University Public Worship
Time: Every Sunday at 10:00 AM
Location: Memorial Church (also known as “MemChu”)
Protestant Ecumenical Christian worship featuring outstanding choral and organ music as well as thoughtful speakers and preachers from diverse religious traditions including the Stanford University Dean for Religious Life, Rev. Scotty McLennan; Senior Associate Dean Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann and Associate Dean Rev. Joanne Sanders. Holy Communion offered twice each month; Sacrament of Baptism offered twice (Fall and Spring) during the academic year. Multifaith services featuring student speakers, musicians and vocalists are held throughout the academic year. Students, staff, faculty, alumni, visitors and community members are always welcome to this engaging, nourishing and thoughtful service of worship.
Memorial Church has historically been an important center of spiritual and ceremonial life at Stanford University. It is open to anyone anywhere on the spiritual journey on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in this spectacular and sacred venue.
If one is interested in volunteering at UPW as an usher, reader or Communion assistant, email religious-life@stanford.edu.
Upcoming University Public Worship Services
January 13*: Rev. Joanne Sanders (View Order of Service 1/13/13)
January 20*: Celebrating the Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. : Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service 1/20/13)
January 27: Multifaith Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (View Order of Service 1/27/13)
February 3: Religion and Science Sunday: Dean Scotty McLennan and Prof. Bill Durham (View Order of Service 2/3/13)
February 10*: Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service 2/10/13)
February 13: Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Service with Imposition of Ashes
February 17*: Rev. Dr. C. George Fitzgerald (View Order of Service 2/17/13)
February 24: Parents’ Weekend Multifaith University Public Worship Service (View Order of Service 2/24/13)
March 3*: Rev. Joanne Sanders (View Order of Service 3/3/13)
March 10: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann (View Order of Service 3/10/13)
March 17: Dr. Robert Franklin, President Emeritus of Morehouse College, guest preacher (View Order of Service 3/17/13)
March 24*: Palm Sunday: Robb Anderson, guest preacher (View Order of Service 3/24/13)
March 29: Good Friday Interdenominational Service (View Order of Service 3/29/13)
March 31*: Easter Sunday: Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service 3/31/13)
April 7: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann (View Order of Service 4/7/13)
April 14*: Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service 4/14/13)
April 21*: Rev. Joanne Sanders (View Order of Service 4/21/13)
April 28: Admit Weekend: Dean Scotty McLennan and Prof. Tanya Luhrmann (View Order of Service 4/28/13)
May 5*: Baptism Sunday: Rev. Wilma J. Reichard (View Order of Service 5/5/13)
May 12: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann (View Order of Service 5/12/13)
May 19*: Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service 5/19/13)
May 26: Rev. Dr. C. George Fitzgerald (View Order of Service 5/26/13)
June 2*: Rev. Joanne Sanders (View Order of Service 6/2/2013)
June 9*: Student reflection
June 23: Rev. Susan Scott
June 30: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
July 7: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
July 14: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
July 21: Dean Scotty McLennan
July 28*: Dean Scotty McLennan
August 4: Dean Scotty McLennan
August 11*: Dean Scotty McLennan
August 18: Rev. Joanne Sanders
August 25*: Rev. Joanne Sanders
September 1: Rev. Joanne Sanders
September 8*: Dean Scotty McLennan
September 15: Rev. Joanne Sanders
September 22*: Dean Scotty McLennan
*denotes Communion service
UPW Rebroadcasts
KZSU 90.1 FM rebroadcasts University Public Worship on the Internet at kzsulive.stanford.edu and on 90.1 FM every Sunday at 11:30 am.
Recent Sermon Text and Podcasts:
Archived sermons and link for audio (hosted by iTunesU) can be found in the Media section.
SOULS (Students Organizing Unique Liturgical Settings)
This is a group of undergraduate, graduate and professional students who would like to be more involved in University Public Worship (UPW) that has been offered at Memorial Church since its dedication in 1903. There are two ways to participate:
An opportunity for students to build community and gather for dinner, fellowship, and wide-ranging conversation about religion and spirituality takes place monthly at Dean Scotty McLennan’s residence on campus.
Additionally, there is opportunity for involvement with UPW by reading, helping with Communion and ushering, as well as providing input and perspective on what might draw more students to this historically open, progressive and inclusive worship experience in the Protestant Christian tradition. Once per month, there is a multifaith service that involves students and others from a wide range of religious and spiritual traditions.All students from diverse religious and spiritual traditions are welcome to join SOULS.
Information is available from Associate Dean Joanne Sanders at joannesanders@stanford.edu or Dean Scotty McLennan at mclennan@stanford.edu.
