Sunday Morning Devotions & Fireside

Date: Every Sunday

When: 10:30 – 12:00 Noon

What: Devotions (starting 10:30 AM) and Fireside (starting 11:00 AM)

Where: Austin Baha’i Center, 2215 E.M. Franklin Ave, Austin, TX 78723

You are invited to come and bring even more joy to the gathering. Come see old friends and make new ones.

Our Sunday Morning Devotions Committee plans the devotions program. The firesides are conducted by volunteers on a rotating basis.

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Day of Prayer called by Chief Arvol Looking Horse

Date: Tuesday June 21st

When: 6:30 PM

What: Devotional, organized by Dr. Littlebrave Beaston

Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89942286381?pwd=SzZaN2d3RGw4VWxZamJnNDV0Z1ZrUT09

Meeting ID: 899 4228 6381

Passcode: 819363

Littlebrave Beaston who lived and served in Austin for many years, is now homefront pioneering in Killeen, Texas. She is inviting you to join her devotional that is inspired by the world peace and prayer day: https://worldpeaceandprayer.com/index.html. Please read her invitation below:

Chief Arvol Looking Horse is the 19th Keeper of the Pipe of the Buffalo Calf Woman. He has requested that June 21 be a day of prayer worldwide. If you are available come and join in. Bring your prayers in any language or Faith. Sometimes the Indiginous Religious activities are not included in the Interfaith activities, but where we can rectify this, we ought to. With love, Littlebrave

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First Friday Fireside: Monthly Series with Speakers from Around the Globe

Date: Friday July 1st

When: 7:30 PM

What: Matt Giani speaking on “The Search for Equity in Educational Systems:

Perspectives from the Baha'i Teachings and Public Discourse”

Zoom Meeting Link: http://bit.ly/bahaifireside

Meeting ID: 874 7162 8681

Passcode: 502324

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/L2cmZJswZi0 (live-stream)

Do you have friends, colleagues, or family you have wanted to invite to a Bahá’í fireside? Here is a great opportunity!

Questions of equity are at the heart of many of the most important - and controversial - debates in educational policy and reform. Despite decades of effort to promote educational equity, little progress has been made in a number of key indicators of educational achievement and attainment. This presentation will explore various conceptions of equity and justice from both academic sources and the Baha'i teachings; apply them to the context of education; examine empirical evidence related to educational (in)equity; and hopefully stimulate thinking and discussion about how the Baha'i teachings can influence public discourse centered on equity in education, including moving from material to spiritual conceptions of equity.

Matt Giani is a researcher at UT-Austin who studies how educational policies, practices, and interventions promote social mobility or reinforce stratification in K12 and higher education stemming from class, race, and gender, with a focus on evaluating efforts to promote college access and success of students from underrepresented backgrounds. His research has appeared in many of the top outlets in the fields of educational policy and higher education. He teaches quantitative methods and educational policy courses to graduate students in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at UT-Austin. Matt resides in Austin, TX with his wife Shadi and three exuberant daughters.

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Spiritual Education of Children Reflection

Date: Saturday July 2nd

When: 2:00 PM

What: Monthly reflection space for children’s education

Zoom Meeting Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7658526186?pwd=U2YvNVFHZXY2ZlNja1F1U1Y2Vi9WZz09

Meeting ID: 765 852 6186

Passcode: Lm9xvk

“Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess, for in them are the promise and guarantee of the future.” -- Universal House of Justice, April 21, 2000

On the first Saturday of the month, our cluster grouping comes together to learn more about how we can offer this education to all in our communities and neighborhoods. All are welcome to this reflection space - current and future children's class teachers as well as friends and families who are interested in learning more about the spiritual education of children. We will share stories and learn about talking with our neighbors and friends about the spiritual education of children. Contact Navvab Taylor (512-633-0646) or Jan Emberson (512-917-2173) with any questions about children’s classes.

The new Book 3, Grade 1, is here https://ruhi.org/materials/embarking-path-service.php#download_book3

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Holy Day Observance: Martyrdom of the Bab

Date: Sunday July 10th

When: 12:30 PM (Tablet will be read at 1:00 PM)

What: Holy day observance of the Bab’s Martyrdom in 1850. Will be both in person and, separately, on Zoom

Where: Austin Baha’i Center, 2215 E.M. Franklin Ave, Austin, TX 78723

Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89629912594?pwd=WE9TU3FsS1NkL0JrdzhwVTBodzBEdz09

Meeting ID: 896 2991 2594

Passcode: 461962

Immediately following the Sunday morning fireside, there will be some refreshments and then we will start the Holy Day program at 12:30 PM. The Tablet will be read at 1:00 PM. There will also be a program on Zoom at the same time.

Part of an account of that fateful day, by historian H.M. Balyuzi:

The Báb and His disciple were suspended by ropes from a nail in the wall, the head of Mirza Muhammad-'Ali resting on the breast of the Báb. Seven hundred and fifty soldiers were positioned in three files. Roofs of the buildings around teemed with spectators. Each row of soldiers fired in turn. The smoke from so many rifles clouded the scene. When it lifted the Báb was not there. Only His disciple could be seen, standing under the nail in the wall, smiling and unconcerned. Bullets had only severed the ropes with which they were suspended. Cries rang out from the onlookers: 'The Siyyid-i-Báb has gone from our sight!'

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Daily Noon Prayers and Devotions

Date: Every weekday (Monday-Friday)

When: 12:00 Noon

What: Devotions, individual initiative by the Doss family

Zoom Meeting Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/815838540?pwd=aXdxQnhKaTBPSWdPVEpBcFV4bmR3dz09

Meeting ID: 815 838 540

Passcode: 8bq0sm

Note from the organizer:

There is usually some fellowship and checking in on how we are doing at the first part of the meeting so the devotions, stories, and inspirational writings start about 12:15 PM in case anyone is in a hurry or with limited time. We can modify the timing of things to fit lunch hour pressures.

Anyone can come, even if only for 2 minutes just to say hello. There are no expectations.

There is a hard stop after 40 minutes because we use a free ZOOM account.

Austin American Statesman

Austin American Statesman

Austin’s Baha’is say racial justice is ‘an integral part of our faith’