February 8
NEWS & NOTES
A weekly newsletter to keep you informed.
 
What's in this week's news?
themePay Attention to Love Day: CPR Class
The Washington Ethical Society is proud to bring the community a 20-minute Hands on Hearts CPR Class provided by DCFEMS.

Most people who experience cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location die because they don't receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene. As a bystander, your actions can only help. DCFEMS offers this free class on the basics of hands-only CPR and AED awareness. The training instructs participants to focus on their hand placement, tempo and the number of compressions for two minute intervals. Hands-only CPR is a technique that involves chest compressions without artificial respiration. Studies indicate that hands-only CPR performed immediately may increase a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival.

To get your FREE ticket to the training, head over to wes-cpr-class.eventbrite.com.
article2WES-Wide Community Service Opportunity
We hope you will consider meeting up on Saturday, February 11 from 12pm-2pm with other WES members and friends at A Wider Circle to help sort shelves and donations, assist customers and to clean. Contact Melissa Sinclair ([email protected]) by Thursday evening, February 9, to let her know you are coming.

If you are unfamiliar with A Wider Circle, here is how they describe their mission in their own words: Hundreds of thousands of mothers watching their children go to sleep each night in beds rather than on the floor. Children picking out their school clothes each morning from dressers rather than plastic garbage bags. Low-income, pregnant adolescents receiving the care-taking skills needed to raise healthy babies. Recently-homeless parents learning - and putting into practice - the basic life skills needed to find and retain a job. This is why we are here, to create what is possible. The mission of A Wider Circleâ„¢ is to end poverty. We work in partnership with those we serve and those who provide other social services to ensure that every child and adult has the chance to succeed and the opportunity to live well. More information about their work can be found at http://awidercircle.org/. 

Below is a post from A Wider Circle's facebook page! 

news1WES Chorus Now Welcoming New Members
Have you been thinking about joining the WES  Chorus or even just checking us out? We meet to rehearse every Wednesday night from  7:15 - 9pm, and are hoping to bring in new singers in the month of February. No need to feel ready to sing in platform or even rehearsal; you can sit and enjoy the music, sing along, or start singing with us in platform right away, whatever is comfortable. Questions? Contact our Music Director,  Bailey Whiteman. And come sing!


seekSEEK Weekly Spotlight
Second Sundays are for Service, SEEK, 9:30am & 11:30am. We are asking the WES Community to donate sandwich makings supplies for Martha's Table. Students in 1st-5th grades will be making 250-500 sandwiches at 9:30 and 11:30 platforms. We need donations from WES members and friends to make the sandwiches. There will be a cart to accept donations on this day.

What we need:
  • A-F: loaves of whole wheat/whole grain sandwich bread
  • G-L: creamy peanut butter & jelly/jam
  • M-S: lean sandwich meat & sliced cheese
  • T-Z: plastic zipper top sandwich bags (box of 50 - 100)
thissunday

This Sunday's Platform
9:30 & 11:30am. 
 
Platform Service, 9:30am & 11:30am. "To Thine Own Self Be True: Pay Attention to Love Day," Amanda Poppei, Senior Leader. As we mark our annual celebration of love, we focus on loving...ourselves! What does it look like, feel like, sound like when we truly love ourselves, just as we might hope to love someone else, or to be loved? Join us for this joyful honoring of self (and once we love ourselves, imagine what can happen for each other!). Music from singer/songwriter LEA.

This Sunday at WES
 

Second Sundays are for Service, SEEK, 9:30am & 11:30am. Donate sandwich makings for Martha's Table. Students in 1st-5th grades will be making 250-500 sandwiches at 9:30 and 11:30 platforms. We need donations from WES members and friends to make the sandwiches. There will be a cart to accept donations on this day. What we need:
  • A-F: loaves of whole wheat/whole grain sandwich bread
  • G-L: creamy peanut butter & jelly/jam
  • M-S: lean sandwich meat & sliced cheese
  • T-Z: plastic zipper top sandwich bags (box of 50 - 100)
Trello and Teach the Teacher Workshop, 10:45 am, Adler Study. Meant primarily as a refresher and introduction on on how to use Trello. Second half of the 45 minutes will be spent on pointers on teaching SEEK at WES.
WEStalks, 11am, Social Hall. Mental Health and Wellness--On Pay Attention to Love Day , learn about how mental health is physical health, how to manage challenges and stress in your own life, and about ongoing stigma related to mental health care. Presented by Bryan Pashigian. Bryan is on the WES pastoral care team and is a mental health therapist. His background includes 10 years at a crisis stabilization program for adults, and working with children and young adults with developmental disorders (and their families).
Hands on Hearts CPR Class, 1pm, Main Hall. For more information and tickets, please see: wes-cpr-class.eventbrite.com
Gender & Sex in a Welcoming Congregation Workshop, 1pm, Social Hall. WES has a long and proud history as a welcoming congregation to LGBTQ+ people, and we are constantly learning and growing. This interactive workshop will build on that tradition by addressing some emerging issues related to sex and gender. We will discuss what these terms mean and how we can go beyond the social constructs that have become barriers in our society. We will talk about how language can reveal and communicate our attitudes. And, we will explore ways that we can more deeply appreciate and cherish our differences.

