’ most well-known works: The Screwtape Letters (which landed him on the cover of Time Magazine in 1947), Mere Christianity (which were first a series of talks on BBC radio in the early years of WWII), and the novel Till We Have Faces (one of his last works, which he regarded among his favorites).
A full schedule is below. You may register for Friday night (which includes dinner – $18 person), Saturday morning, or both. Registration is available here. Everything on Friday and Saturday will be at Cranmer House (our satellite location in Homewood – 2814 Linden Avenue 35209). (No registration is needed to attend the Dean’s Class on Sunday.)
If you have any questions, please contact Dean Pinter or Gil Kracke. Friends are most welcome – we look forward to seeing many of you!
Friday, June 27
6:00 to 6:15 Gather
6:15 to 7:00 Dinner
7:00 to 8:30 On The Screwtape Letters
Saturday, June 28
9:00 to 9:10 Gather
9:10 to 10:15 On Mere Christianity10:15 to 10:30 Break
10:30 to 11:30 On Mere Christianity
Sunday, June 29
10:15 to 10:50 On Till We Have Faces(In the Dean’s Class at the Advent)
The post C.S. Lewis Weekend at the Advent June 27-29 first appeared on Cathedral Church of the Advent.
The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Eucharist for Ascension Day on Thursday, May 29, 6:00 p.m. in the Nave. The Feast of the Ascension is one of the seven major feast days in Anglican tradition. The service will include music of Jonathan Dove, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Felix Mendelssohn. Vice Dean Murray will preach, and Canon Pinter will be the Celebrant.
The service will be livestreamed at AdventBirmingham.org/Live. Come join us in celebration of the Ascension of our Lord, and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
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Join us for 2025 Vacation Bible School, June 2-5 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Advent! We offer two different Vacation Bible Schools: one for current 3K-2nd graders and a separate format for current 3rd through 5th graders.
Click here to sign up or learn more.
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Join us on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Nave for a concert from critically acclaimed New York Polyphony, one of the foremost vocal chamber ensembles active today. Their innovative programming spans Gregorian chant to contemporary commissions, and their focus on familiar and rare works of the 12th-17th centuries has helped bring early music to modern audiences. Founded in 2006, the quartet’s growing discography includes two Grammy-nominated albums, and many of their releases have topped the “best of ” lists of major publications. The quartet tours extensively, performing in some of the world’s finest concert halls and at major festivals at home and abroad.
Tickets are available for purchase here or through the Music Office (205-443-8553).
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Our 2024-2025 Midday Music Series concludes on Friday, April 25 at 12:00 noon, with a free, 30-minute concert in the Nave by James Sullivan, oboe, and Lisa Wienhold, flute. Sullivan and Wienhold have held the position of Principal Oboe and Principal Flute, respectively, in the Alabama Symphony Orchestra since 1997. Their program will includes works by Telemann, Debussy, Honegger, and Britten.
The concert will also live-stream from the AdventBirmingham.org/Live, and from the Advent’s associated digital platforms, for anyone unable to attend, and be made available for later listening at any time. Please do not miss the opportunity to hear two of our gifted local musicians!
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Mark your calendars and plan to join us for a marriage conference with Dr. Jim Coffield, on “The Odd Dance of Intimacy.” Dr. Coffield will be with us on Friday evening, May 9, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturday morning, May 10, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Dinner will be provided Friday night, and light snacks and drinks provided on Saturday. Cost is $15 per person. Register at the link below.
Childcare is available for children ages five and under in the Nursery, as well as for K- 2nd grade in various locations of the church and school. (Note: you do not need to register and pay for your children; if you need childcare, there is space to indicate the names and ages of your children in your registration.)
Dr. Jim Coffield is a licensed psychologist and pastor. He was the Clinical Director of the Counseling Program at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, for 18 years. Jim returned home to Knoxville in 2018 to join the pastoral team at Christ Covenant Church in Farragut. Teaching and counseling have allowed him the privilege to travel and teach in many places all over the world including Rwanda, Ukraine, east Asia, Italy, England, Turkey, and Mexico. Most recently, Jim has been a part of the startup team for Renew Clinic, a Christian intensive outpatient program for individuals struggling with addiction. Jim is married to Mona, and they have 3 children, one precious grandchild, two dogs, and three chickens.
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Please join us at Cranmer House (2814 Linden Avenue, 35209) on Monday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. to hear our Lenten Preacher, Daniel Stulac. A professor of Old Testament at Briercrest College in Saskatchewan, he will be speaking on “Why and How Should Christians Read Old Testament Tragedies?”.
Daniel uniquely combines and embodies excellent scholarship of biblical texts with theological rigor and incisive engagement with literature and art. What’s more, he presents this in a way that is not only understandable to us in the pews but is a deep and real encouragement in the gospel.
He is the author of several books, including The Gift of the Grotesque: A Christological Companion to the Book of Judges. Daniel and his family were members of Dean and Darlene Pinter’s church when they were in Moose Jaw. We hope you can join us and will bring a friend!
The post An Evening with Daniel Stulac | Monday, April 14 first appeared on Cathedral Church of the Advent.
Put me in remembrance; let us argue together. (Isaiah 43:26).
I used to be cool. I guess I still am but I used to be, too. Surprisingly, shockingly, this does not come up a lot with my kids. They recognize me as tumbling out of bed, fumbling with teacher meetings and lunch money, or tossing back Chick-fil-A fries as we have another meal in another car ride to another practice on another day. My kids see me go, go, going, but not often do I stop and let them hang out with Margot – the girl who committed her first felony at age 5, or the woman who dressed up as her identical twin sister for Halloween and wreaked havoc at sister Caroline’s college. So, how can I set the record straight?
Recently, my husband and I decided we were tired of reading the Junie B. Jones series, absolutely through with the Dogman books, and too tired to walk through Harry Potter with our kids at bedtime. Instead, we started laying down in bed and telling stories to them about ourselves when we were their age, you know, when we were really, really cool. The old witching hour has now turned into the bewitching hour. How do we want them to know us better tonight? Patrick and I find ourselves thinking about which story are we going to razzle and dazzle them with. Is it going to be when Patrick pretended to know karate for a kindergarten show and tell, and “performed” for his whole class? Or is it when 6-year-old Caroline and I got into a fist fight outside the Pizza Hut over who got to hold the door open for our parents?
Surprisingly, shockingly, these stories we share and tell our children are deepening our relationships and giving them a bigger picture of who we are even if the present moment tells them differently. The same is true about Scripture. The word of God reminds us not just of who we truly are, but who he truly is. It looks past what we have done as we look to the past to see all that he has done. Scripture is not so much a love letter to us, but a diary of God’s heart bearing ours.
There are days where parts of me feel so unknowable, but I read Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine. There are weeks where all of me feels unreachable and untethered, but I hear when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. There are months when I roll out of bed feeling so woundedly unlovable and useless and yet, and yet, God tells me I gave Egypt as ransom for you, I give men in return for you. These are the daily doses of remembrance that will serve me, you, us, through eternity.
But if I were to stop at the first few verses of Isaiah 43, feel-good and replenishing as they are, I would miss how the Lord is moving me onward in body and posture. While I am still welcome to cling to his chest in the water and fire, he is also asking me, while still in his arms, to turn out and to see, Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The God we follow knows a thing or two about desert wanderings and future wonderings. As I keep pouring over his words, I feel the Lord pouring out new offerings – but, it was not until this past summer that the ending of this chapter finally hit me right between the eyes and square in the chest. I was sitting in my car before a funeral of a young mother. It seemed cruel that the hardware store was still open, that the grocery store still had customers buying food for dinner, and that the drive to the lake was still packed. Didn’t they know what was happening right down the street? And yet, here we all were, walking into a chapel with no space to grieve with places in our hearts we did not know we had. It was cruel, unfair, unjust, and felt ungodly. My weeping in my filthy car was heard before the Lord as the prophet Isaiah had the nerve to tell me about God, Put me in remembrance; let us argue together.
Arguing with your parents is not just for the teenager, it is for you and me with our Heavenly Father. God does not just want our good words, deeds, and clothing, but our weeping, our gnashing of teeth, our ripped clothes and ash-covered faces. He wants the snot-nose tears, screaming out of fears, and those wordless prayers only the Holy Spirit could muster. God can handle your outbursts, your anger, your questions, your concerns, your life. He is a big boy, he has got this. Do you really think God can handle parting the seas, crossing the Jordan, standing in the fire, and being hung on a cross, but cannot stand your weeping and your angrily sad words? Do you really believe that his outstretched hands on the cross won’t hold you if you voice your questions about your faith and his humanity? I’d argue that he can’t hold you unless you do. Remember who God is and come to him, bringing songs of weeping and offerings of questions, and he will give you something better and more beautiful in exchange, himself.
— Margot Cooney
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The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Evensong for Lent on Thursday, March 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nave. Evensong, a sung version of the Evening Prayer service, is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Among the music to be sung will be the Magnificat by Arvo Pärt, and the Nunc Dimittis by Gustav Holst, the Preces and Responses by Thomas Tomkins, and Samuel Barber’s setting of the Agnus Dei, using the music of his famous Adagio for Strings. All are invited to come and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, and find rest in the gospel message.
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On Friday, November 22 at 12:00 noon, our Midday Music Series continues with a 30-minute recital in Clingman Commons by Kathleen Farrar Buccleugh, soprano, accompanied by Chris Steele, piano. Acclaimed for her “light, pure tone” and versatile performances, Buccleugh has performed with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and Opera Birmingham, and as guest soloist with area church choirs, including Canterbury United Methodist Church and Independent Presbyterian Church.
Please note the change of time for this season’s Midday Music concerts, which will begin a half-hour earlier at 12 noon. Please also note that we will be unable to offer a livestream of Midday Music performances that take place in Clingman Commons.
Please do not miss what promises to be a beautiful half hour of music!
Associate Director of Music Charles Kennedy will perform an organ recital on Thursday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Nave, with a special focus on the music of Sirs Charles Villiers Stanford and Edward Bairstow, in observance of the 100th memorial anniversary of Stanford’s death and the 150th anniversary of Bairstow’s birth. In addition, he will perform music of Herbert Howells and Francis Jackson, pupils of Stanford and Bairstow, respectively.
Please join us for this special concert tribute to composers who have written music of great stature for the Anglican choral tradition. Admission is free. Livestream will be available at AdventBirmingham.org/Live.
Dear Women of the Advent,
Frederick Buechner is one of my favorite theologians to read. This “quote of the day” from his website particularly struck me this morning. I don’t know about you, but currently my life is anything but quiet. So if you could use a little quiet, I encourage you: Take a minute – hide in a closet if you must – read these words from Buechner and rest in the promises of God.
AN EMPTY ROOM IS SILENT. A room where people are not speaking or moving is quiet. Silence is a given, quiet a gift. Silence is the absence of sound and quiet the stilling of sound. Silence can’t be anything but silent. Quiet chooses to be silent. It holds its breath to listen. It waits and is still.
“In returning and rest you shall be saved,” says God through the prophet Isaiah, “in quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). They are all parts of each other. We return to our deep strength and to the confidence that lies beneath all our misgiving. The quiet there, the rest, is beyond the reach of the world to disturb. It is how being saved sounds.(Originally published in Whistling in the Dark and later in Beyond Words.)
—Leslie Housman
Dear Parish Family,
As you know, Hurricane Helene devastated areas of Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. The magnitude of destruction in Western North Carolina is especially distressing, and many Adventers have reached out asking how they can help.
This Sunday, October 6, any cash or check offerings in worship services that are not designated for a pledge will go toward disaster relief in Christ’s name. Advent will match whatever is collected in the offering plates this Sunday, effectively doubling any contribution toward this effort. If writing a check, simply put “Disaster Relief” in the memo line.
Below are a few ways to support relief efforts that I commend to the Advent community:
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The Diocese of Alabama is collecting supplies and funds to distribute to the work in Western North Carolina. People can give financially HERE and choose “disaster relief” from the drop-down menu to designate the gift. Supplies will be collected at Carpenter House (diocesan office next to Advent, 521 20th St. N, 35203) or at All Saints Church (110 W. Hawthorne Rd, 35209). Volunteers may contact the diocesan disaster relief coordinator, Bob Whelan. Needed supplies include:
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Non-perishable food (ready-to-eat canned food, peanut butter, etc.)
- Diapers in various sizes
- Baby wipes
- Cleaning supplies (Bleach, Lysol, etc.)
