A special Ridvan
On Friday 21 April as well as enjoying a lovely Ridvan celebration, I also commemorated my first year as a Bahá’í and a very special year it has been. The celebration took place in my home and garden. Members from Coleraine and Portrush communities along with friends and family from other faiths were in attendance. My Bahá’í friends and I collaborated on an emotional thirty-minute devotional that had moving music and beautiful writings by Bahá’u’lláh. There was plenty of delicious food which was brought by all the members and eaten in the garden under the lovely warm sun. I would like to thank my lovely friends and wonderful family for a truly special day.
We enjoyed a double celebration as Coleraine now has a Local Spiritual Assembly which met for the first time on 26 April.
LG
Only in Northern Ireland?
Derry City Council has been concerned that the image of the main cemetery is rather sectarian and launched the “Remembering Diversity” project to show its cross-community heritage. They tried to go beyond the usual Catholic—Protestant scenario and involve the non-Christian faith communities but of these only the Chinese community and the Bahá'ís took part.
There is an exhibition in the non-denominational chapel at the cemetery (it may move on to another venue in due course) and a coloured booklet with the same material. Both have information about the Bahá'í view of death and an acknowledgment to the Spiritual Assembly as a participant in the project. The Bahá'ís were also among those thanked at the official opening of the project in the presence of the mayor, bishop, and various dignitaries.
ISP
Ms Lynn Lappin, Equality Manager of Craigavon Area Hospital Groups who is a friend of Nazy Harris through her Bahá'í book donation project informed her of, Dr Rahimi, a Bahá'í doctor (urologist) who was on a three months contract. This involved his being available 24/7 at the hospital to bring about a reduction of the waiting list in the South Tyrone Hospital, Dungannon. Mahvash Graham and Nazy who were a teaching team contacted Dr Rahimi and met him several times at the Hospital. The Bahá'ís of the Wildfire Cluster celebrated Naw-Rúz in the Dungannon Hospital for Dr Rahimi and some of his colleagues, and the “Lights of Unity” entertained the guests. Some thirty Bahá'ís and friends attended the celebration. Nazy used the occasion to donate Bahá'í books to South Tyrone Hospital for use in their library and Quiet Rooms (prayer rooms) as part of her project. These were accepted by Lynn Lappin on behalf of the Armagh and Dungannon Hospital Trust.
NMH
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