November brings four Holy Days!
Plus devotional, study and dialog gatherings, and an evening to discover the life of imprisoned poet Mahvash Sabet.
You are invited to all the activities below: See more on the Activities calendar.
Interfaith Devotions: Beaverton Bahá’í Center
Sun Nov 8, 10:30am. Bahá’í Center, 5355 SW Murray Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005. (This is a weekly activity, with a different theme each time.)
This week the theme is Progressive Revelation and the birth of the Bab. The Bab was the predecessor of Baha'u'llah (founder of the Baha'i Faith). God sends us special people to tell us what we need to know to attain our spiritual destinies. These Messengers come every 500-1000 years and build on what the previous Messengers have told us. The Founder of every major religion has confirmed the divine status of his predecessors and hinted at his successor (the founder of the next major religion).
The Bab (Arabic for Gate) was a young merchant in Shiraz, Iran in the 1840s. At the time there were large millennial movements in the Shia Islam communities and in North America and Europe. All the movements were focused on the year 1844 when the Bab declared His mission to His first follower. The Bab declared that He was the return of the last Shia spiritual leader after 1000 years and the return of Jesus. He brought a new revelation from God and founded a new religion. One of His last messages to His followers before being executed July 9th 1850 was that He would be followed very shortly by another messenger of God much greater than Himself. Baha'u'llah (Arabic for Glory of God) was one of His most prominent followers and received His own revelation from God while imprisoned in 1853. Baha'u'llah announced His revelation in 1863. Thus 1844, 1853, and 1863 are prominent dates in the founding of the Baha'i Faith.
The Bab and Baha'u'llah have confirmed the divine origin of all the preceding religions and promised that they would be followed by another divine messenger in a full 1000 years. The Baha'i Faith lays it out explicitly as in this age we (humanity) need to overcome our differences and recognize that all our spiritual traditions are from God and all teach the same core spiritual values. We can see a pattern in historical religions of an increasing circle of inclusion from ones family, tribe or clan to a widening range of people. Today that circle is expanded to all people and to our environment and biosphere.
In 1844 the first method of high speed communication across vast distances was developed (telegraph - creating the basis for a global civilization). There has followed an ever accelerating pace of new technology. The teachings of the the Bab and the Baha'i Faith provide the basis for spiritual unity among all the peoples of the world.
See the readings for this Sunday at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QVs1HEif-ZQOW9DXJXDQRRBdtmbPfGFT
Everyone of all ages is welcome! Bring your friends for a pleasant spiritual experience. There will be a period for open prayers and singing. Starting about 10:30 am there will be a children's program for ages 3 to 8 years. You are welcome to bring your kids and to help out with the children or attend the devotions program. Coffee will be prepared. Dessert and snacks are potluck so bring something to share or just bring yourself. As always at the Center there are no donations.
Phone: 503-601-9999
Trimet bus route # 62, stop ID #4062
The Birth of the Báb will be celebrated starting at sunset November 9, 2026.
Related: Celebrating the Birth of the Bab
The Birth of Bahá'u'lláh will be celebrated starting at sunset November 10, 2026.
We will study the Word of God to assist us.
Devotions and Study for Youth and Junior Youth
Sat Nov 7, 5:30pm - 9:30pm. Bahá’í Center, 5355 SW Murray Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said "Conflict and contention are in no wise permitted...." yet many of us are experiencing it daily in every sphere. Roman and Tabor invite high school and middle school youth to a gathering to explore how we can address and respond to the conflict around us.
5:30-6:30pm Dinner, art and hanging out with peers
6:30-9pm Prayers, study, reflection, art and discussion
9-9:30pm Wrap-up/clean up, pick up by 9:30pm.
If you have any questions, please contact Lua at Lua.weatherdon@gmail.com
Prayer is our never-failing source of strength.
The Portland, Beaverton, and Vancouver Bahá'í Centers each host Sunday in-person devotional gatherings, with readings from many Faiths. Portland and Beaverton offer free children’s classes at the same time. There are virtual and in-person gatherings for study and prayer throughout the week. You are warmly invited to all these public activities! No donations accepted, you are our guest.
Devotions: Oregon City
Wed Nov 11, 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Inspiration & Rejuvenation! We look forward to sharing together writings, quotations, music and whatever you wish to bring, as it inspires you. Everyone welcome! For more information, please call Karen and Bob Lynch at 503-473-3144.
Dialog and consultation widen our knowledge.
Mahvash Sabet, a Voice of Courage & Love
Fri Nov 20, 7:00pm. The Arts Hub, 1007 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver WA.
For her faith, Mahvash Sabet spent more than 10 years in prison in Iran--yet her spirit never broke. She wrote many books--poetry, essays, and reflections on faith, justice, and the human spirit.
Come and discover her story at an evening of poetry, remembrance, and hope. Free event. Complimentary Persian desserts.
Dialog: Exploring Bahá’í Teachings
Sun Nov 22, 4:00 - 5:30 pm. Bahá’í Center, 8720 N Ivanhoe St, Portland, OR 97203. Spiritual conversations welcoming all perspectives in a search for the deeper truths that unite us. Please contact Portland@bahai.us for more information or call the Center at 503-289-6331.
More Holy Days:
November 26th is the Day of the Covenant, a day to appreciate ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, appointed by Bahá'u'lláh as the Centre of the Covenant, the Head of the Faith, after the passing of Bahá'u'lláh. He wrote:
When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces towards Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote:
Do not disrupt Bahá'í unity, and know that this unity cannot be maintained save through faith in the Covenant of God.
At 1:00 am November 28 prayers will be said in remembrance of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who passed away in 1921 after a lifetime of service. He traveled through Europe and North America proclaiming the necessity of peace, the elimination of prejudice, and holding to the universal spiritual teachings of the world’s religions.
The Promulgation of Universal Peace (for the free ebook click this link) is a compilation of 140 talks and extemporaneous discourses given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the fundamental principles of the revelation and teachings of Bahá'u'lláh-principles that form the basis of the universal peace Bahá'u'lláh has promised "shall come." Among the multitude of subjects discussed are the coming of age of the human race, the oneness and continuity of the Manifestations of God, and the oneness of religion as a social force for establishing world order and peace. These talks were given during 'Abdu'l-Bahá's 1912 visit to the United States and Canada. They are a priceless resource for studying the language and the personal example of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
'Abdu'l-Bahá, meaning in Arabic "Servant of the Glory," was the title assumed by 'Abbás Effendi (1844-1921), the eldest son and appointed successor of Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet and Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. A prisoner since the age of nine, 'Abdu'l-Bahá shared a lifetime of imprisonment and exile with his father at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. He spent his entire life in tireless service to, and promotion of, Bahá'u'lláh's teachings. From BahaiBookstore.com.
Contact your nearby Bahá’í friends, we’d love to talk! Ask about activities in your area.
Like us on Facebook: “Portland Metro Baha’i Community" “Portland Baha'i Center” “Beaverton Bahá'í Community” “Exploring the Baha'i Teachings Lake Oswego" “Baha'is of Forest Grove” (hosting Spirit Night on Tuesday) “Baha’i Faith of Newberg Oregon” “Parenting with Wisdom”
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