4. The Care of our Sacred Space

THE CARE OF OUR SACRED SPACE:

(Considerations for ensuring a good working relationship with our hosts)

1. Leaders:

-- please bring anything you need to make a simple altar, such as a beautiful cloth and some sacred objects.

-- candle, incense, and their holders are already provided as standard items in order to avoid any fire issues.

-- Caution: make sure no wax or burn marks are made on the floor. Please place all used matches immediately into the seashell, and extinguish incense after use. Also make sure that the hot bowl or other container does not touch the floor -- there is a glass disc which is especially designed to be placed underneath it.

-- please keep one eye on the awe-inspiring relationship between Sun and Earth (i.e. Time). We aim to end at about 9.30 pm, and must leave the building before 10 pm.

2. Everybody:

-- please remember to bring a blanket or yoga mat. If you come without, please do not use the cushions on the benches. Just ask us and we will find you something to lie on.

-- please help to rearrange the benches, both at the beginning and at the end of the evening. Please push them carefully and do not let them collide. They may look strong but the armrests can be damaged.

-- please ensure the door to the hall and the basement door to the underground passageway are closed, so that we do not disturb other people.

-- please sweep the room (a broom, brush, dustpan and dustbin should be available in the hall or, if not, then in the basement of the other building).

-- please leave the lowering and raising of the blinds to the officers, because they are fragile and need to be treated with special care.

-- please no smoking, eating, drinking, or parking in the back lot.

3. Officers:

-- please welcome any newcomers.

-- please lower and raise the blinds, after first making sure that the slats are flat. They are old and fragile so you need to be gentle with them. The one in the middle of the wall next to the parking lot apparently works in an opposite manner to the others.

4. Coordinator:

-- is responsible for ensuring that all these instructions are followed.

-- if necessary, please contact the facilities manager of the Quakers in order to ensure that the thermostat is regularly switched on during the wintertime (at least one hour before each meeting).

-- please open up the meeting-house at or before 6.45 pm. This is especially important in wintertime, so that people do not get locked outside in the cold.

-- please provide the leaders with incense, candles, and other sacred items from the closet in the basement corridor.

-- at the end of the evening, please collect the donations in a drum. Also please provide all interested newcomers with the information leaflet about our group e-mail.

-- please check that the room is in good order when we leave it. Turn off all the lights (and the thermostat in winter). Close and lock the windows, the door to the corridor downstairs, and the door to the meeting-house.