Sunday Worship Service - Lenten Season
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE
Sunday, 11am, Princeton University Chapel
Join us each Sunday for worship in the University Chapel, led by the dean and the associate dean of religious life and of the chapel, that draws students, faculty, staff, and townspeople together to hear God’s word, to sing God’s praise, to lift up the University in prayer.
*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
The bulletin for this service is below.
Princeton University Chapel, Fifth Sunday in Lent, April 3, 2022
A Service of Holy Communion
You are invited to rise, in body or spirit, for those parts of the service marked with an asterisk (*)
Invitatory - Fantasie in C from The Complete Works of César Franck: IV by César Franck (1822-1890)
Welcome and Announcements - Dean Thames
*Hymn No. 37 - Our God, to Whom We Turn (Steadfast)
*Call to Worship
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 43:16-21 - Thus says God, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.
Anthem - O God, Beyond All Praising (Thaxted) by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) and arr. by Richard Proulx (1937-2010) - O God, beyond all praising, we worship you today and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay for we can only wonder at ev’ry gift you send, at blessings without number and mercies without end: we lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word, we honor and adore you, our great and mighty Lord. The flow’r of earthly splendor in time must surely die, its fragile bloom surrender to you, the Lord most high; but hidden from all nature the eternal seed is sown—though small in mortal stature, to heaven’s garden grown: for Christ the one from heaven from death has set us free, and we through him are given the final victory. Then hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring, that we who know your favor may serve you as our King; And whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, we’ll triumph through our sorrows and rise to praise you still: to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways, and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise. - Michael Perry (1942-1996), alt.
Reading - John 12:1-8 - Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
Sermon - “Something New” by Dean Boden
Sermon - “Concerning You” by Dean Thames
*Hymn No. 206 - A Woman Came Who Did Not Count the Cost (Wexford Carol)
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.
*Exchange of the Peace
One - The peace of God be always with you.
All - And also with you.
Offertory Sentence
Music at the Offering - Thee We Adore (Adoro te devote) by T. Frederick H. Candlyn (1892-1964) - Thee we adore, O hidden Savior, Thee, who in Thy Sacrament art pleased to be; both flesh and spirit in thy presence fail, yet here Thy presence we devoutly hail. O blest memorial of our dying Lord, who living bread to us doth here afford; O may our souls forever feed on thee, and thou, O Christ, forever precious be. Fountain of goodness, Jesus, Lord and God, cleanse us, unclean, with thy most cleansing blood; increase our faith and love, that we may know the hope and peace which from thy presence flow. O Christ, whom now beneath a veil we see, may what we thirst for soon our portion be; to gaze on thee unveiled, and see thy face, the vision of thy glory and thy grace. - St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), trans. James Russell Woodford
*Doxology - Sung to the tune of hymn no. 7 (Old Hundredth) 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!
*Communion
Invitation to Communion
Kyrie from Deutsche Messe by Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828)
One: This is the joyful feast of the people of God.
All: Let us rejoice and be glad.
One: Creator God, We bless you and praise you, you spoke and the Earth was formed. You drew a breath and the sea rose.
All: All of creation sings your praises.
Sanctus from Deutsche Messe by Franz Peter Schubert
One: From the dust of the Earth, you created our bodies. You gave us our senses and blessed us with the power of reason and love. Yet we turned against you and one another.
All: Have mercy on us, mighty God.
One: And so you sent us Jesus, the incarnate one, to show us how to love you. He announced good news to the poor, release to the captive, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed.
All: Through all his life and death, He reconciled us to you and to one another.
Agnus Dei from Deutsche Messe by Franz Peter Schubert
One: Witnessing to that reconciliation, on the night he was arrested, in company with his good friends, Jesus took bread. After giving thanks, he broke it and said:
All: Take. Eat. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this, remembering me.
One: After supper, he took a cup of wine and said:
All: “Drink this, all of you. This is the new covenant, sealed in my blood; whenever you drink it, do this, remembering me.”
One: Remembering Jesus, we ask you to send the power of the Holy Spirit upon this bread and this wine that these gifts may be for us the sacrament of your healing presence among us in a broken and bleeding world. Feed us with your power; fill us with your peace; lead us, reconciled and redeemed, into the world, to work for the liberation and reconciliation of all peoples.
All: In the name of God, Creating, Redeeming, and Sanctifying, we pray, Amen.
One: The gifts of God for the people of God.
All of God’s People are Welcome at God’s Table.
Music during Communion - Let Us Break Bread Together arranged by Gilbert M. Martin (b. 1941)
*Thanksgiving - Eternal God, we thank you for graciously calling us into community with Jesus and one another, and for beginning in us the age that is to come. Grant us courage and send us forth to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ. To Christ, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. 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.
*Hymn No. 210 - Said Judas to Mary (Judas and Mary)
*Benediction
Voluntary - Prelude in B Minor, BWV 544 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
César Franck Bicentennial – 2022 marks the bicentennial of French organist and composer César Franck (1822-1890). In celebration, throughout 2022, University Organist Eric Plutz will offer the complete works for organ. The Invitatories and Voluntaries at the Sunday morning services provide ample space for the twelve large compositions, and the survey continues through Lent.
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.
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
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 258-3048. The offering this morning will go to further the ministry of the University Chapel.
Calendar of Events
All events are in the University Chapel unless otherwise stated.
Hallelujah Church @ Princeton, today, Sunday, April 3, 1:30pm, Murray-Dodge 104 – A service of exciting worship, inspiring music, and a place of grace where love, hope and faith come alive.
Hour of Power, Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 12pm, Murray-Dodge 104 – An interdenominational weekly Christian service of praise, prayer, music and proclamation.
After Noon Concert, Thursday, April 7, 2022, 12:30pm – Guest Musician Connor Fluharty, Acting Director of Music, Trinity Episcopal Church, and Director of Music for Episcopal Church at Princeton - both of Princeton, NJ.
Holy Week Events sponsored by the Office of Religious Life
Palm Sunday Worship Service, Sunday, April 10, 2022, 11am - The preacher will be DeanThames.
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.