- Soap
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Wool blankets
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Mary Noble Braden, the daughter of an Adventer, lives and works in Black Mountain, NC. She is running a tool drive here in Birmingham to assist in getting access to driveways for the numerous people in her community who will be without water and sewer for months. Since access to tools is difficult, she has created a Give Spend Go in partnership with Little Hardware in English Village to provide the tools that can help in removing fallen trees and mud.
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Samaritan’s Purse and Salvation Army are trustworthy Christian organizations who are well versed and equipped for appropriate disaster response as well.
We serve a God who draws near in times of disaster or darkness. Thankfully, his grace and mercy are at work in and through his people. Psalm 86:7 says, “In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.” May the Lord make his invisible kingdom more visible among us and among those suffering Helene’s effects.
Yours in Christ,
Adam
Throughout the month of August, our Sunday lectionary kept us in that part of John’s Gospel known as Jesus’ bread of life discourse. So much transpires in John chapter six, beginning with the feeding of the five thousand, followed by the people connecting that miracle to the manna given through Moses in the wilderness, and then Jesus explaining that he is the true bread which offers eternal life, etc.
In a recent sermon, I pointed out that the bread which provides eternal life is that which nourishes us with the forgiveness of sins. So many people, because of things done and/or left undone, live lives that are burdened by remorse and/or regret. And if this isn’t currently the case for you, I’d be willing to bet that it is for someone you love.
In his short story, The Capital of the World, Ernest Hemingway tells the story of a Spanish father and his teenage son. The relationship between this father and son had become so strained that it had eventually collapsed. When the rebellious son – whose name was Paco, a common Spanish name – ran away from home, his father began a long and arduous search to find him.
As a last resort, the exhausted father placed an ad in a Madrid newspaper, hoping that his son might see the ad and respond to it. The ad simply read, “Dear Paco, please meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven. Love, Papa.” As Hemingway tells the story, the next day at noon, in front of the newspaper office, there were 800 Pacos, all seeking forgiveness from their fathers.
Jesus’ desire is for us to experience abundant life (John 10:10), and forgiveness of sin is the key which unlocks that door. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – Tom
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
– John 3:17
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
– Isaiah 26:3-4
At Advent House, intercessors pray on behalf of men and women who come requesting prayer for the difficulties in their lives or simply seeking a word of encouragement. As we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, we are trusting in his grace and in his power to save, redeem, restore, heal, guide, and protect us.
If you would like more information about this prayer ministry or would like to schedule a prayer appointment at Advent House, please contact Kathy Logue (205-410-4622, Kathy@CathedralAdvent.com).
Advent House is located at 2317 Arlington Avenue South, 35205.
There are some extraordinary healings recorded in the fifth chapter of Mark’s Gospel – the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and the healing of the woman who had been hemorrhaging for many years. And because of the really dramatic and remarkable things taking place, it can be possible for us to overlook another miracle that is happening simultaneously. The miracle we often miss is this: in the midst of utter brokenness and despair, a very religious man named Jairus finds authentic dialogue with Almighty God.
Many of us have reached a similar point of brokenness and despair – careers getting uprooted suddenly; children experiencing heartache and despair; loved ones dying unexpectedly. And typically when we get to such a point of brokenness and despair, we respond spiritually in one of two ways: we either run away from God, or we run toward God. The miracle going on within the heart of Jairus is that, when he gets to this place of utter brokenness and despair, he experiences authentic dialogue with Jesus – he runs toward God.
Tragically, it often takes a life circumstance like Jairus’ for people to be humbled enough to understand this important truth. Jairus was simply, authentically, aware of his need. Someone getting ready to go in for major surgery can be similarly aware of their need. Those who have wayward children, or have recently lost loved ones and are dealing with that range of emotions, are aware of their need.
The paradox to be mentioned here is that we are often closest to God when we feel furthest from God. Isn’t that the message of the familiar story Footprints in the Sand? “It was when you needed me most that I carried you.” Surely that has been my experience as a Christian. I have always tended to gravitate more toward a healthy relationship with God, where I’m aware of my dependence upon him for everything, during times when I’m sincerely aware of my need.
An important but often overlooked miracle in Mark chapter 5 is that it is in our brokenness and despair that we often find authentic dialogue with Almighty God.
– Tom
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. And those who are crushed in spirit, he saves. –Psalm 34:18
Joining a small group has given us a new family of friends, and the relationships we’ve built have led to lifelong friendships. Sharing our journey with like-minded believers, whether in celebration or in prayer, has created a true sense of family. Our spiritual growth and deepening faith through weekly scripture study have had a positive impact on our marriage and individual beliefs. By being committed to growing in Christ, we hope to inspire our children on their own spiritual journey. Our small group is a cherished highlight of our week, and we never want to miss it!
— Randi and Troy Rhone
I wish it were not so, but when I hear the word “pilgrim” my first thought is not one of a person on “pilgrimage” – a time of spiritual discovery, deepening faith, and holy intention. Rather, and regrettably, when I hear “pilgrim” I picture John Wayne tipping back his hat, hand on hip, and saying “well, pilgrim” – or something like that. Pathetic, I know.
So, it was with some restraint that I did not try out my John Wayne “howdy pilgrim” when Craig asked me for the first time in January to speak in The Dean’s Class: Pilgrims on a Journey.
The fact of the matter is, whether we have just moved to a new home or have lived in a place for decades, all of us are “pilgrims on a journey” with Jesus. One of the favorite biblical metaphors to describe the life of faith is as a “walk.” This isn’t surprising. Until recently, the most common mode of transport throughout history was walking. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all “walked” with God; the Israelites walked in the wilderness and were commanded to “walk” according to the law; the disciples walked with Jesus; and Paul was fond of reminding believers to “walk” in the Spirit.
Pilgrims walk with God and, apparently, God takes pleasure in walking with us. As such, we walk with our “three-mile-an-hour God.” There are a number of implications for this. To begin with, God is not in a rush. I’m often impatient with God, but God is never impatient with me. In fact, God seems to delight in generous world-making action that is slow. In his earthly pilgrimage, Jesus was never in a rush; in fact, the more important his task – like his journey to the Cross – the more he slowed his pace, but not his direction.
Further, there are no experts in the company of Jesus. All of us are pilgrims on a journey, but all of us are beginners, and necessarily followers, because none of us know the way. Thankfully, we follow Jesus. He knows the way. He is the Way, and he is already present wherever it is we need to be.
– Dean
Blessed are those whose strength is in [the Lord], whose hearts are set on pilgrimage, who going through the Valley of Weeping use it for a well. – Psalm 84:5-6a
Having been a lifelong member of another denomination, I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church at the Advent soon after Bob and I married in 2007. I quickly became involved in many women’s ministries, Bible studies, and groups, including co-chairing Lenten Lunches in 2014.
When Bob retired several years ago, we found that we had the chance to do studies as a couple, and we joined our current Small Group in the fall of 2023. The experience has been one of unparalleled joy. We have come to really know folks we previously only knew casually in church, and through them, we have seen the depth of our relationship with our Savior grow immeasurably. In the sometimes-chaotic world in which we try to survive, it is profoundly invigorating to be able to “unplug” mid-week to study the Word of God, to learn and socialize with fellow parishioners, immersed in the Gospel and sharing in the richness of His presence.
The experience has been transformative, and we would encourage any of our brothers and sisters in Christ to take advantage of one of the truly profound “heartbeats” of our church.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.– 1 Thessalonians 5:11
The lessons of Sunday, June 23, speak of storms, whirlwinds, maelstroms, and we’re trying to have a nice summer. Storms, internal and external, have a way of ruining or at least interrupting our plans. Silly, but I remember one of our first family vacations after Jack was born. My parents got a great place on Wild Dunes, toward the end of the Isle of Palms, and it was going to be an amazing time, the family together. The problem was we had a baby. His surroundings were off, so his schedule was off, so we were off. I remember being not only disappointed but, if honest, internally angry. How selfish, yes, ungrateful certainly, but there it is. It was not only different from what I wanted and hoped for, it was different from what I was certain I needed, rest. Psalm 127:3 speaks of a child being a gift from the Lord, amen, but…
The Bible promises rest; Jesus invites us to find it in him (Matthew 11:28). As you’re aware, the Biblical rest promised is more than a pleasant vacation or a time of relaxation. It is something lasting: security, belonging, assurance, activity, purpose, God’s strength, his protection.
Where we often find this, in the beginning, is in the place of its absence. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4 and 5, it is when we feel pressed, persecuted, struck down, weak, wasting away, that we find God doing the work of inward renewal. Where we recognize our need and call to God is often in the midst of danger and discomfort. The cycle of death and resurrection is knit into the fabric of life, and I know this, thank God for this, and fight it simultaneously.
Job 38:1 shares of God responding to Job: “The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind.” When Jesus is with his disciples in the boat, not only do they cry out for him to save them, they ask him if he cares. He does. Honestly, it is often in the storm that God speaks to us, and he speaks a word of life.
– Craig
Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” – Job 42:1-2
The refrain I hear the most coming from my own lips and the lips of others these days is “I’m tired.” I dare you to count how many times you utter these words over the next week. Undoubtedly we live in a restless age. Of course this is partly due to our being overextended. We pack our schedules to the brim. The surrounding culture pretty well demands it. That is what we are expected to do. The worst part of it all is consistently hearing children and youth say that they are tired. May was a cruel month to students and families. Too much to do. Can I get an amen?
Yes, cultural expectations are making us tired. But on the other hand, we ourselves are making ourselves tired. We do not know how to stop. We are the problem. It is easy to blame the system, but we do it to ourselves: “Nobody’s fault but mine” (Blind Willie Johnson, 1927, and later Led Zeppelin, 1976). We know we need rest, real rest, but we keep chasing the high of feeling important, being busy, and avoiding the anxiety of simply existing. Despite these consequences, we choose being tired instead. Are you “tired of being tired” (Hawthorne Heights, 2021)?
There is a reason that God commanded rest in the Ten Commandments: he knew that without commanding it, we would never do it! We would rather chase the idols of productivity and self-justification. Remember the reason God gives for the Sabbath: on the first six days God created the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested (Exodus 20:11). God rested. God was not doing, but rather he was simply being. But commanding “Rest!” does not bring about rest. That is why Jesus has become our rest. When he declared “It is finished” on the Cross, he won rest for us. The work is done, and in Christ we can simply be. In him we can live into the words of Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”
– Jay
“Be still and know that I am God.” -Psalm 46:10
The school year winds down to a close, and students and teachers alike tremble with anticipation of the impending summer. Freedom! A break from the long walk through the academic calendar and a well-deserved change of pace. The church largely follows suit as the normal routines of the school calendar give way to possibility and openness. Everyone (hopefully) gets to breathe a little bit as the days grow longer and the scheduled obligations diminish (even if a little bit).On May 19 we celebrated Pentecost. Pentecost recalls and recounts the Holy Spirit’s empowering the Church to witness to the Good News that a new season of God’s grace has emerged. The routine of being trapped in sin and death is amazingly interrupted by the sunlight of redemption brought in the awesome life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is making all things new and invites us to bask in the forgiveness and hope he has secured.A team from the Advent is traveling down to Cochabamba, Bolivia, on May 24 to visit the Amistad Mission. I, along with 11 others, will get to share a week in Jesus’ name with children and their adult caretakers at Amistad so that “your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations” (Psalm 67:2). Please pray that Advent’s partnership with Amistad and other ministries, local and international, would continue to deepen and grow. Also pray that, as a community, the Advent would share God’s heart for bringing the reconciling message of the gospel to people near and far by the power of the Holy Spirit. In an important way, you and I share in the Pentecost mission not only by going on specific mission trips, but by living in proximity with sinners and sufferers in our own spheres – at home, work, school, and in the community. What a joy that you and I are in on the Divine Conspiracy to see our Father’s will done on earth as it is in heaven!– AdamLet the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! – Psalm 67:3
This summer, Cameron Cole will teach an 8-week Bible Boot Camp course. This course goes through the entire narrative of scripture and will touch on every book of the Bible to show how it fits into that greater story. If you feel intimidated by certain parts of scripture or don’t feel confident in your ability to navigate the Bible, this course will help you feel more familiar and comfortable with every corner of God’s word.
Starting June 10, Bible Boot Camp will meet every Monday at Cranmer House from 11:00 a.m. to noon, through July 31. People of all ages — teenagers to ageless Adventers — are invited. Sign up through your Realm account or at the link below.
REGISTER HERE
We recently moved one of our daughters back to Florida, where she’ll be enrolled in graduate school over the next couple of years. Perrin and I actually enjoyed the fact that we spent our 30th anniversary helping with this move, getting Evelyn all settled into her new home in Tallahassee.
