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A weekly newsletter to keep you informed.
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What's in this week's news?
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The Humanists Are Coming! The Humanists Are Coming!
 Well, the clergy, that is. Amanda has co-founded, along with Rabbi Jeffrey Falick and Rev. Dr. David Breeden, the first-ever Humanist Clergy Collaboratory, bringing together clergy serving humanists from multiple different traditions--Ethical Culture, Unitarian Universalism, secular humanistic Judaism, and more. The idea is to build relationships among clergy with common values, beliefs, and often history...but who rarely know each other or work together. By developing connections, we can serve our own congregations and chaplaincies better and also create a stronger movement overall. The Collaboratory, which is funded in part by the UU Funding Panel and by donations from WES members and others, will happen on
Monday, March 27 and Tuesday, March 28.
About a dozen WES members are providing home hospitality to visiting clergy--thank you! We could also use support from WES members to help the day and a half of the Collaboratory go smoothly. People are needed to help direct parking, meet the caterers, and otherwise provide the kind of hospitality and welcome that WES is known for! Please let Amanda know if you can volunteer for any portion of the day (or Monday evening) by emailing her at
amandap@ethicalsociety.org.
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 We hope the "second-half-of-life" folks will join us at our next gathering of Aging with Intention. This month we're pleased to be meeting at the home of Loretta Neumann and Dan Smith, who live just 3 blocks from the Takoma Metro stop. There is also street parking. We're finalizing this month's topic, but as always it will give participants a way to strategize and explore issues of special importance to us as we grow older. See you Sunday, March 26, from 3-5pm. For further details on the topic and the address-- and to RSVP -- please contact bethbaker@starpower.net.
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 The annual operating budget drive has officially launched! We welcomed a record crowd of over 400 people last Sunday morning to hear Rep. Jamie Raskin talk about the way forward, and then heard Amanda connect it to our vision for
WES in the coming year. To watch the entire platform or hear the podcast, we invite you to watch or listen on our website:
Our first Pledge Party was a success--and the others are filling fast. Make sure to reserve your spot at a
future party or email
amandap@ethicalsociety.org if you can't make any of the dates.
Thank you for your commitment to
WES!
~The Stewardship Team
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This Sunday's Platform
9:30 & 11:30am.
"Money Makes the World Go Round (?)" Amanda Poppei, Senior Leader.
Often when we think about risk our mind goes to the stock market...investments, risk and reward, high-yield bonds. But sometimes, even talking about money can feel like the biggest risk. Amanda will explore our complicated relationship with money, income, socioeconomic status, and more.
Music from Nicole Rumeau and Joshua Long.
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This Sunday at WES
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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 great 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 Schmooze team and then join in the good food? Contact Julie Grimes at jwellergrimes@gmail.com to get involved).
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Sunday Book Club, after lunch, Classroom 2. Vicki Fang will lead a discussion of
What We Talk about When We Talk about Anne Frank, by Nathan Englander. For more information, contact Rachel Hartig,
rachel.hartig@gallaudet.edu.
- Relationship-Building Curriculum Development, 1pm, Classroom 1A & 1B (downstairs). Initial brainstorming meeting for people with contributions and other ideas for the upcoming course. For more information, contact john@daken.name.
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The Upcoming Weeks at WES
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Wednesday, March 15
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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, March 16
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Social Class and Social Justice, 7pm, Adler Study.
1% of the world owns 51% of the wealth. 50% of the world owns 1% of the wealth. How does this affect our access to health, food, shelter, education, and leisure? How does our position at work, in school, in our communities, affect our daily mindset? What does justice look like, in terms of our share of the goods, of prestige, of decision-making? The top 1% lives an entirely different class reality from the bottom 50%. What are the social classes we divide people into, what is the purpose of this division, and what is the justification for this division? Join WES member and Cedar Lane Social Justice Coordinator Andrew Batcher for this problem-posing workshop, where we will explore these and other questions, and deepen our understanding of social class, social justice, and how it relates to our lives.
Friday, March 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 (nkmontheroad@yahoo.com) or Shan Evans (sevans4406@yahoo.com) for more details.- Screening of Before the Flood, 7pm, Cedar Lane UU. On Friday, March 17, at 7 pm at the UU of Cedar Lane, the Earth Ethics Team will show the 2016 Leonardo di Caprio film Before the Flood. This is a 96-minute documentary film about climate change. There will also be an optional potluck at 6:30pm. For additional information, please contact Linda Silversmith, lindas@capaccess.org or 301-641-9508.
Monday, March 20 
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Jam Session, 6pm, Adler Study (Or Senior Leader's Office).
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!
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Federal Employees Gathering: Support, Solidarity, and Strategy, 7pm, Library.
Join other federal employees to share experiences and learn together. Friends outside of WES are welcome but must come with the recommendation of a WES member to ensure a sense of confidentiality and safety in the group.
Wednesday, March 22
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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, March 26
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Platform Service, 9:30am & 11:30am, Main Hall. "Risking Connection, Risking Failure: All Music Platform." WES Chorus, Bailey Whiteman, Music Director.
As has become a tradition, the WES Chorus will again fill the platform with words and song, this year exploring how we risk, and what we gain. From the first moments to the closing words, we will risk together, and see where the music takes us.
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Ethical Living Laboratory, 11am, Social Hall.
Join the Community Relations Committee to explore the principles of ethical culture and how we live them in our daily lives. This will offer an opportunity to connect with others in a small group setting.
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RESISTance Fair, 1pm, Main Hall. Resistance Fair, 1pm, Main Hall.  America is going through some tough times--so what are we going to do about it? Join fellow WESies and members of the Resistance Team Steering Group to both learn about efforts already underway and to brainstorm how we can leverage our own power to work for justice in the world. This effort will continue the conversation that happened in late January, and begin to bring together the many people at WES working to respond to the world around us.
