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Join us each Sunday for worship in the University Chapel, led by the dean of religious life and of the chapel, that draws students, faculty, staff, and community members together to hear God’s word, sing praises, and pray for the University and the world.
Feb 2
Service of Holy Communion
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Feb 9
Rev. Dr. Brittany Longsdorf
Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Feb 16
Rev. Dr. Lauren Lisa Ng
Senior Program Officer at Berkeley School of Theology
Berkeley, California
Feb 23
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Mar 2
Service of Holy Communion
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Mar 9
Rev. Dr. Brittany Longsdorf
Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Mar 16
Jasmine Gonzalez
Chapel Seminary Intern
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
Mar 23
Andrew Connors
Senior Pastor at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church
Mar 30
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Apr 6
Service of Holy Communion
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Apr 13
Rev. Dr. Brittany Longsdorf
Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Apr 20
Easter Sunday 8am and 11am Services
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Apr 27
Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell
Public theologian & Author
May 4
Service of Holy Communion
Rev. Dr. Brittany Longsdorf
Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
May 11
Student Preacher Sunday
May 18
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
May 25
10am Service
50th Reunions Preacher
Margaret Benefiel
Princeton University Chapel
PALM SUNDAY
April 13, 2025, 11:00 a.m.
The service begins in McCosh Courtyard, below the Bright Pulpit. All who are able are invited to gather there.
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.
THE GATHERING
Abblasen Fanfare Gottfried Reiche (1667-1734)
Eric Schweingruber, trumpeter
Welcome and Announcements Dean Thames
The Entrance to Jerusalem Jasmin Gonzalez
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 Shūsaku Endō
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
The people, led by Dean Longsdorf, process around the Chapel with the trumpeter, singing the following hymn.
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 for ever we'll rejoice!"
When the procession enters the Chapel, all will sing:
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 Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
One O give thanks to the Holy, for God is good;
God’s steadfast love endures forever!
All Let us say,
“God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
One Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to God.
All This is the gate of the Holy;
the righteous shall enter through it.
One I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
All The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
One This is God’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
All This is the day that God has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
One Save us, we beseech you, O God!
O God, we beseech you, give us success
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Holy One.
We bless you from the house of God.
All The Sacred one is God,
and God has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
One You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
All O give thanks to God, for God is good,
for thy steadfast love endures forever.
Anthem Entrance into Jerusalem Richard Proulx (1937-2010)
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 he 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 “Exit & Enter” Dean Longsdorf
*Hymn No. 304 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name Coronation
Prayers of the People
If there are prayer requests that you would like to share, please raise your hand.
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 Hosanna Jacques Berthier (1923-1994)
Hosanna in the highest!
*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 Adagio from Oboe Concerto No. 2, op. 9 no, 2 Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1751)
Eric Schweingruber, trumpet
*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!
*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. 215 Ride On! Ride On in Majesty St. Drostane
*Benediction
Postlude Festive Prelude on St. Theodulph Rebecca Groom te Velde (b. 1956)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lenten Bible Study - A Lenten Bible Study will be led by our Seminarian, Jasmin Gonzalez, on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in Murray Dodge 210. Join our cozy chapel community in an inclusive scripture discussion, yummy pastries, and fellowship. The Lenten Bible Study will meet every Sunday beginning March 9th and concluding April 20th. This will be the last Lenten Bible Story of this season.
Offering - Today’s offering goes to The World Student Christian Federation and the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA. The World Student Christian Federation is an international organization of student Christian movements. It is the oldest and largest organization of its kind, promoting peace and active nonviolence. 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].
HOLY WEEK SERVICES
All events are free and open.
THURSDAY, April 17, 8:00 p.m. — Maundy Thursday Service — The service will be held in the Chancellor Green Rotunda (enter Chancellor Green through East Pyne located diagonal from the Chapel entrance).
FRIDAY, April 18, 8:00 p.m. — Tenebrae Service — Candlelight service of readings and devotional music.
SUNDAY, April 20, 11:00 a.m. — Easter Festival Service with Holy Communion — The preacher will be Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel. Music prelude begins at 10:30 a.m.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
All events are free and open.
THURSDAY, April 17, 12:30 p.m. — After Noon Concert Series — There will be no concert this week due to Maundy Thursday services. The concert series will resume Thursday, April 24, with performer Bruce Barber, Christ Church Christiana Hundred, Wilmington, DE. This will be the final performance of the Spring 2025 After Noon Concert Series. The series will resume in the Fall 2025 Term.
WEDNESDAY, May 7, 5:30 p.m. — Sound Journey — Music for meditation, contemplation, and prayer, offered by Ruth Cunningham, founding member of Anonymous 4 and sound healing practitioner. This is the last Sound Journey of the Spring term.
WEDNESDAY, May 14, 8:00 p.m. — Jazz Vespers — An inclusive experience of poetry, music, and prayer, featuring jazz saxophonist Audrey Welber, pianist Adam Faulk, and members of the Chapel Choir. This is the last Jazz Vespers of the Spring 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.