Lake Oswego Neighborhood
This is one of a series of articles about what is happening in neighborhoods around the Portland Metro area. Contact us to find out what is happening in your neighborhood.
Lake Oswego fills the air with music
Baha’is in Lake Oswego celebrated the Birth of the Báb (October 20, 2010) with music. First there is a prayer in Oromo, an Ethiopian language. Then the entire gathering sings a prayer by the Báb - “Remover of Difficulties.” Then the children sing a song written by Ramine Yazhari - “Humanity is One,” which features the names of some of the cities where Baha’is held a series of 41 conferences in 2008.
“Lake Oswego is a particularly musical community, with lots of singers and performers, and lots of music and singing at Feast. All the songs are Baha'i Writings set to music.”
~ Ramine
“I am including three pictures of our Junior Youth Group (one of which we made into a t-shirt for the kids). They wanted to wear the rainbow colors to represent the variety of the human family. For over a year, Yohannes, Ramine and myself have been meeting on Fridays with a group of three Baha'is and their five friends all between the ages of 12 and 15. We have been using the book "Walking the Straight Path" in our weekly study and are planning a service project with the Oregon Food Bank in January. Last summer we went on a retreat to Bend where we went hiking and white water rafting and focused the weekend on using consultation to make group decisions.”
~ Scott
“For the last 15 years we have given a scholarship to local high school students. The award is for those who have made efforts to bring about unity and to be of service. The students are nominated by their teachers and submit and application which includes a written essay based on a quote from the Baha'i Writings. These quotes have covered topics such as the equality of women and men, the oneness of humanity, and the inevitability of world peace.”
~ Martha
“Recently we had a fundraiser for our small, but much loved, Baha'i Center. A member of our community, who works in a Japanese Restaurant, prepared an entire Japanese meal and served it at the Center which, for the evening, was transformed into a little Japanese Cafe! Baha’is and their guests enjoyed a wonderful evening of fellowship and yummy food. Since Baha’is are not allowed to solicit funds from outside the Baha’i community, no direct appeal for donations was made at the dinner. Baha'is quietly made donations during the evening and a generous amount of money was raised to help pay off the Center loan.”
~ Martha
“Here are two pictures of a children's class and junior youth group in Lake Oswego. These classes take place each Friday afternoon in our home. The children are working through the lessons in Book 3A of the Baha'i spiritual education program. We have 8 junior youth and 9 children each Friday.”
~ Jennette
Baha’is around the world are working with their neighbors to build spiritual neighborhoods, to strengthen these communities to take charge of their own spiritual, social and intellectual development. We invite everyone interested to help build a healthy rhythm of community life:
Building friendships
Getting together for devotional gatherings
Channeling the energy of the junior youth into positive action
Studying together to develop our individual and collective capacities
Applying principles in service to humanity
Contact us to learn more.