Week 7: Welcoming Unity and Diversity

Note to regular readers:  
A friend pointed out that there is a "bug" in the submit button at the bottom of this blog if you try to "join or follow".  With the help of my dear I-T expert, (ie. my husband, David) I have added an email "gadget".  If you wish to follow this blog, you can submit your email address and it will appear in your email weekly, or you can use that as a signal to go on line to www.50churchesin52weeks.blogspot.com.  Typically, it should all come through, though the format is slightly altered (I don't think you get the background for what that's worth).  And depending how picture/video rich my post is, and the size of the email you are able to download, you will probably get it all, but if you don't the webpage will "have it all".  The gadget is just to the right, above my "Featured Post".

WHERE I WENT AND WHY:

I thought it was time to stretch myself with a non-traditional community.  My "We Walk Together" group had mentioned how welcoming and open the Baha'i Community was and I had talked to Beth Walker, one of their members, at one of our service days.  She had given me the information about what to expect when I attended.

WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO:

The Baha'i Community holds a devotional gathering each Sunday.  Their sign says they start at 10:30 am.  The website says 11:00 am.  and my friend Beth said to be there at 10:45.  I arrived about 10:40, and folks drifted in throughout the entire gathering time until I left at 1 pm.  It really "started" about 11:05.  There was plenty of parking.  It is located on Marvin Road in the Grier Heights Community.  Turn at the 7-11 off Wendover.  Dress was casual.  A meal is served at the end of the service.  

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

MOOD:

This was the most welcoming community I've attended  yet, also one of the smallest (could there be a connection?).  They are currently meeting in their social hall since the larger space needs roof repairs.  About 50 folding chairs were arranged in a semi circle.  By the end most were filled.  Dorothy greeted me at the door and when she found out I was a "first timer" she explained quickly that Christians are welcome and they they believe in Christ, and see all religions as being progressively revealed through one God.  I sat beside Ralph, who quickly introduced himself and told me about a service project the church currently has in Grier Heights.  Several other folks came over and introduced themselves by name and welcomed me.  Beth told Edith (who was sitting beside me) about my 50 churches project and several folks came over to ask me about it.

During the devotional, folks quieted down and between readings and prayers there was silence for meditation.  During the chanting and singing (all a capella, except for a drum) folks would clap, and during the sharing of life in the spiritual community, folks would clap after the speakers. 

There were no children present, except for one young man about 10.  During lunch a couple with a baby came in.  There obviously were programs for children, as the walls were full of posters and children's drawings.  Beth explained that they were done this summer during a 6 week outreach to children. There was a fenced in playground in the "backyard".

MUSIC:

A song book was on every other chair.  It contained about 12 pages in a folder with words to songs printed (no music).  The only musical accompaniment was 2 drummers.  (They have a drum circle once per month).  One young woman sang a beautiful solo with a refrain that said "God's love is ancient, perishable and everlasting".  Another did a call and response song in the African American tradition.  At one point 5 members came up front as a choir and led the gathering in several songs from the blue booklet.  One entitled Strive, said, "Strive that your actions may be beautiful prayers."  Another song that the gathering all obviously knew and sang strongly was a very affirming I Think You're Wonderful.  My eye was drawn to the words to one of the songs, and I would have liked to have heard it sung.  The words were " When the walls say, 'stay away' our religions are not the same. We're building bridges out of walls."

The choir

MESSAGE:

At the beginning of the devotional, a man stood up and explained at this gathering there are no rituals.  There would be no speaker today (so I assume sometimes there is a speaker).  Folks could read passages from whatever spiritual book they wanted and they could offer readings or prayers .  About 10 people read passages from various texts.  I thought it interesting that most had them downloaded on their phones and read from there, including the 10 year old.   I did not recognize any of the passages, and many sounded as if they were from the King James version of the Bible with many "thou's, verily's and th's added to the end of verbs."  One lady read in Chinese and another in Ukrainian, and yet another in Farsi.

