There are a wide range of Shabbat morning services at Congregation Beth El. We have traditional services at 7:30 and 9:15 and a variety of alternative minyanim several times each month. There are also many Family and Youth Services on Shabbat mornings. test

Please check the Week Ahead or Calendar for the current schedule of services and study sessions.

A Worship Booklet is available that explains the services at Beth El.


Traditional Services

Early Minyan - 7:30 am in the Swoff Chapel
This is a lay-run minyan that has been meeting for over 23 years. The service ends at about 9am and is followed by a kiddish. Please join us for this warm and lovely service.

Main Shabbat Service - 9:15 am in the Bender Sanctuary
The service in the main sanctuary starts at 9:15am each Shabbat. This service is led by one or both of our rabbis and by our hazzan. It is the home for our life cycle events including B'nai Mitzvah. The service generally ends around noon and is followed by a kiddish. This kiddish welcomes participants from all of our Shabbat morning services and provides an opportunity to meet friends and, for the visitor, to get to meet our community.

Alternative Services

Worship and Study Minyan - 9:45 am on the first Shabbat of each month
The Worship and Study Minyan is conducted by members of the congregation and combines evocative Torah study with ample singing and ruach.

Minyan Chaverim - 9:30 am on the third Shabbat of each month
Minyan Chaverim is a community-led service with complete recitations of Shacharit and Musaf and a full Torah reading and emphasizes a spirited and participartory nusach. Following the congregational Kiddush all are welcome at a potluck, kosher, diary lunch at a nearby home.

Mincha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma’ariv and Havdalah - 4:15 pm usually on the third Shabbat of each month.

It's not in the morning but, everyone is welcome to join us for this moving and inspirational conclusion to Shabbat and welcoming of the new week. Sponsored by the Men's Club in the Swoff Chapel and Zahler Social Hall. Check the Men's Club calendar for the next service.

Study Sessions

Iyun T’filah – Penetrating Prayer: This group, led by Hazzan Lubin, meets at 8:30 am on alternate Shabbat mornings and is designed to help you feel more comfortable, more able to participate in Shabbat and Holiday Services, and make it meaningful and inspirational. Hazzan Lubin will review the order of the service, its contents, and theology of the liturgy and prayer book. For more details and to register, please contact Hazzan Lubin at alubin@bethelmc.org or 301-652-8569, ext. 317

Come Learn from our Sages: At 12:45 pm – Zahler Social Hall, we will learn together from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) in translation. This very accessible part of the Talmud speaks directly to the ethical questions of our lives. All are welcome; no prior knowledge is needed and each class stands on its own. For more information, contact Mike Steinberg.