In the midst of that, I was mindful of what a blessing and treasure it is that we remain so close to our children. It’s what every parent ultimately desires, for their children to welcome the loving support and guidance from mom and dad as they continue to age forward into adulthood.
Evelyn’s trust and receptivity to our guidance is a gift, and it brings to mind the familiar and beloved imagery of Jesus as our Good Shepherd. It’s comforting imagery because we know good shepherds are careful to guide their sheep, keep them safe, and provide for their every need. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,…” meaning that, because of the relationship we have with God, we are well cared for and have all of our needs met, and are therefore safe, content, and fulfilled. And isn’t that what every human heart longs for – safety, contentment, and fulfillment?
We are sheep in the care of our Good Shepherd, and our first calling is to live as sheep who know and follow his voice. “The sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” When we do this, not only are we nurtured, protected, and guided by the One who made us and loves us, but we are then also better able to help shepherd others toward Christ.
So this is a reminder and encouragement for each of us, as we approach these summer weeks, to stay connected to the word and voice of our Good Shepherd. For as Jesus said in our Gospel lesson a few weeks ago, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
– Tom
“The sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” – John 10:4b
In my former parish, many of the children looked forward enthusiastically to the celebration of the Ascension. On Ascension Thursday, the 40th day after Easter Sunday, we imposed glitter on their foreheads – and on everyone else who attended the service. The idea for this liturgical practice came to me from Durham Cathedral in England where they did the same thing at their chorister school service. On Ascension Thursday, we would impose glitter (mixed with a glycerine gel), with the words: “Remember that you are raised with Christ, and you are destined for glory.”
I think this is a great idea with good liturgical and theological sense. Liturgically, Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter) is the counterpoint to Ash Wednesday (40 days prior to Easter) when ashes are imposed with the words “remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Theologically, Jesus’ ascension is the counterpoint to Jesus’ advent, God coming to us in the flesh. In his advent, as the second-century theologian Irenaeus puts it, the Son of God “did not reject human nature or exalt himself above it,” but united himself with our nature in order to unite us to God, establishing the full relationship between God and humanity for which the cosmos was created. When the New Testament writers speak of Jesus’ ascension, they are not describing how Jesus abandoned humanity, but how Jesus, still fully human and fully God, is sovereign throughout creation. Because of our union with Christ, we also share in his ascension and our lives are forever located in him. This is what Paul’s repeated use of “in Christ” means.
Contemporary theologian, Sam Wells, spells out the implication this way: “Jesus isn’t a parcel delivery van, sent to drop off a gift called salvation then skedaddle back to heaven. Jesus is God completely invested in relationship with us, without reserve…. at Ascension, because Christ is fully human, we see that he represents and embodies every single one of us…. We could even say Ascension is more important than [his advent], because God being with us isn’t much good if God sinks into the human predicament and never gets out. But at Ascension, we discover that God takes us up into forever, and that changes everything – and I mean, everything.” Now that is something worth celebrating – maybe even with a little glitter.
– Dean
Last summer, we upgraded our database to Realm, a web-based church management platform that allows you access the online directory, update your contact information, register for events, and much more.
Now, we need your help! Please create an account (step-by-step instructions are available in the FAQ), if you have not already, and verify that your contact information is accurate. Also, take a moment to ADD A PHOTO to your record. This will help our clergy tremendously, and your fellow parishioners, as they learn names and faces.
Helpful links available below. If you have further questions, please contact Margaret Pope (205-226-3510 or Margaret@CathedralAdvent.com)
Join us this Thursday, May 9, right after the Choral Eucharist, as Fred Teardo, our Director of Music and Organist, presents The Ascension. This four-movement suite, composed by the 20th-century French artist Olivier Messiaen, will be performed. Originally crafted for orchestra in 1933, Messiaen later adapted it for the organ, introducing new music in lieu of the third movement to better suit the instrument. Each movement bears evocative titles depicting the Ascension, vividly depicted through the music’s power.
Experience the celebration of our Lord’s Ascension and worship in the splendid sanctity of this occasion.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8, NIV)
I have seen this verse in kitchens and on coffee mugs for as long as I can remember. Over the last few months, specifically starting with Lent, I have asked the Lord to bring this verse into my daily life and make it new to me every day.
Right after my 20th birthday and at the start of my sophomore year of college, I was diagnosed with three autoimmune disorders. Though none of them are life-threatening (praise God!), they are life-altering. For the last four and a half years, I have allowed my mind to be consumed with thoughts about what I was eating and how it was affecting my health. Over the last several months, the Lord revealed how much this mindset was consuming me.
While listening to a podcast by Jess Connolly, I was instantly convicted of my thoughts about what food I was eating and how I viewed my body. Jess’s proclamation that God calls both food and our bodies GOOD, because he is GOOD, left me humbly coming to his feet with my struggle to believe in this goodness. Up to that point, I viewed all food as either “safe” or as contributing to my demise, and viewed my body as something I was trying to control through nutrition and exercise. Though healthy living is a great aspiration, I saw what an extreme position of control I was assuming — never calling myself or my food good, even though the King of the Universe continues to do so.
This Lent, I asked the Lord to reveal his promise in this simple verse: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”These words remind us that we do not have any control but are recipients of the Lord’s goodness. Praise God! He wants to bless us! Even more so, he wants to provide for us in the most uncomfortable and vulnerable areas of our lives. How do we respond to this promise? The second part of the verse answers that for us — we are supposed to take “refuge” in him. Hear that relinquishment of control? We’re supposed to submit to him. What is the reward for this submission? Blessings!
Restructuring our thoughts requires a daily surrender to God. As I am learning to claim my body and food as GOOD, I am so grateful for his kindness in growing me to trust him again in this way. I’m finally open to receive his blessings — what freedom!
The Message Bible translates Psalm 34:8 to say: “Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see — how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.”
I want to challenge you to be OPEN to thinking about the things in your life that God has called GOOD but that you feel the need to either 1) make them “good” by your own doing, or 2) refuse to believe that God would ever call something like “that” good. I pray that, once you do allow his goodness to restructure your thoughts, you will take refuge in him and experience his blessing.
— Caroline Daw
“I’ll tip my hat to the new Constitution, Take a bow for the new revolution, Smile and grin at the change all around, Pick up my guitar and play, Just like yesterday, Then I’ll get on my knees and pray, We won’t get fooled again.”Suffice to say, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, and The Who can emote. In this short refrain there is much of human longing – an edge, a wariness, all belying a longing for a new order, for hope, for love. Paul Simon would sing “It’s every generation throws a hero up the pop charts.” There is a fundamental longing for one upon whom to place our hopes, and a wariness in the hope.
Jesus’ followers, then and now, shared these longings and concerns too. John 13 has always been resonant to me; I’ve recently revisited it, and these emotions and fundamental longings are expressed there not only in words, but in shocking image too.
They are in the upper room, and Jesus declares that his “hour” has arrived. It previously was not time, but now is the Passover, now is the time. What is his hour? His betrayal, suffering, death; in short, the cross. What will momentarily bewilder and scatter his friends will ultimately be the means of the new order.“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). The greatest among them, the greatest in any time and moment, shockingly descends, becomes less, and in so doing becomes more. Jesus not only becomes more in exemplary, sacrificial service, but our lives become more too, because we are loved by the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In his serving, saving love comes down. That which we fear to long for is given.
Though flummoxed, his followers aren’t fooled, and neither are we. When we are loved and washed, not simply our feet but our souls and and lives by his blood, in the things we’ve done and left undone, the new order enters into our lives. Not a hero up the pop charts, but a savior lifted up.
Thanks be to God,– Craig“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34
A somewhat tired criticism of Christianity is that Christians are no fun. Sadly, this often proves to be true. And it is sometimes true especially of recent converts, who rightly want to repent and live a godly life; however, they occasionally throw out the baby with the bathwater. This was true of me when I became a Christian as a teenager. After converting, I impulsively threw out all of my old CDs, somehow believing that God required that I listen only to contemporary Christian music. That was an outward sign of an inward reality of my becoming self-righteous. I bet for a season that I was no fun to others around me.
I reflect on this now and chuckle just a little bit. While I believe my intentions were initially pure, they quickly warped into a way to justify myself to God and to my Christian friends. As it turned out, my non-Christian friends really did not care. Christians can sometimes have a funny way of cutting themselves off from the outside world. But it need not be this way.
Jesus did not cut himself off from the world. In fact, the beauty of the gospel is that he drew near to this sinful and broken world to save it. He sat at table with sinners. He was (wrongly) accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. Though to be accused of such things, he must have truly been the life of the party.
Now of course I am not advocating for a life of debauchery. But I hope we can all be reminded that Christ died and rose for us, that we would have life and have it abundantly. This joyful, Christian life is a gift bought by Christ’s most precious blood. And Christian joy is perhaps our greatest witness to the world. The world around us is despairing without Christ’s joy. By God’s grace, we live in joy as a response to his mighty deeds performed for us. True, Christian joy is life-giving and infectious. May the world around us catch it.
– Jay
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” – John 15:11
The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Eucharist for Ascension Day on Thursday, May 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the Nave. The Feast of the Ascension is one of the seven major feast days in Anglican tradition. The service will include music of Herbert Howells, Gerald Finzi, and Charles Villiers Stanford. Canon Pinter will be the preacher and Celebrant. At the conclusion of the service, Director of Music and Organist Fred Teardo will perform The Ascension, a four-movement suite by 20th century French composer Olivier Messiaen. The work was originally conceived for orchestra and completed in 1933. A later Messiaen arranged to suite for organ, replacing the third movement with new music more idiomatic to the organ. The evocative titles of each movement are descriptive images of the Ascension, powerfully painted by the music.
Come join us in celebration of the Ascension of our Lord, and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
The service will also be live-streamed from our website at https://adventbirmingham.org/live/.
Last month my family was able to purchase and move into a home here in Birmingham. It was a sweet answer to months of seeking and prayer for which we are deeply grateful. Instead of merely living in Birmingham, we became stable residents, not temporary visitors. Beyond providing relief to the temporary conditions of a furnished apartment, the move shifted our sense of place. Our furniture and belongings finally arrived from Florida, and we have a permanent address. Whew!
My family is starting to feel the normalcy of living in Birmingham among “Birminghamians” (or is it “Birminghamsters”?). It’s satisfying to have a place to call home and to sense the rest that comes from putting a stake in the ground and saying “I am home.” There’s something especially comforting about “arriving.” The solid security in your particular time and place, be it a move, travel, career, or membership – it signifies belonging and stability.
While all of us desire the safety and security of permanence, we are simultaneously aware of a deep longing for an eternal dwelling. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” The promise from God is that our present condition, as permanent as it seems, is actually temporal. And there is an eternal and lasting place that will one day be ours by faith. God’s people were constantly on the move under Moses’ leadership before entering into the Land of Promise on the other side of the Jordan. So too do we as Christ’s own people have a permanent dwelling place in the full and complete glory of God at the last day. Our ultimate hope is not in the changing and vulnerable habitations of this present temporal life, but in the lasting security of God’s future promise in the gospel of Christ. As Paul puts it in Philippians 3:20,”Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.”
– Adam
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
– 2 Corinthians 5:1
Our 2023-2024 Midday Music Series concludes on Friday, April 26 at 12:30 p.m., with a free, 30-minute recital in the Nave by organist Abraham Wallace, organ scholar at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Nashville under the auspices of the Association of Anglican Musicians’ Gerre Hancock Organ Internship. He is currently a doctoral student at the University of Michigan studying Organ Performance and Sacred Music, and holds degrees from Yale University and the University of Oklahoma. His program will include works by Felix Mendelssohn, J.S. Bach, and Gustav Holst.
The concert will also live-stream from the AdventBirmingham.org/Live, and from the Advent’s associated digital platforms, for anyone unable to attend, and be made available for later listening at any time. Please do not miss the opportunity to this talented young organist!
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. This is the transforming message of the gospel. And rather than being a recipe for lawlessness, it is instead a formula for greater submission and obedience to God’s moral law.
To illustrate, Donald Grey Barnhouse tells the story of a pastoral situation he encountered in his ministry. A man was interested in pursuing marriage with the young lady he was dating, but was holding back because of guilt and shame surrounding some sins from his youth; he was concerned about falling back into his old ways, and hurting his beloved.
Barnhouse writes, “So I told this young man that I had dealt with another young man who had also lived a life of sin prior to his conversion, but had then married a Christian woman to whom he later confided (briefly) some things about his past. And he said that, after he did this, she kissed him and said, ‘Bob, I want you to understand something very plainly. I know my Bible well, and I know something of the workings of Satan. And although I know you are a thoroughly converted man, I also know that you have an old nature to which Satan will appeal.
