Dear Friends

Dear Friends

I realize only now that this wonderful church has played a significant role in my spiritual and musical life--since the late 1960's! If I did not have a prior deep allegiance to another church I would
likely become a member of Advent. Among all the churches in Boston ( I've visited many) it has the
most beautiful and inspired music. And overall it has the most beautiful services: it carries on the ancient Christian rituals--forgotten in many churches-- and brings to them a breath of new life. Most of all I admire their great rectorFather Allan Warren. His sermons are thoughtful-- learned and deeply humane. Year after year,on Easter Sunday, when he declares, passionately, "Christ is Risen!" his conviction wakes up our own.

Just a bit more to say. This is one of the three or so historic Beacon Hill churches and was the church of many distinguished Bostonians. I remember that our great poet Robert Lowell's funeral service was here, in 1977, attended by many well-known writers. I would add one concern: like many Boston churches ( my own included), this congregation is largely white-- though I see that it has been reaching out much more in recent years to communities of color.
Thanks to the Advent for giving us in Boston so much beauty, and for keeping classic Christian
traditions in music and ceremony, alive and well.