{"id":4457,"date":"2023-03-25T15:38:22","date_gmt":"2023-03-25T15:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordquaker.com\/newsletter\/?page_id=4457"},"modified":"2023-03-25T18:15:02","modified_gmt":"2023-03-25T18:15:02","slug":"a-burford-tale-reflections-on-the-presence-of-children","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oxfordquaker.com\/newsletter\/april-2023\/a-burford-tale-reflections-on-the-presence-of-children\/","title":{"rendered":"A Burford Tale: Reflections on the Presence of Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

Julia Dover<\/strong><\/p>\n

Embodying their inner light through joy, excitement, curiosity and wonder, children remind us of our birth right to shine freely, fearlessly. So it is that when children and adults share a space that space is changed.<\/p>\n

Three Friends who attended the OSAM Area Meeting at Burford on 11 March offer insights on the children\u2019s presence and activities during the day:<\/p>\n

\n

From Moya<\/strong>
\nLocal Development Worker<\/strong>
\nThames Valley<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Singing Hearts photo by J Dover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Friends gathered at Burford\u2019s Eighteenth-Century Meeting House on a grey, dry, and windy Saturday \u2013 to \u201csee each other\u2019s faces\u201d and consider what it means to be a Peace Church in a time of war.<\/p>\n

Tim Gee, Secretary of Friends World Committee for Consultation led the afternoon\u2019s reflections on that sombre topic \u2013 but noted the importance of doing so with our children present, playing outside in the garden. When we\u2019d gathered at 10.30 for opening worship, only one child was with us \u2013 but her ministry of laughter still powerfully lifted our spirits. Gradually throughout the day, more came \u2013 and when we invited \u201cthe animals of the forest\u201d in to lead our closing worship, six children and six adults slipped inside.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sun of Singing Hearts Photo by J Dover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lying down in the still centre of the gathered meeting, these hibernating creatures embodied the waiting that is at the heart of our worship. Then down the stairs came the sun \u2013 an amazing image assembled by Deb Arrowsmith from singing hearts OSAM Friends had placed in the Wonder Box.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

In the light of its inspiration \u2013 and to the sound of a wistful viola, the tinkle of a xylophone \u2013 the animals gradually awakened and began to dance. They also spontaneously sang \u2013 and I found myself replying in kind. As a Friend said to me afterwards \u2013 sometimes that happens in meeting: somebody will give sung ministry & everyone joins in.<\/p>\n

On this occasion, older Friends were more delighted spectators than participants in the joy inspired by singing hearts: but if we continue to make space in our meetings for \u201clittle children to lead us\u201d, they may shift our focus from the \u201ctemptations, confusions & corruptions\u201d to the light that makes them manifest – and help us find our way to the peaceable kingdom sooner than seemed possible.<\/p>\n

The Sun of Singing Hearts picture is now on a journey round all of the OSAM meetings \u2013 and Julia is looking for Friends to turn the ideas shared on the hearts into a series of all-age \u201cWonder Days\u201d for OSAM Friends young & old to enjoy together.<\/p>\n

Please contact her if you\u2019d like to help with that.<\/p>\n

\n

From Myra Ford<\/strong>
\nBurford Local Meeting clerk<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Singing Hearts Photo by J Dover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An unsolicited comment Saturday evening via email from the morning kitchen helper, Lesley Hadley, read: “What an exciting day! Good to have Julia and the \u2018littles\u2019 in the Meeting House. I hope they enjoyed the day and will come again.\u201d In fact, this was the same I heard from all the Burford Meeting participants.<\/p>\n

It was such a treat to have children in the Meeting House, although we didn\u2019t see them for most of the day. Just sitting in the main Meeting room, we felt the children\u2019s presence, sometimes hearing their squeals of delight playing games in the garden and were happy for the opportunity to gather with them at Area Meeting.<\/p>\n

Taking over kitchen helper duty in the afternoon, Shan Garnell and I just smiled the whole time, watching the wild headdresses being made, Shan joining in as well, and faces being painted. Then at the end when the children returned to the whole meeting for their presentation, Deb Arrowsmith waving the giant singing heart sun to wake up the small forest creatures, the joy was indescribable.<\/p>\n

What fun! And the Wonder Box was a terrific success, even for those who were reluctant at first. Such a positive addition Julia, Mel and the children made to the day, not to mention the energy. Wonderful. Thank you!<\/p>\n

\n

From Deb Arrowsmith<\/strong>
\nBurford Friend<\/strong>
\nManager Oxford Meeting House<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Photo by S Yeo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We share all the roles at Burford meeting and as a team are great providers of tea, coffee, soup, delicious home-made cakes etc., so it was great to have a \u201cHouse full\u201d of Friends from around the OSAM Area.<\/p>\n

We enjoyed making the effort and the energy that was around especially with all the children- it showed us how we are enlivened by the presence of families and children.<\/p>\n

I thoroughly enjoyed joining in by bringing all the \u2018heartfelt joys\u2019 together in the collage of a sun with its sparkly rays and then \u2018being\u2019 the sun waking the forest creatures lying on the meeting house floor from their winter sleep!<\/p>\n

It reminded me how we wake and transform ourselves.<\/p>\n

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This Month’s Forty-Three Newsletter Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n