Category: Baha’i
November 27 – Spiritual Pursuit Baha’i movie marathon in Arlington and commemoration of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha
”In this day, to thank God for His bounties consisteth in possessing a radiant heart, and a soul open to the promptings of the spirit. This is the essence of thanksgiving.”
(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 179)
After the festivities of Thanksgiving, this Sunday, November 27, beginning at 7 p.m., the Baha’is of Arlington invite you to a Spiritual Pursuit Baha’i movie marathon in Arlington and commemoration of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha, the Center of the Baha’i Covenant. On the spiritual menu we will have:
- Community board game called “Spiritual Pursuit” which would test our knowledge of the Baha’i Faith and the other major religions.
- Baha’i movie marathon featuring (in the order the audience chooses):
- “The Promise of All Ages” – a documentary about the life of Baha’u'llah
- “The Noble Thief” – a moving one-man-play about the spiritual transformation of a flawed but sincere man through his growing love of Baha’u'llah
- “Pilgrimage: A Sacred Experience” – a beautiful video meditation on the sacred experience of Baha’i pilgrimage
- “Smith & Dragoman: Live in Concert” – a live recording of the concert performance of the talented Baha’i band Smith & Dragoman from Canada
- “Embrace the World Tour” – a documentary about the U.S. tour of an international group of talented Baha’i musicians bringing about the oneness of humanity through their music.
The commemoration of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha will conclude with prayers, devotional readings and music at 1 am on Sunday. Please contact Mitko for directions.
Musical Prayer Station & classical piano performance by Negin Mostaghim – Friday, Nov 18th
“The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.”
(Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 53)
What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, live music, fellowship, tea poured in peace, banana bread baked with loved and shared with a smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing songs and prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for days ahead.
We invite you and your loves ones to a very special Musical Prayer Station featuring classical piano music performed by Negin Mostaghim and surprise guests on Friday, November 18th, at 7:30 pm. We will intersperse the beautiful music with inspiring readings from different religious traditions as well as personal supplications. Prayers will be offered for anyone in need. Whether you need directions or have a prayer request, please contact Mitko.
Arlington Musical Prayer Station with Yosi Mesbah
“We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high; make it not, therefore, as wings to self and passion.”
(Baha’u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 38)
What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, live music, fellowship, tea poured in peace, cake shared with a smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing songs and prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for days ahead.
We invite you and your loves ones to a very special Musical Prayer Station and house concert with Yosi Mesbah on Thursday, November 10th, at 7:30 pm. The event host Mitko Gerensky met Yosi and recorded with her at the recent Music Industry Weekend in California and he claims that this young lady has bright future. With her soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics, this young singer-songwriter will make you smile, cry, and overall reflect on life and its meaning.
What: Musical Prayer Station – house concert with Yosi Mesbah
When: Thursday, November 10th at 7:30 pm
Where: Arlington, VA
Contact Mitko for details.
Arlington Musical Prayer Station
Arlington Musical Prayer Station with Katharine Key
Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men.
(Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 294)
Dear friends!
What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, tea poured in peace, cake shared with a smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing songs and prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for days ahead.
Mitko Gerensky invites you and your loves ones to a very special Musical Prayer Station and house concert with Katharine Key on Saturday, January 8th, at 7:30 pm,. This is the second time she is performing at the Arlington Prayer Station and everyone who attended the first time, enjoyed it immensely!
Katharine Key is a singer-songwriter who loves playing music to uplift people’s hearts and enrich their lives. She is classically trained in piano and self-taught on guitar, but only plays so that she can sing — her first passion. She has been a Baha’i for 14 years and took up guitar and song-writing so that she could serve the community, since music and the arts are an essential element of Baha’i community life.
Her debut album, “Intone,” consists of passages from the Baha’i scriptures set to original music in a number of styles, ranging from jazz to samba to folk and rock. She is currently working on a second album most of whose lyrics are her own reflections on spiritual struggles and breakthroughs. She will perform selections from both “Intone” and the upcoming album. “Intone” will be available for sale at the concert as well as online at www.cdbaby.com/cd/katharinekey.
When she is not singing, Katharine works in the field of HIV prevention research. Look for her and drop her a note online at www.justkat.com.
Please let Mitko Gerensky know if you plan on coming so that he can plan the size of the cake, or if you need details on the location.
Most Holy Religious Festival of the Bahá’í Year
The Bahá’ís of Arlington will celebrate the most holy religious festival of the Bahá’í year beginning Tuesday, April 20, at sunset. The community will gather together for a devotion service and will elect the Spiritual Assembly of Arlington County, the nine-member governing council that oversees the administrative and pastoral needs of the local religious community.
History and Significance of the Festival of Ridván.
From April 21 to May 2, Bahá’ís observe the Festival of Ridván This most holy day commemorates the anniversary of Bahá’u'lláh’s declaration in 1863 that He was the Promised One of all earlier religions.
Bahá’u'lláh’s declaration that He was “Him Whom God shall make manifest” and a Manifestation of God marks the beginning of the Bahá’í Faith .
Ridván (Rizwahn) was a bittersweet time, as Bahá’u'lláh was soon to be exiled to Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). This was the latest in His series of exiles by the Persian government, which considered Him to be a heretic.
Bahá’u'lláh spent 12 days in a garden in Baghdad visiting with His followers. His followers named the garden Ridván, which means “Paradise” or “good pleasure” in Arabic. The exact circumstances of the Declaration are not known. According to Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Faith: ³The fragmentary description left to posterity by His chronicler Nabil is one of the very few authentic records we possess of the memorable days He spent in that garden. Every day, Nabil has related, ere the hour of dawn, the gardeners would pick the roses which lined the four avenues of the garden, and would pile them in the center of the floor of His blessed tent. So great would be the heap that when His companions gathered to drink their morning tea in His presence, they would be unable to see each other across it. All these roses Bahá’u'lláh would, with His own hands, entrust to those whom He dismissed from His presence every morning to be delivered, on His behalf, to His Arab and Persian friends in the city.²
Bahá’u'lláh called Ridván the Most Great Festival and the King of Festivals. He said:
Call ye to mind, O people, the bounty which God hath conferred upon you. Ye
were sunk in slumber, and lo! He aroused you by the reviving breezes of His
Revelation, and made known unto you His manifest and undeviating Path.
When He entered the garden, Bahá’u'lláh proclaimed the Festival of Ridván and made three announcements:
- He forbade His followers to fight to advance or defend the Faith (religious war had been permitted under past religions).
- He declared there would not be another prophet for another 1,000 years.
- He proclaimed that all the names of God were inherent in all things at that moment.
Bahá’ís suspend work on the holiest days of Ridvan-the first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and twelfth (May 2). These mark the day of Bahá’u'lláh’s arrival in the garden, the arrival of His family and the group’s departure for Constantinople.
Throughout Ridván, Bahá’ís gather for devotions and attend social gatherings.
At Ridván, Bahá’ís annually elect members of local and national administrative bodies, called Spiritual Assemblies. Bahá’u'lláh taught that in an age of universal education, there was no longer a need for a special class of clergy. Instead, he provided a framework for administering the affairs of the Faith through a system of elected councils at the local, national and international levels. (International elections are held every five years.)
Bahá’í elections occur through secret ballot and plurality vote, without candidacies, nominations or campaigning.
