March 29
NEWS & NOTES
A weekly newsletter to keep you informed.
 
What's in this week's news?
themeSign-ups for the Camping Trip Are Now Open
Grab your sleeping bag and meet us at the lake! The annual WES Camping Trip sign-ups are now online. For all of the details, be sure to check out the Camping Trip page on our website:  http://ethicalsociety.org/connection/camping-trip/ Don't forget! The Camping Trip is open to everyone. Grab your Young@WES friends, Still Thirsty cohort, or reading group and join us this upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Online sign-ups are preferred.
daywithoutwomenWES Marches in Support of #SanctuaryDMV 
Last week WES members marched in support of the DC area being a sanctuary city. After a meeting at Foundry United Methodist Church, folks marched to the White House. See below the video shot by WES's Senior Leader Amanda Poppei.
WES Marching!
WES Marching!


article2World Religions Adult Education Class Scheduled
Save the date now -- April 6, 7pm. Join Amanda for an introduction to the work of scholar Karen Armstrong, who sees the world's great religions as ushering in key transformational concepts in human history. This class will offer a peek into different religious traditions, using a sociological lens--and ask what concept humanism may be offering to the world now. Book: The Great Transformation: Karen Armstrong's Theory of Religion.
thissunday

This Sunday's Platform
9:30 & 11:30am. 

"Tearing It All Down," Amanda Poppei, Senior Leader. We live in a capitalist society, and there's nothing we can do about that. Or is there? In this auction platform, Amanda examines what would happen if we radically reimagined the way our society works. What would we envision for a world that was just for all? Come hear about capitalism, socialism, and anarchy! Music from Josh Blinder.

This Sunday at WES


 

Teen Waffle Bar, 10:45 am, Lobby.
Every first Sunday of the month the Teens will offer waffles and an assortment of toppings for WES members and friends. Waffle ingredients and toppings are purchased through waffle bar proceeds. Remaining funds go to the Teen group for service trips. Free will donation. #WESteens


 

Newcomers' Q and A, 11am & 1pm, Adler Study. New to WES? Join us for this informal gathering to learn a little about who we are and what we do here, and to get your questions answered!


Jam Session, 1pm, Library. At the WES Jam Sessions, interested musicians gather to practice music (possibly with the intention of playing during platform or other events) or just to develop musical skills in a group context. Attendees bring the music they want to play, and play what is brought. All instruments, musical genres, and skill levels welcome!


upcomingweeksThe Upcoming Weeks at WES
Wednesday, March 29
  • WES Chorus rehearsal, 7:15 to 9pm, Social or Main Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Sunday, April 2
  • Platform Service, 9:30 & 11:30am. "Tearing It All Down," Amanda Poppei, Senior Leader. We live in a capitalist society, and there's nothing we can do about that. Or is there? In this auction platform, Amanda examines what would happen if we radically reimagined the way our society works. What would we envision for a world that was just for all? Come hear about capitalism, socialism, and anarchy! Music from Josh Blinder.
  • Teen Waffle Bar, 10:45 am, Lobby. Every first Sunday of the month the Teens will offer waffles and an assortment of toppings for WES members and friends. Waffle ingredients and toppings are purchased through waffle bar proceeds. Remaining funds go to the Teen group for service trips. Free will donation. #WESteens
  • Newcomers' Q and A, 11am & 1pm, Adler Study. New to WES? Join us for this informal gathering to learn a little about who we are and what we do here, and to get your questions answered!
  • Jam Session, 1pm, Library. At the WES Jam Sessions, interested musicians gather to practice music (possibly with the intention of playing during platform or other events) or just to develop musical skills in a group context. Attendees bring the music they want to play, and play what is brought. All instruments, musical genres, and skill levels welcome. For more information contact Tom Bishop ([email protected]).
Monday April 3
  • Mindfulness meeting, 7:30-9pm Library. This group meets monthly on the first Monday of the month for people interested in practicing meditation and living with mindfulness - or for anyone wanting to find out more about these topics. We explore both practices and ideas. Contact Trish Weil at [email protected] or Ann Baker at [email protected].
Wednesday, April 5
  • WES Chorus rehearsal, 7:15 to 9pm, Social or Main Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Thursday, April 6
  • World Religions Class, Library, 7pm. Join Amanda for an introduction to the work of scholar Karen Armstrong, who sees the world's great religions as ushering in key transformational concepts in human history. This class will offer a peek into different religious traditions, using a sociological lens--and ask what concept humanism may be offering to the world now. Book: The Great Transformation: Karen Armstrong's Theory of Religion.
Saturday, April 8
  • Second Saturdays Are for Service at Wider Circle, 12-2pm, A Wider Circle. All are welcome! Noon to 2pm. Join your WES friends as we help sort, clean, and move items for a good cause. Wider Circle: 9159 Brookville Rd # C, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Sunday, April 9
  • Platform Service, 9:30am & 11:30am, Main Hall. "Can You Believe in Good?," Don Montagna, President, International Partners. If you don't want to be carried along by circumstances, never able to set a course toward a life and society you really want, and you don't believe in God, you need another understanding of how the world works.  Felix Adler founded the Ethical Society on a concept of the Spiritual Ideal, with practical principles for achieving it, that is grounded in reason rather than the supernatural.  Changing your worldview and having faith enough to use it in moments of uncertainty is the most difficult transformation a person can make.
  • WEStalks, 11am, Social Hall.
  • Biology Reading Group, 1pm, Library. The Biology Reading Group meets the second Sunday of every month in the Library. For more information, contact Barbara Searle ([email protected]).
Tuesday, April 11
  • Jam Session, 6pm, Library. At the WES Jam Sessions, interested musicians gather to practice music (possibly with the intention of playing during platform or other events) or just to develop musical skills in a group context. Attendees bring the music they want to play, and play what is brought. All instruments, musical genres, and skill levels welcome! For more information contact Tom Bishop ([email protected]).
  • Adult Education Council Meeting, 7-9pm Adler Study. This group meets monthly on the second Tuesdays of the month for people interested in creating classes, trips, events for our adult community at WES. If you would like attend, please do. You can also contact Melissa Sinclair for more information.
Wednesday, April 12
  • WES Chorus rehearsal, 7:15 to 9pm, Social or Main Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Thursday April 13
  • Board of Trustees Meeting, 7pm, Library. All are welcome to attend meetings of the Board of Trustees! Agenda and materials are available in the Members' Access section of our website.
For a more detailed and long range calendar, we invite you to check out the calendar on our website: http://ethicalsociety.org/blog/events/.
 
seek 
SEEK Spotlight
Using this month's theme of Risk, some of the SEEK classes explored the theme using risk and trust activities. Check out the photos below for a sneak peek inside one class's exploration!

annoucementsAnnouncements
Art Showing
Last year's theme artist Barry Galef will be hosting a showing of some of his work to include his theme art!  He will be exhibiting about 35 paintings at the Yellow Barn Studio & Gallery at Glen Echo . The core of the show will be the 10 paintings  he did for WES on the monthly themes (Creativity, Simplicity, Desire, and so forth) from 2015 into 2016.  The paintings have to be for sale, but collecting money is not the central purpose, and all of the net proceeds will go to charity, including WES, and further including most of money from the theme  paintings . The show will be up only for the weekend of April 15 and 16 -- Saturday from noon to eight, and Sunday from noon until five -- so be sure you don't let this event slip through the cracks!

The Yellow Barn is at 7300 MacArthur Boulevard in Glen Echo (along the Potomac, inside the Beltway). Contact Barry Galef at [email protected] if you have questions.