Shabbat Services
Most services are in person and on Zoom. Please check our calendar for the latest updates. We welcome participants from all over Maine (and beyond!) To receive the Zoom login information, contact the Temple office (bethelaugusta@gmail.com). We encourage everyone to have a siddur (prayer book) at home. Let us know if you need to borrow one.
Friday Night Services
We invite you to welcome Shabbat with us at our Erev Shabbat service, which is held in our sanctuary twice a month. Some services start at 6:00pm , others at 7:00pm; check the online calendar for times. Shabbat is the most important day in the Jewish week, our time to rest, reflect, and replenish ourselves spiritually as we join together in prayer and blessings. Led by Rabbi Asch, this participatory service features prayers, songs, and readings from the Mishkan Tefillah, the inclusive prayer book of Reform Judaism.
The 7:00pm service is a thought-provoking and soul-enriching experience, followed by a joyous oneg (desserts and schmoozing) afterward.
The 6:00pm service is a designed for all ages and is followed by a potluck Shabbat dinner at 7:00pm. Please stay and join us for a meal. You are welcome to bring a dish (no meat, please), or just come. There is always enough food.
Saturday Morning Services
Our Saturday morning services feature joyful singing, reflection on the week, a Torah and haftarah reading and an interactive discussion. Sometimes we take our Shabbat morning services outside with our hiking Shabbat services held during the summer or Shabbat in the Wild during the winter. We always join together for a meal after services. Check our calendar to see what is happening this month at TBE!
Havdalah
We often have havdalah ceremonies to say goodbye to Shabbat. This brief service is a chance to check in with other TBE members and give thanks for Shabbat. Times change, so check the Temple calendar for details. If you need a havdalah candle, we are happy to provide you one from our gift shop. Havdalah blessings can be found here.
Family Services
We offer a variety of worship opportunities for our families, including a Saturday morning family service throughout the year. Geared toward children, these service offers engaging stories, fun songs, and a festive atmosphere to share our love of Shabbat with our youth. We also have other family events including pajama havdallah. Rabbi Asch is a former schoolteacher and a mother of three young children, so she knows how to connect with kids!
Shabbat in the Wild
During the time of deepest cold and dark, we take our prayer outdoors and spend a special Shabbat in the Wild. Walking by snowshoe through the woods, we experience the wondrous beauty of winter, stopping periodically to chant, offer readings, and share stories and insights with each other.