Following along...

239 Days has a nice summary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journeys thus far:

The Journey So Far

Great way to get caught up if you'd like to start following along!

Are you registered for the Centenary Celebration yet?

Just a friendly reminder to register for the June 9, 2012 Centenary Celebration in Philadelphia! At 3:00PM at Temple University’s Performing Arts Center we will have an inspirational program which will be followed by a Celebration Picnic at 6:00PM at the Philadelphia Regional Baha'i Center. For more details and to see the invitation click the link or image below:

Philadelphia Centenary Celebration Invitation

 

Register by emailing us at 100philly@gmail.com and please indicate how many will attend the commemorative program at Temple University and how many will come to the picnic at the Baha'i Center. We would love to see you!

The Photograph, Song Dedicated to the Centenary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Visit to the West

Enjoy this song which is "A song dedicated to the centenary of the Beloved Master's travels to the West".

You Are Invited to the Centennial Celebration in Jersey City!

You are invited
to celebrate the
Oneness
Of Humanity

"So powerful is the light of unity that it
can illuminate the whole earth."
______________________________________

A centennial celebration of Abdu’l-Bahá’s
visit to Jersey City, New Jersey and His
travels across America in 1912.

Sunday, May 20, 2012
12 pm - 3 pm

City Hall
280 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

For More Info go to
www.jccentennial.blogspot.com

Motherhood and International Peace

In 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha called for women's right to vote, which was not fully established in the United States until 1920 (see article here). He said that peace will be achieved because mothers will refuse to lose their sons to war.

The most momentous question of this day is international peace and arbitration, and universal peace is impossible without universal suffrage. Children are educated by the women. The mother bears the troubles and anxieties of rearing the child, undergoes the ordeal of its birth and training. Therefore, it is most difficult for mothers to send to the battlefield those upon whom they have lavished such love and care. Consider a son reared and trained twenty years by a devoted mother. What sleepless nights and restless, anxious days she has spent! Having brought him through dangers and difficulties to the age of maturity, how agonizing then to sacrifice him upon the battlefield! Therefore, the mothers will not sanction war nor be satisfied with it. So it will come to pass that when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world, when they enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws and politics, war will cease; for woman will be the obstacle and hindrance to it. This is true and without doubt. 

'Abdu'l-Baha, Promulgation of Universal Peace

A Message from Bill George, Program Directory for Philadelphia Centenary Celebration

The program for the Commemoration of  Abdu'l Baha's visit, one hundred year ago to Philadelphia is coming together very nicely.  I won't go into the long process of its coming together--the Committee Work, the meetings with Task Force Members, the writing, the editing, the number of amazing and talented people who've been involved, but I will say we're getting close! 

My name's Bill George and I'm responsible for directing the program--working with Don Camp, Christopher Bogen, and my Assistant Director, Susannah Beckett--among many others.  Right now we've a "cast" of twelve readers (five of them youth, Baha'i and non-Baha'i).  There will be live musicians of course, and a choir of children and youth led by Christopher.  Hopefully over the days ahead we can post a few images and audio tidbits to go with this blog. 

In the process of working on the event--which will include images, music, sound effects and live narration--we create "sketches" of how the words and sound might fit together to tell the story of Abdu'l Baha and His journey to Philadelphia so that we can rehearse and eventually assign images to accompany the "ideas" in the text.  The following is an early sketch of what the "First Narration Sequence" might sound like.

First Narration Sequence

A Story About Service

In the early history of the Faith in America, we have many examples of how 'Abdu'l-Baha challenged individuals to transform their understanding. Read here what 'Abdu'l-Baha taught Grace Robarts Ober about service.

Spirit of Service

The story may surprise you. What are some of the other ways 'Abdu'l-Baha challenged us to learn a spiritual lesson?

Invitation to the Celebration of the Centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Visit to Philadelphia

Celebration of the Centenary of  ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Visit to Philadelphia
Saturday, June 9, 2012

“The purpose and intention of my visit is that, perchance, a bond
of unity and agreement may be established between the East and
West, that divine love may encompass all nations, divine radiance
enlighten both continents and the bounties of the Holy Spirit
revivify the body of the world.” -‘Abdu’l-Baha

Join us for a celebration of the Centenary of ‘Abdu'l-Baha’s visit to Philadelphia
Saturday, June 9, 2012 • 3 p.m.
Temple University’s Performing Arts Center
(formerly known as the Baptist Temple)
1837 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

Followed by a Celebration Picnic • 6 p.m.
Philadelphia Regional Baha’i Center
2462 Bryn Mawr Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131

This inspirational program features live music, a children’s choir, historical narratives, stories and a choral rendition of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s June 9, 1912 message at the Baptist Temple. A Ceremony of Reverence and Remembrance.
For more information, call 215-879-8866
The event is FREE and open to the public.

Click the link or the picture below to download a beautiful invitation and invite your friends!

Philadelphia Centenary Celebration Invitation