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Northern Virginia Ethical Society (NoVES)

Sunday Platforms

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The platform of an Ethical Society is itself the altar; the address must be the fire that burns thereon.

Felix Adler, Founder of Ethical Culture




What to Expect

Our platform meetings typically feature a thought-provoking talk on a topic of ethical interest, along with responses, music, a story for children of all ages, and more. We meet from mid-September through mid-June (see topic listings below).

Our Sunday School is devoted to teaching children how to make ethical choices, with a thoughtful, age-specific curriculum and a friendly, supportive environment.

All are welcome to attend a Sunday meeting and to bring children along for Sunday School. Casual, comfortable dress is the norm, we want you to feel at home.

We follow the more formal part of our meetings with a coffee and conversation time hosted by our members -- a chance to continue the conversation about the topic, to get to know each other, to learn from each other, and to find others with shared values and concerns.

A few times each year, we have inter-generational festival celebrations instead of talks at the Sunday platform meeting. In these events, we celebrate the natural flow of the seasons, honor the universal human concerns behind holidays, and enjoy a shared meal together.

Each Sunday, we pass the basket, giving members and friends an opportunity to help support the Society and its values. Half of all undesignated donations are given to a charitable or service organization or project; the Ethical Action committee selects and announces each week's recipient organization or project.

Sample Sunday Program

 10:30-11:00Gathering  and Greet Your neighbors
 11:00 AMOpening Words and Music   
 Welcome 
 11:10 AMStory Time (kids gather up front)  
 11:15 AMKids go to Sunday School
 Music
 11:20 AMPlatform Speaker Introduction
 11:20 AM-11:50 AMPlatform Address  
 Music  
 Response Period and Sharing of Responsibility (collections)
 Announcements 
 12:00 PMClosing Words  
 12:15Conclusion of Sunday School  
 12:00 PM-1:00 PMSnacks and Social Time

Upcoming Topics

  • The Gen Z Perspective on Modern Politics

    • Sunday, February 01, 2026
    • 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
    • Green Hedges School, Vienna, VA and on Zoom
    The Gen Z Perspective on Modern Politics

    Evie Nyilasi will be discussing generation Z and the global political factors that contribute to this generation's unique perspective and political actions. She will be discussing Generational movements that are unique to this generation across the globe, and attempt to explain the motivations behind them. Technology, global perspectives, and polarization will be common themes in this discussion. As she is a part of this generation herself, some of this will be anecdotal of her own experience. 

    Evie Nyilasi is an 18 year old student at Heritage High School. She was born and raised in Northern Virginia and has attended Northern Virginia Ethical Society for more than a decade. She is a recent graduate of the NoVES Sunday school and is going to be attending Bryn Mawr College in the fall. Her parents are both active members in the NoVES community. Evie is also a politically minded and involved person having interned for the Harris-Walz campaign and passed a campaign finance resolution at the Leesburg Town Council. She's really excited to go from listening to talks, to finally giving one!

    Evie is also on the Board of La Mano Amiga, a non-profit helping Honduran adults become self-sufficient.  We will be collecting donations for this organization for the month of February in honor of Evie's talk. 

    This in-person meeting can also be attended on Zoom.  The Zoom link is below.

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83422695892


    Show details

  • Beyond the Bare Bones: What Human Evolution Means to You by Fred Edwords

    • Sunday, February 15, 2026
    • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Green Hedges School, 415 Windover Ave NW, Vienna, VA 22180

         [The Evolution of Man 1896]

    Beyond the Bare Bones: What Human Evolution Means to You

    For our annual Darwin Day Platform Talk, Fred Edwords will connect evolutionary science to environmental issues and how these factors affected  our early human ancestors.  This talk will feature numerous images of humanity's ancestors courtesy of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington DC.

    After the talk, please join us for our traditional Darwin Day banana splits.

    This is an in-person meeting only at Green Hedges School, Vienna, VA 

    Fred Edwords served eleven years (1980-1991) as the founding editor of the AHA’s Creation/Evolution journal, refuting creationism, fifteen years as AHA executive director (1984-1999), and twelve years as editor of the Humanist magazine (1994-2006). He was the first corporate president (2002-2005) of Camp Quest, Inc., the summer camp for freethinking children. He went on to direct the AHA’s semi-autonomous United Coalition of Reason for six years (2009-2014), erecting attention-grabbing billboards across the country. And he served over three years (2015-2018) as director of planned giving for the AHA’s Humanist Foundation. Fred continues as an active humanist volunteer.

    Show details

Directions to Sunday Platform

Green Hedges School

415 Windover Avenue NW

Vienna, VA 22180


Driving Directions

Take the Nutley Street North exit from Route I-66.  At the fourth light, cross Maple Avenue (Route 123) and start watching your odometer.  At 0.2 miles, you will see a driveway with “Watch for Turning Vehicles” and “Green Hedges” signs.  There will also be an Ethical Society sign next to the driveway.  Turn right into the driveway, park in the lot, and take the nearest entrance into the building.

Questions or platform topic recommendations? Contact the Platform Committee


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