Event details

Join us online for worship on Sunday, March 14, 2021. The service will have magnificent music provided by Penna Rose, Director of Chapel Music, Eric Plutz, University Organist, and guest musicians Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, soloist and Phillip Orr, pianist.

The recorded service is available Sunday at 8am here Chapel Service . This service will remain archived after the premiere (along with concerts and other amazing programs), and we encourage you to return to them whenever you might find that to be helpful.

Please note this is a fully virtual event.  

Preaching today is Rev. Alison L. Boden, Ph.D., Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel, Princeton University . This is the fourth Sunday of the Lenten Season.

Bulletin for Sunday, March 14, 2021 – Fourth Sunday in Lent

Gathering Music: Lead Me, Guide Me by Doris Akers with guest musicians Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin, soloist and Phillip Orr, pianist

Welcome and Announcements: Dean Thames

Call to Worship: Alexandra Miller-Knaack

Prayer of Confession: Let us confess our sins to God. Almighty and everlasting God, always more ready to hear than we are to pray, always willing to give more than we either desire or deserve: pour upon us the abundance of your mercy; forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Reading: Numbers 21:4-9 (Read by Phoebe A. Warren ’21)

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.’ Then God sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned by speaking against God and against you; pray to God to take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. And God said to Moses, ‘Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.’ So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Solo: In the Presence of Jehovah by The Martins

Reading: John 3:14-21

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that God gave God’s only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’

Sermon: “Fear and Healing” by Dean Boden

Hymn: God Loved the World (Rockingham)

God loved the world, and loving gave a wondrous gift, the lost to save, that all who would in Christ believe should everlasting life receive.

Christ Jesus is the ground of faith, who was made flesh and suffered death; all who confide in Christ alone are built on this chief cornerstone.

Be of good cheer, for God in Christ forgives the flock, by sin enticed, and justified by Jesus' blood, your baptism grants the highest good.

Pastoral Prayer

Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for Princeton: O Eternal God, the source of life and light for all peoples, we pray you would endow this University with your grace and wisdom: give inspiration and understanding to those who teach and to those who learn; grant vision to its trustees and administrators; to all who work here and to all who bear her name give your guiding Spirit of sacrificial courage and loving service. Amen

Solo: Give Me Jesus (African-American Spiritual)

Benediction

Voluntary: Chaconne in E Minor, BuxWV 160 by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)

University Chapel Staff: The Rev. Alison L. Boden, Ph.D., Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel; The Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Associate Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel; Penna Rose, Director of Chapel Music; Eric Plutz, University Organist; Elizabeth Powers, Chapel Administrator; Alexandra Miller-Knaack, Seminarian Intern; Edgar Gomez, Sexton; Lisa McGurr, Sexton

The University Chapel is a welcoming community of faith. We gather to sing God's praises, to hear God's living Word, to seek justice, and to proclaim God's love for all people.

Calendar: Sunday, March 21 2021 - University Chapel Worship Service. The preacher will be Jeff Chu.

For additional information, please visit chapel.princeton.edu or call 609-258-3047.