Sunday Platform Meetings at the Society for Ethical Culture
Platform Meeting Topics
Join us for a colloquy on the poetry of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Jane Oliver. She is best known for her introspective poems about nature. A review of one of Mary’s collections describes her as[...]
For this Labor Day weekend, we’ll feature a colloquy on our monthly theme of expectations, hosted by Liz Collier, our Community Outreach Director. All are welcome to come, share some of your thoughts, and practice[...]
Help say goodbye to summer and hello to autumn! We encourage members and visitors to bring two things this Sunday: a dish to share for a potluck brunch, and a memory of something interesting or[...]
Climate change — which Rabbi Arthur Waskow calls “global scorching” — is not an abstract scientific prediction, it is a reality impacting human lives and human rights. Climate change is a human problem. John Dietrich,[...]
Listen or Watch
A few sample past Sunday platform meetings for you to listen to or watch on your computer.
We meet on Sundays for two reasons: to find inspiration for living a more ethical life, and to connect with others who share a similar journey. We share inspiring and stimulating ideas about social issues, ethical living, and personal transformation.
Some Sundays, we hear from the professional Ethical Leader of the community, Jone Johnson Lewis. On other Sundays, we hear from guest speakers or members of our own or other Ethical Societies.
Subjects differ. Many of our Sunday meetings focus on a monthly theme. Some meetings focus on practical living and ethical relationships, and some on social justice or public issues, including climate justice, peace, antiracism, and human rights. Some focus on humanism, secular philosophy, or religion.
For some Sunday meetings use what we call a colloquy format, which is more participative and informal, with some structure to encourage deep listening to each other.
Sunday meetings include time to honor personal journeys, challenges, and joys, and to be a supportive community to each other. We also include live music, most often with song or two where everyone is invited, as they are willing and able, to join in.
Finally, we share some coffee, tea or juice, and light snacks, with conversation during a social hour, as a way to more informally continue the discussion as well as reconnect or meet new friends.
We hope to go out, back to our individual lives, families, work, and social action, re-energized, and re-committed to live more ethically in all those arenas.