Albuquerque, New Mexico. To tie together the many bicentenary events happening in the area, a Tree of Unity was designed to which everyone could contribute. “Leaves” were distributed at the celebration of the Birth of the Báb on Friday night to residents of each sector or community having a Light of Unity Festival on Saturday. At the seven area Saturday celebrations in local parks and community centers, each attendee was asked to color a leaf to contribute to the tree. They could decorate it or write a wish for the world or a virtue that they want to work on to help bring unity to the world. The leaves were glued onto canvases Sunday morning and the whole piece of art was presented at the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh celebration. Photo by Michael Frank

Indelible memories were made as Bahá’ís across the United States planned, executed and followed up on interest sparked by celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. And, oh, do they have stories to tell! Here, by region, are just a few of the hundreds being shared.

APPALACHIAN

Paducah, Kentucky. Meaningful conversations conducted over the years on issues related to race led the Bahá’ís to invite these friends to their celebration. Then the day afterward, several who are church pastors took part in consultation about having young people from their congregations participate in the junior youth spiritual empowerment program. Still basking in the glow of having viewed the film Light to the World, the pastors remarked about how beautiful and diverse the film was. One said it was clear the film captured something that was missing in their congregations. Another said he had been struggling to help his congregation connect to teachings that are thousands of years old, and that the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are so fresh and relevant. They all agreed to help in whatever way they could to get the junior youth program going in the community.

Brentwood, Tennessee. Bahá’ís here saw their community grow “so much closer” as they worked together for months to plan their bicentenary celebration. “It is exciting. We are Bahá’ís living in neighborhoods who strive to make our mark,” said one believer, noting that for the first time he witnessed each person invite at least 10 friends and family. “And I can feel we collectively witnessed the power of unity and collaboration.” In a cluster of communities where about 80 Bahá’ís live, some 280 people were drawn to the celebration.

Charleston, West Virginia. A longtime believer calls it the “hockey stick” when the graph of interest in the Faith goes exponential. The bicentenary weekend was one of those times in this state capital and he “cries … thinking about it.” For the bicentenary the community donated a park bench that sits outside the children’s playground at Coonskin Park, and a young girl was told, “You can tell your grandkids you cut the ribbon on this bench ... and all the Bahá’ís in Charleston sat on it together!”

ATLANTIC

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New Castle County, Delaware. “My service with the Bahá’ís has deepened as we walk the path together,” a believer commented in reflecting on the bicentenary. “My loving appreciation for those who serve has made me aware of their sacrifice in joy. My joy of teaching has increased and I open my mouth even when unprepared.”

District of Columbia. See “Youngsters learn about Bahá’u’lláh in Holy Day rehearsals”

Washington County and Hagerstown, Maryland. For nearly 30 years, Paula Myers has served as a homefront pioneer in this area and seen many doors open. Over the past year, she sees the relationships built through many years’ interfaith involvement as a strong factor in moving the local bicentenary event forward. A church’s parish hall was made available, and a county commissioner, a newspaper reporter and a TV crew were among 33 attending. The program included prayers, song, speakers, and a decorated cake plus other home-baked goodies. A question-and-answer period after the talk led to “good questions. Like a fireside.”

Leland, North Carolina. Mitra Thompson was inspired to host a dinner for the bicentenary. Over the years she has forged caring relationships with neighbors. And when she told them how important this day was to her and Bahá’ís around the world, they leapt at the chance to help her carry out the event. One neighbor addressed the envelopes in which invitation cards were mailed to 50 other neighbors. Another gave Thompson the contact information needed for a press release that was printed in a local newspaper. Five helped set up and decorate the room where the dinner was held and organize the food. Another asked his son to travel from Atlanta to videotape the celebration. Yet another agreed to read a brief history of Bahá’u’lláh’s life to those assembled.

Loudoun County, Virginia. At the Northern Virginia Bahá’í Center, a wonderful, arts-filled celebration attended by 350 was preceded by a reception for dignitaries and followed by an open house at which Light to the World was shown. Among the dignitaries was a representative of U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock, whose lengthy letter of congratulations, published in the Loudoun Tribune, lauded “the Bahá’í community’s absolute commitment to having religion — our faith in God — play a vital role in our society.” She added, “Among the most admired principles of the Bahá’í Faith is the championing of education for all” and recounted how members of her staff had attended, in 2015, a showing of the film To Light a Candle about the plight of Bahá’í students denied access to higher education in Iran.

CALIFORNIA

See also “Doubling of activities swells active participation in San Diego neighborhood”

Encino. Bahá’ís consulting at their neighborhood Feast in this section of Los Angeles decided to host a gathering that would be an informal complement to the citywide event in Royce Hall at the University of California, Los Angeles. They immediately went to work and planned a program designed to connect hearts to Bahá’u’lláh through prayers, stories told by the children about the life of the Blessed Beauty, songs, and a reading of the Universal House of Justice’s bicentenary letter. A friend of the Faith who has engaged in study circles commented afterward that “the letter is so inspiring, and I feel honored to be one of the readers for such an important letter.” Another attendee told the hosts, “When you speak, we feel your kind and pure spirit and that is why we keep coming to your devotional gatherings. Thank you for inviting us.”

FOUR CORNERS

Tempe, Arizona. When all was said and done, the Bahá’ís concluded that as uplifting and joyful as the bicentenary celebration in the Rio Salado neighborhood was, even more confirmations came in the invitation process. They identified many receptive souls and were able to reach a new level of understanding with others about the community-building process. The invitation process included making fliers and sharing them directly with their neighbors. Almost all the conversations revolved around the Person of Bahá’u’lláh and the purpose of the Bahá'í Faith. In some cases, people the Bahá’ís had not seen or heard from in a long time coincidentally reached out before the celebration just to spend time together, which led to heartfelt conversations. Others took the time to have longer conversations about the Faith and its commitment to uniting the community.

Arapahoe County, Colorado. A friendship forged through interfaith involvement yielded the opportunity to screen Light to the World for the Althea Center for Engaged Spirituality’s monthly movie night and invite the congregation to a bicentenary celebration at the Metro Denver Bahá’í Center. “It is my understanding that about 20 people from Althea attended the celebration,” a believer reported. “To be fair, they also came to see Steven Fordham, a talented pianist and composer who often performs during Althea Sunday services and who was featured in the bicentenary celebration. However, I am convinced reaching out to Althea by participating in their movie night and by presenting the gift set of books for the library helped create a welcoming atmosphere and removed barriers.”

Reno, Nevada. With every seat taken and people standing around the perimeter, an estimated 160 people joined in the bicentenary festivities. William E. Davis, a former member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, talked about Bahá’u’lláh’s 40 years of hardship to establish His Message to a world badly in need of God’s guidance for a new Bahá’í cycle. A high school quartet performed as part of the entertainment. At the information table stood framed proclamations by the governor, mayor and county supervisors.

Albuquerque, New Mexico. (See photos above.)

Midvale, Utah. (See photo above.)

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