Sunday Events
What Happens on a Sunday Morning?
Sundays at the Ethical Society are very busy! Visitors are welcome at all our programs. Below are the activities that a typical Sunday includes. We have greeters to help you find your way around, and feel free to ask anyone for information. Please visit our First Visit Frequently Asked Questions page.Please see our parking page for directions and information. Our building is fully handicapped-accessible.
There is childcare in the fully equipped Ethical Society Nursery School, on the upper east corner of the building. Older children and youth are welcome to take part in our Sunday School or Youth Group. See the Sunday School page for more information. Children of any age are also welcome to accompany you in any of our adult activities.
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
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Sunday Mornings:The 9:45 Forum hosts speakers from inside and outside the Ethical Society. A typical forum meeting includes a presentation followed by discussion. Forum meets in the Hanke Room, on the lower floor, directly to the right as you enter the back west door. Average Forum attendance is approximately 40 people. Newcomers are welcome, and everyone is invited to share their thoughts, but no one is required to do so.
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
10:00 - 10:45 a.m.
- Sunday School (1st hour)
- Parent Talk
- Social/Coffee Hour
11:00 a.m. - Noon.
- Platform
- Sunday School (2nd hour)
Afternoons:
Noon - 12:30 p.m.
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Various Afternoon Times
- Attend a movie or workshop (see our newsletter and the handout at Platform for activities on any given Sunday)
Festivals: Several Sundays throughout the year are designated for special events that celebrate the seasons.
- Colloquy is a small-group meditative experience with a format that includes time for contemplation (accompanied by music) and sharing of personal thoughts around a weekly theme. Colloquy meets in the board room, on the upper floor in the northwest corner of the building, through the office area. Average Colloquy attendance is approximately 12 people. Newcomers are welcome, and everyone is invited to share their thoughts, but no one is required to do so.
10:00 - 10:45 a.m.
- Sunday School Gathering—All our Sunday School children (preschool to grade seven) are together in the Library on the lower level for this first hour of special presentations and projects, and adults are welcome to observe or take part. During the second hour, they are in classrooms. Please see our Sunday School page for more information on our various children and teen classes and peer groups.
- Parent Talk is an informal gathering of Sunday School parents that meets to discuss the joys and challenges of parenthood. They meet in the Visitors Open House room on the lower level by the east back door.
- During the 10 o’clock hour there is also an open coffee hour on the lower level.
11 a.m. - Noon
Platform is the name of our main Sunday meeting, upstairs in the auditorium. There are several doors to the auditorium; the large south doors have greeters that can give you a program and a visitor’s information packet. Average attendance at platform is about 160 people. There are hearing devices available for the hearing-impaired.
Platform usually includes musical selections (of a wide variety), Opening Words by a member, reading of the Core Values by a Sunday School student, a brief "say hello to your neighbor" moment, a minute of silence to calm the mind, and "Call to Action" announcements about community events.
The main event of Platform is an address of approximately 30 minutes on an ethical, personal growth, or social justice theme or issue. The Platform Address may be given by the Leader, members of the Society, or visiting speakers. (You can listen to past platforms on our podcasts page.) We also have festival Platforms that include stories, readings, and more music. We often have community singing, finding or adapting our songs from a wide variety of sources.
Sunday School continues during the second hour. Please see our Sunday School page for more information on our various children and teen classes and peer groups.
Afternoons
After Platform, interested newcomers can attend a half-hour Visitors' Open House to learn more about the Society from a member, join our members for coffee hour or First Sunday Lunch, take part in an after-platform discussion circle, or attend a movie or workshop (see our newsletter and the handout at Platform for activities on any given Sunday).
Several Sundays Per Year
Several Sundays throughout the year are designated for festivals that celebrate the seasons.