‘The day may come – I pray it never will – but it may, when you shall succumb to temptation and fall into sin. Immediately the devil will tell you that you have ruined everything, that you might as well continue in sin, and that above all you shouldn’t tell me because it will hurt me. But I want you to know that this is your home, Bob, and this is where you belong. And I want you to understand that there is full pardon and forgiveness in advance for any evil that may come into your life.’”
As Dr. Barnhouse told this story, the young man sat with his head lowered into his hands. When he had reached the end, the young man lifted his head and reverently said, “My God, if anything could ever keep a man on the straight and narrow, that would be it.”
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. None.
– Tom
I usually carry a pocket watch. Unfortunately, my old pocket watch needs repairing, so recently I often find myself asking others: What time is it? I know that mobile phones are also helpful for this, but it is only in the last month or so that I have had my own mobile phone, so I’m still getting used to that.
While knowing the correct chronological time is helpful, followers of Jesus are encouraged to know more about time than just precise chronology. Jesus often spoke of “time” and told his disciples to be alert to and aware of the appointed time – that is, to be aware of the implications and significance of the time and season we are in.
One of the ways the Church tradition helps us know the time is by following a calendar with appointed seasons (e.g., Epiphany, Lent, Easter, etc.) and days (e.g., Ascension Thursday, Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday) that remind us not only of the chronological time, but of the significance of the time for the gospel Story.
Most Adventers know this intuitively because they were raised in a tradition that pays attention to the Church Year. As a latecomer to the Anglican tradition, I’m still learning to set my internal clock to this kind of time. As I’ve learned more about the Church Year, it has been important not only for my own spiritual formation, but also as I’ve taught others about the significance of our Story.
There are numerous resources available to help us know what time it is. Here are two resources I recommend. For families with younger children, Martha Zimmerman’s book, Celebrating the Christian Year (Bethany, 1993) is very helpful. More recently, Steve Bell wrote an excellent seven-part series of short books titled Pilgrim Year (Novalis, 2018) – with wonderful music to accompany the reflections, too.
As we walk through this climactic Easter season in the Church Year, be mindful of the time, and help me remember it too – especially until my pocket watch is fixed!
– Dean
The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
– John 12:23
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
How often do I deny myself? This question woke me up in the middle of the night a few weeks ago. It was this question that fueled my desire to give something up for Lent this year. I should probably explain here that for years I have had a broken relationship with the whole Lenten discipline thing. It started in school when we were required to share with the class what we were giving up for Lent. This resulted in six weeks of policing and being policed by one another. I didn’t really understand the point of any of it, but somehow this didn’t seem right.
Later on, I thought that adding a discipline sounded like a better option – read a devotional or book in addition to my daily Bible reading, attend an additional church service. But it didn’t take long before I was either grudgingly dragging myself through whatever new practice I’d chosen or I’d skipped a day (or 12) and just felt bad about myself. This didn’t seem right either. Maybe I was just not right. Not being able to square what I had come to understand about God’s grace and the legalistic way I had experienced Lenten disciplines, I decided I was better off leaving them to folks who knew what they were doing.
And then, one day recently, in the wee hours of the morning, I was awakened by this question, “How often do I deny myself?” After so many years, this question was the catalyst for me to revisit the idea of giving something up for Lent. But what? And why? After a few days in prayer, I knew clearly what I would give up. I felt a real peace about my decision and a freedom I’d never felt in other attempts – until I tried to explain it to my husband and found it hard to articulate the whys and wherefores to someone else. My husband couldn’t understand why this had suddenly become important to me.
*“You know your standing with the Lord is secure, right? And there is nothing you can do to make God love you more or less?”
“Yes, yes, of course I know all of that and that’s not what this is about. See, there was this question …”*
It was very hard to explain, but somehow it made sense in my head and especially in my heart.
It seemed plain as day to me and to God. And that’s probably the point. Still, I felt called to articulate this experience so I took it up with God in my journal. Here is what I wrote:
*How often do I deny myself? If I’m honest, not often. For my children, I guess I have, particularly when they were small – their priorities and needs over mine. Although, I was able to make it all happen a good bit of the time. Or at least I used a lot of energy, creativity, and scheduling skill to make it all happen – to avoid denying myself – to do what I needed to do to be a good mother (and sometimes, a good wife) while not giving up too much tennis or too many work or volunteer opportunities or time with friends or Bible study.
Could I deny myself? Was I willing to deny myself something that really mattered? And what was it that would matter?
If I denied myself tennis, well that’s only a day or two a week for me nowadays and mostly I don’t even want to go. Television? I would just read. Sweets? I’d only lose weight and congratulate myself for it.*
*Then it came to me. While it might sound ridiculous, I gave up using my colored felt tip pens. Turns out those probably matter way more than I realized. I look forward every morning to choosing the color for my journaling. And then the two colors I’ll use for my calendar throughout the day. What colors will I choose to take study notes – alternating between each different resource? Which shall I use to write a birthday card, a sympathy note, or just to let someone know she was on my mind? In my planner, birthdays are red, vacations are pink, office closings black, church-wide gatherings purple, and women’s events are green.
But for six weeks, these 40 days, everything is ballpoint black or blue. Everything looks the same. These black and blue pens aren’t special. I spend exactly zero time selecting a color. I can find one anywhere. Losing one is no big deal. Neither is loaning one out – there are hundreds in the supply cabinet. The box of them costs less than my pack of 18 colored pens. I hold these pens very loosely. They occupy none of my thoughts and guide me not at all. They leave a small opening in my heart and mind for God to fill a little more.*
Processing all of this in my journal helped me understand the “why” of this exercise. It’s been a great Lent. I haven’t felt burdened in the least. I haven’t been called upon or even felt the desire to report to anyone else. No one has even noticed the absence of my colored pens (which is funny, because when I was using them, people commented almost every day!) so it has truly been a personal journey with the Lord – an opportunity to trust and obey him when I didn’t really understand why or what he was asking me to do, an invitation to deny myself in a way that enabled me to experience the discipline not as how good I was at following through, but as how God would use the experience for my good and to his glory.
Henri Nouwen writes, “The practice of a spiritual discipline makes us more sensitive to the small, gentle voice of God. The prophet Elijah did not encounter God in the mighty wind or in the earthquake or in the fire, but in the small voice (1 Kings 19:9-13). Through the practice of a spiritual discipline, we become attentive to that small voice and willing to respond when we hear it…. A spiritual life requires discipline because we need to learn to listen to God, who constantly speaks but whom we seldom hear…. A spiritual discipline is necessary to move slowly … from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen to our God and follow his guidance…. Through a spiritual discipline we prevent the world from filling our lives to such an extent that there is no place left to listen” (Show Me the Way, pp. 94-95).
— Leslie Housman
Registration is Open for VBS 2024. Register here.
Children currently in 3K-5th grade are invited to Breaker Rock Beach Vacation Bible School, set for Monday-Thursday, June 3-6, 9:00 a.m.-noon at the Advent. Cost is $16 per participant, and scholarships are available. Visit AdventBirmingham.org/VBS or contact Tara Davis for more information.
The immovable stones of our lives are found in different shapes and sizes. Some, though frustrating, are able to be stepped around; others are looming, imposing, seemingly impossible.
I’ve shared a moment in my own life when a large stone loomed in front of me. At the end of my time at The Citadel, my friend and I came up with an idea that we thought was funny. It was, but institutions and individuals differ on humor. Succinctly, we were caught, and hit with the maximum punishment, 60 demerits, 120 tours. The larger, looming stone was this meant that we would not graduate on time. A week from the finish line and we were doomed.
College problems are significant, but more come along the way: health diagnoses, trying to hold and perhaps not holding a marriage together, longing for a marriage that does not seem to be happening; concerns for children or loved ones, addictions, intractable relationships and systems, loss of work or work that numbs; places in our lives where we feel hopeless, stuck, dead.
My college moment had a shocking intervention. Before I paid my debt, the incoming president, General Watts, granted amnesty – the immovable was moved. It was his good pleasure to do it. That is a gospel snapshot.
The Bible speaks honestly to the ways things are, acknowledging meaningfully even life’s darkest corners. It also speaks to the larger truth – the goodness of God, his suffering for and saving us, that the cross and the empty tomb are God’s good pleasure to move what we cannot move. The stone is moved, the tomb is empty, that we might see who God is for us.
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome make their way to the tomb, and their concern is, “Who will roll the stone away… But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away” (Mark 16:4). God rolls the stone away for them, for us, that we might know that he moves stones, raises the dead, gives life, loves.
He is risen,
Craig
Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen; he is not here. – Mark 16:6a
On a gorgeous, sunny afternoon this Lent, I was afforded about 20 minutes to sit in the Rector’s Garden here at the church. I rarely take time like this just to sit. A dear friend here at the church encouraged me to go enjoy God’s creation. I did. The weather was perfect: not cold and not hot, just right. Goldilocks would have loved it. The breeze was gentle, and the newly budding plants danced a bit for me as the sunlight crept through the branches of the trees. I’m grateful for moments like these.
But inevitably what captured my attention in the garden were the names etched in stone of many loved ones who have gone before us to meet the Lord. Many of these names I have known over the years, and many I have not. What struck me though was the beauty of the garden, with spring and fresh life just around the corner, juxtaposed with the names of our faithful departed. There are signs of life and signs of death in the same space.
And this is true of all of our life and existence. We are surrounded by life and death all at the same time. Simone de Beauvoir stated that “From the hour you are born you begin to die” – a sobering thought indeed. And if this life is all there is, then this is a pitiful and sad existence. All would be vain. If the Resurrection of Christ is not true, then “we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead”(1 Corinthians 15:19-20). This Holy Week we remember and celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. This gives us confidence and assurance that this life is not in vain. This life is precious in the sight of the Lord, and death has not the final word. Forgiveness, life, love, and everlasting peace are the budding fruits of Christ’s labor. May they blossom in our midst.
– Jay
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. – 1 Corinthians 15:19-20
Adventers and guests will gather on Friday, September 15 to mark the 60th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. All are invited to join Adam Young in Clingman Commons at 7:00 a.m. for coffee and a time of prayer. We will then walk together to 16th Street Baptist for the 9:30 a.m. anniversary ... Read more
I have a love-hate relationship with summer. At the end of the school year, when we’re exhausted from early mornings, practices, and weekend games, I cannot wait for the unstructured, slow days of summer. It doesn’t take long, however, to wish for eight-hour school days and a shadow of a schedule. My kids are still young, so in the summer we spend a tremendous amount of time with each other. When we’re not in the pool to escape the heat, my kids are in the house: creating forts and building castles, leaving a wake of destruction—and usually someone crying—behind them. Nothing is off-limits and, as a recovering perfectionist, the overwhelming mess daily pushes me to my limit.
One particular day this summer, I had had enough. Between the mess, the arguing, and the sun-drenched exhaustion, I was at my wit’s end. I threw up my hands and prayed, “Lord, would you please take over this home? I don’t want to be the boss of this mess anymore. I’m surrendering it all to you. I can’t do it anymore.” I realize it sounds a bit melodramatic and comical, but in the moment it felt like a plea from the pit. Having my kids constantly underfoot while sifting through the daily grind was not the heaven on earth I had been seeking. I wanted my reality to be a bit more perfect. I wanted God to fix it.
Summer went on, and I forgot about my prayer. We spent some awesome days in the sun and some hard, exhausting days together. Not more than a few weeks after my first desperate plea for help, I had another hard day and cried out: “Lord, please! I give it all to you if you’ll do something with this mess!” Ha! In response, I heard that still, small voice say to me, “Do you really want me to be in control? You will have to surrender your own sense of control and submit to mine.” Oh wow. I looked down at my clenched fists and slowly unfurled each finger. With open hands, I lifted them up to God and somberly remembered that I had never been in control from the beginning. Keeping my palms empty and pointed upward, I walked through the next few minutes with help from the Holy Spirit, breathing in and out his grace and sufficiency for the moment, and drawing closer to him as I bowed my will to his.
I suffer from what I’ve heard called “déjà-vu amnesia,” or “I think I’ve forgotten this before.” What a phrase for someone like me who repeatedly finds herself saying the same prayer, with the same urgency. My view of who is in control is upside down, and I have to right the ship daily to keep my focus on what is true. One of my favorite songs, “This Is My Father’s World,” is a beautiful reminder that even if I forget in the moment who the One True God is, the rocks, trees, skies, and seas constantly sing his praise. I forget in the daily mess and schedule to seek after the One who created all things and rules all things. My desperate prayers for help are becoming a reminder to exhale my own striving and turn, again, back to the One who loves me and has the whole world in his hands.
