Specialties
WES is a humanistic congregation that affirms the worth of every person. Our Sunday Platform Service is the heart of our community life. This is where we gather to reflect, to share companionship, and to refresh and renew our commitment to creating a more ethical world. We warmly welcome visitors to join us, participate in our activities, and get to know our community.
History
Established in 1944.
We are located in DC's Shepherd Park neighborhood, right on 16th Street, with ample street parking.
We are a vibrant community of 400 adults, youth, and children going through life together and working to improve the world--while celebrating life passages and seasonal holidays with humanistic ceremonies. We strive through our relationships to elicit the best in the human spirit. With faith in human goodness, we appreciate each person's unique capacities. We joyfully celebrate together and support each other through life. We nurture a sense of reverence and responsibility for each other and the earth.
WES is a diverse community with a wide variety of programs for families, singles, couples, and seniors. We offer Sunday School for children and classes for adults, as well as opportunities to act for justice in our community and the world. We publish a monthly newsletter with details on our upcoming events. We invite you to join us on Sunday mornings!
Meet the Manager: Amanda P.
Amanda Poppei, Senior Leader, serves as WES's clergy Leader.
Amanda writes,
Welcome! I'm so glad you've found WES's virtual home--and hope that as you navigate around our pages, you'll learn more about who we are and what we do. But the best way to experience WES is to visit us on a Sunday morning!
I've been honored to serve WES since 2008, and each Sunday feels different to me. We pride ourselves on our variety of topics, on the music from our wonderful chorus and our many guest musicians, on the quality of our conversations together. Actually, that's the part I love most--the way that Sunday brings us together, the chance to hear from members of WES about their lives. A congregation like WES is, at its heart, a community of people who choose to walk through life together. Folks here come from all different backgrounds, and carry their own beliefs and ideas. Together, though, we are more than the sum of our parts: we are a force for good in the world.
Warmly, Amanda