CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland

Issue 84 - 1 Kamál 160 BE - 1 August 2003 CE

FROM THE BAHÁ'Í COUNCIL

Dear Bahá'í Friends,

Study circles, devotionals and children’s classes are not goals in themselves. They are a means or process by which the goal of entry by troops can be realised. Creating a sustained process challenges the maturity, dedication and commitment of us as believers in a unique way. However ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan gave us clear guidance on how our efforts could be crowned with success. He called such souls who divorce themselves from the human world, celestial spirits, divine angels and heavenly armies.

Calling on us to rise to this level of service in order that our hearts may become more illumined through the Rays of the Sun of Reality, He went on to set out the conditions we as believers need to fulfil to gain this station referred to as an Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh.

• The First Condition: Firmness in the Covenant, the pivot of which is the oneness of mankind; a strong protection from the doubts of the people of error.
• The Second Condition: Fellowship and love amongst the believers, that fellowship love and unity may be manifest in everything we do.
• The Third Condition: We must arise and travel teach to all parts of the continent. This should be done with a pure motive, independent and attracted spirit, radiating the love of God and with a tranquil but firm mind.

This is the station we are being called to, if we challenge ourselves to achieve it ‘Abdu’l-Bahá promises that all the ideal forces and lordly confirmations will rush to our support and reinforcement.

With warmest Bahá'í greetings,
BAHÁ'Í COUNCIL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

SCHOOL PRESENTATION

Navid Gornall presents a Bahá'í prayer to Mr Paul Trainor, Principal of the Spires Integrated Primary School, Magherafelt. This took place at the “Bahá'í Morning Assembly” at the school on 13 June.

DERRY DEEPENS ON LIFE OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH

This year’s “Deepenings in Derry” are focusing on Bahá'í history and heritage. The Londonderry Bahá'ís hosted a two-part deepening by Eddie Whiteside on ‘The Life Of Bahá'u'lláh’ on 27 June and 4 July in the local Centre. They were attended by Bahá'ís from both sides of the border. Eddie’s audio visual presentation took us on a journey from the beginning of Bahá'u'lláh’s earthly life to the day He died, using a slide projector and pre-recorded audio to get across the message. It was a truly inspiring presentation. All present at the Londonderry Bahá'í Centre agreed that Eddie and Marie who produced the presentation had outdone themselves and opened the communities mind to Bahá’í history in a way few others had. We are all sure that the next deepening in the series, on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is just as inspiring.

CTP

Endnote—something to think about

NAM CONCORDIA PARVAE RES CRESCUNT DISCORDIA MAXIMAE DILABANTUR

(“Harmony makes small things grow, while discord destroys even that which is great”)

Seneca
Roman philosopher
1st Century CE

FROM THE TRAINING INSTITUTE

Participants at the recent fast-track courses for tutors, arranged by the Training Institute as part of the development of the Plan in Northern Ireland

Processes of the Lesser Peace

In view of some of the subjects covered at NI Summer School this year, the emphasis once again being placed on the World Order letters of Shoghi Effendi, and general public (and Bahá'í) interest in this whole area, this book is well worth reading. It is a series of papers dealing with aspects of the coming together of the world as a coherent whole—something for which we are all striving and which sometimes seems a long way off. Many questions will be answered and because it is a compilation readers can go straight for the themes that interest them most before moving on to the others. This book is highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the subject—as presumably we all are—but particularly those involved through membership or discussion with organisations of social change.

Editor’s note: In his last letter to the Bahá'ís of these islands the Guardian referred to “a wider dissemination of Bahá'í literature” as being a “rock-bottom requirement” for the progress of the Faith here. What we understand by literature has broadened to include audio-visual items, the Web, etc., but the need remains. So short reviews will be featured in CommuNIqué as space permits

POEM

 They came of their own free will.
They came without invitation.
They each, all eighteen of them, searched for and found Him, the Promised One, the Qá’im, the Báb.
With complete abandonment of self to His will they each followed His instruction to the letter, without fear for loss of life or limb. His wish was their only desire.
To their very last breath they arose to announce his coming, spread His message and proclaim His Cause.
No power on earth would they allow to prevent the surging growth of the Cause of God. This was, after all, God’s own plan for the salvation of all the dwellers of earth.
How could they, how could He ever be defeated?
Theirs was the honour of being the first believers, the first to be given the opportunity to proclaim this Great Cause!
They would die for this Cause… Why would they not?
How could any earthly force ever prevent the Will of God.
Why would they prevail?
Two words….
ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE!

(A collaborative artistic endeavour from theJohn McCann Study Circle)

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“CHANGING ZONES”

Province-wide celebration arranged by the Bahá’í Council for Northern Ireland

Sunday 12 October 2003
Springvale Training Centre, Belfast
11.00 am to 5.30 pm

This isn't just another ‘sit-and-listen’ event. There will be a wide range of activities, artistic and others, a Tranquillity Zone, and a display/information zone for local activities..

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SUMMER SCHOOL

NEWTON SCHOOL,
WATERFORD
10 AUGUST - 17 AUGUST

CommuNIqué is published by the Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom

Following is the URL to the original story. The site may have removed or archived this story. URL: http://www.btiternet.com/~iain.s.palin/bc4ni/comm