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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

  • Staying Ethical in Un-Ethical Times by Randy Best, NoVES Leader

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025
    • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Green Hedges School


    Creator: Ted Eytan   License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

    Staying Ethical in Un-Ethical Times

    Do my humanist ethical values hold up to contemporary challenges to democracy, human rights, and human dignity?

    I will explore the deep values held by the founder of Ethical Culture, Felix Adler, and interpretations of Ethical Culture and Ethical Humanism since then.  Are these values sufficient grounding to face today’s ethical challenges?

    Faced with an unending stream of lies used to justify violence against immigrants, vilification of trans people, occupation of cities by armed troops, destruction of the integrity of Higher Ed, and rising Christian Nationalism, how can I maintain my ethical integrity and act appropriately?

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

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88979032169?pwd=CSVTLOXwEGVgGGbNv5EpFY5aJSKLsZ.1

    Show details

  • ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE: Lessons for America From Around the Globe

    • Sunday, November 09, 2025
    • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Zoom platform only
    Register


    Come join NoVES members and friends to hear a platform talk by Natasha Hakimi Zapata, an international reporter who has traveled the world and has gained observations about how other countries tackle similar issues we face in the United States. 

    The Link for this Zoom only Platform is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88235559416

    "    Through in-depth reporting, including interviews with senior government officials, activists, industry professionals, and the ordinary people affected by their policies, Another World Is Possible examines innovative programs that address public health, social services, climate change, housing, education, addiction, and more. "

    In addition to the platform talk,. We will discuss the book on: November 6, 2025 on Zoom for a NoVES Book Club. You can use this link for the meeting:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84954137858


    Show details

  • AI: What is it? What will it do? And why does it matter by Tom Nyilasi

    • Sunday, November 16, 2025
    • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Green Hedges School, Vienna Va

    Stay tuned for details

    Show details

  • Stone Salad - Join with WES for this honored tradition

    • Sunday, November 23, 2025
    • 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Washington Ethical Society

    This year, NoVES will share the Thanksgiving tradition with our friends at Washington Ethical Society, and celebrate Stone Salad.  Watch your email for more details. 

    Show details

  • Gen Z - Opening the Door to The Next America, Bobbi Bowman

    • Sunday, January 18, 2026
    • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Green Hedges School, Vienna VA


                         Gen Z - Opening the Door to The Next America

    Generation Z is the most historic generation this country has seen in over 400 years. Why? Because it’s the last generation where White People (not-Hispanic) are the majority of  the U.S, population. We are now at an historic moment in our demographic history. No country has ever undergone the historic demographic change the USA will undergo in the next 20 years. How did we get here?


    About the speaker:

    Bobbi Bowman worked as a news reporter, editor and publisher for more than 40 years at newspapers including The Washington Post, USA Today and the Detroit Free Press. She retired from the newsroom in 2012 and became a  graduate student in History at George Mason University.

    She also received the prestigious Ida B. Wells award in 2009  for her work at the American Society of News Editors that changed the conversation on newsroom diversity to a conversation on reaching new audiences created by the changing U.S. demographics. She lectures frequently to journalists and others about the U. S.  in the midst of its  most important demographic change in 400 years. This is The Story of 21st Century America

    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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