The Shabbat morning service continues to be the central feature of the life of B'nai Moshe. In accordance with our core principles, we strive to maintain a House of Prayer, a House of Study, and a House of Gathering (a beit tefillah, a beit midrash, and a beit k'nesset). These vital concepts are reflected no better than on Shabbat mornings.

We gather together to chant the words of the siddur; to listen and respond to the Cantor; to pray silently and aloud; to recite fixed prayers and those from our hearts; to seek comfort for ourselves, loved ones, and even strangers; to "bend God's ear" toward brothers and sisters in Israel, and U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

We listen to, and study the words of the weekly Torah and Haftarah portions. We gain further insight from sermons and divrei Torah. Adults and children discuss new ideas during and after the service. First time Torah readers and Hebrew readers proudly display their newly acquired skills.

We reconnect with family and friends, and make new and lasting friendships, especially during the wonderful Kiddush. We join together to celebrate new births, milestone birthdays and anniversaries, graduations, departures to (and returns from) Israel, children becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah, couples about to be married. We console one another on hearing sad news about an illness or death.

This, and so much more, is our Shabbat morning at B'nai Moshe.

While not every member attends on a regular basis, many of us do so, and find within our sanctuary a source of renewed spirit. Others, who attend less frequently, still find a welcoming community when you join us for a special occasion, yahrzeit, or just because you get the urge to come to shul.

Our Shabbat service is good, but it can always get better. That is why our Ritual Committee has recently been discussing every aspect of the service, and is in the process of making some recommended changes. Our goal is not to radically alter the service, but rather to "fine tune" what isn't working best, and further enhance what is successful.

Beginning this month, you will notice the following:

1. While the prayers won't change, we will consciously aim to conclude the service at 11:45 instead of 12 noon.
2. We will no longer sing Shir Hakavod every Shabbat, but we will include this hymn on Shabbatot when we celebrate a simcha.
3. Ashre, Ein Keloheinu and Adon Olam will have pre-assigned leaders, with Ein Keloheinu being led by children, but Ashre and Adon Olam led by a variety of well qualified children and adults.
4. On Shabbatot which would otherwise run long (such as when there is Hallel, an extensive Torah reading, or a guest speaker), we will likely do the Shacharit Amidah as a hoiche kedusha, in order that we will have enough time to have congregational singing during Musaf.
5. The time saving in some areas of the service will enable us to add brief "teaching moments" to the service on a regular basis, to help all better understand the meaning and "how to" of the service.

I further urge you to attend our smaller, yet absolutely delightful Shabbat services on Friday and Saturday evenings, in addition to becoming a regular at one or more of our daily morning and evening minyanim. You'll be glad you did!