Teaching Summary from their website

During the time when folks shared about life in the spiritual community, two women spoke.  One had accompanied a group of Chinese students to Tel Aviv , Haifa, and Joppa.  She spoke of it  as a pilgrimage.   The students had questions about the difference between superstitions and miracles. Their spiritual leader told them "the miracle is in the reading." (I think this meant in studying and meditation.)  Edith who was sitting beside me reported about a conference she had been to near Chicago that was a Baha'i gathering of friends of Persian Culture.  She said about 25 Middle Eastern countries were represented and that many of the intelligentsia (my word), journalists, movie producers, lawyers, professors, etc.  urged folks to speak up and out for the Baha'i who were imprisoned and being persecuted in Iran and Iraq.  She said that several speakers described it as a silent Holocaust, or genocide.   

I found this on their "images" website
I thought it was very poignant.

OUTREACH AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• This experience was definitely richest in a welcoming mood.  The music was not very impressive, though I could understand the words of the songs better than the readings, so I got more "nuggets" there.
• As the devotional was ending, the "leader" asked if there were any first timers here and Beth introduced me.  This was the first time my project has been described (by Beth and me) to a "crowd".  During lunch, many people came by as asked me about the project and said how glad they were that I had chosen to come there. None were critical. Edith invited me to her home for a spiritual meeting.  I thanked her but declined. (It did sound interesting though.)

I think they have a covered dish lunch EVERY Sunday
They called it "Friends, Food, and Fellowship"

• One young woman announced a meeting to hear about service projects in the community during the last 3 months and how they wanted folks to critique their work and give them ideas and suggestions for going forward.
• Ralph earlier had described to me how they had decided to join the "Adopt a Highway" program in the Grier Heights neighborhood.  But instead of twice a year, they were picking up trash once per month.  They are having trouble getting the city to pick up their bags in a timely manner so he was going to suggest everyone just take a bag home with them!
• While very diverse with folks from many cultures, this was an older group.  Many were retired and only a few 20-40 "somethings" were there.  I wondered about the children and how they are growing their community.  Then again, maybe this isn't an emphasis.
• There was no "bulletin" or printed material and no offering.
• Since I believe most of my readers are not familiar with the basic tenants of the Baha'i movement ( and I am among them!), here are two paragraphs describing Baha'i from Wikipedia.  This seems to be a good summary of what I read on the Charlotte Baha'i website:

The Bahá'í Faith (Persian: Bahā'i ; بهائی‎‎) is a monotheistic religion which emphasizes the spiritual unity of all humankind.^[1] Three core principles establish a basis for Bahá'í teachings and doctrine: the unity of God, that there is only one God who is the source of all creation; the unity of religion, that all major religions have the same spiritual source and come from the same God; and the unity of humanity, that all humans have been created equal, coupled with the unity in diversity, that diversity of race and culture are seen as worthy of appreciation and acceptance.^[2] According to the Bahá'í Faith's teachings, the human purpose is to learn to know and to love God through such methods as prayer, reflection and being of service to humanity.

In the Bahá'í Faith, religious history is seen to have unfolded through a series of divine messengers, each of whom established a religion that was suited to the needs of the time and to the capacity of the people. These messengers have included Abrahamic figures—Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, as well as figures from Indian religions like Krishna, Buddha, and others. For Bahá'ís, the most recent messengers are the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. In Bahá'í belief, each consecutive messenger prophesied of messengers to follow, and Bahá'u'lláh's life and teachings fulfilled the end-time promises of previous scriptures. Humanity is understood to be in a process of collective evolution, and the need of the present time is for the gradual establishment of peace, justice and unity on a global scale.^[6]

• I know no more about the Baha'i faith than I have written here.  I am sure there is much more to know and learn.  While their basic tenants are very similar to my own:  I too believe that there are multiple paths to God and that we are still evolving in God's love and spirit.  However having grown up in a liturgical setting, I must admit I missed the structure and beauty of the liturgy and music.  I highly respect their generosity and the complete acceptance of a visitor along with the diversity of their community. 

ADDENDUM TO BLOG #7: (10/10, 2016)
I got this interesting letter from Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Charlotte.  I can't believe that they took the time and effort to write such a nice and informative letter! What really floored me was the return of my offering:  "only Baha'is can contribute to the Baha'i Fund".

And if you made it this far.. you deserve a funny from The Ship of Fools.  I dedicate this one to Rev. Howell at Myers Park Methodist.  He can add it to his rant about unholy activities during weddings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSkT5XykJzo