The Baha’is of Neuchâtel and Jura marked the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab in the beautiful Chateau of Cressier. The reception room of the Chateau was decorated with roses, candle light and a small tableau representing the Declaration of the Bab. A standing display which introduced the Faith, its principles and primary figures, was placed in the reception hall alongside a table of books for seekers to browse and take away.
The program combined several artistic elements including the dramatic reading of a poem conveying the history of the night of declaration of the Bab and several pieces of music, including a violin duet played by a Baha'i youth and her friend.
The new film commissioned by the Baha'i World Centre in Israel on the occasion of the Bicentenary entitled “Dawn of the Light” was then viewed, providing inspiration and opportunities for rich discussions afterwards about the community-building processes that Baha’is are engaging in around the world. The formal part of the meeting closed with a piece played on the flute and the communal singing of a quotation from Bahá'u'lláh’s writings.
Some 60 people attended the event, including 30 friends of the Faith from diverse religious orientations and national origins. The beautifully decorated hall, uplifting movie and refreshments which followed the program set the stage for having meaningful and profound conversations.
Several additional activities, including the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh celebration, devotional gatherings and firesides have been hosted in subsequent weeks to continue nurturing conversations with seekers and to invite new participants into community-building activities.
The program combined several artistic elements including the dramatic reading of a poem conveying the history of the night of declaration of the Bab and several pieces of music, including a violin duet played by a Baha'i youth and her friend.
The new film commissioned by the Baha'i World Centre in Israel on the occasion of the Bicentenary entitled “Dawn of the Light” was then viewed, providing inspiration and opportunities for rich discussions afterwards about the community-building processes that Baha’is are engaging in around the world. The formal part of the meeting closed with a piece played on the flute and the communal singing of a quotation from Bahá'u'lláh’s writings.
Some 60 people attended the event, including 30 friends of the Faith from diverse religious orientations and national origins. The beautifully decorated hall, uplifting movie and refreshments which followed the program set the stage for having meaningful and profound conversations.
Several additional activities, including the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh celebration, devotional gatherings and firesides have been hosted in subsequent weeks to continue nurturing conversations with seekers and to invite new participants into community-building activities.