Scottish Baha'i Newsletter, No.46

SUBJECT: Devotional Meetings

Dear Friends,

Recently I started Ruhi Book One in Edinburgh with a friend; this led to me hosting my own devotional meeting for the first time. It was a daunting experience, but a good one. There were four non-Bahá’ís, some participating in a devotional meeting for the first time, so I was very nervous, but by the end of the evening I had become much calmer. At the start of the programme there was recorded music from the Greek Bahá’ís and Martin Kerr. I picked about eight prayers and put them on coloured card and I also had spare prayer books for people to choose another prayer if they wanted to. We said some prayers from the Bahá’í Faith and from other religions. Finally everyone took a card with the quotation:

He is God! O God, my God!
Bestow Upon Me A Pure Heart, Like Unto A Pearl. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

After the meeting everyone talked and had refreshments together. Even though I was nervous it was still a great experience and I would encourage everyone and anyone to host a devotional meeting themselves because it is an enjoyable for everybody. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to host, and to invite people, who were more open minded than I imagined.

I would recommend if you’re hosting a devotional meeting for the first time to do it in a place where everyone is comfortable, that is central and easily accessible: such as the Bahá’í Centre or at home. The best thing is to just be relaxed and enjoy the experience of sharing the words of Bahá’u’lláh with your family and friends!

Karen Hemmati

SUBJECT: Prayer Corner

Dear Friends,

My name is Sophia and I would like to tell you about my prayer corner.

I decided to make the prayer corner after I saw a beautiful space created for a tranquillity zone in remembrance of Cathy Boyd. I also read something in a book about a prayer corner. I made my prayer corner in my bedroom. I used scarves, cushions, crystals and fairy lights. I like to go and say prayers at night. Perhaps you would like to make a prayer corner too.

Sophia Fozdar

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE COUNCIL OR THE EDITOR, NOR THE TEACHINGS OF THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH. PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS DIRECT TO THE EDITOR (E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW).

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