Williams College Chaplains’ Office
FIRST MEETINGS AND SERVICES
OF ON-CAMPUS RELIGIOUS GROUPS
AND SPIRITUAL COMMUNITIES
Welcome to Williams!
Many on-campus religious and spiritual communities will hold services or special meetings to welcome you during your first days in Williamstown.
All of the events listed in this leaflet are open to anyone, regardless of background or religious affiliation.
Our website, www.williams.edu/chaplain, has lots more information on religious services, spiritual life at Williams, and community service. We'll be updating it throughout the summer.
And you’re always welcome to drop by the Chaplains’ Office in the Paresky Student Center, Room 205 for more information - or just to say hello!
JEWISH STUDENT ASSOCIATION
All events will be held at the Jewish Religious Center unless noted.
Friday, September 4:
6:00 p.m. Shabbat Services (student-led)
7:00 p.m. Shabbat Dinner (student-cooked)
Thursday, September 10:
6:00 p.m. New-B-Que Cookout
Friday, September 18:
6:00 p.m. Rosh Hashanah Dinner, Faculty House [RSVP x2483]
7:30 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashanah Services
Saturday, September 19:
9:30 a.m. Rosh Hashanah Services
Sunday, September 20:
9:30 a.m. 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Services
Friday, September 25:
6:00 p.m. Shabbat Services (student-led)
7:00 p.m. Shabbat Dinner (student-cooked)
Sunday, September 27:
6:15 p.m. Erev Yom Kippur
Monday, September 28:
10:00 a.m. Yom Kippur Services
CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY
All events are held in the Cardinal Newman Catholic Center on the lower level of Thompson Memorial Chapel, entrance facing Stetson Hall.
Thursday, September 10:
5:00 p.m. Week Day Mass on Tuesdays & Thursdays
Friday, September 11:
9:00 p.m. Friday Night Social
Sunday, September 13:
4:30 p.m. Opening Mass
Sunday, September 20: Opening Barbeque following Sunday Mass
THE MUSLIM STUDENT UNION
Juma'a-every Friday (time TBA), Muslim Prayer Room
Friday, September 4: 5:00 p.m. First MSU meeting-meets every Friday
September 4, 11, and 18: Iftar gathering
Sunday, September 20: Eid-Ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan)
THE FEAST - is an inclusive Christian community welcoming students from many denominations and backgrounds, drawn together to explore the Christian story in the context of the interweaving of faith and worship, justice and service. The Feast meets every Sunday for a home-cooked meal, warm fellowship, and reflections that allow poetry, scripture and our lives to speak to each other – in the Upper Room at St. John's Episcopal Church (right across Park Street from the Paresky Center).
The First Feast of the year will be on Sunday, September 13, 5:30-7 p.m.
WILLIAMS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Friday, September 11:
7:30 p.m. Friday Night Fellowship, Griffin 3
Friday Night Fellowship is WCF's weekly large-group meeting. In addition to Friday Night Fellowship, WCF also offers regular service trips and conferences, has daily prayer gatherings, and offers six weekly Bible studies, including First-Year Bible Study (FYBS). Attend Friday Night Fellowship for more information about FYBS, or e-mail Kelsey Ham (Kelsey.O.Ham@Williams.edu).
Watch for news about monthly service trips and weekly First-Year Bible Study (FYBS).
THE MEDITATION SOCIETY - is a coalition of students interested in exploring a variety of types of meditation including Zen, yoga, sitting and walking meditation and other practices. Sittings and other activities take place in the Zendo and in the O'Connell Room on the lower level of Thompson Chapel. For more information, including contact numbers for current student leaders, call the Chaplains’ Office, ext. 2483.
ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH YOUNG ADULT CONNECTION
St. John's, located on Park Street facing the Paresky Center, invites you to enjoy worship, fellowship, food, and outreach. We offer the intimacy of a parish family and the opportunity to make a difference in the world through local and global outreach. All members of the Class of 2013 are invited to a BBQ on the Park Street lawn of St. John's on Wednesday, Sept. 9 beginning at 5:30 p.m. (Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are invited, too!) For more information, contact the Rev. Peter Elvin at ptelvin@roadrunner.com, visit www.saintjohnswilliamstown.org, or telephone 458-8144.
THE WILLIAMS LABYRINTH -is an ancient, omni-sectarian technique of walking meditation. Our labyrinth, on a huge sheet of portable canvas painted by students in 2005, is based on the medieval design in the nave of Chartres Cathedral. It’s available for walking several times each semester in various locations. See the labyrinth, read more and check the updated schedule for labyrinth walks this fall at www.williams.edu/chaplains/labyrinthmain.
INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE GROUP –join the conversation about faith and life, beliefs and holidays, different practices and common hopes with students from many of the world's religious traditions over monthly dinners.
WILLIAMS SECULAR COMMUNITY
For more information, contact Ken Sluis '11 and Jake Levinson '11.
The first meeting will be Wednesday, September 16. Time: TBA
The Williams College Chaplains' Office
The Paresky Student Center, Rm. 205
39 Chapin Hall Drive
Telephone: (413) 597-2483
www.williams.edu/chaplains
The Rev. Richard E. Spalding, Chaplain to the College
Fr. Gary Caster, Catholic Chaplain
Cantor Robert Scherr, Jewish Chaplain
Parvin Hajizadeh, Advisor to Muslim Students
May 2009
