Event details

Join us online Sunday, March 28, 2021 for a Palm Sunday Worship Service with Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, Associate Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel at Princeton University. The service will have magnificent music provided by Penna Rose, Director of Chapel Music and Eric Plutz, University Organist and with guest musicians Eric Schweingruber, Trumpeter and Samuel Duffey '19, soloist.

The recorded service is available Sunday at 8am here Chapel Service . 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.

Please note this is a fully virtual event.

Bulletin for Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021

Invitatory: Abblasen Fanfare by Gottfried Reiche (1667-1734) with Eric Schweingruber, Trumpeter

Welcome: Dean Boden

Call to Worship: Alexandra Miller-Knaack

A Reading from Shusaku Endo

The Pesach was at hand.  The people preparing for the festival were looking back on their long history, rueful over the anguished adversity of their ancient wandering migrations, and they prayed with fervor that God would come again to restore prosperity to the land now trampled underfoot by the Gentiles. Jesus, of course, knew the spirit of the feast.  On this particular day, shortly before the festival itself began with full knowledge he dared to plunge into the whirlpool of popular misunderstanding.  Descending from the Mount of Olives and through cheers from the crowd, he certainly knew that he was soon going to disappoint these people and that the people, in their frustration, would turn against him.  Jesus, coming down from the mountain and entering the city wore a painful smile.

Blessing of the Palms: O God, who in Jesus Christ triumphantly entered Jerusalem, heralding a week of pain and sorrow, be with us now as we follow the way of         the cross.  In these events of defeat and victory, you have sealed the closeness of death and resurrection, of humiliation and exaltation.  We thank you for          these branches that promise to become for us symbols of martyrdom and majesty.  Bless them and us that their use this day may announce in our time that Christ has come and that Christ will come again.  Amen!  Come, Christ Jesus!

Hymn: “Hosanna, loud hosanna” (Ellacombe)

“Hosanna, loud hosanna,” the little children sang; through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang; to Jesus who had blessed them close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed amid a cheering crowd, the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud.  The one whom angels worship rode on in lowly state, and glad to see the children, slowed down the donkey's gait.

"Hosanna in the highest!"  That ancient song is ours.  We hail our great Redeemer and sing with all our powers; "Hosanna, Christ, we praise you with heart and life and voice. Hosanna!  In your presence forever we'll rejoice!"

Prayer of Confession:  Let us confess our sins to God. Almighty and everlasting God, always more ready to hear than we are to pray, always willing to give more than we either desire or deserve: pour upon us the abundance of your mercy; forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Reading: Psalm 31:9-16 (Read by Jonathan A. Ort ’21)

Be gracious to me, O God, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.  For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.  I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.

I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.  For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around! — as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.  But I trust in you, O God; I say, “You are my God.”  My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.  Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.

Solo: Ride On, King Jesus by Hall Johnson (1888-1970) with Samuel Duffey '19, soloist

Reading: Matthew 21:1-11

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.  If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’  And he will send them immediately.”  This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.  A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Sermon: “The Road Home” by Dean Thames

Anthem: The Ground by Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978)

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.

Reflection: An Excerpt from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff (1895-1982) with Eric Schweingruber, Trumpeter

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.

Hymn: All Glory, Laud, and Honor (St. Theodulph)

All glory, laud, and honor to you, O Christ, we sing, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring!  The people of the Hebrews with palms adorned your way; our praise and prayer and anthems we offer you this day.

O promised One of Israel, of David's royal line, the one called "God's beloved," of flesh and yet divine. To you, before your passion, they sang their hymns of praise; to you, now high exalted, our melody we raise.

As you received their praises, receive our prayers today, whose justice and whose mercy and sovereignty hold sway.  All glory, laud, and honor to you, O Christ, we sing, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring!

Benediction

Voluntary: La Valliance from Heroic Music for Trumpet by Georg Philip Telemann (1681-1767) with Eric Schweingruber, Trumpeter

A Note Regarding the Season: Palm Sunday begins the succession of days traditionally known as Holy Week, commemorating the final events of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The week culminates in Maundy Thursday, commemorating the institution of the Last Supper, and Good Friday, when the church gathers to remember Jesus’ crucifixion and death. (Maundy Thursday derives its name from the English form of the Latin word meaning “command.” It refers to Jesus’ words in John’s Gospel: “Behold, I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another as I have loved you.”)

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: The events listed below are fully virtual and available online.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 8pm - Stations of the Cross by Marcel Dupré with poetry of Paul Claudel - Ken Cowan, organist - Alison Boden, reader

Thursday, April 1, 2021, 8pm - Maundy Thursday Service

Friday, April 2, 2021, 8pm - Good Friday Tenebrae Service

Sunday, April 4, 2021, 8am - -Easter Sunday Service The preacher will be Dean Boden

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