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.
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
LaTrelle Easterling
Bishop of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware United Methodist Church Conferences
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
Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany
February 16, 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 Elegy for the Time of Change Robert A. Harris (b. 1938)
Nuptial Song Betty Jackson King (1928-1994)
Welcome and Announcements Dean Thames
*Hymn No. 7 All People That on Earth Do Dwell Old Hundredth
*Call to Worship Dean Longsdorf
*Invocation
Reading Jeremiah 17:5-8
Thus says God
Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
and make mere flesh their strength,
whose hearts turn away from God.
They shall be like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see when relief comes.
They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.
Blessed are those who trust in God,
whose trust is God.
They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.
Anthem Justus et palma florebit Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901)
The righteous flourish like the palm tree,
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord,
they flourish in the courts of our God.
It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 92: 13-14, 1
Reading Hebrews 6:13, 16- 20
When God made a promise to Abraham, because God had no one greater by whom to swear, God swore by
Godself…
Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute. In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of God’s purpose, God guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Sermon “A Promise and an Oath” Rev. Dr. Lauren Lisa Ng
*Hymn No. 478 I’ve Got Peace Like a River Peace Like a River
Prayers of the People Dean Thames
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 Fix Me, Jesus Traditional spiritual
arr. Nolan Williams, Jr.
*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 I Would Be True Undine Smith Moore (1904-1989)
I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare!
I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up and laugh and love and lift!
Howard A. Walter (1833-1918)
*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. 459 Come, O Fount of Every Blessing Nettleton
*Benediction
Postlude Toccata on “Lift Every Voice” Mark Miller (b. 1967)
Guest Preacher
The Rev. Dr. Lauren Lisa Ng serves as Senior Program Officer at Berkeley School of Theology (BST) where she directs the Arc Initiative—a program that helps Asian American congregations and leaders to thrive by engaging stories that form, inform, and transform for the flourishing of our communities and world. A second generation Chinese American, Lauren is passionate about emerging Asian American theologies and is committed to honoring stories of Asian American identity and faith.
Lauren earned her Master of Divinity from the Berkeley School of Theology, writing her thesis on the topic of "Animal Theology: Toward a Christian Theology of Compassion for Animals." She completed her Doctor of Ministry in Creative Leadership at Central Baptist Theological Seminary with a dissertation titled "Voice, Visibility, and Volition: Asian American Pacific Islander Women in Ministry and the Interrogation of Denominational Systems for Placement and Advancement." Lauren was ordained by the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco (American Baptist Churches USA) in 2005. She earned her BA in English and Creative Writing from Oberlin College.
Her 20+ years of professional experience include serving as Director of Leadership Empowerment for the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, serving on development staff with American Baptist International Ministries, as an Advisor for American Baptist Women in Ministry, and as a Board Member of ABHMS and a Trustee of ABC-related Bacone College. Lauren also served for 5 years as Associate Pastor at First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco. She currently serves as a board member for Sympara, and as chair of the board of directors for the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.
Lauren is also a poet (her work can be found at www.laurenlisang.com; and the songwriter, vocalist and bass player for her band, Whisperfight. She prides herself on finding the best vegan food wherever she goes. Lauren lives in Northern California with her husband Daniel, and together they have three children ages 18, 16, and 14, and a mini goldendoodle named Mochi.
Black History Month Music Series
This month our Chapel worship gives special attention to the music of Black composers. We acknowledge and celebrate the richness and complexity of this work, which spans genres and includes spiritual arrangements, gospel songs, Western classical choral music, hymnody, and organ voluntaries. Through this music we lift up countless stories of struggle, joy, and liberation, and as we do so, we recommit to our goal of including historically marginalized composers throughout the year.
About Today's Music
The Chapel Choir’s prayer response, “Fix Me, Jesus,” is a spiritual created in a call-and-response style, with each phrase of the verses ending “Fix me, Jesus, fix me.” Theologian and civil rights leader The Rev. Dr. William Bobby McClain explained the song’s meaning thus: “Black folks have always had a sense of being chosen people of God; and have always been confident that they would, individually and collectively, spend eternity in heaven… ‘Fix Me, Jesus’ expresses the earnest desire of [enslaved people] to be fit for their ultimate destination.”
Undine Smith Moore is often called the Dean of Black Woman Composers. She studied piano, organ, and music theory at Fisk University, a historically Black institution, and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching at Columbia University. While a faculty member at the Virginia State University Department of Music, she founded the university’s Black Music Center, which brought leading Black composers, lecturers, and other musicians to the college. Many of Moore’s compositions and arrangements were written for her own students, drawing from spirituals and other songs she learned as a child. The piece we sing today, “I Will Be True,” is an original work, a gem of simplicity and beauty unified by a two-note descending motive.
Robert A. Harris served as Director of Choral Organizations and Professor of Conducting at the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music from 1977 to 2012. Prior to Northwestern, Dr. Harris taught at Michigan State University, where he served as Director of Choral Activities from 1970 to 1977, and at Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan) from 1964-1970. He also has held visiting professorships at Wayne State University, the University of Texas (Austin) and the University of South Africa in Pretoria. Dr. Harris received his education from Wayne State University in Detroit, the Eastman School of Music, and earned his doctorate from Michigan State University in composition and theory.
Betty Jackson King was a native of Chicago. She received Bachelor’s (1950) and Master’s (1952) degrees from Roosevelt University. She also pursued additional studies at Peabody Conservatory and at Westminster Choir College. King served on the faculties of several institutions including Dillard University in New Orleans. In addition to writing for organ, King wrote for voice, chorus, cello, and piano. Nuptial Song constitutes the middle movement of the three-movement Nuptial Suite (1969), her only work for organ.
Mark Miller is an active composer, teacher, and clinician. He serves as Assistant Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological School and is a Lecturer in the Practice of Sacred Music at Yale University. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Yale and his Master of Music in Organ Performance from Juilliard.
Announcements
Sign up to become a Chapel Deacon! If you are interested in helping with services by greeting folks at the door, collecting the offertory, or offering a reading, please see Rev. Dr. Brittany Longsdorf or Jasmin Gonzalez after the service to be added to our list of amazing Chapel Deacons. Community members, students, and staff are all welcome.
The offering this morning will go to The Partnership to End Homelessness. Partnership to End Homelessness is one of the nation’s largest service-providing agencies dealing with homelessness. 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.
TODAY, February 16 — Chapel Community Lunch — Please join us after service in the Chapel for a lunch discussion with our guest preacher Rev. Dr. Lauren Lisa Ng.
TODAY, February 16, 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.
THURSDAY, February 20, 12:30 p.m. — After Noon Concert Series — The concerts are free, and all are invited. The performer will be David Jernigan, Christ Church on Capital Square, Raleigh, NC.
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.
SUNDAY, February 23, 11:00 a.m. — University Chapel Service — The preacher will be Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel.
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.
SUNDAY, March 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]. Spring 2025 tour dates - Apr 6.
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.