Community Actitivities

“O SON OF MAN!
I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.”

~Bahá’u’lláh

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, cake, tea? Whatever the answer might be, sharing devotions with friends gets us all closer to the Creator. Please join us for interfaith devotions that will take place on Monday, December 8th at 7:00 pm in Ballston. Please contact the Baha’is of Arlington and find out more about this devotional gathering.

Local Arlingtonian Aaron Emmel will be discussing his book “Taking Action in a Changing World” at the DC Bahá’í Center today, Sunday November 23rd. As Kathleen Kettler Lehman said in her review of the book:

“Everybody should read this book, right now! This book is for everyone who has struggled to get their community involved. This book is for everyone who has looked at social projects being carried out elsewhere and wondered “why can’t we do something like that here?”

“Aaron Emmel’s Taking Action in a Changing World (published by George Ronald) takes a broad view of socioeconomic projects, and explores what must be done to set up efficient agencies of action. His book is written in short chapters, with an eye toward group reading and discussion.”

You can read the full review here or an interview with Mr. Emmel here. But the best way to find out about this book is to come to the discussion at the DC Bahá’í center located at 5713 16th Street, NW. There will be devotions at 11:00 and then the talk will follow. Everyone is invited to attend.

The Bahá’í International Community has made available on its website 500 photographs from all around the world of Bahá’ís and their friends together studying the Word of God, teaching their children virtues and spiritual values, and raising up young people to serve their communities. You can access the site here.

The principle of the unity of religion is at the center of Bahá’í teachings. Bahá’ís believe that Divine Revelation is a continuous and progressive process, that all the great religions of the world are divine in origin, that their basic principles are in complete harmony and that their aims and purposes are one and the same. Often Bahá’ís refer to this continuous process as “Progressive Revelation.” To find out more about Progressive Revelation we invite you to join us tonight, Friday November 14 at 7:30pm for a discussion and light refreshments. For more information or directions, please contact the Bahá’ís of Arlington

“Consider the sun. Were it to say now, “I am the sun of yesterday,” it would speak the truth. And should it, bearing the sequence of time in mind, claim to be other than that sun, it still would speak the truth. In like manner, if it be said that all the days are but one and the same, it is correct and true. And if it be said, with respect to their particular names and designations, that they differ, that again is true. For though they are the same, yet one doth recognize in each a separate designation, a specific attribute, a particular character. Conceive accordingly the distinction, variation, and unity characteristic of the various Manifestations of holiness, that thou mayest comprehend the allusions made by the creator of all names and attributes to the mysteries of distinction and unity, and discover the answer to thy question as to why that everlasting Beauty should have, at sundry times, called Himself by different names and titles.”
~ Baha’u'llah

As many individuals in the United States gear up for the November elections, Bahá’ís all over the world are preparing for a different kind of election. Every year on the 20th of April, Bahá’ís in every country elect their local governing bodies. These local governing bodies, called Local Spiritual Assemblies, are composed of nine adult members (age 21 and older) who reside in that locality. All Bahá’ís who vote are also eligible to be elected to serve on the Local Spiritual Assembly (LSA). Continued