ACTIVITIES
JOIN US IN OUR COMMUNITY-BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT EFFORTS
In a mode characterized by a willingness to learn, Bahá'ís strive to contribute to a process of community building in which acts of worship and efforts to promote the common good are woven together. Everyone willing to participate in this process is welcome. Its purpose, after all, is to help raise the capacity of more and more people to take charge of their spiritual, social, and intellectual development so that they come to see themselves as active agents of both their own and their communities’ progress, rather than passive spectators of events beyond their control. As part of this process, Bahá'ís and their partners support the development of children's classes, junior youth groups, and study circles, as well as community devotional spaces, all of which are integral elements of an overarching and organic process of education, empowerment and community upliftment.
Children’s Classes
Educational activities for children are an important part of a Bahá’í community. Classes are planned to especially nurture the hearts of minds of children through stories, games, arts and music. The goal is for the children to reach a stage in which they can understand and act upon the imperative to tend to their own spiritual development and contribute to the well-being of society.
Junior Youth Groups
Bahá’í-sponsored junior youth classes, free and open to everyone regardless of their beliefs, help teach spiritual, moral and ethical decision-making skills. Usually facilitated by an older adolescent or young adult, junior youth classes empower the development of inner transformation based on an altruistic sense of higher purpose. Encouraging idealistic as well as practical goals, junior youth classes emphasize the growth of spiritual capacity as a path to fun, friendship, happiness, fulfillment and positive social change.
Study Circles
Study circles gather people of varied backgrounds to study the Bahá’í Writings, emphasizing the purpose of life, the nature of reality, and the significance of service. Participants seek to put their learning into practice in an effort to explore the application of spiritual teachings to their lives. Study circles meet in homes and other informal settings.
Devotional Gatherings
In diverse settings, Bahá’ís and their friends and families unite with one another in prayer. There are no rituals; no one individual has any special role. Meetings consist largely of reading prayers and passages from the Bahá’í Sacred Texts in an informal yet respectful atmosphere. A spirit of communal worship is generated by these simple gatherings, and this spirit begins to permeate the community’s collective endeavors.
SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAMS
These programs have been suspended for the time being. Please feel free to contact us by email for other community activities.
These programs end by noon and are followed by a light lunch to which everyone is invited. It's a great opportunity to sit down and get to know others who might not be in your usual social circle.
Conversations on Race :: 1st and 2nd Sundays
In this devotional series, we explore different concepts related to racism in the United States. “From the Bahá’í perspective, racism is one of the most baneful and persistent evils in society. Racial discrimination is baneful because it violates the dignity of human beings. And yet it persists. Racism is poisonous because it cripples its victims, corrupts its perpetrators, and blights human progress. And yet it persists. Why? We believe that racism persists precisely because it is deeply rooted in outdated attitudes and erroneous beliefs. Accordingly, any campaign to eradicate racism must change those attitudes and beliefs.” (Bahá’í International Community, 1989 Feb 08, Eliminating Racism)
Please kindly keep in mind that the focus of this devotional series is to pray for racial healing situated within a historical context. It is also a space dedicated to racial discourse relevant to the theme of the day. We welcome you to join us to share and learn from each other in an atmosphere of peace.
Soulful Sunday :: Fourth Sundays
Soulful Sunday is a gathering of people of diverse ages, races, nationalities, and religious beliefs who come together to celebrate and worship their Creator with readings and prayers from many religious traditions, along with stirring music to sing. The atmosphere has created a descriptive name for the occasion: Soulful Sunday.