Details
Join us at in the magnificent Princeton University Chapel for a Christmas Day Worship Service with Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel. Music by Jennifer Borghi '02, soprano, and University Organist Eric Plutz
This service will be live streamed on the ORL YouTube page available through this link.
The bulletin for this service is below
Princeton University Chapel, December 25, 2022 – Christmas Day
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:
Noel X by Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772)
Christmas Intrada by David Conte (b. 1955)
Noël – Votre bonté grand Dieu by Claude Balbastre (1727-1799)
*Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful, Adeste Fideles. The hymns are printed in the bulletin.
*Welcome by Dean Thames
*Call to Worship by Dean Boden
One: The True Light that enlightens everyone has come into the world!
All: Therefore let us live as the Children of Light!
One: The glory of God is made known in the face of a child!
All: Let us join the shepherds and angels in the worship of him!
*Invocation
First Reading: Titus 3:4-7
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Solo: He Shall Feed His Flock by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Jennifer Borghi '02, soprano
Second Reading : Luke 2:1-7
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Sermon: “Inheriting Love” by Dean Thames
*Hymn: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Mendelssohn
Intercessory Prayers by Dean Boden
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. kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
*Exchange of the Peace
Leader: The peace of God be always with you.
People: And also with you.
The people may exchange the peace with one another.
Offertory Sentence
Music at the Offering: In the Bleak Midwinter by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
*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
*Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to God.
One: Let us give thanks to God most high.
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
One: Holy God, our loving Creator, close to us as breathing and distant as the farthest star, we thank you for your constant love for all you have made. We thank you for all that sustains life, for all people of faith in every generation who have given themselves to your will, and especially for Jesus Christ, whom you have sent from your own being as our Savior. We praise you for Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection, and for the calling forth of your church in the world. Gifted by the presence of your Holy Spirit, we offer ourselves to you as we unite our voices with the entire family of your faithful people everywhere:
Sanctus:
Holy, holy, holy, God of pow’r and might! Heaven and earth, heave and earth, heaven and earth are full of your glory! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!
All: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
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 of creation sings your praises:
Gloria: Glory to God, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace. Glory to God, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace. These glad tidings of great joy shall be to all people, great joy! These glad tidings of great joy shall be to all people, great joy! Glory to God, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.
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.
Kyrie: Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison, eleison.
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.
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. In the name of God, Creating, Redeeming, and Sanctifying, we pray, Amen.
All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again!
One: The gifts of God for the people of God.
Agnus Dei: Lamb of God, who take away the sing of the world. Miserere nobis. Lamb of God, who take away the sing of the world. Miserere nobis. Lamb of God, who take away the sing of the world. Dona nobis pacem.
All of God’s people are welcome at God’s table.
Please come forward to receive Communion. You are then invited to return to your seats to keep silence for meditation and prayer.
Music during Communion :
Of the Father’s Love Begotten arr. Wilber Held (1914-2015)
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Thanksgiving: To be said by all.
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: 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: Go Tell It On The Mountain, African-American spiritual
*Benediction
Voluntary: In Dulci Jubilo, BWV 729 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
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; Dr. Nicole Aldrich, Director of Chapel Music; Eric Plutz, University Organist; Elizabeth Powers, Chapel Administrator; Natalie Harvey and Becky Schad, Seminary Interns; 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. 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.
Every Sunday of every month the congregation is invited to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to Arm in Arm.
The offering this morning will go to Habitat for Humanity.
Christian worship is offered at Princeton University Chapel every Sunday morning at 11:00. It is a warm and welcoming community of faith. If you would like more information about our services, please speak with a minister or an usher. We hope you will join us!
Calendar of Services:
A Christmas Festival Service of Lessons and Carols: Presented by Trinity Episcopal Church, Princeton
Sunday, January 1, 2023 —11:00 a.m.
University Chapel Service, festive hymn sing.
Sunday, January 8, 2023 —11:00 a.m.