Details

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.
Sept 1
Worship Service
Service of Holy Communion
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Sept 8
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Sept 15
Worship Service
Guest Preacher
Judy Fentress-Williams, ’84
Virginia Theological Seminary, Dodge Professor of Biblical Interpretation
Sept 22
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Catherine Cook Davis
Interim Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Sept 29
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Oct 6
Worship Service
Service of Holy Communion
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Oct 13
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Catherine Cook Davis
Interim Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Oct 20
Worship Service
Jasmin Gonzalez
Intern, Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton, NJ
Oct 27
Worship Service
Guest Preacher
Sam Wells
Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields
Nov 3
Worship Service
Service of Holy Communion
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Nov 10
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Catherine Cook Davis
Interim Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Nov 17
Worship Service
Guest Preacher
Adam Taylor of Sojourners
Nov 24
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Catherine Cook Davis
Interim Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Dec 1
Worship Service
Service of Holy Communion
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Dec 8
Worship Service
Guest Preacher
Christian Peele
Dec 15
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Dec 22
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Dec 29
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Jan 5
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames
Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Jan 12
Worship Service
Broderick Greer
Canon Precentor at Saint John’s Cathedral in Denver, Colorado
Jan 19
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Brittany Longsdorf
Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Jan 26
Worship Service
Rev. Dr. Brittany Longsdorf
Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
Princeton University
Princeton University Chapel
Third Sunday After The Epiphany
January 26, 2025, 11:00 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 Suite du Second Ton Jean Adam Guilain (c. 1680-1739)
Welcome and Announcements Dean Longsdorf
*Hymn No. 397 Thank Our God for Sisters, Brothers Pleading Savior
*Call to Worship Jasmin Gonzalez
*Invocation
Reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear were to say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Solo Largo from Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Courtney Orlando, violinist
Reading Luke 4:14-21
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of God is upon me,
because the Holy has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.
Sermon “We are Each Other’s Harvest” Dean Longsdorf
*Hymn No. 401 O God in Whom All Life Begins Noel
Prayers of the People Jasmin Gonzalez
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.
*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 Cantabile Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840)
Courtney Orlando, violinist
*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. 164 Arise, Your Light Is Come Festal Song
*Benediction
Postlude Prelude in G Major, BWV 541 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Today's Guest Organist
Today we welcome guest organist Brenda Day. She recently retired from a career as Minister of Music at the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen, where she served for 39 years. Brenda is a graduate of Westminster Choir College, where she studied with Donald McDonald. She looks forward to subbing at area churches in her retirement as well as accompanying and teaching piano and organ.
Announcements
The offering this morning will go to the Princeton Senior Resource Center. The Princeton Senior Resource Center is a private non-profit organization founded in 1974 to provide programs and services to promote healthy aging for Princeton area older adults. Please make checks payable to “Princeton University Chapel”.
If you are interested in making a contribution toward Sunday flowers in the Chapel as a memorial, please contact Patricia Florek – [email protected].
Calendar of Events
All events are free and open.
THURSDAY, January 30, 12:30 p.m. — After Noon Concert Series —The After Noon Concert Series resumes today with performer Iain Quinn, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. The concerts are free, and all are invited.
SUNDAY, February 2, 11:00 a.m. — University Chapel Service — The preacher will be Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel.
SUNDAY, February 2, 12:15 p.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]. The Chapel Tours will continue Mar 2, Apr 6.
SUNDAY, February 2, 1:30 p.m., Murray-Dodge 104 — Hallelujah Church at Princeton — A service of exciting worship, inspiring music, and a place of grace where love, hope and faith come alive.
WEDNESDAY, February 5, 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.
FRIDAY, February 21, 7:30 p.m. — Organ Concert "Lift Every Voice" — University Organist Eric Plutz presents a program of works by Black composers, elevating these historically marginalized voices in celebration of Black History Month.
WEDNESDAY, February 26, 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.
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.
All copyrighted music and texts are reprinted and streamed/recorded by permission under OneLicense.net #L-541135.
All rights reserved.