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
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
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Student Recognition Sunday
May 11, 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 Prelude on “I Love to Tell the Story” Emma Lou Diemer (1927-2024)
Chorale Prelude on “Rhosymedre” Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Welcome and Announcements Dean Thames
*Hymn No. 8 Praise to the Living God Diademata
*Call to Worship Dean Longsdorf
*Invocation
Reading Psalm 23
One The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
All God makes me lie down in green pastures;
and leads me beside still waters;
One God restores my soul.
And leads me in right paths for thy holy sake
All Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
One You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the God
my whole life long.
Anthem Ain’-a That Good News William L. Dawson (1899-1990)
I got a crown up in-a that kingdom, ain’-a that good news!
I’m a-goin’ to lay down this worl’,
goin’-a shoulder up my cross,
goin’-a take it home to my Jesus, ain’-a that good news!
I got a harp up in-a the Kingdom, ain’-a that good news!
I got a robe up in-a the Kingdom, ain’-a that good news!
I got a Saviour in-a the Kingdom, ain’-a that good news!
Ain’-a that good news, my Lawd! A-ain’-a that good news!
Reading Acts 8:26-40
Then an angel of God said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about themself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Sermon “How to be a Better Philip” Amaya Dressler ‘25
*Hymn No. 522 I Love to Tell the Story Hankey
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.
Choral Response We’ve Come This Far by Faith Albert A. Goodson (1933-2003)
*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.
Conferral of Awards
The Kenneth Christopher Harris ’65 Memorial Award
Avi Chesler ‘25
Patrick Newcombe ‘25
Emmie Pickerill ‘25
Emanuelle W. Sippy ‘25
The Sonya Rudikoff Gutman Chapel Choir Award
Beloved Congregant and Supporter of Young People in the Arts
Blue Carlsson '25
Ashley George '26
The Rev. Dr. Joseph C. Williamson Sermon Competition Award
Amaya Dressler ‘25
Acknowledgement of Graduating Seniors & Graduate Students in the Chapel Choir
Yejin Bann ‘25
Blue Carlsson ‘25
Lillian Fitzgerald ‘25
Will Hartman ‘25
Lucy Levenson ‘25
Skye Margiotta ‘25
Eleanor Monroe ‘25
Sally Jane Ruybalid '22 *25
John Slaughter ‘25
Alessandro Troncoso ‘25
Bracklinn Williams ‘25
Offertory Sentence
Music at the Offering Andante from Violin Concerto, op. 14 Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Yuri Lee ’27, 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. 436 God of Grace and God of Glory Cwm Rhondda
*Benediction
Postlude God of Grace and God of Glory arr. Paul Manz (1919-2009)
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
Guest Preacher - Amaya Dressler is a senior at Princeton University studying medical anthropology. Her research interests lie at the intersection of body, psyche, and society, with her academic work focusing on phenomenology, religious studies, and compassionate healthcare. Her senior anthropological research interrogates the role of community mental health clinics in addressing the United States homelessness crisis, while her junior independent work analyzed the selective application of hormonal contraceptives in public health. On campus, she has served as a Residential College Advisor, a McGraw Learning Consultant, a Humanities Sequence Symposiarch, and a Community Action Fellow. Next year, she will pursue a Masters of Divinity Degree at Yale Divinity School as she prepares for a career in chaplaincy and medicine.
Offering - The offering this morning will go to The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. 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].
Summer Chapel Construction Update - Due to ongoing construction projects, the Princeton University Chapel will not hold Sunday worship services this summer, from June 1 until we resume on August 31. To receive a weekly email devotional during this time, please contact Dean Longsdorf at [email protected]
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
All events are free and open.
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.
SUNDAY, May 18, 11:00 a.m. — University Chapel Service — The preacher will be Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel.
FRIDAY, May 23, 3:00 p.m. — Reunions Organ Recital — An entertaining, informal concert with something for everyone to enjoy. The concert is presented in memory of Dean Ernest Gordon h70, Robert F. Goheen '40 h70, William H. Scheide '36 h70, and John J. F. Sherrerd '52 h70. Eric Plutz, University Organist. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.
FRIDAY, May 23, 5:15 p.m. — Reunions Alumni Sing — University Chapel Choir alumni will gather for an exciting musical reunion across generations. Nicole Aldrich, director. Eric Plutz, University Organist.
Free and open to the public. No tickets required.
SUNDAY, June 8, 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]. Chapel tours will resume in the Fall 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.