CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland
Issue 124 - 14 Sultán 163 - 1 February 2007 CE

 

NEWS

 

BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

The Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland voted for officers at its first meeting of the new term held on Saturday 9th December 2006.

They are:
Chairman: Lesley Taherzadeh-O'Mara,
Vice Chairman: Iain Palin,
Secretary: Keith Munro,
Treasurer: Edwin Graham,

Members: Edwina Agahi, Afnan Hashemi-Zadeh, Patricia Irvine, Patricia Jamshidi, Edward Whiteside.


LONDONDERRY

The Friends gathered in the Bahá'í Centre on 8 December shared a rare treat when Butch Elliott from Cookstown spoke at a deepening arranged by the Spiritual Assembly. He took the very first letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'í world in 1963 and the last Ridvan letter and compared the content and styles of these two documents. Many insights were shared. For instance it was evident that the Universal House of Justice was educating us, often implying, in a gentle way, that we must have read or studied such and such a document. It was also evident how the House prepares us for what lies ahead. Above all the evening made everyone realise that they must not only take all letters from the Universal House of Justice seriously but study them in detail in differing ways from analysing each word to letting the contents wash over us like water from Heaven or listen to them like musical symphonies.

KM

More news from Derry: The Bahá'ís featured in a programme on BBC Radio Foyle on 22 December which dealt with how members of the city’s non-Christian traditions approach Christmas. The reporter had attended a devotional meeting and interviewed a number of local Friends.


CHRISTMAS “DOWN SOUTH”

Forget the snow; a Christmas break is never complete without the experience of Irish Winter School in Glendalough! It's small and intimate and truly an escape from the materialistic world that seems to be invaded with commercial Santas and stockings at Christmas (and I mean it, being situated beside a lake surrounded by hunched-over trees with not a shop in sight)!  It's a dream. Conducted in true Irish fashion, things were generally not strictly on time, nor was there pressure to do much at all, but the spirit was great and the craic was mighty!  

The strikingly harmonious balance of the relaxed approach by the committee against Sepideh Taheri's energetic study of Islam were among the highlights, while the approximately 15-player game of "Spiritual Pursuit" got us really testing our knowledge. Overall, a good experience and a great tradition, well worth the experience at least once!

SG


NI BOOK AGENCY

Marion Khosravi is now the Council’s agent for sale and distribution of Bahá'í books. In addition to other titles she has a stock of Ruhi Books for courses 1—7 for your study circles.


WE WELCOME

Adult enrolments: Ronnie Anderson, Jamie Anderson, John Anderson (Banbridge), Ivan Leslie (Comber).

Child registrations: Bradley George (Kilrea), Ramon Rezvani (Coleriane).

Welcome, also to Dr Agdas Nabili who has moved in to NI and is working in Newry.


AND FINALLY

Last issue's photographs of the Stormont event were taken by Tony Sherwani, Belfast, Apologies for omitting him

Editor

 

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