8th November 2016
Dear Parents,
Our choir have been invited to take part in the University of Winchester’s Space for Peace event next Wednesday, 16th November, at the Vedic, or Hindu, Temple in Radcliffe Road, Southampton, just the other side of the railway level crossing on Mount Pleasant Road. The event has been running for several years, but this is the first time we will have joined in. It is a multi faith event, which is hosted in the temple and everyone is welcome.
This is how the University describe the event;
The concept of the event (by Rev. Prof.June Boyce-Tillman MBE) is to create peace “from the bottom up”. Except for when June conducts the chants to keep us together , nobody is in charge , we all take responsibility for when, what and how we sing/play/dance/pray etc. It is an inspirational experience, which children and adults alike, of any faith or none, feel welcome, valued and accepted.
The first and last sections of the evening are identical, insofar as we all sing the chants together.
The middle hour of the event is very different. Each choir/representative group is positioned in a predetermined space within the Temple and Hall. The audience and other participants wander through the space to listen to (and join in with) all the groups.
Timings:
17:00 – Rehearsal with all participants
18:15 - short break to eat and rest before the event begins.
19.15 – The event begins.
20.45 – Optional silent meditation. At this point anyone who cannot stay is very welcome to depart
The Temple have been kind enough to offer samosa and sandwiches for the children and staff during their break, but if the children are unable to eat these or have certain allergies, they can bring their own home-packed meals. Due to the sacred rules of the Vedic Temple you may not carry or consume food containing meat, fish, eggs or alcohol on the premises, so it may be better to make sure your child has an early tea. I will also bring some additional snacks. Another important rule is that shoes are not allowed to be worn within the temple so please make sure all attendees are happy in socks or bare feet.
The event finishes quite late for a school night, but if you would like your child to go and would prefer her/him to have a ‘lie in’ the next day, I am happy to authorise a later start for participants. You will need to drop your child at the Vedic temple for 5.00p.m. and collect her/him at 8.45p.m. You are also very welcome to join the event from 7.15p.m if you would like to.
If your child would like to go, but transport is a problem, please mark this on the reply slip so that I can see if we can coordinate lifts. Likewise, if you are able to offer another child a lift, please make that clear.
It should be a very lovely experience for our choir – Miss Bertenshaw and I are looking forward to it too.
Yours sincerely
Julie Greer
Headteacher