|
Shabbat
Friday Night: Kabbalat Shabbat
We hold this service at 6:30pm throughout the year. On the first Shabbat of
each secular month we hold a special family Friday night with songs and a
story for children; there is a kiddush after these. About four times a year
we hold a communal Oneg Shabbat meal, often with a special theme. These
have to be booked ahead.
Shabbat Morning
Our Shabbat morning main service usually begins at 9:30am. We often have
additional speakers or events such as study sessions during or after the
service (details are published in our diary and monthly newsletter). We are
privileged in our community to have many opportunities to include in our
services baby namings, bnei mitvah, and auf rufs (please contact the
synagogue as far as possible in advance if you wish to celebrate one of
these.) From time to time we have a separate explained service, where a
section of prayer is preceded by an explanation on history, context, and
meaning.
Hakol Olin
Held at the same time as the main service, the shul's egalitarian service,
called Hakol Olin from a Talmudic phrase meaning 'All are called', is held
on Shabbat morning about once every three weeks, sometimes more often if
required for a barmitzvah or batmitzvah. Men and women may participate
equally in leading the prayers and in reading from the Torah. In addition,
there is a mixed seating area as well as separate seating for men and
women. In other respects, Hakol Olin follows the custom of the main
synagogue.
Shabbat Afternoon
We usually have a seudah shlishit
(third sabbath meal) at the home of a member of the community. This will
include the mincha service, a
light meal, and a talk on a text or topical subject. Times vary during the
year, but are usually about two hours before the end of Shabbat. The seudah
shlishit offers an opportunity to combine prayer and study with meeting
members of the community in an informal setting. We often also have a
mincha service at the synagogue, particularly when we are celebrating a
batmitzvah or barmitzvah.
Childrens' Shabbat Services
Each
Shabbat we have
1. A Toddlers' Service for ages 0 to 4
- songs, stories and fun to familiarise the toddlers with the ideas and
rituals of Shabbat. One adult must stay with their toddler during this
service.
2. A Service for ages 5 to 8
- more formally a service than the toddlers', but no less fun, as children
learn the significance of the week's parsha, the time in the Jewish year
and get to know more of the "mechanics" of prayer.
3. A Service for ages 9 to 11
- the children run this service themselves with guidance from an adult.
More closely allied to the format of the adult service, the children
practice the formalities of leyning, aliyot and shul procedure. They are
also encouraged to delve more deeply into textual study and investigate key
issues from the week's parsha.
All childrens' services
• Start at 11:00 am for one hour
• Take place in the upper rooms of the Manor House
• End with a yummy kiddush
Full details and timings for childrens' services on festivals are published
in the newsletter.
Please note: The service leaders are only responsible for the safety of the
children whilst they are present in the service.
Weekday services
Shacharit
We hold shacharit services every Sunday at 8:30am and every Monday and
Thursday at 7:00am. Note that, particularly on bank holidays, times and the
venue may change. We ask all members to attend one of these services about
twice a year (men are on a rota), so that we can ensure a minyan to support
those who are saying kaddish.
Festival services
We hold services on all festivals and recognised memorial days, including
Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, and Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel’s
Independence Day. The synagogue newsletter has full details of times and
arrangements. We regret that for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services we
can accept only ticketholders, for reasons of space. Tickets are generally
sold in advance to non- members (and are free to members).
We try to arrange a variety of study and communal events around each
festival so as to involve as many people as possible.
Youth Services
For
school years 8, 9, and 10, the Youth Services are held about once a month
on Shabbat and also on festivals. The format varies, but they generally
combine parts of the full service with serious discussions.See the shul
newsletter for details.
Other services at NNLS
Assif
This is a separate minyan sharing our premises under the Masorti umbrella.
Assif meets every Shabbat morning and aims to offer traditional egalitarian
services that are also highly participative, build the skills and knowledge
of those that attend, and provide an uplifting spiritual experience.
Services for special needs
NNLS holds an annual Memorial Service for Our Lost Babies. Usually held in
January or February, this is open to all who have ever, at any time, lost a
new baby during pregnancy, at birth, or shortly after the birth, whatever
the circumstances (other members of the family, and family friends, as well
as the parents of the baby, are welcome to attend). The service takes the
form of mincha, with added readings and the memorial prayer; there is an
opportunity to recite the mourners' kaddish, and to light a memorial candle
if you wish. The names of the babies - or their parents - may be written in
a memorial book, which is read during the service.
|