Hampshire & Islands Quakers bridge distance
‘Friends gathered at Winchester, Alton and Jersey Meeting Houses and joined Southampton on Zoom.’
Hampshire & Islands Quakers found a way of gathering together last month, despite the 150 miles between Meetings. The Area Meeting (AM) ‘faces challenges in bringing members together, while minimising our carbon footprint,’ said Hazel Inskip, of Southampton Meeting. ‘So we tried a new approach.’
The Friends held an event at Southampton Meeting House, where Kate McNally, author of A Simple Faith in a Complicated World, was interviewed by Tony Stoller, of Winchester Meeting. ‘Friends gathered at Winchester, Alton and Jersey Meeting Houses and joined Southampton on Zoom,’ Hazel Inskip told the Friend. ‘Around 100 people participated… [It] was a significant move forward in bringing Friends together… without use of flights, boats, or long car journeys.’
Stuart Donnan, of Southampton Meeting, said: ‘There was excitement all round… a renewed sense of togetherness. The technology team were mightily relieved that it worked well… we “lived adventurously” and feel empowered to run other such events.’
Quakers who plan similar events can contact the AM for support.
Comments
It was good to attend Southampton Meeting house in person to participate in this event, for the first time since before ‘Lock down’, although it was a long car journey to get there! Having spent the first 30 years of my life as a Birth right member in Southampton Meeting, the event was also full of memories for me. It was good to see some familiar faces there, and to see the different Meetings and Friends represented on zoom too! I hope this may be the start of more events bringing Hampshire and the Islands together.
By Elizabeth Hockley on 7th March 2024 - 9:03
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