Juliet Henderson

Last Sunday I took my two grandsons, who were staying with Nana for three days, to the Combined Meeting for Worship: Felix a beansprout (2), and Theo a sunflower (4). Though Theo had attended one meeting previously in his mother’s arms, this was his first more conscious experience of entering meeting at the end for the last moments of worship. 

They both very much enjoyed the activities so thoughtfully contrived by Matt and Virginia that occupied most of the hour outside in the garden. Reading books, drawing, playing with the other children, and learning the beansprout and sunflower Quaker song. What I’d like to share in more detail are Theo’s comments during the short time we were in the Meeting House — Felix on my lap, Theo at my side. 

Firstly, after a quick glance at the Meeting, Theo said to me urgently, “Nana, you need to put your mask on”. He had rapidly grasped the norms in place, and was concerned I respect them. Then, as we sat there in silence, looking rather anxious, he whispered, “Nana this is scary.” Finally, after Matt had explained to the Meeting what the children had done and we filed out before notices, he exclaimed somewhat indignantly “but they didn’t let us have our turn”. 

Those few comments in those short minutes prompted me to see and feel afresh what the experience of joining Meeting for Worship at its tail end might be for some younger children. Having previously only experienced it as a smiling adult enjoying the energy and disruption ushered in by the children’s entry, I was slightly shaken to see it from the side of a child – albeit a newbie. 

His comments left me with a number of questions about younger Friends I simply wish to share with you. Do they feel scared? Do they not feel included? Do we properly ‘recognise the gifts they bring’ to the end of the Meeting for Worship?