Worship Services

Erev Shabbat Service**
Outdoor Summer Erev Shabbat Services**
Lay-Led Services
Shabbat Morning Service
Shabbat Morning Torah Minyan**
Tot Shabbat

Vaccinations are required to attend in-person programming. Please bring proof of vaccination with you each time. Following Santa Clara County, masks are recommended but not required (except for our youth education programs, where indoor masking is required).

Erev Shabbat Services**
Friday evenings at 6:15 PM; Available to watch live video streamed
The Beth Am community gathers each Friday night at 6:15 PM to welcome Shabbat (come at 6:00 PM to enjoy snacks and conversation). Our worship services are musical, participatory and informal in spirit; they focus on helping us experience the spiritual renewal, peace, joy and sense of celebration that Shabbat can bring. Services usually include a teaching or sermon by our clergy, congregants or a guest scholar. On the first and third Fridays of the month, we are joined by instrumental groups Tizmoret and Shabbat-in-the-Round, respectively, for especially joyous and vibrant worship experiences.

We celebrate Shabbat either in our beautiful glass-walled Sanctuary on the upper campus, or in our Beit Kehillah (House of Community), a more informal worship space on the lower campus. During the summer, we gather in the Outdoor Chapel for services under the trees. Services usually conclude by 7:30 PM.

Outdoor Summer Erev Shabbat Services**
Summer worship outdoors is a tradition at Beth Am, giving congregants an opportunity to appreciate the natural beauty of our campus. As is the Beth Am tradition, the divrei Torah will be given by Beth Am members.

Lay-Led Services
These services are led by members of the congregation — all are welcome:

Gates of Prayer Service - temporarily suspended
Friday evenings at 5:00 PM in the Chapel (except in July and August)
The Gates of Prayer service features a classical Reform worship style with responsive readings in English and a more formal tone.
     
Weekday Morning Minyan
Most Thursdays at 8:00 AM
These services are led by members of the congregation — all are welcome.

Shabbat Morning B'nei Mitzvah Service
Saturday mornings at 10:30 AM via Zoom and Livestream
This service is led by clergy and the B’nei Mitzvah. When our young people celebrate becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah, all congregants are warmly invited to help welcome them into the Beth Am adult community. This service includes a Torah/Haftarah reading and commentary by the Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Note: In-person b'nei mitzvah services are taking place in the summer of 2021 by invitation of the family.

Shabbat Morning Torah Minyan - via Zoom**
Saturday mornings at 10:30 - 11:45 AM
Experience the joy of Shabbat with a community of friends. The Torah Minyan, led by Beth Am clergy, gathers each week for worship that is focused on learning and spiritual growth. Each service includes a Torah reading and a lively discussion of the weekly Torah portion. The Minyan is preceded by an hour of Torah Study via Zoom, led by clergy. Please register to receive Zoom connection information.

Tot Shabbat (For Families with Children Ages 0-5)
Select Fridays at 5:00 PM and Saturdays at 9:30 AM via Zoom
Families with children ages five and under celebrate Shabbat in a kid-friendly service. Tot Shabbat includes singing, dancing, blessings and a short story told by one of the rabbis. Every month, families with young children enjoy an informal Shabbat dinner. We also hold Saturday morning Tot Shabbat services with lots of singing, dancing, snacking and playing. Please reference the calendar for specific dates, times and locations.

**These services will be live video streamed. By entering the Outdoor Chapel, you give Beth Am permission to record you.