A reading!

Posted by Tom Lysaght: 

   "O concourse of ardent lovers!

    By the righteousness of God, this is a night the like of which hath never been witnessed in the world of creation...

   

This is the night wherein the Spirit intoned such a melody as to throw into commotion the inner realities of all men...   

This, indeed, is the night wherein He Who is the reality of the All-Merciful hath been born,

the night wherein every eternal command hath been expounded by the Pen of the All-Glorious...

This is the night wherein God shed abroad the splendour of all His most excellent names

and established Himself  upon the throne of every pure and radiant heart...

This is the night wherein the oceans of forgiveness surged...

This is the night wherein the trespasses of all that dwell on earth were forgiven...

...that every trace of sorrow might thereby be banished forever from all things.

Rejoice, then, O ye that have stepped forth into the realm of being!...

The musk-scented wine hath been unsealed by the mighty hand of Him Who is the source of sovereignty and power...

And cups of crimson-coloured wine are being borne round by the hand of the divine Joseph...

Hasten then, O concourse of men, and drink your fill from this stream of everlasting life!...

The beauty of the Desired One hath shone forth in its naked glory...

The countenance of the Best-Beloved hath dawned above the horizon of holiness...

The veils have been burned away, the clouds have been rent asunder, the signs have been revealed and the allusions unravelled

by Him Whose might is equal to all things. And this, verily, is from the grace of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Bountiful.

Let your hearts be filled with joy...

God beareth Me witness that His favour is complete, His mercy is perfected, and His countenance is beaming with joy and radiance.

And this, verily, is from the grace of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Bountiful.”

                   — Bahá’u’lláh, Days of Remembrance #44

Stories about Baha'u'llah on Radio!

My friend Dru Cederquist writes:

Dear Friends,

Would you like to LISTEN to brief stories about Baha'u'llah? SHARE them with family and friends as Bicentenary celebrations approach? Go to WLGI Radio Baha'i online streaming. A short story airs each hour. The series continues through October 21-22. Stories will air more often that weekend. Details below in short version of blog post. Click through first link for entire blog post with more links - also sharable with friends.

Warmly,

Druzelle Cederquist

Author-The Story of Baha'u'llah: Promised One of All Religions

 

http://bit.ly/2fkLqou  “The Story of Baha’u’llah” on WLGI Radio Baha'i – a short story every hour!

 

“Baha’u’llah’s life and His impact on the world is one of the most dramatic humanity has ever seen. We’re happy to share with you now another glimpse into this remarkable life.” – WLGI Baha'i Radio http://wlgi.org/  

 

In honor of this 200th Anniversary Year of the Birth of Baha'u'llah (1817-2017) WLGI Radio Baha'i invited me to collaborate in presenting a series of brief stories about the life of Baha’u’llah, adapted from The Story of Baha’u’llah. What a pleasure to join WLGI for this storytelling endeavor!

 

Now you can listen to these brief 2-minute stories Every Day. Tune in to Radio Baha'i WLGI STREAMING Any Hour between x:40 and x:55 (A story will run, for example, sometime between 2:40 and 2:55 – nearly Every Hour!) Refresh Playlist to see when stories occur.

 

For more on WLGI go to link in blog post: "Louis Gregory Institute, Radio Baha'i focus on social justice, joy, happiness"

Banner at shopping mall

New Scripts

See David Hoffman's resources, such as a script for 5 youth:  Bicentenary Ideas, David Hoffman

I have written something similar, for two voices:

Celebrating the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh: A Reading for Two Voices

Script by Anne Perry with sections by David Hoffman

1: Who IS Bahá'u'lláh?

2: Who is Bahá'u'lláh?

Together:  WHO is Baha’u’llah?

2. Mirza Husayn 'Ali Nuri, known as Bahá'u'lláh - the Glory of God - was born at dawn on the 12th of November 1817, in Tihran, the capital of Persia. 

1: His father was a prominent and wealthy man who had been a minister at the court of the Sháh. 

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. . . .