We experience God’s care for us not only through his provision for our physical needs, but even more through our personal relationship with him. We get to walk with him and talk with him through all the mess, joys and struggles. I love what Psalm 73:25-28 says:
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
In God’s gracious plan, when we lose our sense of control, we are able to fold further into his all-powerful arms. As the Psalmist says, “But for me it is good to be near God,” or “the nearness of God is my good.” Whether it is dealing with the mess at home or the pain of heartbreaking news, I have seen the sufficiency of finding refuge in him as he draws us closer into himself. Without my own proud rudder attempting to guide my ship, I am hungry for more of his wisdom and his provision. I understand more what Peter says in John 6 when Jesus asks the apostles if they want to leave with the disgruntled crowds. Peter replies: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
By God’s grace, I know that my “déjà-vu amnesia” will not keep me from God’s plan for my life. When I remember who he is and what he has done for me, I can’t help but fall to my knees. I can repent and grieve my waywardness and stubbornness because he will never abandon me or forsake me. And in returning to him—no matter how many times I have forgotten, remembered, and forgotten again—my God awaits my return with hands that bled for my rebellious independence and with outstretched, loving arms to carry me through the mess of today.
— Lucy Israel
Deepening Our Connection to the Advent and to “the Vine” Starting in 1998, my husband and I belonged to several different small groups over the years. We loved the fellowship and learning from others. The deepening of our faith as husband and wife was transformative during that time. Our boys got older and activities took ... Read more
Giving Life to Bonds of Faith and Fellowship Our Heavenly Father did not breathe life into each of us to live through the brokenness of this world alone. He calls us to love and cherish each other in the Christian community. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony ... Read more
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. (Psalm ... Read more
Grow in Your Own Journey and Get to Know Other Adventers We began attending the Advent and the Inquirers’ Class in the spring of 2022. Shortly after that class, we joined a small group with new and old friends. That group cemented our decision to join the Advent and make it our church home. Our ... Read more
We hope you will join us at the Rally Day Picnic on Sunday, September 10, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Birmingham Children’s Zoo. Always a highlight, it is a wonderful way to celebrate Rally Day, enjoying the carousel, ice cream served by the choir, the petting zoo, popcorn, snow cones, an animal demonstration ... Read more
This summer, we upgraded our database to Realm, a web-based church management platform, and we are excited to invite our congregation to use it. Through your Realm account, you can access the online directory, update your contact information, register for events, and much more. Below, you will find helpful links to our FAQ, create your ... Read more
Being involved in a small group has tremendously influenced our personal walk with Christ, our marriage, and how we parent. In a busy world, it is a way to refocus and re-center our thoughts from family logistics, work, children, etc. to Jesus in the middle of the week. Small groups also provide a support system ... Read more
Dear Parish Family: I write to share the news of our clergy transitions and to invite your continued prayers. Sunday, August 6, will be Michael Weeks’s final Sunday with us. Mike has accepted a call to The Falls Church Anglican in Falls Church, Virginia, where he will serve as the Associate Pastor for Discipleship, focusing ... Read more
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.1 Peter 2:24-25 Our beloved Great Pyrenees, Charlie, unexpectedly passed ... Read more
Our ministry partner, Pathways, is hosting their annual Magic City Carnival on Saturday, August 5, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company to support the work they do for women and children experiencing homelessness. To make this event a success, Pathways needs volunteers to help run carnival games and activities. Details and sign up can be ... Read more
Through the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly We are so very grateful for our small group that began 14 years ago. Our small group makes the Advent feel like a smaller community and has made space for deeper relationships to develop within our group that are centered on spiritual growth. We have an ongoing ... Read more
Join us at Cranmer House on Thursday, June 29, 7:00-8:00 p.m. to learn about The Lovelady Center, a ministry dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated women find hope through the love and promises of Jesus Christ. In addition, we will hear about Portraits of Hope, a Lovelady initiative created to support recent graduates of the center. ... Read more
A Richer Experience Every Week Although I had been a member of the Advent congregation for more than 35 years, I joined my first small group Bible study with Deborah Leighton after retirement. At present, I participate in three Bible studies each week and take courses with Beeson’s Lay Academy online. The tragedy of the ... Read more
Dear Parish Family: I write to share exciting news of a new addition to our clergy team. This summer, the Reverend Adam Young will join our team serving as Canon Missioner. Adam’s demonstrated heart for the gospel will help strengthen our congregation and help us in going beyond ourselves as well. Adam is a deeply faithful, ... Read more
Men of the Advent are invited to join us at Protective Stadium as the Birmingham Legion FC play Loudoun United FC at 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 21. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited so please register to reserve your seat. Your ticket will be emailed to you prior to the game. ... Read more
I wrote this in 2020, our fifth year as Texas residents. It came to mind recently during a discussion in Bible study about the distractions of life keeping us from listening to and for the Lord. Praying the Lord would give each of us the gift of at least one “Be still” experience this summer. On ... Read more
The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Eucharist for Ascension Day on Thursday, May 18, at 6:00 p.m. in the Nave. The Feast of the Ascension is one of the seven major feast days in Anglican tradition.
Among the music to be sung is Harold Darke’s Communion Service in E, the motet Coelos ascendit hodie by Charles Villiers Stanford, and the motet Viri Galiliaei by Dulos Couillart.
Dean Smalley will preach and be the Celebrant. Come join us in celebration of the Ascension of our Lord, and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The service will also be livestreamed from our website at AdventBirmingham.org/Live.
I’ve always been a language person. Some people, like my husband, are more visual. But I’m a word girl. In junior high school, I actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. I loved learning the French language in high school and ended up majoring in French and English in college. Practical, right? Not exactly what my dad was hoping for, but…
Recently, I decided I wanted to brush up on my French language skills and came across a website offering grammar lessons and news and dialogues in French. One of the dialogues was about the dying words of famous people. I found some of the quotes amusing, and others a striking expression of deep-seated sentiments about ourselves, our life and death.
Leonardo da Vinci: “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”
Composer Hector Berlioz: “Ah! How talented I’ll be tomorrow! Finally people will listen to my music!”
Marie Antoinette: “Pardon me, sir, I did not mean to do it.”
Pablo Picasso: “Drink to me, drink to my health. You know I can’t drink anymore.”
It’s hard to imagine how Leonardo da Vinci, one of history’s most accomplished geniuses—inventor, artist, architect—could feel inadequate. Yet apparently even he felt as though he had fallen short and his work didn’t measure up to the level of perfection. For me, his words speak the truth that none of us achieves a perfect plumb line in honoring God or in loving others.
Unlike da Vinci, composer and conductor Hector Berlioz had confidence in his work. But during his lifetime he was unpopular and misunderstood. His final words were prophetic, because—as is often the case—years after his death his work did finally become popular and appreciated.
Spoken to her executioner after accidentally stepping on his foot, Marie Antoinette’s last words are amusing on one level. But they’re also profound, considering they were spoken by someone who was about to lose her head because she was blamed for the events leading to the French Revolution. “I didn’t mean to do it,” she said. The words of Eve come to mind….
Before his death, Picasso and his wife had been entertaining friends at a dinner party. He was 91 years old.
I’ve been thinking about how the dying words of these well-known people express our own feelings of inadequacy and regret; feelings of being ignored, unappreciated, unseen, or misunderstood; feelings of guilt or denial, of not wanting to accept blame or responsibility; or feelings of sadness at the end of life, the end of merriment, of no longer being able to participate in or enjoy life and the love and fellowship of friends.
I wonder, what will be the circumstances of my death? What will be my dying words? But these thoughts are overshadowed by the remembrance of the dying words of my Savior. Some of Jesus’ words from the Cross seem to speak directly to those sentiments expressed by others’ “famous last words”:
For Marie Antoinette: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities.
For Berlioz: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” On the Cross, Jesus was forsaken, cut off and separated from God, so that we never will be. Because he was forsaken on our behalf, we are not forsaken—we know that we are seen, heard, known, understood, and loved by God.
For Picasso: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” The end of our mortal health is not the end. Jesus has gone to prepare a feast for us.
For da Vinci: “It is finished.” Jesus accomplished what we cannot. He lived the perfect life on our behalf. He loved God with all his heart and soul and mind and strength and loved others to the point of laying down his life for them. He is our perfect righteousness. The perfect lamb of God died once, for all—a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the imperfections of the whole world. It is finished.
The famous last words of famous people may be interesting, amusing, sad, ironic, or thought-provoking. But, thanks be to God, all of their words—and ours—are trumped by the words of the Word, Jesus Christ.
And, of course, Jesus’ dying words were not his last words. This living Word has defeated death and promises us eternal life. The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus came the first time to bear the sins of many and will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. The last words of Jesus in Revelation are, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
— Mary Berkeley Pritchard
As a part of their ongoing fundraising, The Cathedral Choir is holding a Mother’s Day Flower Sale. The following items will be available for sale until Wednesday, May 3:
Dozen red rose bouquet: $50
“Spring Bouquet” of daisies, carnations, and roses: $35
Spring potted plant: $40
Orders will be available for pickup in the Porte-cochere from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, and Friday, May 12, as well as on the morning of Mother’s Day, May 14, after the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services in Clingman Commons.
Place your orders at the link below or visit us in Clingman Commons before or after the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services on Sundays, April 30 and May 7.
PLACE ORDERS HERE
Dear Parish Family,
I write to share exciting news of a new addition to our clergy team. The Reverend Canon Tom Murray will join us mid-July and will serve in the role of Vice Dean. I am thrilled that Tom and his wife Perrin will be a part of our community. Tom and Perrin have been married for 29 years, have four adult children ranging in ages from 26 to 20, and two dogs, Gus and Bishop.
Tom has been ordained for 25 years. Prior to his ordination, he served in youth ministry, including as Director of Youth Ministry for Frank Limehouse. Following ordination Tom served as the Associate Rector for Family Ministry at St. Helena’s, once again with Frank. Perhaps one of Tom’s most significant ministry accomplishments was serving as the chair of the ordination discernment committee for our former Vice Dean, Heidi Kinner, as she discerned a call to ordained ministry. Over the course of Tom’s ministry, he has served faithfully, giftedly, and humbly in various capacities: in pastoral care, youth ministry, family ministry, as a head of school, and as rector of two congregations. I thank God that who we are, our gifts and our challenges, and the ways that God is leading us are as compelling to him as they are to me.
Most recently, Tom has served as the Rector of St. Mark’s in Jacksonville, Florida, for the past eight years. His ministry led in a way that produced stability and growth as well as a deepening of faith and sense of mission. We are thankful that his gifts, his collegiality, and the warm and winsome faith of Tom and Perrin will be a part of our community.
Please join me in praying for Tom, Perrin, and their family – certainly, for all of the specific challenges that moving brings such as finding a home and settling into a community, but also the challenge of leaving a community you have loved and served for many years. I admire their faithfulness in answering this call.
Again, I am thrilled, I thank God that Tom and Perrin will join us soon, and I am excited for you to meet them and for them to meet you. Grateful for you all.
The Lord be with you,
The Very Rev. R. Craig Smalley
Dean and Rector
Our 2022-2023 Midday Music Series concludes on Friday, April 28 at 12:30 p.m., with a free, 30-minute recital in Clingman Commons by pianist Kevin T. Chance, Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Named Teacher of the Year by the Alabama Music Teachers Association, Chance has been hailed as “a superlative musician” playing “with musical conviction and muscularity.” Pianist Robbie James was originally scheduled to play this recital, but needed to postpone to next season due to unexpected personal circumstances. At her request, Dr. Chance graciously agreed to step in to perform.
The concert will also live-stream from the AdventBirmingham.org/Live, and from the Advent’s associated digital platforms, for anyone unable to attend, and be made available for later listening at any time. Please do not miss the opportunity to enjoy a half-hour of beautiful music!
The Cathedral Church of the Advent is thrilled to welcome The Tallis Scholars back to Birmingham on Thursday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Nave. Tickets are available for purchase, here.
The Tallis Scholars were founded in 1973 by their director, Peter Phillips. Through their recordings and concert performances, they have established themselves as the leading exponents of Renaissance sacred music throughout the world. Peter Phillips has worked with the ensemble to create the purity and clarity of sound which he feels best serves the Renaissance repertoire. It is the resulting beauty of sound for which The Tallis Scholars have become so widely renowned.
