Lots of developments on the training front over the past months.
The first unit of Book-8 “The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh” has been rolled out across the UK and we are building up a body of tutors to offer this book in all of the clusters. A series of five seminars with the aim of advancing the quality of study circles and enhancing our understanding of the institute process have been planned across the UK. Intensive training courses at Cranmore are continually developing with some exciting recent learning.
A group of 12 friends from a Book-6 in Ireland came for 3 days to complete their Book-6 and specifically to increase their skills in the practice elements. We learned that the very act of committing the time and arising to travel to a central point to train, consecrates that action. Offering multiple books simultaneously is allowing us to see the synergy that can be created between study circles. “It should be noted that the accomplishments of a study circle as an isolated entity are necessarily limited. It is only when a number of study circles are established in an area that their natural interactions will create the spiritual power needed to sustain accelerated growth.” Ruhi Book-7
This Easter Cranmore is full; six books running simultaneously with visiting youth from across Europe. Places are still available for youth in the May/June half term 29th of May to the 4th of June (Book 1 from 1st to the 4th of June). For further information about the courses on offer visit the website cranmoretower.co.uk which is continually being updated and improved.
How did you start the activity? I met the mother of the sisters that come to the class at swimming lessons, and we developed a friendship. The kids only live 10 mins away, so the opportunity of having a children's class became possible.
How many people attend, and how did they come to attend? There are three children in the class. One of the children is a Bahá'í and there are two sisters who are not.
What do you do in your class and how do those attending find it? We do the lessons in Ruhi Book 3a and also the materials from the Excellence Program. The children learn prayers, quotations, play games and do drama. In fact recently for Naw-Rúz the kids did a puppet show from one of the stories in Book 3a. The event was videoed by the parents. The parents have said that they are happy for their children to attend.
What you have gained from it? I'm amazed at how much they take in and remember. I like using the Excellence Programme along with Ruhi Book 3a as it enhances the class.
We started our Junior Youth Group in spring 2009 by having a fun evening with two Bahá'i youth from the area and some of their friends where we watched a film, played games and explained to them what the Junior Youth Empowerment Project was about.
From then on we had about three or four junior youth regularly attending each week. We took a break for summer, and then once we started back, we decided to organise a small outreach in the area around the community centre. This worked quite well to expand the group.
We now have about five junior youth who regularly attend each week, but with everyone attending we have more than ten! They really enjoy the service projects, which is great because as well as helping the community you can really see a sense of group identity developing amongst them. Our vision for the future is to train the older youth to become animators themselves.
Sunday 8 August 2010 Sunday 7 November 2010
Sunday 8 August 2010 Sunday 14 November 2010 Sunday 13 February 2011
Study Circles: Susie Agahi Junior Youth: Colin Rodgers Children's Classes: Marion Khosravi
Study Circles: Michelle O'Mahony Barr Junior Youth: (Not yet appointed) Children's Classes: Elizabeth Palin
Study Circles: Kevin Proudman Junior Youth: (Not yet appointed) Children's Classes: Elizabeth Palin
Study Circles: James Holmlund Junior Youth: Colin Rodgers Children's Classes: Patricia Jamshidi
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