Devotional Gatherings, Study Circles, Involvement in the Life of Society, the Moral Education of Children, and Spiritual Empowerment for Junior Youth
Devotional Gatherings
The Word of God, say the Bahá’í writings, provides inspiration, rejuvenates souls, gladdens hearts, and renews one’s sense of purpose.
In locations all over the Halifax region, Bahá’ís host devotional gatherings in homes, online and in community centres for prayer and the reading together of Bahá’í Writings, other scriptures, and inspirational pieces and to create an environment of unity and harmony. Prayer offers us an opportunity to commune with our Creator, draw on the revitalizing power of the Word of God, and to contemplate and more deeply appreciate our lives.
Participants are able to meditate on spiritual principles and gain some perspective on how these principles can be applied to their day-to-day affairs.
Devotional gatherings are open to all and are intended to embrace that attitude of prayer and practice of devotion that is universal to all religions.
Study Circles
Around the world, one of the most common formats for Bahá’í study circles features a workbook entitled “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit.”
Developed by the Ruhi Institute in Colombia, the workbook is part of a series of materials that are widely used by Bahá’í communities in an effort to foster constructive personal and community transformation.
These workbooks use an interactive, question-and-answer format that fosters a participatory learning process in which the entire group develops a new capacity for individual and social action.
The workbooks draw extensively on quotations from the Bahá’í sacred writings—a feature that infuses a high degree of spirituality into the process.
Anyone is welcome to join one of the study circles that are organized all over the Halifax region.
Involvement in the life of society
Bahá’ís throughout the world—both individually and collectively—strive to become involved in the life of society, working shoulder to shoulder with divers groups to contribute to the advancement of material and spiritual civilization. Everyone willing to participate in the process of advancing the progress of the Halifax and world community is welcome to contribute.
Locally members of the Bahá’í Community work extensively to promote interfaith understanding by leadership roles in the local United Nations InterFaith Harmony Week activities, participation in InterFaith committees and university chaplaincies, and contributing to Diversity Calendars and other publications. Like many organizations, individual Bahá’ís are actively engaged in charitable and service work and particularly those that promote the oneness of humankind such as a free English Corner and help with immigrant settlement.
“Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.” — Bahá’u’lláh
Moral Education for Children
Children’s nobility and inherent dignity and their diverse talents and capacities require nourishment, love, and attention. Children’s education is a preoccupation of Bahá’í communities and the key to the progress of the human community.
The Bahá’í Community of Halifax has joined thousands of local Bahá’í communities around the world in opening up its children’s classes to all children of whatever background or belief.
Children are introduced to moral principles as well as the lives of humanity’s foremost spiritual Teachers: Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh.
O Thou kind Lord! I am a little child, exalt me by admitting me to the kingdom. I am earthly, make me heavenly; I am of the world below, let me belong to the realm above; gloomy, suffer me to become radiant; material, make me spiritual, and grant that I may manifest Thine infinite bounties.
Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program is a global initiative aimed at endowing youth ages 11–14 with the ability to recognize the spiritual significance of their actions and words.
As members of a junior youth group, middle school-aged youth work together to develop the skills and attitudes necessary to become agents of change and begin to understand that they have the ability to transform their own lives.
Working together with their group leaders, group members identify service opportunities in their communities allowing them the chance to continue to increase their capabilities and strengthen their bonds with each other and the community in which they live.
These experiences help youth develop a sense of world citizenship and a lifelong commitment to serve humanity, a core belief of the Bahá’í Faith.