upcomingweeksThe Upcoming Weeks at WES
Wednesday, February 8
Thursday, February 9
  • **Date changed to Feb 23** 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.
  • Washington Interfaith Network Action Team Meeting, 7pm, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 206 New York Ave NW. Wondering how to be involved locally in DC, which may face incredible hostility from the federal government? Come to this city-wide meeting, with a special breakout session on police accountability and gun violence. Carpooling suggested.  Contact John Daken ([email protected]) if you can attend.
Saturday, February 11
  • Path to Membership Class, 9am-12:30pm. This is an identical class to the one hosted on Thursday Feb 16. If you've been visiting WES and would like to learn more about membership in our community, this is the class for you! Senior Leader Amanda Poppei will teach a little about WES and Ethical Culture, and talk about what membership means. Please contact Amanda ([email protected]) if you are interested.
  • Second Saturdays are for Service, Wider Circle, Noon - 2pm. Meet up with other WES members and friends at the Wider Circle to help sort shelves and donations, assist customers and to clean. Contact Melissa Sinclair ([email protected]) by Thursday evening, February 9th to let her know you are coming.
Tuesday, February 14
  • DATE CHANGED: Adult Education Council Meeting, 7-9 p.m. Library. 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 ([email protected]) for more information.
  • Refugee Resettlement Team Meeting, 7pm, Library.
Wednesday, February 15
Thursday, February 16
  • Path to Membership Class, 9am-12:30pm. This is an identical class to the one hosted on Saturday Feb 11. If you've been visiting WES and would like to learn more about membership in our community, this is the class for you! Senior Leader Amanda Poppei will teach a little about WES and Ethical Culture, and talk about what membership means. Please contact Amanda ([email protected]) if you are interested.
Friday, February 17
  • Still Thirsty After All These Years, Scion Restaurant, 1200 East-West Highway. 5:30 p.m. or whenever you arrive to 7:30.This group is for WES adults beyond the demographics of the "Young and Thirsty" group, but still thirsty for connections, entertainment, and new experiences. We will meet for Happy Hour on the third Friday of every month. Contact Nancy McGuire ([email protected]) or Shan Evans ([email protected] for more details.
Saturday, February 18
Sunday, February 19
  • Platform Service, 9:30 & 11:30. "Learning and Living our Ethical Culture Identity," Melissa Sinclair, Director of Lifelong Learning. Most people come to Ethical Culture through other religions -- with very little initial understanding of what Ethical Culture really is and no idea of its history. Melissa will highlight the Core Values of Ethical Culture, including how we teach them to our children and experience them as adults, and share what it means to say "I am an Ethical Culture Humanist!". Music from the WES Chorus. 
  • Twitter Tutorial, 11am, Adler Study. Stop into the Adler Study (inside the office) to get a quick tutorial of how to use Twitter from WES's Communications & Administrative Coordinator Robyn Kravitz. If you have an ipad or laptop, we encourage you to bring it and we will get you tweeting in no time!
  • Tai Chi, 11am, Social Hall. We invite you to join us out on the front lawn (or in the Main Hall if weather doesn't cooperate) for a 30-minute session of Tai Chi. No experience necessary and perfect for all ages and abilities.
  • Schmoozapalooza Lunch, 12:45pm, Social Hall. WES continues our lunch on every third Sunday for all who want to hang out after platform and gab with friends. Gather around tables in the Social Hall and keep on talking. Nosh on a greatl lunch, with vegetarian options always available. Requested donation $5. Schmoozing with your friends and licking your fingers--what better way to keep on talking, parse the platform, and catch up! (If you plan to attend the 9:30 platform, why not help out the Shmooze team and then join in the good food? Contact Julie Grimes at [email protected] to get involved).
  • Gender Revolution Screening, Pizza, & Discussion, 5:30pm, Main Hall. As we explore Identity in February, join us for pizza & a discussion surrounding a showing of Gender Revolution. For more information about the documentary, please see http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pdf/gender-revolution-guide.pdf. The movie is free. There will be a contribution jar for pizza.

 
For a more detailed and long range calendar, we invite you check out the calendar on our website: www.ethicalsociety.org.

 
annoucementsAnnouncements
Upcoming Path to Membership Classes!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

WES is hosting a screening of the movie #GenderRevolution on Sunday February 19, 5:30pm. For a preview, we invite you click the image below. An RSVP is requested but not required at  https://www.facebook.com/events/256252664797662/.