Cardinals Attend First Meeting for Worship with LS Family

The Cardinals attended their very first “official” Meeting for Worship at the Meetinghouse and it was a wonderful experience. We have become quite comfortable with Moment of Silence during our classroom Morning Meetings that it was time we met with the “older kids” for some shared silence.  Although the temperature was quite cold outside, the Meetinghouse felt cozy and warm inside. Upon our return to our classroom, the Cardinals gathered for a short shared moment to discussed how it felt being in that space with the rest of our Lower School friends .... 

What did you like about going to the Meetinghouse today?

Kate - “I liked I sat next to Paula .... and Jason was there!”

Noel – “My daddy picked me up. I liked when my daddy hold me. I like sitting on daddy’s lap.”

Violet – “I really liked showing Stella a foot dance. Sorry, but I did.”

Tori – “I liked being quiet.”

Young – “The song.”

Lilly – “I got to see my brother’s teacher and that was the sign that my brother was there.”

Audrey – “Sitting next to Paula.”

Andrew – “I don’t know.... being quiet.”

Jayden – “I like sitting next to Jason and Daniel (Andrew). I like calling him Daniel now. I liked being quiet too!”

Wyatt – “Singing the song, This Little Light of Mine.”

Katy – “Just sitting down and enjoying listening to people’s comments.”

Stella – “It was peaceful.”

Trace – “I like sitting. I liked sitting down.”

Samuel – “I liked sitting next to Wyatt.”
Kaya - "Saying my words."

Evan – “I liked it because it was quiet.”

Cardinals visit the Meetinghouse

The Cardinals have become quite comfortable with Moment of Silence during our classroom Morning Meetings and our shared Meeting for Worship in the Music room with the other 3’s/4’s classrooms. They have become so relaxed with the experience that we felt it was time to visit the Meetinghouse. So not to overwhelm ourselves with too many friends at the Meetinghouse for a first visit, we decided to join just one other class, the Doves.

Our walk to the Meetinghouse was magnificent! It was a nice cool fall day and one can observe all the stunning fall colors of the leaves. The children walked and/or skipped happily and peacefully, stopping at their favorite tree spot, the “puddle tree.” What a beautiful way to help us relax our bodies prior to entering the Meetinghouse.

The Meetinghouse is a beautiful space and the children were truly captured by it. The experience helped re-acclimate the Cardinals who have been there and familiarized the new Cardinals to the space. Once at the Meetinghouse, the Cardinals and Doves moved into a shared short time of silence.  As we all listened to our own thoughts, some friends felt the need to share and stood up to do so. 

To be mindful of listening and reflecting on the messages shared, the Cardinals have been practicing to count to ten in their heads between messages. In other words, if a Cardinal wanted to share his or her thought and someone else just shared, they would count to ten in their minds and then stand up. Many friends were very thankful for their Mommies, Daddies and other members in their family that makes their family so unique and special.  

 

Afterwards, the Doves invited us to some pumpkin cookies that they “whipped up”. DELICIOUS! We met on the soccer field and had the most enjoyable time snacking chatting and playing together. As one Cardinal stated, “The Doves sure filled our buckets today!” 

Meeting for Worship and Moment of Silence

Meeting for Worship is the heart of Quakerism and the center of spiritual focus for AFS. Quakers believe there is “that of God” in each person. The belief is that each individual can steer himself or herself toward one’s own truth and that silence is the manner in which this process can take place.

In the Cardinal classroom, we have been talking about what it means to be in a “moment of silence” and how to think of it in a positive way. As we settle into our quiet space, we are encouraged to think of our body as high as a mountain, sitting tall and strong. We then turn our focus to our breath and envision it being like the wind. As we sit like a mountain and listen to the sound of our breath, we then focus our mind to be as high as the sky. Our aim is for the Cardinals to become comfortable with this process. It is an opportunity for not only shared silence, but for reflection as well.

This week we once again joined the Kindergartners in a shared Meeting for Worship in the Music Room along with our friends, the Doves. What a wonderful opportunity for all of our friends to share such a beautiful piece of our school culture together. We first read Deborah Underwood’s book, The Quiet Book.  This is a story about all the different kinds of quiet, the different peaceful moments during the day like, “Don’t scare the robin quiet” and “Hide and seek quiet.”

Afterwards, a candle was lit, the singing bowl was rung and we all began to settle our bodies. As we gathered in silence, the Cardinals are learning to listen to their own thoughts, and if they so felt the desire to share, they may rise and do so ... as some did!

The experience lasted about 10 minutes and concluded by everyone shaking hands with their neighbors. Then, we all sang “This Little Light of Mine” as Raji, our Kindergarten teacher, played his guitar.

It is experiences like these that strengthen us in our lives and our relationships with others. It nurtures the bonds of our community.

The following photos give a glimpse of our shared experiences...