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
Note: the Order of Service documents do not include music due to copyright
February 5: Dean Scotty McLennan and Professor Douglas Osheroff (Clergy Letter Project, Science & Religion) (View Order of Service)
February 12*: Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service)
February 19*: Rev. Joanne Sanders (View Order of Service)
February 26: Stanford students (Parents Weekend)
March 4: Rev. C. George Fitzgerald
March 11: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
March 18*: Dean Scotty McLennan
March 25: Rev. John Harrison
April 1*: Rev. Susan Scott
April 15: Dean Scotty McLennan
April 22*: Rev. Joanne Sanders
April 29: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
May 6*: Rev. Wilma Reichard (Baptism Sunday)
May 13*: Rev. Joanne Sanders
May 20: Dean Scotty McLennan
May 27: Dean Scotty McLennan
June 3: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
June 10*: Rev. Joanne Sanders
June 17: No UPW service – Commencement Weekend
June 24*: 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 Sermons
Archived sermons 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.
Past University Public Worship services
Sundays 10:00 am
September 18: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann (View Order of Service)
September 25: Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service)
October 2: Multifaith Spiritual Welcome (View Order of Service)
October 9*: Guest Preacher, Dr. Jay Johnson (View Order of Service)
October 16*: Rev. Joanne Sanders (View Order of Service)
October 23: Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service)
October 30: Rabbi Patricia-Karlin-Neumann (View Order of Service)
November 6*: Guest Preacher, Mary Greene, Baptism Sunday (View Order of Service)
November 13*: Rev. Joanne Sanders (View Order of Service)
November 20: Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service)
November 27: Dean Scotty McLennan (Viwe Order of Service)
December 4*: Rev. Joanne Sanders (View Order of Service)
December 11: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
December 18*: Rev. Susan Scott
December 25: Dean Scotty McLennan
January 1: Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
January 8: Dean Scotty McLennan
January 15*: Bishop Yvette Flunder
January 22: Multifaith Commemoration of
January 29*: Dean Scotty McLennan (View Order of Service)
* Denotes Communion service
