My Experience of Being an Accompanying Elder

Life is full of surprises, some good, and some bad. A pleasant one for me was on the evening of Wednesday the 21 September 2011, when I undertook the role of Accompanying Elder, at a workshop on Eldering, organised by Jenny Routledge and Lucy Parker. I was delighted to receive and accept Jenny's request to act as Accompanying Elder and later I received a copy of the evening's programme.

A couple of days prior to the event I sat down quietly at home and read though the programme, commencing to bring it into the light. Having never been an Accompanying Elder before I decided to treat the process as I would for a Meeting for Business. It is my practice for Meeting for Business to sit quietly at home a few days preceding the actual meeting and bring the agenda contents into the light and sit there with it. I find this method beneficial spiritually in preparing me for the meeting and used it to help me focus for this particular evening. This preparation helped me greatly on the night.

We started the workshop sharply at seven o'clock, which I found pleasing. There were eight Friends participating in the workshop in addition to the facilitators, Jenny and Lucy. The programme started with a ten minute period of worship time which helped me to easily focus down and hold the workshop in the light and with love. Throughout the evening I was aware of talking and laughter but not what was actually being said. I did not find this distracting, and continued holding the meeting in the light and love. I was always conscious as to what stage the programme had reached. Occasionally, I felt encouraged by the spirit to utter short silent prayers. In these prayers I asked that facilitators and Friends are helped clarifying and speaking their thoughts, or to give thanks for what had been given, despite me not being aware of the conversations going on around me. The whole time I felt a complete sense of spiritual presence and connectedness to the light, which sustained me throughout.

Despite the workshop lasting two hours I had no difficulty in holding my focus at all times, in fact it felt quite natural. I did find it tiring by the end because of the mental concentration needed in upholding the meeting in the light. At the end I had mixed feelings, not only of spiritual upliftment and joyfulness by the experience, but I also felt privileged and humbled.

Later, at home, I continued to hold the meeting in the light, giving thanks for the guidance given to all during the evening, a sort of winding down if you like.

I believe the experience of being an Accompanying Elder has strengthened me spiritually.

Michael Johnson