Event details
Palm Sunday Worship Service
PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE
Sunday, 11am, Princeton University Chapel
Join us for Palm Sunday Worship Service at 11am in the University Chapel Music by the Princeton University Chapel Choir with Nicole Aldrich, Director of Chapel Music and of the University Chapel, and Eric Plutz University Organist.
*All persons, including members of the broader community, are welcome to attend this event if they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 if over age 12. Registration is required for contact tracing purposes. Starting March 14, 2022, face coverings will be optional in most University spaces, with some exceptions. Details may be found in the Safe Practices section.
Register in advance through this link
Princeton University Chapel Bulletin for Palm Sunday, April 10, 2022
Please stand for those parts of the service marked with an asterisk (*).
The Gathering
Invitatory - Abblasen Fanfare by Gottfried Reiche (1667-1734) with Eric Schweingruber, Trumpeter
Welcome - Dean Boden
The Entrance into Jerusalem - Otis Byrd, Jr.
One - Christ is with us.
All - Christ is in our midst.
One - Let us pray:
All - Merciful God, as we enter Holy Week and gather at your house of prayer, turn our hearts again to Jerusalem, to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that united with Christ and all the faithful we may one day enter in triumph the city not made by human hands, the new Jerusalem, eternal in the heavens, where with you and the Holy Spirit, Christ lives in glory forever. Amen.
A Reading from Shusaku Endo - The Pesach was at hand. The people preparing for the festival were looking back on their long history, rueful over the anguished adversity of their ancient wandering migrations, and they prayed with fervor that God would come again to restore prosperity to the land now trampled underfoot by the Gentiles. Jesus, of course, knew the spirit of the feast. On this particular day, shortly before the festival itself began with full knowledge he dared to plunge into the whirlpool of popular misunderstanding. Descending from the Mount of Olives and through cheers from the crowd, he certainly knew that he was soon going to disappoint these people and that the people, in their frustration, would turn against him. Jesus, coming down from the mountain and entering the city wore a painful smile.
Blessing of the Palms:
One - Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
All - Peace on earth, and glory in the highest heaven.
One - Let us pray:
All - O God, who in Jesus Christ triumphantly entered Jerusalem, heralding a week of pain and sorrow, be with us now as we follow the way of the cross. In these events of defeat and victory, you have sealed the closeness of death and resurrection, of humiliation and exaltation. We thank you for these branches that promise to become for us symbols of martyrdom and majesty. Bless them and us that their use this day may announce in our time that Christ has come and that Christ will come again. Amen! Come, Christ Jesus!
One - Let us go forth in peace.
All - In the name of Christ. Amen.
The Procession of the Congregation
Hymn - “Hosanna, loud hosanna” (Ellacombe) “Hosanna, loud hosanna,” the little children sang; through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang; to Jesus who had blessed them close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best. From Olivet they followed amid a cheering crowd, the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The one whom angels worship rode on in lowly state, and glad to see the children, slowed down the donkey's gait. "Hosanna in the highest!" That ancient song is ours. We hail our great Redeemer and sing with all our powers; "Hosanna, Christ, we praise you with heart and life and voice. Hosanna! In your presence forever we'll rejoice!"
Hymn - All Glory, Laud, and Honor (St. Theodulph) - All glory, laud, and honor to you, O Christ, we sing, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring! The people of the Hebrews with palms adorned your way; our praise and prayer and anthems we offer you this day. O Promised One of Israel, of David’s royal line, the one called “God’s beloved,” of flesh and yet divine, to you, before your passion they sang their hymns of praise; to you, now high exalted, our melody we raise. As you received their praises, receive our prayers today, whose justice and whose mercy and sovereignty hold sway. All glory, laud, and honor to you, O Christ, we sing, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring!
*Invocation
Prayer of Confession -
One - Let us confess our sins to God.
All - 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 - Isaiah 50:4-9a - God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning God wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; God who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
Anthem - Entrance into Jerusalem by Richard Proulx (1937-2010) with Eric Schweingruber, trumpet - Lift up your heads, O ye gates! And the King of glory shall come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty! The Lord of Hosts! The Lord is the King of glory! He is God, the mighty Lord! Lift up your heads, O ye gates! And the King of glory shall come in! - Psalm 24:7-10
Reading - Luke 19:28-40 - After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Sermon - “Sustaining the Weary” by Dean Thames
*Hymn No. 304 - All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (Coronation)
Prayers of the People
One - God of love and mercy,
All - Hear our 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 Response - Music from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff (1895-1982) with Eric Schweingruber, trumpet
*Exchange of the Peace
One - The peace of God be always with you.
All - And also with you.
Offertory Sentence
Music at the Offering - Ride on, King Jesus (Spiritual) arranged by Robert de Cormier (1922-2017) Ride on, King Jesus, no man can a-hinder me. For He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, the first and last. No one works like Him. King Jesus rides a milk-white horse. No one works like Him. Oh, Lord, the river of Jordan He did cross. No one works like Him. For He is King of Kings…King Jesus rides in the middle of the air, no one works like Him. Oh Lord, He calls the saints from ev’rywhere, no one works like Him.
