Welcome to the ritual life of the United Jewish Center, a member of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).

Erev Shabbat Service, Friday Night Services, 7pm provide participatory and inspiring experiences, including congregational singing, music, prayer and thoughtful d'var Torah or Torah study discussions. 

Family Shabbat Experience 

Unless otherwise noted, the first Friday of the month we have a Family Shabbat Experience. This includes Tot Shabbat Services at 5:30pm, Congregational Pizza Dinner (everyone is invited) at 6pm and A family Service at 7pm. Our monthly family service is for our families and friends of all ages.  Cantor Lilah offers birthday blessings, and our kids and grownups enjoy the warmth and love of Shabbat.

The UJC Choir and the Shir Joy, Youth Choir participates in our services throughout the year.

Shabbat morning-Saturdays at 10 am, are equally warm and more traditional in nature. Our Shabbat morning experiences include congregational singing and prayers, a d'var Torah or Torah study, chanting the weekly Torah portion (seven aliyot plus maftir) and the Haftarah. 

We welcome individuals and families from diverse backgrounds. We encourage all members and our friends in the community to join us.  Members, including our children, are encouraged and welcome to help lead and participate in the ritual experience.  This includes providing assistance in leading of worship and prayers, accepting aliyot and honors, delivering a devar Torah prepared with guidance from Cantor Lilah, and chanting Torah and Haftarah.

At the UJC, we follow the Reform calendar and thereby observe festivals with an evening service for Passover on the seventh day and evening services for Sukkot and Shavuot. Yizkor services are included during the evening services for the 7th day of Passover, and the evenings of Simchat Torah and Shavuot, and the morning of Yom Kippur.

The High Holy Days services are held each year in our Malino Sanctuary. On the late afternoon of the first Day of Rosh Hashanah, we also gather for a very beautiful and meaningful outdoor Tashlich service and congregational dairy potluck at Bennett Park in Bethel, CT.

The Ritual Committee

The Ritual Committee works closely with Senior Clergy Cantor Lilah to continuously strive to enhance our ritual, worship and spiritual experiences at the UJC.  For more information, please contact the UJC's Ritual Committee Chair, Allyson Story.