Worship

Services, Sermons, Classes, and more

Take a look at our various services, classes, and sermons below.

In This Section:

Schedule of Services

Shaare Tefila Congregation is egalitarian – men and women equally participate in leading services, receiving honors at the Torah, and even reciting the priestly blessing (“duchaning”) on the holidays.

We use Siddur Lev Shalem – the newest prayer book of the Conservative Movement – for Shabbat services. Our main service is conducted in Hebrew with active congregational participation; members of the congregation participate in reading the entire weekly Torah portion; and Torah study (whether before and/or after the Shabbat morning service) is an integral part of our service.

Jewish prayer is challenging yet uplifting. In order for all to experience religious fulfillment we periodically offer creative services on Shabbat morning highlighting different forms of Jewish spirituality. We also encourage everyone to study the service and the Torah reading with the English translations and commentary that are available and we encourage attending classes taught by Rabbi Layman to better understand the liturgy.

PURCHASE YOUR OWN PRAYER BOOKS
My rabbinic organization has generously offered our prayer books at a steep discount. The discount will appear once you add the book to your cart. Click on the links to order:
Shabbat – Siddur Lev Shalem
Weekdays – Sim Shalom
High Holidays – Machzor Lev Shalem

Chumash (Torah) – Etz Hayim

*Please be sure to check congregation publications and calendar for occasional time changes.*

Shabbat

Friday Evening – WATCH or ZOOM

In person monthly when there is a Shabbat Dinner or WATCH on livestream

When the evening service is not in person, ZOOM

6-6:45 pm

Saturday Morning – IN PERSON or WATCH

In person or WATCH on livestream

9:30-Noon*

*Sign Language interpretation is provided upon request*

Weekdays

Monday & Thursday Mornings – IN PERSON or ZOOM

SNOW POLICY: IF MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOLS (MCPS) ARE ON A 2 HOUR DELAY – MINYAN WILL STILL BE IN PERSON; IF MCPS IS CLOSED THEN MINYAN WILL BE ON ZOOM ONLY

ZOOM

8:45am

Sunday Mornings – IN PERSON or ZOOM

SNOW POLICY: IF RELIGIOUS SCHOOL IS CLOSED THEN MINYAN WILL BE ON ZOOM ONLY

ZOOM

8:45am

Monday & Wednesday Evenings – ZOOM ONLY

ZOOM

7:30 pm

High Holiday Information

HIGH HOLIDAYS PACKET 2025
All services will be held in our Sanctuary with live-streaming available.

Yizkor Book 5784/2023

Rosh Hashanah

Erev Rosh Hashanah & First Day – Monday, September 22, 6:00 pm – In person or via livestream.
Tuesday, September 23, 9:00 am-1:00 pm – In person or via livestream.
* Babysitting for ages 2-4, 10 am-12:30 pm.
** Junior Congregation, Grosberg-Baumgart Chapel, grades K thru 7, 10 am – 11 am, followed by Youth Programming, K-4th Grades, 11 am – 12:30 pm.

Second Night & Second Day – Second Night Holiday Service, 6:00 pm – In person or via livestream.
Wednesday, September 24, 9:00 am-1:00 pm – In person or via livestream.
* Babysitting for ages 2-4, 10 am-12:30 pm.
** Family Service for Children, Grosberg-Baumgart Chapel, grades K thru 7, 10 am – 11 am, followed by Youth Programming, K-4th Grades, 11 am – 12:30 pm
Evening Service & Havdalah – Wednesday, September 24, 7:45 pm – On ZOOM.

Tashlich Community Service & Program – Sunday, September 28, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Lake Needwood Pavilion.

Yom Kippur

Kol Nidrei – Wednesday, October 1, 6:30 pm – In person or via livestream.
Yom Kippur – Thursday, October 2 – All Main Sanctuary services are in person or via livestream.
Morning Service – 9:00 am
* Babysitting for ages 2-4, 10 am-12:30 pm.
** Family Service for Children, Baumgart-Grosberg Chapel, grades K thru 7, 10 am – 11 am Followed by Youth Programming, 11 am – 12:30 pm
Afternoon Study session, 4-4:45 pm.
Mincha, Ne’ilah, Evening Service – 5:00 pm.
Final Shofar Blast, 7:45 pm.

Sukkot

Erev Sukkot – Monday, October 6, 6:00 pm – In person or via livestream.
First Day – Tuesday, October 7, 9:00 am – In person or via livestream.
Second Day – Tuesday, October 7, 6:45 pm
Wednesday, October 8, 9:30 am – In person or via livestream.
Concluding Service, 6:00 pm – In person or via livestream.
Shemini Atzeret – Monday, October 13, 6 pm – In person or via livestream.
Tuesday, October 14, 9:30 am, including Yizkor – in person or via livestream.
Simchat Torah – Tuesday, October 14, 6:00 pm – service and sing and dance with the Torah scrolls – in person or via livestream.
Wednesday, October 15, 9:30 am – service, including singing and dancing and unrolling a Torah scroll.
Concluding Service, 6:00 pm – in person or via livestream.