The Tallis Scholars perform in both sacred and secular venues, giving around 80 concerts each year. As of the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, The Tallis Scholars have made 2,327 appearances, worldwide.
The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Evensong on Thursday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nave. Jay Gardner will officiate.
Evensong, a sung version of the Evening Prayer service, is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Its primary purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through prayer and praise.
All are invited to come and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, and find rest in the gospel message.
Livestream available at AdventBirmingham.org/Live.
I have control problems. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that. I like to consider myself sufficient at determining the best possible outcomes and roads needed to reach those outcomes. When I see someone struggling, I often jump right in, not because I’m helpful, but because I’m sure I can fix it. My husband often says, “You’re doing that thing again!”
Ecclesiastes is arguably my favorite book of the Bible. Every time I read it, it’s new to me. In the beginning when the teacher says, “Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless,” the word “meaningless” is better translated as breath, or vapor. I once heard someone say it’s like spraying a misting bottle of water. Ecclesiastes shows us that all good things, all bad things, have a season. The wisdom of this book is in being present in the current moment. I’ve often taken this to heart and summed it up as an answer to the question, “What’s this all about?” The only answer I can think of is to glorify God. How can I do that moment by moment, regardless of circumstance?
2022 was a really difficult year for many reasons. People often talk about how the waves of Covid in 2020 made it a disastrous year, and for many that was certainly true. However, 2022 was the hardest for me. For some reason or another, month after month, disaster seemed to strike our household. Every time we seemed to come up for air, we were battered again, pulled under in a never-ending sea of disappointment, loss, and for me specifically, depression. We had so many plans, and at the end of the year we looked back and had achieved exactly zero of them. Have you ever had seasons like this? You feel like you’re working so hard (and in most cases you really are working very, very hard), you’re doing everything right, but still at the end you have nothing to show for it.
I talk to God constantly. There’s never an off switch to prayer time for us. It’s just a constant stream of consciousness: prayers of thanksgiving, admiring his amazing creation on my walks with my dogs, and in 2022 my constant reminder to God that I was working toward and asking for very good things that I absolutely deserve. Have you ever found yourself talking to God and letting him know that your plans are good because you’ve thought through them? I suppose it’s the controller in me. I couldn’t see it going any other way, and I absolutely couldn’t see it being beneficial to me if it wasn’t my way. We are all too familiar with the lovely verse from Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” In the middle of 2022, all our plans failed. If we had started the year with a nice big New Year’s list of “This is the year of…,” you would have seen each one of those goals crumble into dust. My talks with God were sad and lonely. I spent time trying to convince God that our plans were good plans – the best plans. I told him how much it hurt to have disappointment after disappointment. I talked to him about how lost I was, how I didn’t know what direction to go.
Smack dab in the middle of 2022, the strangest thing happened that really brought our family back to finding the joy in the vapor of this Ecclesiastical life. A very small dog found its way to our back fence, clearly lost, covered in brambles and ticks. We took him in, cleaned him off, and through a process that took more than three months discovered that not only was he not very smart, but that his owners didn’t want him back. We didn’t need another dog, and we certainly would never have chosen this dog.
Living in a residential neighborhood in the middle of Homewood, I can’t help but see a glimpse of the supernatural in the placement of this specific, simple-minded animal in our disaster of a year. Looking back, this is such a clear reminder to me of the teacher’s exclamation in Ecclesiastes, “Everything is meaningless.” Caring for this not-very-smart, tiny little creature forced us to appreciate small moments of joy in our daily lives, and encouraged us to be thankful for the gift even though we didn’t ask for it. Still, we were continually perplexed: why did he come to our yard? We didn’t ask for him. Why didn’t God give us the other things we had asked for?
During this time of what felt like absolute darkness, we searched for God’s guidance in prayer by visiting Advent House. I could wax poetic about how meaningful and therapeutic it was to be prayed over, to talk to believers about our specific struggles, and to cry openly about how painful life has been. However, the one takeaway that sticks with me today is a word that was spoken over us, “You don’t need to know which way to go, you simply need to know God.” I find myself repeating this phrase, even now, looking at this tiny, squishy dog that inhabits our house as a constant reminder that I don’t know God’s plan, and I am not in control.
How many months had I spent telling God exactly how he needed to bless us? How many hours had I tried to make sense of the chaos and reorganize my life in an attempt to gain control? In reality, I didn’t need to know any of the details, and I certainly didn’t need to control them. I simply needed to know God. And as it turns out, during the entire year of 2022, I did know God. I talked to God every single day. I think it’s safe to say that more often than not, growth happens in the midst of a storm. And real peace isn’t when everything is going according to our plan, when everything looks good. It’s when you’re in the thick of it and still know, deep down, that you are in the palm of his hand. The truth is that this world is a sinful world. Difficult seasons will come again. The one constant is that God is ultimately in control. I’m sure I’ll struggle with this lesson again; maybe you’re like me, stubborn and hard headed. Thankfully, we worship a God who loves a challenge!
—Carrie Teardo
Last Sunday, April 2, our 3k through 5th graders enjoyed Walk to the Cross, moving through six key scenes from Holy Week, beginning with the Triumphal Entry and culminating in Jesus’s death and resurrection. These scenes were staged throughout the church and reenacted by parishioners.
Many thanks to our Children’s Ministry directors, Tara Davis and Gunter Owens, and all of the volunteers who made this event possible.
>Maundy Thursday | Holy Communion and Stripping of the Chancel
Thursday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Wes Sharp to preach.
Livestream available.
Nursery for ages 5 and under.
>Good Friday | Liturgy for Good Friday
Friday, April 7 at 12:00 p.m.
Dean Smalley to preach.
Livestream available.
Nursery for ages 5 and under.
>Easter Sunday | Holy Communion
Sunday, April 2 at 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. (Nave), 9:00 a.m. (Refectory), and 11:00 a.m.
Dean Smalley to preach.
Livestream available at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
(The 5:00 p.m. service will not gather and will resume Sunday, April 16.)
Planning to join us for Lenten Preaching and Lunches? Parking will be a bit easier this week!
The Advent Episcopal School’s parking lot on the corner of Fifth Avenue North and Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard will be available during the school’s Spring Break, Monday-Friday, March 27-31. The parking lot gate will open at 11:30 a.m. each day.
In addition to his two sermons in our Lenten series this week, Will Willimon will speak Thursday, March 23, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Cranmer House (2814 Linden Avenue, 35209). A prolific author, he will use his book, Sinning Like a Christian: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins, as the starting point for the evening. Copies of his books are available for sale in our bookstore.
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Willimon again. We hope you will join us.
Men of the Advent are invited to join us on Thursday, March 30 at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Hewes and Trent Hull (3125 Guilford Rd, 35223) for fellowship and teaching with Joe Gibbes. Joe will be with us during our Lenten Preaching series and will take a few hours on Thursday to spend time with the Men of the Advent.Dinner will be provided by Taziki’s. Cost is $12 and assistance is available. Register below to let us know you’re coming!REGISTRATION HERE
The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Evensong on Thursday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nave. Ben DeHart will officiate.
Evensong, a sung version of the Evening Prayer service, is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Its primary purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through prayer and praise.
All are invited to come and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, and find rest in the gospel message.
Livestream available at AdventBirmingham.org/Live.
In addition to his three sermons as our Lenten Preacher, Simeon Zahl will be giving a lecture on Monday, March 6, entitled On Having a Soul in a Secular Age.
As Professor of Christian Theology at the University of Cambridge, Simeon has a vigorous grasp of the intersection of the breadth and depth of the Christian tradition as it impacts each of us at a heart level. Of course, many of us know Simeon as the youngest son of Mary and Paul Zahl, from the time when Paul was our Dean and Rector. It certainly will be good to welcome Simeon back to the Advent.
We hope you will join us on Monday, March 6, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Cranmer House (2814 Linden Avenue, 35209).
I want to talk about the cross and suffering with Jesus and how those two things relate to you and me, but before I do that, I’ll need to give you a warning: This reflection is going to be interactive. I’m a visual learner/teacher, and the way I tell stories or explain a subject is by using real, tangible things. With that in mind, grab a pen or pencil (or crayon or marker; I’m not a stickler) and buckle in.
Now that we’ve got our tools, let’s take a look at Romans 8:16-17. It says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” That’s a whole lot of something, right? Let’s break it down a bit starting with verse 16. “The Spirit himself testifies with OUR spirit that we are God’s children.” We have been grafted into God’s story. We are brothers and sisters to Christ. Isn’t that awesome? The next verse tells us what comes with that: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,” meaning we will inherit anything and everything that Jesus inherits. Hebrews 1:2 says that Jesus inherits “all things” which means we do, too. Hebrews 1:4 says that Jesus inherits a name above all names. There is power in that name. So, when we pray and say “in the name of Jesus or Christ our Savior” or even “in your Son’s name we pray,” we can know that God is listening intently and intentionally because there is power in that name. Being a co-heir is starting to sound pretty great, huh?
Then we get to the last part and the heat turns up to high. “…if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Hmm…sharing in suffering in order to share in glory. Let’s bring it down to a simmer and take a deeper look. This is the part where you’ll need that pen I asked you to grab earlier. In the margins I want you to write a tally mark for every question you are able to answer. And be honest…no one is seeing this except you.
- Make a tally if…
- You have a favorite food.
- You have at least one friend.
- You have a coworker who frustrates you.
- You have a pet.
- You’ve ever felt overlooked/ignored.
- You have a sibling or siblings (in-laws count too).
- You feel like no one quite understands the real you.
- You’ve ever been blamed for something you didn’t do.
- You’ve ever felt overwhelmed.
- Make a tally if that thing that felt overwhelming was
- Sad
- bad/made you upset/angry
- Scared you
- Make a tally if that thing that felt overwhelming was
- Lastly, make a tally if, when something bad happens or you’re feeling really low, you pray.
Alright, you can put your pen down. Did you know that you can talk to God about those things? Like do you know that you can talk to God about ANYTHING that’s going on? He went through a lot of the same kinds of pain that we still experience today when he came to dwell among us in the form of his Son, Jesus. Rejection (from his own town because they didn’t like prophets), abandonment by his own friends, those same friends failing him, injustice and unfair accusations (he was innocent and they still put him up on the cross), and being attacked both verbally and physically are just a few examples. These are all especially evident in his death on the cross.
Knowing that we can take all of these things to the altar is the GLORY that we share with Christ. That we are not forgotten or overlooked or blamed because Jesus died on the cross to take those things away forever. He understands anything and everything you may be going through because he went through it too.
I want you to raise your right hand. This hand represents your personal wounds — your hurts, your fears, your anger, your sadness, AND ALSO, your happiness, your PEACE, and your JOY.
Keep that hand up, and put your left hand in the air. This hand represents Jesus’ wounds — his hurts, his fears, his anger, his sadness, AND ALSO his happiness in knowing that on the other side of the Cross was salvation for you and for me, his PEACE that passes all understanding, his STEADFAST LOVE, and his unbelievable and ever-present JOY for YOU! Just you… as you are.
Now put your hands together. Now we’re praying! Praying is how we remember the suffering and remain thankful for the sacrifice that connects your wounds to the wounds of Christ. Jesus’ resurrection assures us of the hope of new life that sin and pain and death can’t touch. We share in the sufferings AND the glory, the inheritance, the peace, and the joy.
I want to end with one of my favorite Collects. It reminds me that in the midst of this suffering and glory, the chaos and harmony, God is with us and for us. Let’s pray.
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—Chelsy DeHart
Dear Parish Family,
I write to share news and to invite your prayers as the Reverend Canon Ben DeHart makes the transition to serve as Rector of St. John’s Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York. I am excited for Ben and Chelsy in this next step of their shared life and ministry.
Ben joined our staff after serving at the Parish of Calvary-St. George’s in New York City. Joining our team in a period of transition was a blessing for our church, and I am grateful for the time that we shared together in ministry.
This move is a natural next step for Ben. After numerous years in ordained ministry, he will have the opportunity to shepherd a congregation. Ben is a gifted preacher and teacher, a faithful pastor and friend; Ben and Chelsy will be a blessing to the congregation of St. John’s.
That we were able to enjoy the benefits of his gifts and call, and able to play a role in preparing him for this next chapter of ministry, is something which leads me to say, thanks be to God.
Ben’s final Sunday with us will be March 19. In the interim, I hope you will have an opportunity to visit with Ben and Chelsy and to join me in extending our love, prayers, and continued partnership in the Gospel.
The Lord be with you.
The Very Rev. R. Craig Smalley
Dean and Rector
On Friday, February 17 at 12:30 p.m., our Midday Music Series continues with a 30-minute recital in the Nave by our own Charles Kennedy on the Advent’s recently acquired harpsichord.
