Join us for worship on Sunday, December 20, 2020 with Rev. Alison Boden, Ph.D., Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel. This is the fourth Sunday of Advent. The service will have magnificent music provided by Penna Rose, Director of Chapel Music and by Eric Plutz, University Organist. and will include Sean Crites '22 singing I Wonder as I Wander by John Jacob Niles and In the Bleak Midwinter by Harold Darke with Dr. Dan Martin, organist on both pieces.

The recorded service is available at 8am here Chapel Sunday Service and join us for Bible Study at 10am with Alex Miller-Knaack, Chapel Seminary Intern. Email Alex Miller-Knaack, at [email protected] with questions and information to connect to the Bible Study. Bring your coffee, your questions, and yourself. We’ll gather together for an hour to wrestle with what Scripture has for us today.

This service will remain archived after the premiere (along with concerts and other amazing programs), and we encourage you to return to them whenever you might find that to be helpful. The bulletin for this service is below.

Bulletin for Sunday, December 20, 2020 – Fourth Sunday of Advent

Invitatory: Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland and Veni, veni, Emmanuel – Arranged by Paul Manz (1919-2009)

Welcome and Announcements: Dean Boden

Call to Worship

Leader: We have lit a fourth candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ. Advent means coming. We are preparing ourselves for the days when the nations shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, The desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. God will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel (God is with us).

Hymn: O Come, O Come (Veni Emmanuel)

Lyrics: O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Desire of Nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; bid envy, strife and sorrow cease; fill the whole world with heaven's peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, O Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge show, and help us in that way to go. Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Confession: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Have mercy on us, most merciful Creator; in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone; and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Now when the king was settled in his house, and God had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for God is with you.”  But that same night the word of God came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Almighty: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the God of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover God declares to you that God will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.”

Solo: I Wonder as I Wander by John Jacob Niles (1892-1980) with Sean Crites ’22, soloist and Dr. Dan Martin, organist

Reading: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! God is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of God; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Sermon: “Redeployment” by Dean Boden

Hymn: My Soul Gives Glory to My God (Morning Song)

Lyrics: My soul gives glory to my God. My heart pours out its praise. God lifted up my lowliness in many marvelous ways.

From age to age, to all who fear, such mercy love imparts, dispensing justice far and near, dismissing selfish hearts.

Praise God, whose loving covenant supports those in distress, remembering past promises with present faithfulness.

Pastoral 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 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.

Solo: In the Bleak Midwinter by Harold Darke (1888-1976) with Sean Crites ’22, soloist and Dr. Dan Martin, organist

Benediction

Voluntary: Toccata on “Veni, Veni Emmanuel” by Andrew Carter (b.1939)

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; Penna Rose, Director of Chapel Music; Eric Plutz, University Organist; Elizabeth Powers, Chapel Administrator; Alexandra Miller-Knaack, Seminarian 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.

Calendar

THURSDAY, December 24, 2020—Christmas Eve Service. The preacher will be Dean Boden.

FRIDAY, December 25, 2020—Christmas Day Service.  The preacher will be Dean Thames.

SUNDAY, December 27, 2020—University Chapel Service.  The preacher will be Dean Boden

For additional information please visit chapel.princeton.edu or call 609-258-3047.