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.

Click here for Appalachian, Atlantic, California, Four Corners;

Heartland, Midwest, Northeast; Northern Plains

NORTHWEST

Eugene, Oregon. A professor of French at the University of Oregon and her husband attended the bicentenary celebration and had an engaging conversation with some of the believers at their table. She had become somewhat aware of the Faith through her dentist, and when she received an invitation in the mail she accepted. Another professor, in the university’s School of Law, attended with his wife.

Olympia, Washington. The cluster of communities centered on Olympia strove to plan a bicentenary event that would be filled with the arts and infused with the Writings, and would give every citizen of Thurston County the opportunity to connect with Bahá’u’lláh. Many accepted the invitation. Program participants included an American Indian drum group, a bagpiper, an Indian dancer, the mayor of Tumwater, the past president of Evergreen State College, members of a dance troupe (one of whom registered as a Bahá’í the following day), a Christian rock band, a bell choir, a choir, Pacific Islander dancers, a reader who is the spouse of a Bahá’í and the stage/facility crew. Others didn’t attend but still had the opportunity to become aware of Bahá’u’lláh through personal invitation.

PRAIRIE STATES

Derby, Kansas. A woman who had inquired through the national response system about two years ago began discussing the teachings with a believer and reading books about the Faith, but declined numerous invitations to join a study circle or devotional gathering. As planning began for the bicentenary, the woman was asked to help and immediately agreed. Her involvement included arts-infused study of the bicentenary letter from the Universal House of Justice and inviting friends to the local celebration — and some of those friends attended. Now she is an active participant in a study circle.

Iowa City, Iowa. The bicentenary provided an opportunity for Bahá’ís to further long-term relationships with people who have participated in Holy Day observances, potlucks and other events. The community’s celebratory dinner featured a short program and fellowship.

Raytown, Missouri. The Raytown Bahá’í group celebrated in two ways. The first was to provide lunch for the Oct. 5 meeting of the Raytown Community Interfaith Alliance. Participants were provided pamphlets, Golden Rule bookmarks, prayer cards and an invitation to the Bahá’í community’s bicentenary open house. Seven people showed up for the open house, and they stayed for nearly three hours.

Scottsbluff, Nebraska. One of many tree donations made around the country in honor of the bicentenary took place at Legacy of the Plains Museum, with planting of a burr oak accompanied by sharing of information on techniques for tree health. A celebration by Bahá’ís in Gering and Scottsbluff came on the heels of a proclamation by the mayor of Terrytown of Oct. 21 as Community Building Day and by the governor of Nebraska of Oct. 22 as the Bicentennial of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh.

SOUTH CENTRAL

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Hot Springs, Arkansas. The donation of a bicentenary gift collection of books and a DVD was welcomed by two librarians, both of whom stated they expected the items to be checked out soon. The library arranged a photo of the Bahá’ís making the donation for publication in a local newspaper.

River Parishes, Louisiana. A Bahá’í hosted a catfish dinner and fireside gathering on the theme of race unity. The community also presented a bicentenary gift collection to three parish library systems. All were well received, and two of the systems placed the materials on shelves prior to the bicentenary.

Enid, Oklahoma. In presenting a program for the bicentenary, local believers made a connection with an interracial women’s club “dedicated to promoting peace in our community.”

Kerrville, Texas. At nearly 95 years old, Bea Busby hosted a bicentenary celebration enjoyed by more than 20 people. A screening of Light to the World led into questions and answers. And there was lots of food. Afterwards, Busby “spent a week resting up over all that I did,” she confided in an email to an old friend.

SOUTHEAST

Jefferson County, Alabama. A believer’s “heart soared” when someone she had recently talked with for an hour attended a bicentenary celebration at the Birmingham Museum of Art. The woman recently released a CD of gospel music about glory, and the believer hopes to join in her devotional activities and invite her into the core activities “after I gauge her receptivity.”

Jacksonville, Florida. A month before the bicentenary weekend, two local Bahá’ís launched an interactive activity that literally formed the backdrop for seemingly every photo taken at the areawide celebration. Two hundred canvases measuring 2 inches by 2 inches were handed out along with art materials. Many were painted as family projects. Others were taken to be painted with friends. An artist painted the central space around which all the individual canvases would be arrayed. The completed piece, “200 Canvases for Unity,” was mounted in the Jacksonville Bahá’í Center and unveiled at the celebration.

Brunswick, Georgia. An overwhelming number of positive reactions greeted the community’s bicentenary program. One Bahá’í’s co-worker commented after seeing Light to the World, “This is what I know! We are all one human family!” A neighbor who recently lost his wife nodded throughout a talk on the power of prayer. A neighbor’s friend gasped at seeing a photo of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Panama, saying, “I have been there. … [T]he acoustics and beauty were amazing.” Further conversations and home visits are in the works.

Gulfport, Mississippi. A believer’s childhood friend says she’s an atheist and “too old to change” but asked to join the believer in her travels to take part in bicentenary celebrations in nearby Fairhope and Mobile. “She, as always when in the company of Bahá’ís, seemed to bask in the happiness of the celebrations,” said the believer. And when the friend told another Bahá’í she is an atheist, he said without batting an eye that means she is a “true seeker” and suggested that the two “work together.” It was an answer — albeit unexpected — to the believer’s prayer for someone in her neighborhood to help build community.

Horry County/Georgetown, South Carolina. When a friend of the Faith in Horry County learned about one of the area’s bicentenary celebrations, she asked to speak about how much learning about the Faith has meant to her and her family. She titled her talk “The Seeker.” Another friend attended two events, including a Light to the World screening, and is interested in coming to devotional gatherings. Others asked to participate in study circles after an Auxiliary Board member explained the community-building process.