Friends from Castlereagh, Belfast and Killinchy gathered for an evening of fun and fundraising in aid of the Edinburgh Bahá'í Centre on 31 October. After a hearty dinner the friends were entertained with games and story telling. A great evening was had by all and £350 was raised. And on the 12 December £1148.20 pounds was raised for the George Townshend Bahá'í School by friends participating in a Bring and Buy Sale. Castlereagh Spiritual Assembly wishes to thank most warmly all those involved in organising and helping out on the day and the dear punters who made it all possible.
MK
"Killinchy Bahá'í gets busy!" At last, after a long time, a Feast has been held in Killinchy, Co. Down. In a Conservatory, in January, but luckily no-one froze! In fact the warmth engendered was both physical and spiritual, even to the point where the chairman of the Bahá'í Council., Eddie Whiteside, was nearly burnt to a frazzle. Luckily another valiant friend from Newtownards saw the blaze in time! But it was a lovely and happy evening, supported by Friends from Newtownards and Comber. The Killinchy Bahá'í has been tutoring Book 7 with just two collaborators and having a great time. Towards the end when we came to the Arts and Crafts section, we made a very long list of activities for both Feasts and Study Circles, and also thought deeply about Service projects. We noticed how important it is to see the arts as an integral part of the Study Circle, and not just an activity to be done on a one off basis “if we have time”. As a result, for homework one week both participants decided to tell stories, and this worked wonderfully well.
SL
Ruhiyyih Khanum was many things. Our last link with the Holy Family, the wife of Shoghi Effendi, and the daughter of Mary and Sutherland Maxwell, themselves outstanding and distinguished servants of the Cause. She lived surrounded by greatness, and shone through as one of the most important figures in the history of our faith. Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, Hand of the Cause of God was the subject of Patrick O’Mara’s “Deepening in Derry” on 28 January. Her life was retold with the blending of facts and stories, Paddy showing both competence and a great love for what he spoke of. This night deepened our feelings of humility when so many of us had met such a courageous and strong woman. There wasn’t a soul who left the Bahá’í centre without inspiration.
CTP
From left: ABM Denis Coyle led NI delegates to National Convention Eddie Whiteside, James Holmlund, Iain Palin and Afnan Hashemi-Zadeh in the Delegate Training Programme “Your Voice in God’s Kingdom” on 12 February. (Absent from picture Mahvash Graham.)
This was one of a series of such events arranged around the country by the National Spiritual Assembly.
These are the numbers in communities that have not had Spiritual Assemblies or whose Assemblies covered a much larger area before boundary changes:
Ballymena, 6; Coleraine, 8; Newtownards 7; Omagh 9; Rostrevor 7.
Welcome to Dr. Surayne Segaran from Malaysia, now working in Omagh.
We are sad to record the passing of Madge Crilly of Castlereagh, a veteran Northern Ireland Believer.
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