He will present a program of music by English composer William Byrd, in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Byrd’s death. Byrd was the most famous composer of his generation, noted especially for his keyboard works and sacred choral music, much of the latter written for use in the Anglican service.
Please do not miss the opportunity to hear extraordinary music performed on our beautiful harpsichord! Livestream will be available.
The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Evensong on Thursday, February 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nave. Ben DeHart will officiate. Among the music to be sung will be the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F by Harold Darke, and The Beatitudes by Welsh composer Paul Mealor.
Evensong, a sung version of the Evening Prayer service, is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Its primary purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through prayer and praise.
All are invited to come and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, and find rest in the gospel message.
Please be prepared for traffic delays this Sunday, February 13, as the Mercedes Marathon and Half Marathon go through downtown.
They have put together an FAQ for downtown church attendees. They also created a church pass which our communications team has personalized for you with our logo and address; it is available for download below.
We look forward to worshiping with you!
Frequently Asked QuestionsChurch Pass DownloadCourse Map
This past January 6, musings over a sermon given this past summer were rekindled. The Feast of the Epiphany is when we celebrate the Light of the world having been born into the world. Within the Church, that day is given to special focus on the three Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana.
The sermon, which Cameron delivered, was predicated on 2 Kings 5:1-14. Naaman, the leper from Syria, was in need of healing. Via a little Jewish slave girl, Naaman learned of a prophet in Israel who was capable of healing him. His journey took him firstly to the King of Syria, who gave him a letter of introduction to the King of Israel. Taking with him the letter, gifts of gold, silver, and rich garments, Naaman journeyed to Jerusalem, where he was ultimately redirected by a messenger to go to the home of Elisha.
During the sermon that morning, I confess, my thoughts turned to correlating two journeys, that of Naaman with that of the Magi. The “star out of Jacob” led the Magi, who were seeking to worship the promised Messiah, to Jerusalem where they asked, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” Eventually, they appeared before Herod, the King of Israel, and were redirected to Bethlehem and to the Holy Child. When the star was again seen, they “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” and they entered into the house where Jesus and Mary were and fell down and worshiped the newly born Christ.
Naaman’s arrival at the home of Elisha was very different. Met, not by Elisha but by a messenger, Naaman was not invited into the house. Rather, the messenger relayed Elisha’s instructions to simply wash in the Jordan River. The response of Naaman was one of great pride, indignation, and anger.
Later, after having been healed from leprosy as well as of from a lack of understanding, Naaman humbly and appreciatively returned to the house of Elisha and confessed, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel.” Before leaving, Naaman even asked for bags of dirt to be given to him in order to worship God in his home country.
Both parties, Magi and Naaman, were foreigners to Israel. Both were led, whether by silent star or a slave speaking. Both were seeking, one to worship, one for healing. Both first traveled to the capital of the nation: the center of political, legal, economic, and religious power, the city of Jerusalem. Both were bearing costly, material gifts. Both appeared before the then King of Israel, where both were sources of fear and great concern to the respective king. Both were redirected to much humbler environs and much more materially and culturally poor locations of little renown.
Both journeys resulted in joyful worship.
As believers, we are aliens in a foreign land. We are called to walk differently from the rest of the world. Individually, we are prompted by God in various ways and led by Him along different paths. Our paths to Him, similar to those of the Magi and to Naaman, are to us often seemingly circuitous. The end points of our paths often look very differently than we anticipated, and like Naaman, our first response can be frustration, anger, or injured pride.
As exemplified by the two kings of Israel, the chief priests, the scribes, the little slave girl, Naaman’s wife, Elisha, his messenger, and the servants of Naaman, God often places a myriad of people in our paths in order to direct us as He wills. As with the Magi and Naaman, each of whom anticipated finding their help in Jerusalem, we can first turn in reliance to modern day spheres of power and influence or to conventional wisdom to have our own needs met.
When we come to Him first, whether prompted by need or desire to be in His presence, with worshipful hearts and spirits, we receive more humbly and more readily. As with Naaman, our deepest needs are met, as are often our temporal needs. Always, there is grace. As with the Magi and Naaman, our time of worship leads to a desire for the continuation and growth of true worship, and for greater knowledge and more perfect love of Him.
“Epiphany” means “the showing forth of the Light.”
“…in Your light we shall see light.” Psalm 36:9b
By His Grace, may His Light shine in our hearts, upon our paths, and into this world. Amen.
—Virginia Hornsby
Dear Parish Family:
For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53). Those are the words of Paul to the Corinthians as he proclaims the victory of Jesus, the defeat of death, and the certainty of our Christian hope.
Today our beloved friend Katherine Jacob – the Reverend Canon Katherine Jacob – went to be fully with the Lord. Her final days have been a continuation of her witness as she ministered to those who were able to spend time with her. She remained strong in the Lord, joyful, peaceful, certain of her destination, ready to no longer see in a mirror dimly, but ready to see Jesus, face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). Her fellow parishioners and staff have cared for her amazingly well, and her family has done the same. I invite your continued prayers for her family.
Her death was as good as any we might hope for ourselves or those we love. God repeatedly revealed his graciousness. For that, thanks be to God.
When the time of her service is established, we will let you know through this same medium. She was adamant when she spoke with me that she did not want us to talk about her, but about Jesus. We will honor that, mostly. Her regret was that she would be unable to return to the church and serve, reading the Gospel in the midst of our gathered worship. We will deeply miss that, too. She believed the words she read; she knew her Lord, the Word made flesh; and she held out the Living Word to us for decades.
Paul goes on to write: When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 54-57). Thanks be to God for Katherine Jacob and her ministry at the Advent. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory, who gave her the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord be with you.
The Very Rev. R. Craig Smalley
Dean and Rector
On Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., organist Matthew Brown will play a recital on our Cathedral Concert Series. Mr. Brown currently serves as Director of Music at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
He has concertized throughout the United States and abroad, including performances in Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, and Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York. He earned degrees in organ performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts and the Eastman School of Music.
Admission is free; please join us for what will be an exciting and beautiful performance.
The following were elected to a three-year term on the Vestry of the Cathedral Church of the Advent at the annual Parish Meeting on January 22, 2023. The Advent is grateful to all those who accepted the nomination.
Craig Brady
Richard Cook
Charles Gaston
Kelly Hulsey
Josh Menendez
Claiborne Morris
Emily Pruet
Charlie Sharp
Jason Wallace
Forsyth White
Additionally, as of the annual Parish Meeting, Jack Sharman began service as Senior Warden, and Edmund Doss began service as Junior Warden. We are grateful to retiring Senior Warden Jay Ezelle for his faithful service to our parish in 2022.
Our Midday Music Series continues on Friday, January 20 at 12:30 p.m., with a free, 30-minute program of music for cello duo, with Warren Samples, Principal Cellist of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra since 1986, and Lauren Peacock, newly-appointed Assistant Principal Cellist of the ASO. Their program will include music by Bela Bartok, Jacques Offenbach, and José Elizondo.
Livestream available at AdventBirmingham.org/Live. Please do not miss the opportunity to enjoy music performed by these outstanding musicians!
The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Evensong on Thursday, January 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nave. Michael Weeks will officiate.
Evensong, a sung version of the Evening Prayer service, is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Its primary purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through prayer and praise.
All are invited to come and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, and find rest in the gospel message.
For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
Romans 3:22b-25
Spirited is a modern-day interpretation of and satirical spin on the various adaptations of Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. In this version, Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come have spent nearly two centuries leading a team of spirits in “redeeming” one human soul every Christmas.
Looking for a soul to redeem, Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) becomes fixated on Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), a renowned but despicable “win at all costs” media consultant. Despite Marley’s insistence that Briggs is an “unredeemable” soul, Present refuses to back down. The Ghosts prepare for Clint’s haunt, compiling visions intended to make Clint lament his past and dread his future. Assuming all goes according to plan, Clint will resolve to be a better person; he will be redeemed.
If you take away the catchy musical numbers, modern pop culture references, and the comedic charm of Ferrell and Reynolds, Spirited seems like the same familiar story. But there is a twist: as the haunt begins, we learn that Christmas Present’s determination to redeem “unredeemable” Briggs is personal. Present, as it turns out, is none other than Ebenezer Scrooge, the only “unredeemable” in the history of The Ghosts’ haunts to be successfully redeemed. But, as Present shares through song (excerpt quoted below) he struggles to believe he is truly redeemed—fearing that if he returns to the human world he will find he is the same old Scrooge:
Am I forever unredeemable? Can I ever overcome
All the wrongs I’m running from?
Can my worst be left behind?
And do I deserve to find
There’s a soul who could see any good in me?
Or will I only ever be
Unredeemable?
Christmas Present’s problem is a misunderstanding of sin and redemption. Spirited’s writers equate a person’s good behavior (which is relative at best, anyway) with redemption. This is a worldly understanding of redemption — making amends or overcoming some wrongdoing or fault. For instance, “Despite being a lying, cheating rat for most of his life, having saved his neighbor’s life, Jeremy died a redeemed man.” Redemption in this sense is the idea that some good, selfless act can make up for or erase our bad, selfish behavior. This version of redemption plays out well in a lot of movies and television but does it work in real life? Let’s say you were the betrayed wife of the aforementioned fella. Would his heroic, life-saving act make up for his infidelity and dishonesty? Would that act allow you to see him as a totally different and better person? Would that act make him a totally different and better person? With this understanding of redemption, Christmas Present has good reason to doubt the efficacy of his redemption. If our redemption lies in our ability to “do good deeds” and “be better,” to never succumb to old patterns of self-serving behavior, we are most to be pitied.
Well, thanks be to God that Scripture tells us Christian redemption is different. Our redemption is not of our own doing and not just for those “really bad apples” among us. We all find ourselves plagued by the questions posed by Christmas Present. Redemption is necessary for all of us because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Before we were redeemed by Christ’s death and resurrection, we were slaves to sin and condemned to eternal separation from God. But Christ’s redemption has freed us from the guilt of our sin — past, present, and future, “being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). With Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, God purchased our freedom. Jesus paid the price for our release from sin and its punishment. Jesus gave his life in exchange for ours. Scripture is clear that redemption is only possible through his blood: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 3:13, 4:5). To be redeemed is to be reconciled, forgiven, justified, and adopted by God, our Heavenly Father.
This is the redemption Christmas Present needs. This is the redemption we all need because redemption through Christ takes away all of the question marks. Because it isn’t up to us, we don’t have to doubt the efficacy or sufficiency of our redemption: “…knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). And it is only by this redemption that we are made new: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Christmas Present feared if he resumed his life on earth, he would fall back into his old Scrooge-y behaviors. But the root of Present’s fear was his doubt that anyone could love him because he had behaved badly in the past and would undoubtedly behave badly going forward. Our redemption as assessed by fellow humans and earthly measures will always leave us questioning. But our redemption by God through the work on the cross of his one and only Son is finished; it’s done. Jesus is the full and sufficient sacrifice for our sins, past, present, and future: “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). In Christ, we never have to wonder. We know we are redeemed, fully, completely, and eternally, because God says so.
Why did Jesus redeem us? Why would God plan for our redemption? John 3:16 holds the answer, but we hear these words so often, we may have become deaf to their assurance.
Do you have trouble accepting John 3:16 as true, not in a universal sense, but in an individual, personal, “For God so loved (insert your name here)” sense? Well, hear this today, “For God so loved you—you, who lies about her dress size, who loses her temper in traffic, who pretends not to see emails asking for help with the school carnival, whose destructive behavior has caused such pain to those who love her—God so loved YOU that he gave his only Son, that if you believe in him you will not perish but have everlasting life.” And why? Why does God love you that much? Simply because you are his.
—Leslie Housman
The Vestry approved a slate of 20 candidates for the 2023 Vestry election at its meeting in December. The nominees are as follows:
Craig Brady
Richard Cook
Lindsey Druhan
Rachel Fry
Charles Gaston
Jen Green
Kelly Hulsey
Kathryn Keith
Josh Menendez
Bart Moore
Claiborne Morris
Thomas Nelson
Emily Pruet
Kate Ray
Charlie Sharp
Britt Thames
Stacy Townsend
Jason Wallace
Chris Weingartner
Forsyth White
Parishioners will elect 10 of these nominees to serve on the Vestry of the Advent at the annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, January 22, at 10:00 a.m. in the Nave.
We look forward to celebrating the arrival of our Lord and Savior with you next Saturday, December 24, and Sunday, December 25!
**Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24
3:00 p.m. Family Service**
Preacher: Cameron Cole
Music led by the Advent Birmingham band
Nursery for twos class and younger
> 5:00 p.m. Holy Communion
Preacher: Dean Smalley
Music led by the Cathedral Choir, organ, the Ambassador Brass
Quintet, and timpani
Nursery for ages 5 and under
Livestream available
> 8:00 p.m. Holy Communion
Preacher: Dean Smalley
Music led by the Cathedral Choir, organ, the Ambassador Brass
Quintet, and timpani
Nursery for ages 5 and under
Rebroadcast of 5:00 service available
> 10:25 p.m. The Music of Christmas
Musical prelude to the 11:00 service from the Cathedral Choir
> 11:00 p.m. Holy Communion
Preacher: Dean Smalley
Music led by the Cathedral Choir, organ, the Ambassador Brass
Quintet, and timpani
Nursery closed
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25
> 10:00 a.m. Holy Communion
Preacher: Canon DeHart
Music led by the Cathedral Choir and organ
Nursery closed
Livestream available
We are excited to share the excellent lineup of preachers for our 2023 Lenten Preaching and Lunches (PDF available below). Our annual series will return on Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023, and continue through Maundy Thursday, April 6, 2023. Preaching services will start at 12:05 p.m. in the Nave every weekday. Livestream and audio recordings will also be available.
More details about our lunch menu are coming soon!
2023 PREACHING SCHEDULE
Our Midday Music Series continues on Friday, December 16 at 12:30 p.m. in the Nave, with a free, 30-minute concert of seasonal music by Daniel Szasz and Serghei Tanas, violin, and Frederick Teardo organ. Szasz is Concertmaster of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and Tanas is a longtime member of the second violin section of the ASO.
Livestream available for anyone unable to attend, and be made available for later listening at any time. Please do not miss the opportunity to enjoy a half-hour of beautiful music!
Sometimes the Bible shocks you….
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. (1 Kings 11:1–8)
How in the world did this happen? God’s word was clear:
Kings were not to have multiple wives. (Deut. 17:17)
Do not intermarry with the women of the nations of Canaan. (Deut. 7:1-4)
Never worship any of the gods worshipped by the people around you. (Deut. 6:14)
So how did this happen? And how did this happen to Solomon of all people? This is the Solomon who prayed for wisdom, who was known for his wisdom, who built the temple….
How did he get to this point?
He did not get there overnight. It was probably inch by inch, step by step.
If you flip back to 1 Kings 3 you notice some ominous foreshadowing. In verse 1, “Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt.” He took an Egyptian princess as a second wife to secure Pharaoh as an ally. A strategic move in the eyes of the world, but a dubious one in the eyes of the LORD.
In verse 3: “Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.” Until the temple was complete, sacrificing and making offerings at the high places was not technically wrong, but worshipping at the tabernacle would have been a better choice.
Inch by inch and step by step, one wife turned into 700. Inch by inch and step by step, Solomon went from building the temple for the LORD to building high places for other gods. How gradual, how imperceptible is the road that leads us away from the LORD.
But, again, how did he get to this point? It was his heart. Look back to see how many times the word heart is repeated in our passage. Ashley Null is fond of saying, “What the heart desires, the will chooses, and the mind justifies.” Solomon’s heart is divided. He has not left Yahweh, but he has brought in other gods beside the LORD.
The end of Solomon’s story is not pretty, but it invites me to learn on his nickel. I see the consequences of his alliances, his accommodations, his worship of other gods. Not only was his kingdom torn in two, but one of the high places he built became a place of child sacrifice, a place where one of his own great, great grandsons was sacrificed to Molech. (2 Kings 16:3)
Like Solomon my heart is easily divided. I too have built my own high places. The gods of approval, control, and money all vie for my allegiance. I too am prone to wander and leave the LORD I love. I wish there was a quick fix. A vaccine of sorts that would keep my heart undivided, that would freeze my heart in obedience mode. But there is not. The answer is in the freeing power of the gospel.
I need to hear the gospel over and over again. “This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). How remarkable. God himself came in the person of Jesus Christ to save you and me. Advent is a time to ponder that anew and prepare our hearts for his coming again. The lessons learned from Solomon have put a new prayer in my heart: “Come, Lord, and abide in my house. Come, and consecrate me more fully to thy service; come, and without a rival reign; come, occupy alone the throne of my heart” (Charles Spurgeon).
—Jane Menendez
On Thursday, December 15 at 5:30 p.m., the Cathedral Choir will offer A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, modeled after the service held annually at King’s College, Cambridge. The Christmas narrative is told through scripture and song – a wonderful way to celebrate the Advent and Christmas seasons. Whether you are on your way home from working downtown, or simply looking for an opportunity to hear some seasonal music and the Gospel, all are warmly invited to attend this weeknight service.
We hope you will join us on Sunday, December 4, as we give thanks and praise to God, celebrating the 150th anniversary of our founding as a church. It will be a special day. At the 9:00 a.m. service, the Advent Episcopal School Choral Ensemble will lead us in worship, joined by members of the Cathedral ... Read more
Our Midday Music Series continues on Friday, November 18 at 12:30 p.m., with a free, 30-minute recital in Clingman Commons by Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk, soprano, and Yakov Kasman, piano. Their program is entitled “Refugees and Immigrants: music by and about those who left their homeland.” It will feature two song cycles by American composer Alan Louis ... Read more
The Cathedral Choir will sing a special city-wide Choral Evensong service on Thursday, November 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nave, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of our parish. Among the music to be sung will be works composed by two Birmingham composers, K. Lee Scott and the late Allen Orton ... Read more
Director of Music and Organist Frederick Teardo will play the final recital in the series of concerts presenting the complete organ works of French composer César Franck, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary Franck’s birth, on Thursday, November 10, 7:00 p.m. in the Nave. The program will include the Trois Chorals (three Chorales), the very ... Read more
Every Easter when the choir and the acolytes walk down the aisle and the congregation sings “welcome happy morning,” I am reminded of an Easter morning when I was around 12 years old. My brother and I were asked last minute to be acolytes for the packed Easter service. We were both excited simply because ... Read more
The Nominations Committee of the Vestry invites parishioners to suggest names for consideration for next year’s Vestry class slate. Please complete a Nomination Suggestion Form if you know someone who would contribute to our parish’s leadership. The forms are available at the Ushers’ Stations on Sundays and at our receptionist’s desk at the Church Office ... Read more
Thank you to everyone who joined us last Thursday, October 20, at the Fennec to celebrate the Advent’s 150th anniversary. It was a special evening of fellowship, remembering all that the Lord has done in and through the ministry of the Advent. The celebration featured an opening prayer and welcome from Dean Craig Smalley, followed ... Read more
Our Midday Music Series continues on Friday, October 28 at 12:30 p.m., with a free 30-minute concert in Clingman Commons by the acclaimed jazz duo of Peter H. Bloom, flute, and John Funkhouser, piano. The concert is part of the duo’s CD Release Tour in Alabama and Georgia, celebrating their new album, Exuberant Ellingtonia, with ... Read more
Our Cathedral Organists together are presenting a series in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of French composer César Franck, performing his complete works for organ over the course of three recitals. Both Frederick Teardo and Charles Kennedy will perform Part 2 of the series on Thursday, November 3, 7:00 p.m. in the ... Read more
To support future choir tours and projects, the Cathedral Choir is selling smoked Boston Butts ($40), smoked pit ham ($45), and pans of homemade dressing with chicken pieces ($45). All items come sealed and cold. To place an order, please visit the choir’s table in Clingman Commons after each of the morning services on the ... Read more
All are warmly invited to join us in celebrating the Advent’s 150th Anniversary on Thursday, October 20, at The Fennec from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Please reply by Monday, October 10. Formal invitations arriving in the mail soon. PLEASE REPLY HERE
Our Advent organists together will present a series in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of French composer César Franck’s birth, performing his complete works for organ over the course of three recitals. Associate Director of Music and Organist Charles Kennedy will perform Part 1 of the series on Thursday, October 13, 7:00 p.m. in the ... Read more
Stewardship: Making Your Pledge for 2023 As we give thanks to God for his blessings on us and our church, please prayerfully consider participating in the ministries of the Advent by giving your time, talent, and treasure. You may return your Pledge Card by mail, in-person at the church office, or on Sunday morning, October 9 ... Read more
This Sunday, October 2, the BHM26.2 races will be running through downtown, causing 20th St N to be closed in the morning. All other streets around the church will be open, including Richard Arrington Jr Blvd. Please plan accordingly as you travel downtown to church. Course map available HERE, and turn-by-turn directions HERE. We look ... Read more
On Friday, September 30 at 12:30 p.m., the Advent’s 2022-2023 Midday Music Series opens with a free, 30-minute concert in the Nave by Duo Catanza – Atlanta-based classical guitarists Scott Plato and Matthias Young. The is the duo’s second appearance on our Midday Series at the Advent. Please do not miss what promises to be ... Read more
The Advent has created a volunteer survey form to help members of the church communicate their interest and gifts. The form includes a diverse inventory where parishioners can list their ministry interests, professional skills that could be used for kingdom purposes, and missions passions. Filling out the form does not obligate you to do anything. ... Read more
The Cathedral Choir will sing Choral Evensong Thursday, September 15, at 5:30 p.m. in the Nave. Canon Jacob will preach. A sung version of the Evening Prayer service, Evensong is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Its primary purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus ... Read more
We are thrilled to welcome David Zahl back to Birmingham as he tours for his latest book, Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself). He will give a presentation at Cranmer House (2814 Linden Ave) on Thursday, September 22 at 7:00 p.m. Please register at the link below to let us ... Read more
Life often feels like a series of losses. The sadness for what has been lost, whether it is a death of a loved one or disappointment in the choices my loved ones choose, can feel heavy. Clearly, neither my loved one nor the Lord God asked me what I thought, because I know best (insert laughing emoji). ... Read more
A Safe Place to Ponder Questions and Broaden Our Understanding of Christ It seems choosing what to study together as a small group can be a daunting task. Last year, we landed on the Ten Commandments. To be honest, most of us thought, “Well, this will be straightforward,” but it was so much more! Each ... Read more
We hope you will join us for our Parish Retreat this fall! We will gather Friday, September 16, through Sunday, September 18, at Alpine Camp for Boys in Mentone, Alabama. The event will be for all parishioners, “potty trained” and up. Mark Upton of Hope Community Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, will speak. The event ... Read more
Parishioners, friends, and family of all ages are warmly invited to join us as we celebrate the 2022-2023 program year! We hope you’ll join us on Sunday, September 11 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Birmingham Children’s Zoo for dinner, games, and demonstrations from the zoo staff. If you plan to eat dinner, please register at the ... Read more
The Importance of Studying and Sharing Scripture with Others I returned “home” to The Advent in 2021 after the 2020 Covid-quarantine blessing of online worship and the ability to visit various churches. I immediately dove into Sunday worship, Sunday School, individual Bible study, and listening to various teachings online. I received a call from Fontaine ... Read more
All are warmly invited to celebrate the new ministry of Craig Smalley as our Dean and Rector by attending his service of institution on Thursday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m. Heidi Kinner will join us as the preacher. The service will be live-streamed at AdventBirmingham.org/Live.
…So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:1-14) Do you ever play newly discovered songs on repeat? It’s been a quirky habit of mine since childhood. The song “Jireh” popped up on my ... Read more
We moved to Birmingham from out of state in May 2020 — not a great time to move to a new city! When we joined a small group at the Advent in fall 2021, Birmingham finally started to feel like home. The rhythm of meeting each week with a core group of fellow believers has ... Read more
“Enjoy, we made it for you” I took our oldest son to see Top Gun: Maverick at the beginning of the summer. I loved the whole experience—we had a great time together, the theater was packed, and everyone literally cheered together for the triumph of the good guys and the personal redemption and reconciliation between ... Read more
Small Groups Will Not Disappoint! The journey with our small group started like so many others have started at the Advent — in the den of Don and Jane Menendez, two of God servants that we will forever be thankful for. As we began in our group, we were all there for guidance in our ... Read more
Dear Parish Family: I am excited to share news of an addition to our clergy team. Beginning in mid-August, the Reverend Jay Gardner will serve as our Canon Pastor. Some of you may remember that Jay worked with our youth ministry during his time at Beeson Divinity School; was sponsored for ordination from the Advent; ... Read more
Our Primary Mechanism for Deeper Growth at the Advent Our small group has become a focal point of our days at Advent. We have learned to share our lives with the other members in a most encouraging way, and we are grateful for the natural way everyone has fit into our lives. My initial hesitancy to ... Read more