The Newbury and Thatcham Bahá’ís, in conjunction with the Bahá’í community worldwide, celebrated the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, on 21st October 2017 in the Newbury Town Hall.
This special event was announced throughout the town by the Town Crier, Mr Brian Sylvester .
The programme consisted of a welcome from the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Margo Payne, a musical recitation, a dramatical presentation of the meeting of Professor Edward Granville Brown of Cambridge University with Bahá’u’lláh in 1890, a short talk about the life of Bahá’u’lláh and His letters to the Kings and Rulers of that time, including Queen Victoria; a 10 minute film highlighting the many spiritual empowerment and social and economic programmes initiated by the Bahá’í Community, and ending with refreshments.
Approximately 75 people attended the celebration. For those who were unable to attend on Saturday, there will be a screening of a new film “Light to the World” on Thursday 26th October at 8pm. Light refreshment will be served. For more information please contact Sherry Fleming at sherry@tvbahai.org.uk
Message from the Prime Minister
We are delighted to share with you a message from the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Theresa May MP, sent on the occasion of the bicentenary of the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh.
Who is Baha’u’llah?
Press Release, September 2017
Local Bahá’ís Prepare
for Bicentenary Celebrations
The Newbury and Thatcham Bahá’ís, in conjunction with the Bahá’í community worldwide, are preparing to celebrate, on 21st October 2017, the two-hundred-year anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith.
Formal gardens surrounding the burial place of Baha’u’llah, located outside Acre, Israel.
In 1890 Professor Edward Granville Brown of Cambridge University was granted an audience with Bahá’u’lláh and this is what he recorded of his first meeting:
“The face of Him on Whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one’s very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow.… No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain.”
With the appearance of Bahá’u’lláh, a new impetus for the unity of the human race has been released into the world and is the next stage in the awakening and progress of humanity.
In the middle of the 19th century, Bahá’u’lláh outlined a framework for the development of a global civilization which takes into account both the spiritual and material dimensions of human life.
“…That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled — what harm is there in this? … Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the ‘Most Great Peace’ shall come.… Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind.”
Bahá’u’lláh suffered 40 years of imprisonment, torture and exile for bringing God’s latest message to all the people of the world. Today, His life and mission are becoming increasingly well-known around the world. Millions of people are learning to apply His teachings to their individual and collective lives for the betterment of mankind.
This special celebration in Newbury on the 21st October will consist of a special presentation on the person of Baha’u’llah at 11am and 1pm and a short video screening in Newbury Town Hall. Light refreshment will be served. For more information please contact Sherry Fleming at sherry@tvbahai.org.uk
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About the Bahá’í Faith
The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent monotheistic religions. Founded in Iran in 1844, it now has more than six million adherents in 236 countries and territories.
Bahá’ís come from nearly every national, ethnic and religious background, making the Bahá’í Faith the second most widespread religion in the world. Its founder, Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá’ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad.
Bahá’ís believe that all humanity was created by one God and we are all part of one human race and that the purpose of life is to know and to love God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of humankind, and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.
Bahá’ís practice their religion by praying and reading the scriptures every day, dedicating their lives to service to others, following spiritual and moral principles such as trustworthiness, chastity, honesty, etc., and avoiding gossiping, alcohol, drugs, materialism, and partisan politics. They meet in fellowship to worship and to share news and refreshments every 19 days and during specific holidays.
More information www.bahai.org.uk
For more information about the Newbury and Thatcham Bahá’í community and the forthcoming events, please contact Sherry Fleming on 01635 31320 or 0785 414 9536
sherry@tvbahai.org.uk
Mark the day in your diary 21st Oct
200th Anniversary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah
Newbury Town Hall, Berkshire
21st of October 2017
Open Day with two short programmes at 11:00 a.m & 1:00 p.m.
JOIN US!
‘Who is Bahá’u’lláh’ film
A new film is soon to be released about the mission of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith and will be used in schools across the country. It is envisaged that this film will not only inform, but also inspire young people from a variety of diverse settings and backgrounds to examine their own lives and capacities for service to humanity.
Watch the stunning teaser here:
We must search after the truth
The final session on the topic of ‘Seeking Knowledge’ started with a discussion on how we acquire knowledge. We spend our lives striving to learn about the world around us and searching after the truth. This requires us to be attentive – to listen, to observe, to think deeply. We strive, and we persevere. Often we make mistakes, but our understanding increases as we think about what we did and continue to put forth effort.
He must search after the truth to the utmost of his ability and exertion, that God may guide him in the paths of His favor and the ways of His mercy.
The regular children classes on moral and spiritual education of children in Newbury are led by youth aged 14-16 years old. Here is the summary of the lesson prepared by one of the young teachers:
We started off the lesson with prayers, as usual. We then told the children the theme for the lesson: Searching after the Truth and taught them a quote about that very theme. Afterwards, we sang a song and played a game outside.
The participants had to look around the garden to find little cards with simple pictures drawn on them: a flower, the sun, a house, etc. 
They had to memorise all the drawings that they could find and after five minutes had elapsed, the children came together and attempted to remember all the pictures that they had seen and write them down on a piece of paper. This made them not only get a breath of fresh air, but also practice the art of knowledge because of the memorisation.
The children seemed to enjoy this particular activity and after that we all went back inside to once again recall the quote learned previously and also to draw pictures with the theme of knowledge.
Knowledge is Essential for Human Progress
The children have been learning about the importance of gaining knowledge of the sciences and arts in order to build a better world. We are encouraged to learn these, as well as to acquire spiritual knowledge that comes from the teachings of God.
These teachings give us a deeper understanding of the world around us and inspire us to use our knowledge for the benefit of others, to remove conflict and to promote cooperation and harmony.
Exert every effort to acquire the various branches of knowledge and true understanding. Strain every nerve to achieve both material and spiritual accomplishments.
To illustrate the importance of gaining knowledge, the children learned about Susan Moody, an American who lived in the early 1900s. Susan started studying medicine at the age of 52 and several years later decided to work as a doctor in Tehran, Iran.
Susan was aware of the religious traditions there and that many women considered it improper to show their faces to a male doctor. As there was a pressing need for female doctors in Iran, Susan soon established a medical practice and was helping in the education of girls and women.
She died in Iran at the age of 83, after having spent some twenty years of her life applying the knowledge she gained to better her new homeland and helping others, especially women, to have the opportunity to do the same.
