Music . . .

Kim Mennillo writes (Facebook):

If you're looking for music that would be appropriate for the bicentenary event in October, I share with you here those songs (song title first, followed by name of the album). If you have other song suggestions to add to such a compilation, please let us know! 

Nightingale of Paradise - Lift Up Your Voices, Vol. 1
Farkhundi Tayiri - Songs of the Ancient Beauty, Vol. 2
His Name - Sunshine Through the Rain
Royal Falcon - Royal Falcon
My Heart Soars - Encore
Proclaim the Greatest Name - Lift Up Your Voices, Vol. 2
The First of Love - Rivers of Light
Oh, Bahá'u'lláh - Music of the World Congress
Ya Bahá'u'lláh - Eastwind
Baha'u'llah - Beyond This World
Hummingbird - Lift Up Your Voices, Vol. 1
Blessed Beauty - Sunshine Through the Rain
Luizeno - Congo
Lord of the Mountain - Rivers of Light
Would You Give Your Life to Bahá'u'lláh - Lift Up Your Voices, Vol. 2
I Have Found Bahá'u'lláh - Beyond This World
The Spirit of the Lord - Baha'i Gospel Singers
Baha'u'llah's Getting Us Ready - Lift Up Your Voices, Vol. 2
In This Day, Bahá'u'lláh - Baha'i Gospel Singers
Have You Heard of Bahá'u'lláh - Lift Up Your Voices, Vol. 1
Nightingale - Take Me Up
The Prince of Peace - Lift Up Your Voices, Vol. 1
We Will Have One World - Lift Up Your Voices, Vol. 2
Baha'u'llah - This is Faith
Baha'u'llah - Lift Up Your Voices, Vol. 3

Art work, designs for programs, ads . . .

So many new resources are emerging! There's a Facebook page one has to join (but that is easy). If you skim down all of the messages on discussion, you'll find MANY things being offered re. design, embellishment, music, posters/ads. . . . Artists are coming to the forefront with offerings to the Blessed Beauty!

Facebook page: Preparing for the Bicentenaries Of the Twin Birthdays

https://www.facebook.com/groups/218654355212048/

Stories about Baha'u'llah

Lots of people are compiling various things in preparation for the Bicentennial! Here's one great source for stories:
http://bahaullah-gloryofgod.blogspot.com/p/stories-about-bahaullah.html

And here's an idea for a program--probably a more "caaual" program than a larger one. Choose and print out some stories. Have them on individual pieces of paper. Let guests select one randomly or consciously and read/listen to the stories, in a circle.

Even at Feasts as we prepare for the Oct. weekend, this might be effective. Children or youth could also prepare the stories to present. . . .

New Resource!

Tom Lysaght writes:  I’m happy to announce that in response to the Universal House of Justice’s call this bicentennial year for “publications and books” in order “to convey a sense of what it means for humanity that these two Luminaries rose successively above the horizon of the world,” One Voice Press will release in June, Twin Witnesses, my narrative tribute to Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb.

In 44 pages of dramatic action Twin Witnesses portrays the events of July 1848, when the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, on two separate fronts, jointly brought the new Revelation to a climactic point of no return.

Connecting two landmark events in Bahá’í history with the repercussions felt throughout the rest of the world during its historic “Year of Revolution,” Twin Witnesses might assist the friends as they “find creative ways to... reach out to the widest possible cross-section of society... so that all may rejoice in the appearance... of a new Message for humankind.”

Twin Witnesses is available both as a booklet and as an Ebook from One Voice Press.

You can click on the following link for more information:

https://www.onevoicepress.com/content/twin-witnesses.

In His service,  Tom     http://www.yourcreativestage.com/

More than stand-alone events . . .

From the recent message for the Feast of Azamat, from the NSA:

•  How can we engage in “meaningful conversations” with the greatest possible number of our fellow citizens, representing the rich diversity of our nation?

•  What is the nature of these “meaningful conversations”? For example, are we inviting people simply to attend an event or to take part in a process of spiritual and social transformation?

•  How might the coming bicentenaries of the Twin Holy Birthdays complement the overall aims and processes of the Plan?

•  What plans have we made for the participation of children and youth in these events? Have they been invited to join in the planning process? What about friends of the Faith whose hearts are attracted to Bahá’u’lláh, even if they have not yet formally enrolled?

•  How can we ensure that the bicentenary observances are more than just standalone events? What are our plans for following up with those who attend? How will our relationships with them be further developed?

. . .  the bicentenaries call for universal participation in the celebration of these sacred anniversaries―expressed in a variety of settings, including homes, neighborhoods, Bahá’í Centers, and other venues, and expressive of the wide range of creativity possessed by the diverse populace of America. As the Supreme Body put the matter:

“In this worthy occupation all find a calling, and of the joy that comes from being engaged in this work none should deprive themselves. We entreat the one Beloved that the whole of this bicentennial year may be filled with this joy that is purest and sweetest: telling another soul of the dawning of the Day of God.”

The single greatest opportunity!

“The first of the two bicentenaries to be celebrated by the Bahá’í world is thus an occasion with prospects most thrilling. …this year presents the single greatest worldwide opportunity there has ever been for connecting hearts to Bahá’u’lláh. In the months ahead, let all be mindful of this precious chance and alert to the possibilities that exist in every space for acquainting others with His life and sublime mission” (Ridvan message 2017, Universal House of Justice)

Setting personal goals

Only six months before the staggeringly significant event--the Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh! As we grapple with what our communities might with to plan and do, it's wise to set some personal goals related to the commemoration.

My friend Bret Breneman writes this:  "Next October, Baha'is and friends around the world--in cities and villages, jungles and deserts, mountains and islands--will observe with exultant dignity the Bicentenary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah. He will be honored for what He endured and achieved, for His edifying and inspiring vision, for His utterly incomparable Writings, and for His transformative influence evident already in the world. I--this insignificant little devotee--have set myself the goal of engaging in 500 conversations about the Bicentenary between February and late October. I'm glad to report I've done 90 now, am closing in on the first one hundred!"

Isn't this a marvelous personal goal? Hope you are inspired by this example!