Baha'i House of Worship Fall Newsletter

Fall and Winter

2012-2013

Fall/Winter Hours

From October 1st until May 1st the Baha'i House of Worship Welcome Center and Bookshop, located on the lower level, is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The main auditorium, on the upper level, and the gardens are open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. year round.

PLEASE NOTE: The parking lot on Linden Avenue is closed due to construction. Parking is available on Linden Avenue, other nearby side streets, and in the lakeside Visitors Parking Lot, on the east side of Sheridan Road. From the lakeside parking lot, walk south on the sidewalk to the pedestrian crosswalk at the corner of Linden Ave. and Sheridan Road. (See map.)

Devotional Programs

Every day 9:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for 15 minutes of prayers.

Sunday 12:30 p.m. for 30 minutes of prayers and music.

The Baha'i House of Worship Choir sings the first three Sundays of the month and the Young Voices of Unity youth choir sings on the fourth Sunday.

Prayers in Spanish are offered on the 1st Sunday of the month at 1:15 p.m.

Introductory Talks on the Baha'i Faith
Introductory talks on the Baha'i Faith are held every Sunday in the Viewing Room in the Welcome Center. The talks begin at 1:00 p.m. immediately after the 12:30 p.m. devotional program in the Temple's auditorium. All are welcome to attend.

Devotional Gatherings with Music

No instruments are played or music is heard in the auditoriums of the Baha'i Houses of Worship except a cappella singing or chanting. Devotional gatherings with instrumental music are now being offered, approximately once a month, in the Welcome Center located in the lower portion of the House of Worship.

The Musical Devotions consist of meditative readings and prayers from the Baha'i Sacred Writings interspersed with music. In November, the Musical Devotions will be held on Saturday November 24th, at 7:30 p.m. and music will be provided painist, Appolo Rosi.

The approximately one-hour program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information and to make prayer requests, visit: bahaitemple.org or write to: how@usbnc.org.

Upcoming Holy Days

Birth of Baha'u'llah

Commemoration of the birth of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith in 1817

Sunday, November 11

9:00 p.m. Devotions in the auditorium

Monday, November 12

7:00 a.m. Dawn Devotions in the auditorium

Anniversary of the Day of the Covenant

Commemoration of Baha'u'llah's appointment of His eldest Son,

'Abdu'l-Baha, as the Center of His Covenant

Sunday November 25

7:15 p.m. Refreshments in the Welcome Center

8:15 p.m. Devotions in the auditorium

9:00 p.m. Presentation in Foundation Hall

Monday, November 26

7:00 a.m. Dawn devotions in the auditorium

Anniversary of the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha

Commemoration of the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1921

Wednesday, November 28

1:00 a.m. Devotions in the auditorium

7:00 a.m. Dawn Devotions in the auditorium

Construction on North Entrance Completed

Baha'i House of Worship restores accessibility

Construction on the northern entrance to the House of Worship has been completed, creating a beautifully green and welcoming area, making the House of Worship once again accessible to visitors using wheelchairs and strollers.

This entrance allows access to the lower level Welcome Center and bookstore as well as an elevator which may be used to go up to the upper level auditorium.

We regret, however, that due to work being done by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District on the pumping station under the bridge just north of the Temple, vehicle access and handicap parking at the northern entrance is unavailable at this time.

Please call the House of Worship Public Safety Office for the most up-to-date information about accessibility: 847-853-2312.

100th Anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to North America

Year of Celebration drawing to a close

In 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith and the leader of the Baha'i Faith at that time, traveled across North America with an inspiring message of America's spiritual destiny: to lead the way in establishing the oneness of humanity.

'Abdu'l-Baha traveled to fifty U.S. and Canadian cities, gave 140 public presentations and addressed over 90,000 people, from leaders of government and industry to servants, the poor and homeless. Learn more at centenary.bahai.us. Commemorative editions of books about His historic visit are available in the Baha'i House of Worship bookshop.

Throughout 2012, American Baha'is celebrated the journey of 'Abdu'l-Baha and His impact on America. On Sunday, April 29th, an estimated 2,500 people attended one of three devotional programs and visited special archive exhibit on display in the lower level of the Baha'i House of Worship. (View photos from the special centenary celebration.)

On May 1, 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha laid the cornerstone of the Baha'i House of Worship. To mark the hundreth anniversary of this event, a new display was created for the welcome center.

Video features House of Worship staff member

Artist, Bridgette Schnider, creates art for

Baha'i House of Worship program booklets

Gardens in Autumn Splendor

Copyright � 2012 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States

Website: www.bahai.us/bahai-temple Email:how@usbnc.org