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South Kohala News
April B.E. 181
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Special Events - This Month
Feast of Jalál (Glory)
Feast of Jamál (Beauty)
The First Day of Riḍván
The Ninth Day of Riḍván
Please see our calendar for when and where these events will be held.
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Spiritual Assembly of The Bahá’ís of South Kohala
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Contact us for any reason
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From the Spiritual Assembly
Allah’u’Abha! Dear friends,
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The Baha'i celebration of Riḍván is a significant event of the Baha'i Faith, marking the period when Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the faith, publicly proclaimed his mission as a Messenger of God. This twelve-day festival is celebrated annually from April 21st to May 2nd and holds great importance in the Baha'i calendar.
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Riḍván, which means "paradise" in Arabic, commemorates the time when Baháʼu'lláh and his followers were exiled to the garden of Riḍván in Baghdad in 1863. Baháʼu'lláh declared his mission during this period, announcing that he was the Promised One foretold by previous religions and that his teachings would bring about a new era of peace and unity.
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During the festival of Riḍván, Baha'is around the world gather for prayer, reflection, and the election of their local spiritual assemblies. The first, ninth, and twelfth days of the festival are considered especially significant, with the first and ninth days being observed as holy days on which work and school are suspended.
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At the beginning of Ridvan Baha’is in a region, with an adult Baha’i population of sufficient size, elect nine members of their community to serve on their Local Spiritual Assembly. This is done through an election process that is unique to this Faith. It is a process that stands as a beacon of spiritual purity and collective endeavor within the Baha'i community. It is a unique institution that distinguishes itself from contemporary electoral practices by its emphasis on spiritual principles and the eradication of worldly tendencies. As articulated by the Universal House of Justice in May 2013, the Baha'i electoral process is characterized by the absence of electioneering and the scrupulous avoidance of discussions regarding specific individuals' suitability for office. This commitment to purity extends to the delegates and believers, who collectively strive to rid themselves of personal ambitions, promotion of individuals, contest, and partisanship that could taint the spiritual character of the election.
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Central to the Baha'i Election is the recognition of its sacred nature and the imperative for believers to approach their voting responsibilities with reverence and prayerfulness. As emphasized in the message from the Universal House of Justice in March 2007, Baha'is are called to view their participation in elections as a divine task, seeking guidance and confirmation from God. This admonition underscores the profound spiritual significance attached to the act of voting within the Baha'i community, highlighting the necessity for individuals to turn wholeheartedly to God, purify their motives, and engage in the electoral process with sanctity of heart. In essence, the Baha'i Election serves as a testament to the spiritual ideals of unity, justice, and collective decision-making inherent in the Baha'i Faith.
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To help us prepare for this spiritual obligation join a deepening of the electoral process on Saturday, March 30th, 2024 at the Polak home from 3 to 5 PM.
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With warmest regards and loving thoughts,
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The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South Kohala
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Universal House of Justice - Ridvan Message 2023
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Attached please find the Ridvan Message from the Universal House of Justice for 2023. Below is a link to an audio recording of it and a link to the PDF version.
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READ IT
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LISTEN TO IT
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December 30th Message from the Universal House of Justice
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If you haven't studied this message yet please download it here.
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New Videos Released
Below are three new videos which have been released. We highly recommend watching all of them.
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“An Expansive Prospect”: New film explores Bahá’í efforts toward social transformation
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Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Short film explores the journey of the construction project
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Summons to Service
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A segment of "Luminous Journey: Abdu'l-Baha in America, 1912", a 2.5 hour documentary following the travels of Abdu'l-Baha in the United States and Canada. Divided into geographical sequences, the film also includes introductory segments, flashbacks, and a segment on Abdu'l-Baha's passing.
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Children's Corner
Each month we will share something for the children in this section of the newsletter. It may be a video, a website, a project, a song, etc. We hope the children like this and get something from our newsletter as well.
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Delighted Hearts
Delightful resources inspired by the spiritual teachings of the Bahá’í Faith created with love by Melissa López Charepoo!
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Music Selection
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This is a wonderful song that we thought we would share with you. Click the button below to listen on YouTube
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News and Articles
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Here you will find the latest news from around the world.
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From the Baháʼí World News Service and other sites
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Chile Bahá’í Radio: National sound archive of Mapuche culture comes to life
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LABRANZA, Chile — Situated amid communities rich with Mapuche heritage, Radio Bahá’í in Labranza, Chile, has embarked on an extraordinary journey to connect past and present through the power of sound. The recent launch of a national archive project by this radio station has transformed decades of sound recordings into a living repository that reflects the spirit of the Mapuche community.
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“The archive goes beyond conservation,” said Nabil Rodríguez, the project’s coordinator. “It harmonizes ancestral knowledge with spiritual principles found in the Bahá’í teachings, aiming to inspire both present and future generations.”
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In conversation: Podcast explores collective inquiry through Bahá’í studies
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BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — This podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service explores the initiatives of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS) in North America that aim to enrich the intellectual life of communities.
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Selvi Adaikkallam Zabihi, Michael Karlberg, Malik Nash, and Negin Toosi join the News Service from the United States to discuss the ABS’s unique approach to inquiry within the sciences and humanities.
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Bolivia: Women’s education a catalyst for societal progress
LA PAZ, Bolivia — A forum recently held by the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs in Bolivia brought together government officials, civil society leaders, academics, and journalists to explore the centrality of women’s education to social progress.
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The discussions underscored the significance of ensuring equal educational opportunities for women and men as a fundamental aspect of achieving justice. The conversation, however, went further, emphasizing the need for the principle of equality to be interwoven into the very fabric of society.
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If you would like to join us for our virtual gatherings but don't know how please click the image below to watch a video on how to use Zoom.
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Keep in touch with us
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Please stay in contact, we have many options for you to connect with us.
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