Ayyám-i-Há – pastoral care
National Spiritual Assembly
nsa@bahai.org.uk
23 February 2015
17 Mulk 171 B.E.
To all believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly extends its heartfelt love to the friends in the United Kingdom as we approach the celebration of the days of Ayyám-i-Há, and look forward to the year ahead full of hope and expectation.
“It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name; and when they end—these days of giving that precede the season of restraint—let them enter upon the Fast.”
(Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 25)
The Bahá’í community stands out for its unity, and the love and care its members have for one another. The Guardian reminds us to constantly aim higher:
“They should not content themselves merely with relative distinction and excellence. Rather they should fix their gaze upon nobler heights by setting the counsels and exhortations of the pen of Glory as their supreme goal.”
(Letter from Shoghi Effendi to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Teheran, 30 October 1924)
We invite the believers to look at how, at this time of giving, festivities, acts of hospitality and charity, we can remember our friends, whether Bahá’í or not, who are less able to join our gatherings because of illness, family responsibilities or other circumstances. Can we consider, both collectively and individually, how to incorporate pastoral care into our plans for the year ahead?
Many of the loving acts we associate with pastoral care have no need of administrative planning—they are carried out quietly by individual believers, purely for the love of God, according to the instruction of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “He must do good to every soul whom he encounters, and render benefit to him.” However, we can also work collectively to ensure that nobody is forgotten.
One of the ways to ensure that all feel included and cared for, is the development of a creative and varied calendar of events which promotes spiritual bonds of fellowship and love. For example, some communities have included such ideas as these:
- A Sunday morning family Feast, which enable young families to attend
- Arranging prayers or deepening at the homes of those who cannot get out to attend meetings
- One-day schools on key themes of our Faith
- Gatherings for story-telling, or craft activities such as puppet-making or card-making
- A Ceilidh dance evening
“The divine purpose is that men should live in unity, concord and agreement and should love one another.”
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 50)
We take this opportunity to wish you all, in the days ahead, a very happy Ayyám-i-Há!
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
National Spiritual Assembly
Continue reading