A well-attended Junior Youth Camp was held the weekend of November 11 – 13 in Gig Harbor, with an end-of-camp celebration in east Tacoma on Sunday evening. Here are some of the youth assembled in the front of the room Sunday evening, prior to beginning their presentation to the community.

This Fall’s camp centered on the study of “Glimmerings of Hope”, a publication that was written in response to the challenges faced by the many young people around the world living in the midst of civil strife. The book follows the story of Kibomi, a twelve-year-old boy who embarks on a journey to find his sister in another town after his parents are killed in their small village. Each lesson includes a set of questions and activities aimed at fostering the ability to understand the forces at work in society and developing coherence between belief and action. The book is designed for youth aged 11 to 14. It is available at www.bahaibookstore.com.

Some of the creative paintings and colorfully decorated jar lanterns are shown below.

The three-day camp had activities that were exciting and varied.  They included study, devotions, learning swing dance, painting, making lanterns, service, and healthy recreation. The agenda for the end-of-camp presentation to the community is shown at right.   

Here is a photo of some of those attending the presentation.

Join us for future junior youth and youth camps!

Bahá’u’lláh has drawn the circle of unity, He has made a design for the uniting of all the peoples, and for the gathering of them all under the shelter of the tent of universal unity. This is the work of the Divine Bounty, and we must all strive with heart and soul until we have the reality of unity in our midst, and as we work, so will strength be given unto us. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

The conference explored three themes: “Bahá’u’lláh’s Vision for Humanity”, “The Distance Traversed” and “Building Vibrant Communities”. Those attending were from throughout the area, including both Bahá’ís and their friends. This conference was one of many thousands held around the world during the year at the request of the Universal House of Justice. August 27, 2022 at the University of Puget Sound

The Bahá’ís of Tacoma participated with a booth at the Mosaic Festival (formally, Ethnic Fest) over the weekend of July 23 and 24. The front table of the booth was decorated with a banner with the statement of Bahá’u’lláh, “ ‘The earth is one country and mankind its citizens.’ The Bahá’í Faith”.  At a time when the world and its peoples are polarized in many different ways, this sentiment was a beacon for those seeking a more positive path forward.

The booth had a steady flow of visitors.  Some had never heard of the Bahá’í Faith before and others had previous exposure to the Faith through Firesides, visiting Bahá’í Houses of Worship in Panama, in Germany, and even a visitor, a park ranger whose partner’s family lives in Haifa, Israel, and who had been to the Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa a few times.

There were visitors that stopped and had elevated conversations, the type of conversations of thoughts that resonated with the Bahá’í principles. Several of these folks wanted to stay in touch and continue with further meet-ups to discuss more of the Bahá’í beliefs.  One of these visitors, an enlightened soul, was sharing his deeply formulated beliefs about the “oneness of humankind”. We had many children and youth stop at the booth for the I am a Noble Soul crown, and the peace tattoos were a big hit.  Some children stayed and colored.

Ayyám-i-Há Party and Potluck

Saturday, February 26th

1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Collins Grange

3404 120th Street East

Tacoma, WA 98446

Invite your friends!

Masks required. No alcohol. 

Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Tacoma, Inc. 

Prayerfulness

Source: Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdul-Bahá

When Abdu’l-Baha was in New York, He called to Him an ardent Baha’i and said, “If you will come to Me at dawn tomorrow, I will teach you to pray. ”

‘Delighted, Mr. M arose at four and crossed the city, arriving for his lesson at six. With what exultant expectation he must have greeted this opportunity! He found Abdu’l-Baha already at prayer, kneeling by the side of the bed. Mr. M followed suit, taking care to place himself directly across.

‘Seeing that Abdu’l-Baha was quite lost in His Own reverie, Mr. M began to pray silently for his friends, his family and finally for the crowned heads of Europe. No word was uttered by the quiet Man before him. He went over all the prayers he knew then, and repeated them twice, three times – still no sound broke the expectant hush.

‘Mr M. surreptitiously rubbed one knee and wondered vaguely about his back. He began again, hearing as he did so, the birds heralding the dawn outside the window. An hour passed, and finally two. Mr M. was quite numb now. His eyes, roving along the wall, caught sight of a large crack. He dallied with a touch of indignation but let his gaze pass again to the still figure across the bed.

‘The ecstasy that he saw arrested him and he drank deeply of the sight. Suddenly he wanted to pray like that. Selfish desires were forgotten. Sorrow, conflict, and even his immediate surroundings were as if they had never been. He was conscious of only one thing, a passionate desire to draw near to God.

‘Closing his eyes again he set the world firmly aside, and amazingly his heart teemed with prayer, eager, joyous, tumultuous prayer. He felt cleansed by humility and lifted by a new peace. Abdu’l-Baha had taught him to pray! 

The “Master of Akka” immediately arose and came to him. His eyes rested smilingly upon the newly humbled Mr M. “When you pray,” He said, “you must not think of your aching body, nor of the birds outside the window, nor of the cracks in the wall!”

‘He became very serious then, and added, “When you wish to pray you must first know that you are standing in the presence of the Almighty!”

from www.bahai.us

One hundred years ago, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh and the perfect example of His teachings, passed from this world.

Exemplar follows the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the profound effect He had on people both past and present. A sense of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s unique function as a shelter, a shield, a stronghold for all humanity is captured in vignettes of some of the souls whose lives were transformed for the betterment of society through their association with Him. The film reflects a few of the universal principles embodied, both in word and deed, by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—principles that animate a global movement of individuals, communities and institutions striving to emulate His example in service to humanity.

From bahai.org

A virtual viewing party to see Exemplar, the film about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá  November 28, 2021 02:00 PM Pacific time
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86556357144?pwd=VCt6RnlQL2dTRVhRMEYrMGhOMWlYQT09