February 1
NEWS & NOTES
A weekly newsletter to keep you informed.
 
What's in this week's news?
themePath to Membership Classes Scheduled

The Washington Ethical Society welcome folks into membership a few times a year, using a "cohort" model so that people can get to know a small group and become members--if they decide they're ready to join--together. The first step is to attend a Path to Membership class. It doesn't commit you to anything; it's just an opportunity to learn more about WES and Ethical Culture, and to discuss what membership means. 

Please let us know if you'd like to join either this class or the one scheduled for Thursday Feb. 16! (The classes are identical so you would only need to attend one) And of course, if you have any questions about the class, or about membership or WES more generally, please don't hesitate to be in touch with Amanda Poppei, WES's Senior Leader at [email protected].
article2February's Theme: Identity 
This month's theme is Identity. You can find the theme packet on the WES Website under Sundays & Celebrations. All of the links from within the theme packet can also be found on the WES Pinterest page. Below are the two theme photos for the month of February by our WES artist, Carol Clayton. She explored Identity by asking WES members to hold signs that identify how people think they are seen and a second sign showing how they self-identify.

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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
deepeningThe WES Teens Went Ice Skating!
The #WESteens took a break from studying and went ice skating on Saturday, 28 January in downtown Silver Spring!  It was a fun day of WES camaraderie, full of icy falls and laughter. After the skating session, the teens finished off the day with a delicious farm-to-table dinner at Gusto, on Fenton Street.  Everyone had a great time, and hopes to see even more teens at future events. If you're interested in volunteering with the Teen Group, contact Mike Kravitz at [email protected].
 
thissunday

This Sunday's Platform
9:30 & 11:30am. 
 
"Examining Identity to Embrace a More Inclusive Humanism," Sincere Kirabo, Social Justice Coordinator, American Humanist Association. Join our guest Sincere as he examines how we can evolve our humanist lens to regard the nexus of difference that makes up our identities, experiences, and worldviews. To do that, we must first better understand identity: what it entails, the ways it impacts each individual's social position, and how it relates to intersectionality. A deep and thoughtful beginning to our month-long exploration of Identity. Music from the WES Chorus.
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, 10:45am & 12:45pm, Library. 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!

upcomingweeksThe Upcoming Weeks at WES
 
Wednesday, February 1
  • WES Chorus rehearsal, 7:15 to 9 pm, Social or Main Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Tuesday, February 7
  • Resistance Task Force Meeting, 7pm, Library. Join fellow WES members as we plan our work to resist policies and actions that undermine our values. For more information, contact Jennifer Linkletter ([email protected]).
Wednesday, February 8
  • WES Chorus rehearsal, 7:15 to 9 pm, Social or Main Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Thursday, February 9
  • 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.
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, 12-2pm - 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 by Thursday evening, February 9 to let her know you are coming.
Sunday, February 12
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 acc ept 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)
Tuesday, February 14
  • Adult Education Council Meeting, 7:30-9pm Library. This group meets monthly on the second Tuesdays of the month for people interested in creating classes, trips, and events for our adult community at WES. If you would like attend, please do. You can also contact Melissa Sinclair for more information.
Wednesday, February 15
  • WES Chorus Rehearsal, 7:15-9pm, Social Hall. WES Chorus meets weekly to rehearse, under the direction of Bailey Whiteman, Music Director. All music abilities welcome!
Friday, February 17
  • Still Thirsty After All These Years, Scion Restaurant, 1200 East-West Highway. 5:30pm 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.
 To see a long-term calendar of events, we invite you to visit our website calendar. It can be found here. ( http://www.ethicalsociety.org/calendar.php )
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