Preaching today is the 50th Reunions Preacher, Rev. Dr. Margaret Benefiel ‘75, Executive Director of the Shalem Institute.

rinceton University Chapel 

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Reunions Weekend 2025 

May 25, 2025, 10:00 a.m. 

You are invited to rise, in body or spirit, for those parts of the service marked with an asterisk (*) 

Hymns are found in the New Century Hymnal. 

Prelude Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) 

Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068 Johann Sebastian Bach 

Welcome and Announcements Dean Thames 

*Hymn No. 273 Praise with Joy the World’s Creator Lauda anima 

*Call to Worship Dean Longsdorf 

*Invocation 

Reading Psalm 67 

` God be merciful unto us, and bless us; 

and cause the holy face to shine upon us; Selah. 

That your way may be known upon earth, 

your saving health among all nations. 

Let the people praise you, O God; 

let all the people praise your name. 

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: 

for you will judge the people righteously, 

and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 

Let the people praise you, O God; 

let all the people praise your name. 

Then shall the earth yield her increase; 

and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 

God shall bless us; 

and all the ends of the earth will be in awe. 

Anthem Benedicat nos Deus Johann Caspar Aiblinger (1779-1867) 

May God continue to bless us; 

let all the ends of the earth revere God. 

Psalm 67:7 

Reading John 14:23-29 

Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and God will love them, and we will come 

to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and the word 

that you hear is not mine but is from God who sent me.” 

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom God 

will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave 

with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, 

and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you 

loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Creator because the Creator is greater than I. And now I 

have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe.” 

Sermon “Eastertide Living” Rev. Dr. Margaret Benefiel, '75 

*Hymn No. 563 We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky Endless Song 

Prayers of the People 

After each petition: 

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. 

Choral Response If You Believe and I Believe Zimbabwean, arr. John L. Bell 

*Exchange of the Peace 

One The peace of God be always with you. 

All And also with you. 

The people may exchange the peace with one another. 

Offertory Sentence 

Music at the Offering The Lord Bless You and Keep You John Rutter (b. 1945) 

The Lord bless you and keep you; 

The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; 

The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

Amen. 

Numbers 6:24-26 

*Doxology Sung to the tune of Hymn No. 27 Lasst uns erfreuen 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, 

Praise God all creatures here below, alleluia, alleluia. 

Praise God above ye heavenly hosts, 

Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost, 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 

*Prayer for Princeton To be said by all. 

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. 497 Guide My Feet Guide My Feet 

*Benediction 

Postlude Crown Imperial Sir William Walton (1902-1983) 

arr. Herbert Murrill 

GUEST PREACHER 

Rev. Dr. Margaret Benefiel, '75, Executive Director of the Shalem Institute (www.Shalem.org), has served as Chair of the Academy of Management's Management, Spirituality, and Religion Group, as Co-chair of the Christian Spirituality Program Unit of the American Academy of Religion, and in various leadership roles in Spiritual Directors International. Over 3,000 executives, managers, and other leaders have participated in her seminars and courses. Author of Crisis Leadership, Soul at Work, and The Soul of a Leader, and co-editor of The Soul of Higher Education and The Soul of Supervision. Dr. Benefiel has also written for The Leadership Quarterly, Management Communication Quarterly, Managerial Finance, Journal of Organizational Change Management, Organization, Personal Excellence, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, America, Presence, The Way, Studies in Spirituality, Radical Grace, and Faith at Work. She lives with her husband in Greenbelt, Maryland and enjoys hiking, cycling, reading novels, and scuba diving in her free time. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Offering - The offering this morning will go to LALDEF, the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund. LALDEF is based in Trenton and serves Mercer County. LALDEF is a grassroots nonprofit organization formed to defend the civil rights of Latin Americans and facilitate their access to health care and education, as well as to advance cross-cultural understanding in the Mercer County area. They have been very active in helping our neighbors to understand their rights regarding immigration and deportation. Please make checks payable to “Princeton University Chapel”. 

Flowers - If you are interested in making a contribution toward Sunday flowers in the Chapel as a memorial, please contact Patricia Florek – [email protected]. 

Summer Chapel Construction Update - Due to ongoing construction projects, the Princeton University Chapel will not hold Sunday worship services this summer, from June 1 until we resume on August 31. To receive a weekly email devotional during this time, please contact Dean Longsdorf at [email protected] 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

All events are free and open. 

SUNDAY, June 8, 10 a.m. — Chapel Tour — Tour the nearly 100-year-old Princeton University Chapel, designed by renowned Gothic Revival architect Ralph Adams Cram, and explore its rich history, stained-glass windows, furnishings, and memorials. Binoculars are welcome. Admission is free, and each tour is limited to 24 participants. To reserve your spot or for more information, contact [email protected]. Chapel tours will resume in the Fall Term. 

Princeton University Chapel Staff 

The Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel 

The Rev. Dr. Brittany Longsdorf, Associate Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel 

Nicole Aldrich, DMA, Director of Chapel Music 

Eric Plutz, University Organist 

Jasmin Gonzalez, Seminary Intern 

Edgar Gomez & Lisa McGurr, Sextons 

Patricia Florek, Chapel Administrator 

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.