*Doxology - Praise God the Source of life and birth, praise God the Word enfleshed on earth, praise God, the Spirit, Holy Flame, All glory, honor to God’s name! (Old Hundredth)
*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.
*Hymn No. 215 - Ride On! Ride On in Majesty (St. Drostane)
*Benediction
Voluntary - Fanfare for an Angel by James M. Stephenson (b. 1969) with Eric Schweingruber, trumpeter
A note regarding the season - Palm Sunday begins the succession of days traditionally known as Holy Week, commemorating the final events of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The week culminates in Maundy Thursday, commemorating the institution of the Last Supper, and Good Friday, when the church gathers to remember Jesus’ crucifixion and death. (Maundy Thursday derives its name from the English form of the Latin word meaning “command.” It refers to Jesus’ words in John’s Gospel - “Behold, I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another as I have loved you.”)
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; Nicole Aldrich, Director of Chapel Music and of the Chapel Choir; Eric Plutz, University Organist; Elizabeth Powers, Chapel Administrator; Otis Byrd, Jr. Seminary 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. Every Sunday of every month the congregation is invited to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to Arm in Arm. If you are interested in making a contribution toward Sunday flowers in the chapel as a memorial, please contact Liz Powers for details at 609-258-3048. The offering this morning will go to Princeton Blairstown Center and the National AIDS Fund. Princeton-Blairstown Center (PBC) helps urban young people through transformative experiential education programs to achieve the new standards for high school graduation and succeed in their lives after high school. The goal of the National AIDS Fund is simple but unique - to get private money into the hands of those who need it most and to make a difference in the fight against AIDS in local communities.
Calendar of Events
All events are in the University Chapel unless otherwise stated.
- Hallelujah Church @ Princeton, today, Sunday, April 10, 1:30pm, Murray-Dodge 104 – A service of exciting worship, inspiring music, and a place of grace where love, hope and faith come alive.
- Stations of the Cross, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 8pm - Stations of the Cross by Marcel Dupré with poetry of Paul Claudel with Ken Cowan, organist, and Alison Boden, reader.
- Hour of Power, Wednesday, April 13, 2022, 12pm, Murray-Dodge 104 – An interdenominational weekly Christian service of praise, prayer, music and proclamation.
- The Seven Last Words of Christ, Wednesday, April 13, 2022, 7pm lecture, 8pm performance - The Seven Last Words of Christ by Franz Joseph Haydn with the Vermeer Quartet and Dean Boden and Dean Thames with guest preachers
- Maundy Thursday Service, April 14, 2022, 8pm - The service will be held in the Chancellor Green Rotunda.
- Good Friday Contemplative Service, April 15, 2022, 12pm - Contemplative service of meditation including the reproaches from the cross.
- Good Friday Tenebrae Service, April 15, 2022, 8pm – Candlelight service of readings and devotional music.
- Easter Sunday Service, April 17, 2022, 8am - Easter Sunday Service with Holy Communion - Dean Boden will be the preacher.
- Easter Sunday Service, April 17, 2022, 11am - Easter Festival Service with Holy Communion - Dean Boden will be the preacher.
- Hallelujah Church @ Princeton, Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, 1:30pm, Murray-Dodge Hall – Open to all Princeton University students.
For more information, please visit chapel.princeton.edu
Holy Week 2022 Preaching Schedule
Palm Sunday Service, April 10, 11am - Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Associate Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel at Princeton University
Stations of the Cross, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 8pm - Stations of the Cross by Marcel Dupré with poetry of Paul Claudel with Ken Cowan, organist, and Alison Boden, reader.
The Seven Last Words of Christ, Wednesday, April 13, 2022, 7pm lecture, 8pm performance - The Seven Last Words of Christ by Franz Joseph Haydn with the Vermeer Quartet and Dean Boden and Dean Thames with guest preachers
Maundy Thursday Service, April 14, 2022, 8pm - The service will be held in the Chancellor Green Rotunda.
Good Friday Contemplative Service, April 15, 2022, 12pm - Contemplative service of meditation including the reproaches from the cross.
Good Friday Tenebrae Service, April 15, 2022, 8pm – Candlelight service of readings and devotional music.
Easter Sunday Service, April 17, 2022, 8am - Easter Sunday Service with Holy Communion - Dean Boden will be the preacher.
Easter Sunday Service, April 17, 2022, 11am - Easter Festival Service with Holy Communion - Dean Boden will be the preacher.
Hallelujah Church @ Princeton, Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, 1:30pm, Murray-Dodge Hall – Open to all Princeton University students.
For more information, please visit chapel.princeton.edu
Sponsorship of an event does not constitute institutional endorsement of external speakers or views presented.