‘Abdu’l-Bahá Centenary Update 3
2 August 2021
3 Kamál 178 B.E
The Universal House of Justice has described the One Year Plan as a “year for profound reflection on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the strength of the Covenant of which He was the Centre…” Here is another selection of news and resources to inspire and assist the friends in their “profound reflection,” acts of service in His honour and preparations for the Day of the Covenant and the centenary of the Passing of the Master.
The National Spiritual Assembly will be sending to every Bahá’í household a re-published edition of the two-part story of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visits to Britain. The friends will also receive a newly produced book of prayers selected to appeal to friends of the Faith, with an introduction to the life and mission of the Master. Believers who live in an area with a Local Spiritual Assembly will receive it via the Assembly. Otherwise it will be sent by post. It is hoped that these two gifts will encourage you, together with others, to visit some of the sites associated with the Master and will inspire individual and collective endeavours to follow in the footsteps of our Perfect Exemplar.
Over a series of webinars, representatives of Local Spiritual Assemblies have been sharing plans that are being made, or activities that are already under way. Here is a selection of them that may inspire other communities’ efforts:
- Members of many communities are deepening their understanding of the Covenant through studying Ruhi Books 8 and 9;
- Talks about the Master are being offered to other groups, including churches and women’s organisations;
- Stories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are being shared during Feasts and devotional meetings;
- The children in one community have been asked to read books about Abdu’l-Bahá during the summer and to develop artistic presentations based on what they learn;
- Another plan involves a torchlight procession and bonfires, displays in a shop and a community collective artwork. A paint-by-numbers mural is being planned by one community in London;
- Children at a Feast suggested sharing stories in their neighbourhood, leading to a series of tea parties where they will tell stories to their friends and their parents;
- A group in a rural area will be commemorating ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with their friends and neighbours;
- An Assembly is planning to present books to schools and arrange an art exhibition;
- In order to carry out service in His name, one community is planning to visit care homes within its locality to bring joy to the residents;
- Another is going to prepare care packages, with baked items and quotes and events information, delivered to people locally. They will also be engaging with local charities that provide meals;
- The Bristol community is looking into organising an outdoor screening of the film about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá produced at the Bahá’í World Centre, in the garden at Royal York Crescent close to the Master’s apartment.
Video project from the Bahá’í Council for England
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example influences our lives in so many ways, whether it is a guiding light in our approach to institutional service, our inspiration for participating in community-building activities, the motivation for carrying out individual and collective teaching plans, the impetus for engaging with society informally or formally, or the encouragement for simply conducting our every-day lives aligned with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
The Bahá’í Council for England invites the friends, as families and households, to capture such reflections in short video-clips using stories, drama, pictures and whatever other creative expression you wish. Youth, junior youth and children are particularly encouraged to share how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example is part of their home life, the daily actions they take, and the friendships they make. The hope is to make these clips available online as a resource for the whole community to access during these precious months leading to the Centenary of the passing of the Beloved Master, and serve as a source of inspiration, joy and hope for all.
New Web resources
In 1987, a group of veteran believers shared their recollections of meeting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The video has recently been restored, here >
Support and resources for centenary activities
The National Spiritual Assembly has shared an initial list of resources that are available, or are being produced, to assist the friends in their commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in this special year. These include two films forthcoming from the Bahá’í World Centre, Teaching Conferences, the study of institute courses and special literature.