This year, Baha’is in the Portland Metro area are celebrating Naw Ruz in a big way with a metro-wide event full of music, dance and entertainment. Come and join us for an evening of joyous celebration.

Naw Ruz Gala
Saturday, March 24, 2012
6:45 pm
Arts & Communication Magnet Academy (ACMA)
11375 SW Center St
Beaverton,OR 97005

Ladder For the Soul Choir performed at the Portland Zoo's December "Zoolights" display.

The Ladder for the Soul choir continues to evolve and hone its ability to perform in a wide variety of venues and circumstances. The choir recently performed at the Portland Zoo’s December “Zoolights” display. The intrepid performers found their way to the “Elephant Plaza” on a cold, drippy evening. The “stage” was set under a metal roof next to the Zoo Train tracks. This made for interesting acoustics as a rain storm pummeled the roof, a hardy wind blew past the open-sided venue, and every few minutes the train chugged past, blowing its horn!

The gift of rain brought people seeking shelter together, to listen to the exquisite writings of Baha’u’llah. The audience, most likely anticipating Christmas carols, listened attentively to each song.

Two weeks later, the choir once again performed musical outreach at a twelve-hour chant for peace sponsored by the Portland Zen Buddhist community. During this interfaith event, different faith communities led participants in one-hour chant sessions. The choir members led chants for “Ya-Baha’ul-Abha,” “God is Sufficient Unto Me” and an interfaith chant that incorporated “Allah-u-Abha” along with Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist phrases. Choir members remained afterward to talk with participants and support other faith-based chant groups.

The choir also continues to sing for more reverent occasions, including memorial services, musical firesides, Holy Day observances and devotional gatherings. Choir members are actively involved in the Sunday morning devotions at the Portland Baha’i Center and perform as a group on the second Sunday of each month. Several choir members have recently committed to adding the fourth Sunday for live music during devotions. The Sunday devotions are open to everyone and people of many different beliefs attend.

Sunday devotions start at 10:30 AM at the Portland Baha’i Center (8720 N. Ivanhoe Street, Portland, 97203) and fellowship follows at 11:15 AM. We hope to see you there!

Grace Eagle Reed was the first interviewee of the The Pansophy Project.

Portland Baha’i Grace Eagle Reed was honored to be the first guest of a new Chicago community internet radio program, “The Pansophy Project.” Ms. Eagle Reed introduced her most recent book, “Negotiating Shadows – Journey to the Sun,” on the program. During the interview, she found the opportunity to speak about the National Baha’i Temple, located in the Chicago area, and touch briefly on the Baha’i Faith.

Ms. Eagle Reed’s newest book is dedicated to AA and the Baha’i Faith, both credited for saving her life. The book talks about pulling oneself out of the dark shadows of addictive behavior, into the
light of sobriety and faith. The book is currently featured on the Global Poetry Project website: www.globalpoetry.net and is available for purchase on Grace’s website: www.negotiatingshadows.com.
You can hear Ms. Eagle Reed once a month on KBOO Community Radio, 90.7 FM. She is one of the hosts of “Prison Pipeline,” a program about prison reform and social justice, airing Mondays, 6:30
– 7:00 PM.

Upon finally receiving a settlement from the insurance company, the Assembly ordered a new sign. Although the sign is fabricated of metal, it was designed to resemble marbled stone. Elegant and sturdy, the new sign is now installed at the left-front side of the building, facing N. Ivanhoe Street. It will identify the Portland Baha’i Center for many years to come.

In June 2012, Dr. John Ng will become the first male co-chair of the Women in Academic Medicine Committee at the Casey Eye Institute of the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). Dr. Ng, who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, is also a Baha’i and an active advocate for the rights of women. Read the full article in OHSU School of Medicine News.

Dancing and fun activities unify people of all ages and cultures.

In November, Portland Baha’i Karen Thomas and William Thomas responded to an invitation from the Vue Family of Portland, OR. This reporter accompanied them. The invitation was announced in early November to the Baha’is of Portland to attend the Annual Family “Noj Tshiab” Dinner set for Margaret Scott Elementary on Sat., Nov. 19. (“Noj Tshiab” is Hmong for New Year’s Eve Dinner.) Guests were asked to bring their “dancing shoes”.

Karen and William arrived in the school gym and soon discovered the sumptuous buffet of rice, vegetable salad, salad roll, Pa Thai noodle, exquisite dishes made with fresh beef, topped off by “na va” dessert.  Live musicians were playing lively, danceable music and the dance floor at one end of the gym was equally alive with young dancers. Everyone — young and old, was moved by the music to join in each dance …little children, too! With his guitar, Long Vue (one of the hosts) eagerly joined in the music.

Youth enjoying the food and the music.

