A parish where there were 69 baptisms in 1999, and 169 persons confirmed in the fall of 1999 and spring of 2000, a parish where more than 60 percent of its 3,828 members are under the age of 35, and the annual budget is more than $2.1 million, is obviously a parish thriving. These statistics are from the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Ala.

Founded in 1872 but not designated as the cathedral of the Diocese of Alabama until 1981, it is the largest of the 19 parishes in Birmingham and its suburbs, although four of the others have between 1,313 and 3,288 baptized members. "The Advent," as it is generally called, is located where it has always been, in the midst of the downtown business district, now with skyscrapers across the street and next door. Over several decades the Advent has purchased adjacent property and now owns the full half block. Older business buildings were replaced with new parish house and day school facilities. The day school, under Principal Euna Battle, now has 340 students in grades kindergarten through 8.

The diocesan headquarters, Carpenter House, built in 1954, is next door to the cathedral and between them is a memorial garden, a welcome oasis of beauty amid the office towers. The Advent also provides quarters for the Episcopal Bookstore, which serves the city and the diocese. It is the host parish of The Anglican Digest, whose editor, the Rev. Frederick Barbee, is one of the clergy on the staff.

A few miles away, in the "Five Points" section of the city, is Advent House, a healing ministry staffed by an English clergy couple, who live there six months of the year.

Since relatively few of the members of the cathedral live near the downtown business district, what is it that attracts people from all over the metropolitan area? Many answers are possible: The sermons by the dean, the Very Rev. Paul Zahl, and the other clergy on the staff; the pastoral care provided by clergy; the music tradition with three children's choirs, bell ringers, and an adult choir of 36, under the direction of two organist-directors.

"The Bible is central," said Nita Moorhead, the dean's secretary, of how the current dean and his predecessor, the Very Rev. Larry Wilson, "revitalized" the Church of the Advent since it became the cathedral. "They are godly men, with a message people are hungry to hear."

The same thought was voiced by Miriam Morris, one of the three co-directors of the Christian education program. "Dean Zahl is really the attraction," she said. "His sermons are very biblical. He's entertaining, too. He reminds me of Woody Allen. But he gets people thinking throughout the week."

In July the adult choir, under the direction of music director/organist Stephen Schaeffer, sang one Sunday in St. Thomas' Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City. One Friday each month (except in Lent) Mid-day Musical Menus feature 30-minute choral, organ, or instrumental concerts.

The mission of the music program, says Mr. Schaeffer, is to provide a place for musicians to sing and enjoy fellowship, but it is also an outreach to the community, with concerts and Choral Evensong. The 36-40-member children's training choir leads the youngest into the RSCM-tradition boys' and girls' choirs. The adult choir is able to pay 12 singers, but "it's hard to find good singers, with so many churches in the area that pay." The choirs have made three recordings in the '90s. Director Schaeffer says, "I have another one in mind - I'm working on it."

There is an outreach program involving some 20 community service opportunities such as helping at the Firehouse Shelter for homeless men, ministering to patients with AIDS and their families, and tutoring reading at Tuggle Elementary School.

The Christian education program for all ages is particularly appealing. The three lay persons serve part-time as co-directors. Two youth coordinators are also employed. Ms. Morris, the co-director responsible for the 3-year-old to fourth grade children, described a lively program including Children's Chapel with "a message by the resident puppet, Brother Bird," arts and crafts, and a Bible Adventures Club where students learn the books of the Bible, the 23rd Psalm, the Lord's Prayer.

"The fifth graders are responsible for the Chritmas pageant," she said. Their telling of the story, using the traditional words, "no modern retelling," becomes the sermon for the last Sunday of Advent.

The Advent offers three Rite I services on Sunday mornings: Holy Communion at 7:30 and alternating Morning Prayer and the Eucharist at 9 and 11. The Eucharist at noon every weekday in the chapel is Rite II. The traditional language of Rite I in the Sunday services seems welcomed by younger people as well as old timers. The alternation of Morning Prayer and the Eucharist continues the Episcopal Church's long-standing experience that both services enrich one's spiritual life.

During Lent there is a 30-minute service each weekday noon, with visiting preachers from this country and England. Many non-Episcopalians from nearby offices attend.

The dean, the clergy, and many parishioners make every effort to be friendly and to welcome visitors and newcomers. All members are encouraged to share in the usual variety of parish activities or in small groups so they will share in the life of the parish family. One of these is the Lazarus Committee, which assists the clergy at funerals by doing whatever is needed in the service or with the family.

The Advent Small Groups, as they are listed with capital letters in the bulletins, are often prayer groups, or Bible study, but some are specialized. concerning grief, divorce recovery, or couples with small children. In a recent brochure, the names of 24 couples and 19 other persons are listed as small-group leaders. These meet weekly at various times and places, but all are scripture-based and prayer-centered.

The weekly bulletin of Aug. 13 includes notice of a new group which began in the fall: "Praying with Harry Potter - reading a variety of Scriptures, this group will be led by Elaine Whitaker and open to any muggle available from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursdays..."

She joined the Advent in 1985, "moving from a Presbyterian church. The Easter-Sunday-every-Sunday attendance has developed slowly during Paul Zahl's years here," she said. She developed the "Praying with Harry Potter" small group "after a plethora of other more evangelical topics and leaders were chosen first." But, she says, "I would argue that a well-funded cathedral in the heart of Birmingham can be big enough for all of us."

A professor of English at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, she is basing her curriculum on scripture and volume one, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. "It's thematic," she says. "Harry's life was saved by his mother's love. So that naturally suggested 1 Corinthians 13. And there's the faith necessary to catch the train at Platform 9 and 3/4. Mrs. Weasley tells Harry, 'All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier ... don't be scared ... Best do it at a bit of a run...'" The books offer fresh metaphors, and things "invisible to the ordinary world."

Dean Zahl gives four reasons for the Advent's vitality. First, he says, is a "tremendous history of leadership from the beginning in the 1870s, of pastoral and preaching rectors." Through the providence of God, the parish has had "no bad experiences with rectors."

The Advent has "attentive pastoral and educational ministry." For example, policy states that every hospitalized member will be seen every day by one of the five clergy. And there is the "troika of Christian education people," serving children, young people and adults.

"We have a traditional liturgy with a warmth of feeling. We are a Rite I parish, Morning Prayer and Eucharist."

Finally, he said, it is all based upon love of scripture. "I believe theology drives ministry, every aspect of pastoral ministry. I've emphasized preaching - every service has a sermon.

"The Holy Spirit can transform lives in pain." o

The Rev. Emmet Gribbin is a retired priest living in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Patricia Nakamura contributed to this article.