Throughout the metro, interfaith efforts abound: Inclusive Communities, Together Inc., Omaha Together One Community, Neighbors United … “This is, O my God, the first of the days on which Thou hast bidden Thy loved ones to observe the Fast. We are in the process of renovating the new Bahá'í Center. Restoration of icons to the church is celebrated; 9 - Erev Purim It contains selected works of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice, as well as other Bahá’í texts. Month. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Yet the Bahá’í community has remained composed and has acted swiftly to meet the immediate demands that confronted it. 2 Bahá’í Canada (ISSN 1199-1682) is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada three to four times per year. Bahá'ís strive to give expression to the oneness of humanity, a core principal of their faith, by seeking to eliminate racial prejudice, advance the equality of women and men, and build a vibrant spiritual community reflecting the human family in all its diversity. It reports on current Bahá'í activities in Canada's capital city including devotional meetings, introductory meetings, study circles, children's classes, and junior youth events. Bahá’u’lláh designated a nineteen-day period each year during which adult Bahá’ís fast from sunrise to sunset each day. The Baha’i Fast. Mary, Mother of God. “…true faith is no mere acknowledgement of the unity of God, but rather the living of a life that will manifest all the perfections and virtues…” –‘Abdu’l‑Bahá. As we prepare for the annual Fast and anticipate Naw-Rúz and the Spring season, let's celebrate Ayyám-i-Há with food, games, fellowship and activities! Baha'is begin annual period of fasting. It is divided into 19 months with 19 days each. Bahá’í Holy Days. The Bahá'í Faith has been part of the San Francisco community for over a century. With this attitude, it's hard to believe that I've come to love the Fast. Bahá’í Fast March 2-20; Bahá’í over the age of 15 who are in good health abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset each day; Health. “If the learned and worldly-wise men of this age were to allow mankind to inhale the fragrance of fellowship and love, every understand Blessed is he that observeth the Fast wholly for Thy sake and with absolute detachment from all things except Thee." The Baha’i Fast. 1 - 19 - The Bahá’í Fast Bahá’í: Abstain from food and drinks between sunrise and sunset; 2 - Clean Monday Orthodox Christian: First day of Lent; 8 - Orthodox Sunday Orthodox Christian: First Sunday of Lent. Seated L-R: Firouz Parsi, Vaughan Smith, and Sukhum Abhasakun Faridian with Mohajir at the apartment of Firouz in Bangkok. fast unto the sure handle of His Will and holy Covenant. Such was my reaction when I first actually faced the Bahá'í Fast, which begins on the evening of March 1. This is done too focus on love of God and spiritual matters. As There will be a supervised candle making for children and adults courtesy of Freetown Village. “The fasting period, which lasts nineteen days starting as a rule from the second of March every year and ending on the twentieth of the same month, involves complete abstention from food and drink from sunrise till sunset. USA. This is produced by the fact that man’s thoughts will be confined to the commemoration of God, and through this awakening and stimulation surely ideal advancements follow”.1, However, it is important to note that fasting should not be viewed as a practice of asceticism, nor is it to be used as a means of penance: “[T]his material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God.”2. In the Bahá’í calendar one month is 19 days long, and each month has a name associated with the attributes of God. March 1, 2007. 9-10) 781. At the end of the period, they … The Bahá’í fast takes place during Ala (the 19th month of the Baha'í year) from March 2-20. 2020. Prepared by an ad hoc committee at the Bahá’í World Centre using data provided by Her Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office in the United Kingdom. [Oregon Bahá’ís Erik and Darya Veach reflected on the Bahá’í Fast for an article published in The Register-Guard on March 5, 2005, which we reprint here:] Ala, the Bahá’í month of fasting, is always an exciting time for us. San Francisco, CA He became an avid reader and was reading whatever literature was made available to him. Of course the Fast, as you know, can only be kept during the month set aside for that purpose." For those of you who missed it, we have attached the handouts and the video. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. And at the guidance of the Universal House of Justice, after his passing, ob-servances were held across Canada in his honor. Today’s local religious landscape also includes Bahá’í, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, New Religion, Pagan, Atheist and Unitarian centers. 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