Bahá’ís in Pierce County, Washington, set plans in motion in January to make Ayyám-i-Há “a better time than ever to reach out to our neighbors, friends, and family about the Faith.” They hope to build a pattern of action and learning for Bahá’í Holy Days to be observed in the next two years, leading to the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb.

“This is part of our community-building work. We are looking for ways to better use our Holy Days and Ayyám-i-Há to present Bahá’u’lláh’s message to those in our community,” secretary Gary Slone wrote to Tacoma believers on behalf of the Local Spiritual Assembly serving the city. “It is a learning experience for all of us, and we hope to engage your interest and encourage your action as we move forward.”

Ayyám-i-Há, a time of gift giving, hospitality and service leading up to the annual Fast, was marked Feb. 25 through March 1 this year.

George Dannells, a member of the Area Teaching Committee, says people have started consulting in several spaces across the county, at the request of Auxiliary Board member Josh Christy.

It was a “unifying experience,” Christy noted in a text to his assistants, when 545 people, mostly friends of the Faith, participated in various Pierce County observances of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh in October 2017.

He said that “having our teaching efforts incorporate creative celebrations of our Holy Days is a way to continue the high involvement within the Bahá’í community.” And he envisioned celebrations in many spaces at the neighborhood level including study circles, children’s classes, junior youth groups and devotional gatherings.

“The personal investment is shared and far greater” if Ayyám-i-Há is celebrated in multiple places, wrote Christy.

The Tacoma Assembly’s letter echoed the call to hold “many separate occasions” and extend personal invitations to friends and neighbors.

“We have the capacity to reach out to them and others, but to do so your energy, enthusiasm, ideas, and action are needed to enable us to better achieve our potential,” Slone wrote.

“So, we ask you: What are you moved to do? How would you like to celebrate this time of year? Your observance may be a service project, a family activity, an activity that invites neighborhood children and junior youth, together with their families, or one that welcomes study circle participants.

“You may plan a special devotional. Some of you might join together and collaborate to create a special activity. Be inspired to move forward with your own plans.”