Worship Services

Erev Shabbat Childcare
Erev Shabbat Service
Lay-Led Services
Shabbat Morning Service
Shabbat Morning Torah Minyan
Tot Shabbat

Erev Shabbat Childcare
Friday evenings at 5:45 PM
Beth Am is committed to creating a family-friendly environment every Shabbat. Children are always welcome to join the congregation at Friday night services, but we know that kids will be kids! That’s why every week Beth Am now offers children a kid-friendly dinner as well as supervision with engaging, age-appropriate activities (think Jewish stories, crafts, lawn games, playground time). We’ve also added opportunities for young members of our congregation to participate in Shabbat services.

Erev Shabbat Service
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 and are sometimes followed by a congregational Oneg Shabbat or dinner.

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

Gates of Prayer Service
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 in the Chapel

Shabbat Morning Sanctuary Service
Saturday mornings at 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary
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. Families often sponsor a Kiddush lunch in the Social Hall following the service.

Shabbat Morning Torah Minyan
Saturday mornings at 10:15 - 11:45 AM in the Beit Kehillah
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 in the Beit Kehillah, led by Rabbi Marder (9:00 – 10:00 AM).

Tot Shabbat (For families with children ages 0-5)
Select Fridays at 5:15 PM and Saturdays at 9:15 AM
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.