Category: Baha’i
Weekly Prayer Gathering
We invite you to join us this Monday, May 4th for regular weekly devotional. The theme of this week’s devotional is “Divine Justice.”
“O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.” ~ Bahá’u’lláh
We will start at 7:00 pm with light refreshments followed by reading, at 7:30 pm, selected Holy Writings from diverse religions. The building is across from Arlington Central Library, Metro-accessible via the Orange line, between Ballston and Virginia Square. If you would like more information about this gathering or about the Bahá’í Faith please contact us.
Come Celebrate the 9th Day of Ridván!
” Arise, and proclaim unto the entire creation the tidings that He Who is the All-Merciful hath directed His steps towards the Ridván and entered it. Guide, then, the people unto the garden of delight which God hath made the Throne of His Paradise.”
~ Bahá’u’lláh
The Arlington Bahá’í community will be celebrating the 9th day of Ridván at 4:00pm on April 29th. We will tell the story of Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration in the Garden of Ridván 146 years ago, and reflect on that most auspicious event! There will be a tent and roses as well as activities for children. Everyone is welcome to attend, please contact us for more information.
Singer Andy Grammer Appears in DC
Popular singer/musician Andy Grammer is performing in Washington, DC, this Saturday evening, April 25, at Tiny Planet, 1428 U Street, NW, 20009 (building rear loading dock) at 7:30 pm.
Andy, who is a member of the Baha’i Faith, presents a supremely entertaining live show that has seen him open for a wide range of artists from mellow rock act Augustana to Hip-Hop legend Ludacris as well as Josh Kelley, Jason Reeves and MTV star Shwayze.
For more information, click here.
Happy Ridván!
Ridván is the most sacred of all Bahá’í festivals and it commemorates Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration of His Mission. After spending 10 years in exile in Baghdad, the Ottoman Empire determined to exile Him further. Therefore before they left for Constantinople, for 12 days Bahá’u’lláh and His companions camped in the Najibiyyih Garden on the outskirts of Baghdad. It was in this garden in April 1863 that Bahá’u’lláh announced to his followers and to the world that He was the Promised One for which humanity had been waiting. The garden where this momentous proclamation was made became known as “Ridván” which means “paradise”, and the festival commemorating this historic event is also known as Ridván. Bahá’u’lláh referred to this twelve day period as “the King of Festivals” and Bahá’ís suspend work on the first, ninth and twelfth day. These days commemorate His arrival to the garden, the arrival of His family, and His departure from the garden respectively.
This festival is not only a time for Bahá’ís to contemplate on the historic significance, but also to reflect on His Mission that was revealed. Bahá’u’lláh has explained that His Mission is the unification of mankind. “’The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race…” And He warns, “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” Please contact us to find out more about what the Bahá’ís in Arlington are doing to help bring about unity.
Arlington Bahá’ís Elect Local Spiritual Assembly
Bahá’ís in Arlington and across the world are preparing for the election of their Local Spiritual Assembly (LSA). In every locality where 9 or more Bahá’í adults live, on the April 20th the Local Spiritual Assembly is elected. The only communities where Local Spiritual Assemblies will not be elected are in Iran, since the government of Iran in 1983 called for the dismantling of the Bahá’í administrative structure. Therefore in 1983 the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran dissolved itself and the rest of the Bahá’í administrative structure in the country as a demonstration of goodwill towards the government.
There is no clergy in the Bahá’í Faith, rather the LSA is the elected administrative body that provides pastoral care and coordinates the affairs of the community at the local level. The institutions of a National Spiritual Assembly (NSA) and the Universal House of Justice coordinate the affairs of the Bahá’í community at a national and the international level respectively. Therefore the Local Spiritual Assembly in addition to providing guidance for the Bahá’í community at a local level, is the grassroots centerpiece of a democratic local, national, and international election processes.
The secret ballot election takes place in a prayerful atmosphere, void of nominations or campaigning. All Bahá’ís over the age of 21 who reside with in the particular geographic jurisdiction are eligible to vote and to be elected to serve. Individual elected members have no special authority, status, or power outside the Assembly itself.
To find out more about the Bahá’í electoral process please read this article or watch this video on YouTube.
