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Upcoming Events
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Edmond-area Baha’is put prayer for community, Iranian Baha’is in spotlight March 6
Edmond-area Baha’is will begin a 24-hour prayer chain with an emphasis on praying for the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the local community, for America and for their co-religionists in Iran who continue to live under extreme persecution. Edmond Baha’is will sign up to say prayers in 30-minute increments throughout the 24-hour period, lifting up the community from 7 p.m. Saturday, March 6, to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 7. The public will have an opportunity to participate in one of those hours through a special virtual devotional gathering on the topic of spiritual healing at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 7. Those interested in attending the virtual devotional where a variety of interfaith prayers will be shared may look for event details @edmondbahaifaith on Facebook. Oklahoma Baha’is, along with Baha’is around the globe, are concerned for their fellow Baha’is in Ivel, Iran, due to a recent court ruling affirming the government’s confiscation and demolition of Baha’i homes as legal. While Baha’is have lived in this region of Iran for more than a century, they continue to face persecution there and across the country purely for their faith alone. This latest action in Iran sets the precedent that it’s acceptable for anyone to ransack and loot Baha’i homes without any ramifications. |
This prayer effort on behalf of Iranian Baha’is and the local community coincides with the annual spring fast, scheduled for March 1-19 during the Baha’i month of Loftiness. Baha’is age 15 and older, who are medically able, fast by avoiding food and drink from sunrise to sunset those 19 days. This annual period helps Baha’is refresh themselves spiritually and prepare for a new year of 19 months of 19 days each. This week, from Feb. 24-28, Baha’is worldwide and locally are celebrating Ayyami-i-Ha, which also are known as the Intercalary Days and are the four additional days in the calendar that balance out the solar year of 365 days.
These four days are dedicated to socializing, being hospitable, giving generously to the poor and needy and preparing for the start of the 19-day fast. In Edmond, all Ayyam-i-Ha gatherings are being observed virtually or in a socially distanced setting along with service projects undertaken by individuals and families. For more information about the Edmond events, please call the Edmond Baha’i Center at 405-348-9992 or email edmond@edmondbahai.org. ___________________________________________________ Edmond Bahá'í Facebook Page: @edmondbahaifaith https://www.facebook.com/edmondbahaifaith/ ___________________________________________________ |