Koneng Vue, a member of the hosting family, shares cultural background of the Hmong people:

“In the Hmong culture, New Year is celebrated at the end of December to early January. Historically Hmong New Year starts with a New Year Eve dinner, followed by several weeks of community fun activities. New Year Eve dinner is when family prepares food and share with other families and friends to celebrate the hard year’s work, and hope for a more prosperous year. Today, with busy schedules and no “free space” to host the traditionally weeks-long celebration, the combined family “Noj Tshiab” dinner and entertainment symbolizes cherished traditional values as well as create an environment for both young and old to come together. “Noj Tshiab” dinner is the least that today’s Hmong community can do to educate their children about treasured Hmong culture, bring youth and adults together through fun dinner activities, and preserve the value of families (binded by clan name or relationships) helping each other to purchase and prepare food, and share with the larger community – friends and families from near and afar – at no cost to the guests, except a curious intention to enjoy…each other’s presence (life), what are on the dinner table, the air, and the laughter of youth and adults harmonizing the differences (or “gap”) of growing in a different time and place.”

Karen and William Thomas join the dancing.

In Koneng’s description can be seen the light of unity promised by Abdu’l-Baha in London, England in 1911-12. At the age of 67, He made His journey from Akka (the prison city of the Ottoman Empire) to western Europe and North America to advance the unity of all peoples. He promised that:

“The darkness of suppression will disappear and the light of unity will shine. We cannot bring love and unity to pass merely by talking of it. Knowledge is not enough. Wealth, science, education are good, we know: but we must also work and study to bring to maturity the fruit of knowledge.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 54)

Music in any culture is music to the mind and joy to the heart!

With gratitude to the Vues and their extended families, we share with you and many readers this celebration of unity.

A Happy Hmong/Mong New Year to all!

The Portland Baha'i Center’s main hall was transformed for a day into the film crew’s “staging area”.

NBC/Universal Pictures is using the Portland Baha’i Center as a location for filming scenes in the upcoming TV Series “Grimm”. The series is being filmed at the former North Precinct building for the Portland Police in St Johns, and the production company wanted to find a space close by that could serve as a location to film a scene of a lawyer’s office. They noticed that Portland Baha’i Center had similar architecture to the precinct building and contacted the Baha’is to see if they could use the Center for such purposes.

Since they were scheduling the filming during a time low use at the Center, and would place everything back to its original or better condition in time for our Holy Day observance, the Portland Baha’i Spiritual Assembly approved. The film will not identify the Center as “Bahá’í” nor will any images or symbols of the Faith appear.

The Center’s exterior, foyer, back hallway, and Spiritual Assembly meeting room were transformed for filming purposes into the “law office” of “Mason Snyder”, an ambulance chasing attorney who will “fight for you.” Apparently in the story, he means this quite literally, given the amount of fake blood spilled onto the prop carpet. Only those already familiar with the building will be able to tell that it is taking place at the Center. In case you are curious, the scenes will be included in the 8th episode in the series, which happens also to be the same episode in which our own Scott Raymond may be appearing as an “extra” in the background. The series premieres on Friday, October 28th.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, left, pictured with his wife, Fatemah, and their two young sons. Photo credit: Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

GENEVA — The Baha’i International Community has joined the call for the release of Youcef Nadarkhani, a Christian pastor from Rasht, Iran.

Pastor Nadarkhani, who is the father of two young children, leads a network of house churches. He was found guilty of apostasy – “turning his back on Islam” – and “converting Muslims to Christianity,” and sentenced to death in September 2010.

Iran’s Supreme Court recently asked for a re-examination of the case to establish whether or not he had been a practising Muslim adult before he converted to Christianity. The court ruled he was not but, nevertheless, is still guilty of apostasy because he has Muslim ancestry.

The case has sparked strong condemnation from governments, organizations and religious leaders around the world.

Then on 1 October, following this global outcry, Iranian state media suddenly reported that Pastor Nadarkhani had in fact been sentenced for other reasons – including violent crimes, extortion, Zionism and being a traitor. These charges had never once been mentioned throughout the entire period when Pastor Nadarkhani was charged, tried, sentenced, up to and including the most recent court hearing.

Statement of the Baha’i International Community

We join with the global chorus of condemnation protesting the sentencing of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, and calling for his release.

For a court of law to rule against someone from Muslim ancestry who has freely chosen to be a Christian is yet another instance of the brutality being meted out by the Iranian authorities on their own people.

The recent public proclamation reporting that the charges against Pastor Nadarkhani have been changed – as a result of the global outcry at his conviction – only further exposes the arbitrary nature of decisions made by the judiciary system of Iran and the transparent injustice of the situation.

The sentence he faces is not only reprehensible; it is a violation of every legal, moral, spiritual and humanitarian standard.

Which temporal government in the world can reasonably decide it has the power to curtail freedom of belief? Belief is not something that can be taken away or bartered; it is a matter of conviction, of the heart, the mind and the soul, beyond the realm of any government’s control.

The Baha’i community understands well the challenging circumstances facing minorities living in Iran today. And now it is evident that those minorities which are nominally recognized by the state are as equally subordinate to the majority as those who have no rights.

There is little need to rehearse here the endless list of executions, torture, imprisonments, privations and other afflictions that are being meted out on the sorely-tried people of Iran.

