Weekly Update from Fr. van Dooren 11.16.25

Dear members and friends of our Little Church family, 

This Sunday’s Gospel passage and sermon text is a bit startling at first glance as Jesus, in the last days of his life, predicts the destruction of the Temple and warns of calamities to come! The passage is often called the “Synoptic Apocalypse” as it is repeated, in varying forms, in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Luke 21:5-19). The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as Synoptic because they are somewhat similar and view things as if through a similar eye. 

But as with all scripture, even the most difficult words give life and meaning when carefully and prayerfully read. Following a bit of study, I have found these initial tough verses so very life giving in the face of our world’s present perils and intense challenges. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday with this passage as we near the end of the Christian year.  

The music for this Sunday is new. At last summer’s choir camp, the choir began to learn two new mass settings. One was by the post classical Venetian Composer Baldasare Gallupi. The other, we will sing part of this Sunday. It is the Missa brevis by Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina. (c. 1525–1594), a master of Renaissance sacred music. He is renowned for his exceptionally clear, balanced, and harmonious polyphonic style, which became the model for sacred music and is still taught today as the "Palestrina style". His extensive work includes over 100 masses, 300 motets, and 140 madrigals, and he spent most of his career working in Rome, notably as choirmaster at St. Peter's Basilica.

We will also celebrate our monthly Spanish mass this Sunday, November 16 at 5:00pm in the Family Chapel. 

We are partnering with the Episcopal Actors Guild for a holiday food drive! Please help us fill empty plates this season! Donations are being collected for the Actors Pantry at EAG and will be distributed to NYC actors, dancers, and singers in need. Most-needed items include canned meat, soups, pasta, rice, granola bars, nuts, beans, peanut butter, jelly, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, & soap. We also welcome holiday items like stuffing, cocoa, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Click here for more information on how to donate funds or food. 

Hurricane Melissa has devastated Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, with communities in the Caribbean reeling from the impact. The Episcopal Diocese of New York is responding in the aftermath through our deep connections to the Anglican Church in the Caribbean. Donations collected will be sent to the Diocese of Jamaica & the Cayman Islands. Donations will be accepted at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Avenue) through November 24 during normal business hours. Click here to view the list of accepted items and information on how to make a monetary donation. 

 The final discussion in our Adult Christian Education series "A Great Cloud of Witnesses" will be on November 23 at 1 pm. Joan Seymour who will lead our discussion on Samuel Seabury. If you have seen the acclaimed musical “Hamilton” then you know something about Samuel Seabury. Join us to learn more about the first American Bishop!

Join us for the next concert in A Celebration Year of Esmeralda, honoring our newly donated 1888 Steinway piano “Esmeralda” now at home in the Houghton Hall Arts Community. This special cabaret evening on Sunday, November 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm features performers from the Church of the Transfiguration and the Houghton Hall Arts Community, sharing songs and stories in honor of Thanksgiving. A great night of music, gratitude, and celebration. Tickets are $5 Advance / $10 at the door and can be purchased online here. The cabaret will be held in the Fred and Adele Astaire Ballroom in Houghton Hall Arts Community (enter at 22 East 30th Street).

We will have a said mass in the Family chapel on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27) at 11:00am. We are usually few in number, but we have a great time of worship and fellowship. 

Join us on the first Sunday of Advent, Sunday, November 30, at 3 pm for a special concert and reception featuring Minnie Li, violin and Claudia Dumschat, organ and harpsichord. Pieces to be performed include Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 1, BWV 1001, Bach’s Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659-661 and Handel’s Sonata No. 5 HWV 371. At our reception, we will enjoy delicious German Advent treats! General admission tickets are $25, tickets for students and seniors are $15. Purchase tickets in advance
here.

This is the fourth week of our annual pledge campaign. We are grateful for those who have already made their 2026 pledge, and we are hoping for 100% participation. Many will be able to specify a financial amount of money that will enable the parish’s vestry to prepare a budget for the upcoming year. Others, who at present cannot commit to a specific amount of money, can make an Open Pledge, committing what they can in time, talent, or treasure for the support of the parish. Pledges can be submitted online here, but printed out copies will still be available in the back of the church and in the parish office.

The Holy Rosary will be prayed in the Family chapel at 9:30am this Sunday. We will pray the Luminous mysteries this Sunday.

We continue to live-stream each Sunday’s mass at 11:00am, and a link is sent out each Sunday morning at 8:00am.  We live-stream on Facebook and YouTube. Please email the parish office (parishoffice@littlechurch.org) if you would like to pray the morning and evening offices with us by Zoom. 

Thank you for your continued faith, support, and love for the parish.  

Fides Opera

With loving wishes,
Fr. van Dooren