"O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge." —'Abdu'l-Baha

Collective worship is essential to the spirit of the community. Just as the individual’s spiritual journey begins with prayer and a connection to the Creator, collective worship is the foundation for the community’s development and progress. When we come together to worship with our friends and family, prayer becomes part of the fabric of our lives, not just a special occasion.

Prayer builds unity among the members of the community. We become more creative in solving our problems. It lifts our conversations and consultations to a higher level. The purpose of the Baha’i Faith is to rebuild society, to transform the life of humanity. Community prayer is the foundation of that process.

Devotional gatherings are similar to a church service, but also different. In the Baha’i Faith, there is no clergy. Everyone is a participant. We hold devotional gatherings in our homes and neighborhoods. They take many forms. Some are spontaneous, others are carefully planned. Some are energetic and exuberant, others are quiet and reflective. The element that unites them all is a spirit of reverence and respect.

Baha’is in cities and villages around the world hold devotional gatherings and are experiencing renewed strength and vigor in their communities. We invite you to join us and share in the joy that comes from worshiping together. Weekly prayer meetings are held at the Portland Baha’i Center and the Beaverton Baha’i Center on Sunday mornings. We also hold neighborhood devotional gatherings around the metro area. Call us at 1-800-228-6583 or contact us for more information about prayer meetings near you.

Prayer “O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit”

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.

O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.

— ‘Abdu’l-Baha

Baha'i Spiritual Study Classes are open to all people of all Faiths and backgrounds.

The purpose of the Baha’i Faith is to unite all of humanity and rebuild society. It’s an organic process that can’t be dictated from above. It starts with the individual’s recognition that there is more to life than material gain, that we are spiritual beings and our greatest happiness truly is in serving others.

Such a transformational process requires skills and training. That’s where the study circles come in. Groups come together with a tutor and help each other recognize the spiritual nature of the individual, experience the power of prayer, develop skills and capacities, engage in service and embark on a lifelong learning process.

At present the study circles cover seven areas of focus. As more needs arise, more trainings will be developed:

1. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit – Individual transformation and the power of prayer.
2. Arising to Serve – The importance of service and the reciprocal nature of the community and the individual, learning to share these Teachings with others.
3. Teaching Children’s Classes – The first level of building community is educating the children, developing virtues, imparting the stories of our spiritual history.
4. The Twin Manifestations – The lives and teachings of Bahá’u'lláh and the Báb, understanding that progress is made in cycles, telling the story of God’s Will unfolding through crisis and victory.
5. Animating Junior Youth Groups – Assisting junior youth to develop moral discernment and spiritual empowerment.
6. Teaching the Cause – Learning to present Baha’u'llah’s Teachings in a coherent manner suitable to the listener, learning the history, Teachings and future of the Baha’i Faith.
7. Walking Together on the Path of Service – Tutor training for teaching these study circles, developing the humility that we are all learners.

We invite you to join us in this process of learning and discovery. Study circles are open to everyone and range in size from 2-12 people. Contact us and we’ll connect you with a group in your neighborhood.

Film about the local Baha’i Study Groups in the Beaverton area:

"From their earliest years they will be taught to have high aims...and will learn to be of powerful resolve." —'Abdu'l-Baha

Baha’is in local communities around the world hold weekly children’s classes to develop virtues, learn the history and principles of the Baha’i Faith and to create a strong moral framework in which they can achieve excellence in the material, intellectual and spiritual aspects of life.

 

Childrens Activities

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Weekly childrens classes involve:

• Saying prayers and singing songs
• Memorizing quotations
• Learning stories
• Playing games
• Creating art projects

These classes help children:

• Develop spiritual qualities such as love, generosity, unity, truthfulness, kindness and justice
• Discover their own unique talents and capacities
• Discover the world of nature and create beautiful works of art
• Develop a sense of purpose

We welcome you to join us. Call us at 1-800-228-6583 or contact us to learn about children’s classes in your area.

There are activities for Youth and Junior Youth

For Baha’is, the years of youth are a special time of high potential. Indeed, the young have been at the forefront of activity at every notable point in the history of the Baha’i faith. From the Baha’i Faith’s inception, youth have played an outstanding role as some of the Faith’s foremost champions and teachers. The Báb was only twenty-five years old when He declared His mission. ‘Abdu’l-Baha served His Father from a very young age. Shoghi Effendi was a student when he assumed his responsibilities as Guardian at the age of twenty two. And a host of other youth sacrificed themselves as martyrs and teachers for the Cause.

There can be no definitive list of what Baha’i youth do, but remarkably, a lot does get done. From years spent abroad helping people to realize a sustainable future, to litter collecting in inner-cities, to teaching children basic principles of morality at community schools – each young member of the Baha’i community is encouraged to take responsibility both for his own development and for contributing to the well-being of others. Many choose to devote an entire year to some form of service to humanity. Known as a Year of Service, this experience frequently sets the pattern for a life of generosity of time, energy, finances and spirit.

Young Baha’is actively contribute to decision-making processes, and understand that their efforts will exercise greater influence when informed by the experiences and successes of others. In this way, they seek to maximize the effect of their efforts to serve humanity by placing their creativity in a framework of coherent and structured plans.

The Baha’i community is able to provide encouragement to its young members by giving them real responsibility for its affairs and imparting a profound sense of ownership of shared goals. Each Bahá’í, whether young or old, listens to and learns from others: there is a tangible sense of moving forward together. The motivating impulse is one of love for humanity. The Baha’i community also places great emphasis on the moral and spiritual education of children and youth, with a focus on providing ongoing opportunities for developing a sense of world citizenship and a lifelong commitment to serve humanity.

We welcome you to join us. Call us at 1-800-228-6583 or contact us to learn about youth programs in your area.