Everything that country’s representatives profess on the world stage is contradicted by their treatment of their own people at home. Yet, its officials travel freely to other nations where they are offered a platform from which to broadcast their untruths, denying the callous treatment of their own citizens while displaying pretensions of good will for the people of the world.

There is much to be done to alert the people of the world to the hypocrisy of a government which is widely and continually oppressing its people.

There is much to be done for humanity to be alerted to what is going on inside Iran and to be awakened to the appalling memory of what can occur when we fail to act against state-sponsored campaigns of hatred.

The Shrine of the Báb, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel.

In October Baha’is celebrate the birth the Báb—one of two divine teachers who founded the Baha’i Faith. He is often referred to as the Herald of the Baha’i Faith, as it was His mission to prepare the people for the coming of Bahá’u'lláh.

Born on October 20, 1819 in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), the child was named Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad. He later took the title the “Báb,” which means “gate” in Arabic, as a symbol of His station as forerunner, the One who opens the door to a new revelation from God.

The Báb was the son of a merchant of Shiraz. Both his parents were descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. When he was young, his father died and he was raised by his uncle. When the Báb was sent to school, the schoolmaster was astonished at his wisdom and understanding. He sent the child back to his uncle, saying he had nothing to teach this extraordinary child. The Báb’s uncle insisted that the Báb return to school and continue his studies. Over time, however, the schoolmaster began to feel that he himself was the student as he listened to the Báb’s explanations of spiritual truths.

In 1844, the Báb declared that He was a messenger from God sent to announce the imminent coming of an even greater prophet who would bring teachings for an age of universal peace. Nineteen years later, Bahá’u'lláh announced that He was that promised prophet and revealed teachings of extraordinary depth and scope, teachings that lay the groundwork for a peaceful, dynamic global civilization.

The Báb’s teachings and radiant character attracted tens of thousands of followers and the authorities became alarmed. He was executed in 1850 in the public square of Tabriz, on the order of the Persian government. His remains were later entombed on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel and His shrine is now a place of pilgrimage for followers of the Baha’i Faith.

As Baha’is remember the birth and life and teachings of the Báb, they come together in joyous celebration of the dawn of a new Day of peace.

Come and join us on this festive occasion:

*A note about the Bahá’í calendar: the Baha’i day starts at sunset, so often when there is an evening celebration, it occurs on the evening before the Holy Day.

A poster of the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi depicted on the side of a bus in Ottawa, Canada, as part of the Indian government's global "Incredible India" campaign.

NEW DELHI — Step onto a bus in Ottawa, Canada; open a magazine in Paris, France; or look upwards at Rimini’s railway station in Italy – all around the world, India’s Baha’i House of Worship is capturing the public’s attention.

To coincide with its 25th anniversary year, the lotus-shaped temple is being depicted on striking posters in 14 countries from South Africa to Japan, from the U.S.A. to Singapore.

It is all part of the Incredible India campaign, the Indian government’s international strategy to showcase the cultural diversity and special achievements of the country.

“India represents the spirituality of all mankind,” said the Honorable Union Minister for Tourism, Subodh Kant Sahai, “and the Baha’i temple is the one place where people belonging to any faith or religion can go for meditation or prayer.”

The Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi opened in December 1986 after more than six years of construction. It is estimated that 70 million people have visited the temple since its opening – averaging 8,000 to 10,000 every day – making it one of the world’s most visited buildings.

“This is a unique place to be visited,” said Sultan Ahmed, Minister of State for Tourism. “It has world-class architecture, serene surroundings and an elevating atmospere.”

The temple is one of only seven Baha’i Houses of Worship in the world, open to all people for silent worship and contemplation.

This message of inclusiveness is also a feature of the Incredible India campaign, said Naznene Rowhani, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of India.

“Everybody who sees these posters will know that it is a temple, but more importantly, also what it stands for and symbolizes. These posters proclaim it to be the ‘Baha’i House of Worship – India’s symbol of communal harmony,’ or ‘India’s symbol of the oneness of humankind,’ or of ‘unity of religions,’” said Ms. Rowhani.

A message of peace

Immediately following the Incredible India initiative, the image of the temple will also be appearing as part of another campaign in Delhi itself. The Delhi Meri Jaan (“My Beloved Delhi”) initiative was launched last year.

“We commemorate 25 years of the temple and 100 years of the existence of the modern Delhi that we have today. It’s a great coincidence.” explained Shelia Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi.

“This is a beautiful building. It has become an iconic symbol.”

The appeal of the temple is that it “encompasses everybody,” the Chief Minister added.

“The Baha’i Faith is a very attractive faith. The message it gives to mankind is one of peace, prosperity and happiness…” she says.

Around 4,000 visitors from more than 50 countries are expected to attend the 25th anniversary celebrations at the House of Worship next month.

“As these poster campaigns clearly show, the temple belongs to everybody – every religion, creed and people,” said Naznene Rowhani, “so it is natural that the celebration of its 25th anniversary will also be inclusive of everybody.”