Weekly Update from Fr. van Dooren 1.9.26
Very dear members and friends of our parish family,
In the midst of challenging and tragic days around the world, Christians are living out the promise of the prophet Isaiah writing many centuries ago with words that live to this very moment. “Arise, shine, or your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. For behold darkness covers the land, deep gloom enshrouds the peoples. But over you the Lord will rise, and his glory will appear upon you…”
Bishop Heyd, our diocesan bishop, wrote this past week about the situation in Venezuela (click here to read), and as pastoral letters emerge from our diocese, as well as from the national church, about recent tragedies in Minnesota, Portland, and other parts of the world, I will include them in our notices. In faith, prayer always evolves into responsiveness, and may we keep vigil with our bishops to see how God might use us for peace.
Always, always our tradition places the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord on the first Sunday after the Epiphany. It is a day of rejoicing whether in good times or in bad, and we come together this Sunday acknowledging our need for a Savior and our need for the love and support of one another.
In the sermon, I hope to say a few words about the liminal time of the Epiphany season resting between the two great feasts of Easter and Christmas, and then also to give honor and recognition to the sacrament of Baptism. Baptism reminds us who we are in God and how our hands, minds, and feet in this world make a difference.
Our music this week celebrates the Baptism of Christ, and will sing lots of great hymns, including the great German hymn tune Salzburg sung to the text, Songs of Thankfulness and Praise. The tune was written by Jacob Hinze (1622-1702). He lived during the Thirty Years' War and partly to further his musical education, he traveled widely as a youth, including trips to Sweden and Lithuania. In 1659 he settled in Berlin.
We also sing a new hymn to the church, Baptized in Water, by the New York Composer, Eugene Hancock. Eugene died a few years ago, and was a significant person on the New York scene. For many years, he was the associate Organist at St. John the Divine. The hymn has a gospel element to it, and is a wonderful and stirring new addition to the hymn repertoire.
We invite you to join us on Friday, January 30 at 7 pm for a special concert featuring Matei Varga on piano. From Impressionistic fairy tales to stories of unrequited love - come enjoy works by Debussy, Ravel, Enescu, Bach, and Brahms. Warm up your winter blues with music played on Houghton Hall's new piano Esmeralda! Tickets are $20 for General Admission, $15 for students and seniors. Get your tickets in advance here. Please note this concert will be held in the Fred and Adele Astaire Ballroom in Houghton Hall Arts Community (enter at 22 East 30th Street).
The Holy Rosary will be prayed in the Family chapel at 9:30am this Sunday. We will pray the Luminous mysteries which include the story of our Lord’s Baptism.
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 contact the parish office 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