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South Kohala News
December B.E. 180
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Special Events - This Month
Feast of Masá’íl (Questions)
Feast of Sharaf (Honor)
District Convention
Please see our calendar for information on 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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As we approach the Baha'i District Convention, we wish to underscore the profound importance of this gathering, emphasizing the integral role our cluster plays in the steps leading to the election of the Universal House of Justice.
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The Baha'i District Convention is a pivotal moment for our community, providing a platform for meaningful consultation on the affairs of our cluster. During this convention, we will also participate in the election of delegates who will represent our cluster at the National Convention. These delegates, in turn, contribute to the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Hawaiian Islands.
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Here are the crucial steps in this electoral process:
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Consultation on Affairs of our Community: The convention serves as a vital forum for consultation on the affairs of our cluster. Your participation in these discussions is instrumental in contributing to the collective decision-making process that guides our community forward.
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Election of Delegates: Your role is pivotal in electing delegates who will represent our cluster at the National Convention. These delegates, chosen by the community, become key contributors to the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Hawaiian Islands.
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National Spiritual Assembly Election: The National Convention is where the elected delegates play a direct role in selecting members of the National Spiritual Assembly. This assembly holds significant responsibilities in fostering the development of the Baha'i community at the national level.
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Universal House of Justice Election: The National Spiritual Assembly, along with other National Spiritual Assemblies around the world, participates in the election of the Universal House of Justice, once every five years. This global institution holds the mandate to guide and coordinate the affairs of the worldwide Baha'i community.
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Your active participation in the convention, the election of delegates, and subsequent steps is not only a personal contribution but also a vital link in the chain leading to the election of the Universal House of Justice.
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We encourage you to attend and actively engage in the convention, casting your vote for delegates who will represent our cluster. Your involvement in this process is integral to the vibrancy and effectiveness of our community.
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Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if there is anything the assembly can assist you with in preparation for the convention and the subsequent electoral steps. Below is a button to watch a video on becoming an informed Baha'i voter.
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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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"Abdu'l-Baha: The Mystery - Part 6: Touching Hearts: Stories of Transformation" is the sixth part of a series of six documentary films covering the life of Abdu'l-Baha, the eldest son of Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith.
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Produced by Fred Badiyan and Ramin Khadem in honor of the centenary of the ascension of Abdu'l-Baha (https://bit.ly/3jkV0WX), this six-part series covers the life of Abdu'l-Baha in chronological order, from His childhood and imprisonment to His travels and ascension.
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Baha'i Blog is extremely grateful to Fred Badiyan and Ramin Khadem for giving us the rights to distribute "Abdu'l-Baha: The Mystery" on our YouTube channel.
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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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A Story of Baháʼu'lláh's Kindness
An introduction to the Baháʼí Faith for children.
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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 picture above to listen to it on YouTube.
Baha’i Blog Studio Sessions is an initiative where we invite Baha’is and their friends from around the world to come into a studio and share the Baha’i Writings put to music.
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In this Baha’i Blog Studio Session, we’re in Brisbane, Australia with Amelia Rowhani and Anisa Rowhani who sing “Rose Garden of the Spirit” based on the Writings of Baha’u’llah.
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This song was filmed and recorded in Brisbane, Australia in August 2023.
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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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A Model of Spiritually Based Elections
Imagine an election without nominations, candidates or campaigning—an election that operates in a spiritual atmosphere and is based entirely on principled conduct.
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To those who equate elections with divisiveness, mud-slinging and taking sides, the Baha’i system of elections may seem like an unattainable ideal, but it was demonstrated in action at the Baha’i National Convention.
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From May 18 to 21, 2023, Baha’is representing localities from across the United States will gather at the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois for the 111th Annual Baha’i National Convention. They will elect the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, the nine-person assembly that will guide the affairs of the national Baha’i community for the coming year.
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The Universal House of Justice Election
The Universal House of Justice is elected through a three-stage process.
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In every national Bahá’í community, all adult Bahá’ís in good standing, 18 years of age or older, are eligible to take part in elections at the grassroots level—known as unit conventions—held once a year throughout their country. At these conventions, the Bahá’ís vote by secret ballot for delegates who are duly responsible to elect the nine persons to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly for the term of one administrative year. The National Spiritual Assembly is then elected at the National Convention.
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What Makes Baha’i Elections Unique?
Five years ago, I voted in a Baha’i election for the first time—a joyous and unique experience that taught me a lot about the Baha’i election and its new spirit.
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I have felt a great responsibility since then to participate in the Baha’i election every year, not only to fulfill my sacred duty to my faith community, but to contribute to the betterment and unity of the wider community, as well. Baha’i elections are different—they can contribute to uniting communities and bringing people closer to work towards a common goal. Baha’is have no clergy—the authority in their Faith comes directly from the Baha’i writings themselves, and through democratically-elected institutions.
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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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