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**RESCHEDULED** Working For Racial Equity, 1pm, Social Hall.
This Talk & Teach is being rescheduled and we hope you consider attending the Resistance Fair at 1pm in the Main Hall.
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Aging with Intention Discussion Group, 3-5pm, Loretta Neumann & Dan Smith's Home.
We hope the "second-half- of-life" folks will join us at our next gathering of Aging with Intention. This month we're pleased to be meeting at the home of Loretta Neumann and Dan Smith, who live just 3 blocks from the Takoma Metro stop. There is also street parking. We're finalizing this month's topic, but as always it will give participants a way to strategize and explore issues of special importance to us as we grow older. See you Sunday, March 26, from 3-5pm. For further details on the topic and the address- and to RSVP - please contact
bethbaker@starpower.net
.
Tuesday, March 28
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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!
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. 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, 10:45am & 12:45pm, 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.
Monday April 3
- Mindfulness meeting, 7:30-9 p.m. 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 trishweil@juno.com or Ann Baker at bakera@gao.gov.
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On Second Sundays Are for Service, SEEK 1st-5th graders made rope toys for dogs out of donated t-shirts and fleece fabric for the dogs waiting for adoption at the
Humane Rescue Alliance
in DC. The students made close to 50 rope toys!
 
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On Sunday, March 12, the #WESteens led their annual 'Teen Platform". Two teens, sophomores Jason Weinfeld and Russell Corbin, shared their thoughts on the theme of the month,
Risk, and how it applies to their lives. The #WESteens then led the audience in a fun (and funny) trivia game based on current teen pop culture. Members of the audience [unknowingly] volunteered to dance in front of the community for incorrectly answered questions. The platform was energetic and full of the teens' personality, reminding many of us to not take ourselves too seriously. Mike Kravitz, WES Teen Group Coordinator, also acknowledged WES's three graduating seniors -Maia Pramuk, Ruby Drizin-Kahn, and Ethan Myers- as they transition into the world of adulthood. The WES Teen Group meets during second platform on Sundays, and welcomes
all high school students. Contact Mike Kravitz with questions at
mikek@ethicalsociety.org.
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Announcements
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Better Together: Central East Region Leadership Day and UUA Presidential Candidates Forum
Event Date(s):
April 1, 2017
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9am to 3:30pm EDT
Partner(s): Central East Region
Cost: $20 per person attending who stays for lunch or lunch and workshops. Free to just attend the candidates' forum in the morning.
Register Now at
https://www.uua.org/central-east/programs/better-together-central-east-region-leadership-day-and-uua-presidential
Schedule:
9
-10am
-- Gathering and Welcome
10-11:30am
-- UUA Presidential Candidates Forum
11:30-12pm --
Lunch
12:30-3:30pm
-- Workshops. Please select one from below
3:30 pm
Closing, ending by
4 pm
.
Workshop Selections:
Mission Possible: Becoming Agents of Hope and Change in Congregations and Beyond presented by Carey McDonald
We all feel it these days - the call to reach out in love, to step up or efforts to organize and advocate, to loudly proclaim UU values to a world that desperately needs our voices. But there's a long way between feeling the call and living up to its demands each week in our congregations. Join us for an exploration of the forces shaping our work, from the "spiritual but not religious" to the 2016 elections, and what we can do to respond. We'll dig into what it takes for each of us to be a leader in our unique congregational and community context. Congregational teams welcome and encouraged to attend!
Carey McDonald is the UUA Outreach Director, helping Unitarian Universalist values reach more people and respond to the changing American religious landscape. He previously served as the UUA Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and is a former lay member of the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee and the Skinner House Books Board. Carey is a seventh generation Unitarian Universalist and a member of First Parish in Malden, MA and the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, Ohio.
Caring for One Another in Times of Trial presented by Rev. David Pyle.
People join religious communities seeking care for their spirit amid challenging times. Be it a health crisis or a crisis of family or society, Pastoral Care is often most needed for a congregation during times of change and transformation. This workshop will equip and empower ordained and lay congregational caring leaders to build a strong infrastructure of caring for their congregation and community. It will engage models of pastoral ministries, and also serve as a "train the trainer" workshop for growing caring capacity within a congregation. Most of all, it will examine the skills and boundaries necessary for effective pastoral care amid times of crisis and trauma.
Rev. David Pyle is a U.S. Army Reserve Chaplain and UUA Congregational Life Consultant. He serves as a Medical Command Chaplain based out of Fort. Dix, New Jersey. He has served congregations in Illinois, Michigan, and California, and holds the Arts of Ministry specialty for the Central East Regional Staff of the UUA.
I Have a Size 4 Stewardship History, a Size 5 Congregation, a Size 6 Budget - and Everyone Has a Size 10 Attitude. Now What?! presented by Bill Clontz.
Stewardship in the 21st century can be a tricky business. A number of long standing ideas and programs still succeed when done well. Others no longer do the job. New tools and approaches are popping up all the time. Competition for donations is fierce. How do we figure out the right mix? Let's take a look at the score card, talk about how to evaluate our tools, and share our stories of success and frustrations. This is about the life blood of our movement and our congregations. Let's get it right.
Bill Clontz brings over forty years in leadership development and coaching, organizational effectiveness, and strategic planning to stewardship support of UUs as a member of Stewardship for Us. Bill has over 25 years in UU church leadership and 15 years of business development and portfolio management as a corporate officer,working with nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations. He a regular presenter at UU Regional conferences and the UUA Annual General Assembly.
Register Now:
https://www.uua.org/central-east/programs/better-together-central-east-region-leadership-day-and-uua-presidential
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