Bahá’í News/Inserts/Issue 212/National Bahá’í Programming Committee/Text

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4 S etones D) a Ary

The National Spiritual Assembly has requested the Programming Committee to make a few suggestions for programming our Feasts, not with the intention of creating a stereo~ typed form but for a basis of study and choice, Scan the following suggestions for ways in which you can improve the spirit and program of your Feasts,

ROGRAMMING \OMMITTEE

I, Purpose of the Feast,

"The Nineteen Day Feast was inaugurated by the Béb and ratified by Baha!u'llah in His Holy Book, the Aqdas, so that the people may gather together and outwardly show fellowship and love, that the Divine Mysteries may be disclosed, The object is concord, that through this fellowship hearts may become perfectly united, and reciprocity and mutual helpfulness be established," ‘ 'Abdull-Baha

ity Three Aspects of the Feast, The Three aspects of the Feast are first, a spiritual period of a devotional nature, second, a general consultation on the affairs of the Cause, and third, a material fe~ast and social meeting of all the friends, III, Setting of the Feast,

A quiet period should precede the Feast, Often a beautiful piece of recorded music is helpful, ; s :

Iv, The Devotional Period,

The Guardian has clarified for us the emphasis and meaning of the devotional period, as follows: “Regarding your question} the devotional part of the Nineteen Day Feast means the reading of the Prayers of Baha'ulildh and the Master. If, after this, there is a period of reading the teachings, his (The Guardian's) writings may be included, but this does not form part of the devotional aspect of the meeting,"

moh a Spe din ee, the eee Committee will ee in adyarice in cack

of the devotions, An davantts chadinan. may wish to open the ae of. consultation with these,

Vo A Few Suggestions for the Devotional Readings,

"Should anyone read one verse with fragrance and spirituality, it will avail him more than to read with slothfulness all the wre ts the Protector, the Self-Existent." Aadas

A. Planning the readings:

1, ct 26 suggested that approximately fifteon to twenty minutes be reserved for de~ votional readings.

2, Test readings for listenability, Only simple readings are easily conveyed by the ear without help of the eye, The Feast is never a study class,

3. It is important to raise the standard of our daily lives} one reading could be geared to this, one to the Feast, others to firing our teaching ardor, our increased devotion, and the faculty of pure adoration, In choosing, ask yourselves whether the [Page 2]

a,

readings answer one or more of these purposes,

B, A Word to the reader: 1. Study your readings in advance, 2, Rehearse them aloud, e Speak slowly and distinctly. e Pause often so that your listeners will grasp the thought. 5. Know the bounty of what you are doing!

VI, The Consultation Period,

A, Preparation for consultation, fn Assembly chairman should as far as possible plan his agenda with his Assembly in advance.

B, ‘The Agenda,

1, Brief readings including the writings of the Guardian may be introduced at the opening or later in the period of consultation,

2, The messages from the Guardian should have first place in consultation,

3. Careful analysis of messages from the National Assembly, and any directives from National Committees may well follow,

4 Digest of local Assembly actions by Secretary need not necessarily be in the form of minutes,

5.e The goals of the year should be introduced often,

6, Highlishts of local teaching, Not all committees can report each time, but each should have frequent opportunity, permitting time for comment, questions, and suggestions from the floor,

7. A Five-minute review of Bohali' News is interesting, to call attention to important National and International events,

8 Mention of new literature and occasional highlighting of the World Order magazine are effective stimlants to their use,

9, Announcements, to be effective, should be repeated, and postal card supplements after the Feast are valuable reminders,

C, Vitalizing your own contribution,

1, Not too long, Make your remarks strictly to the point,

2, A question or two often helps to stimulate constructive flow of thought,

3, Your chairman may observe convention rules of order and give preference to those who have not spoken, He may also judge the value of further prolonging a discussion. 4, Recommendations to the assembly by the Feast are welcoue, but when voted should indicate the collective feeling of the whole community, Your own suggestions are recorded by the secretary and will also be considered, though not in the same degree of importance,

5, Any reports should be short, highlighted and sparkling, and not deal with vague hopes,

6. When negative forces enter a Feast and argument occurs, a quiet prayer or moment of silence for inner searching helps to bring out true wisdon,

VII, The Social Period,

Ae ose, The Purpose of the social period is fellowship and the attainment to unity and maturity together,

B, Hospitality, A host at the door and a committee to circle among the friends will add to the spirit of hospitality, However, every Baha'i present is a part of the flame that must conquer the world, The feast is a point of conflagration,

C, Association, Conversation blights or builds, "They who are the beloved of God, in whatever place they gather and whomsoever they may meet, must evince, in their attitude toward God, and in the manner of their celebration of His praise and glory, such humility and submissiveness that every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their devotion, The conversation carried by these holy souls should be informed with such power that these same atoms of dust will be thrilled by its in-—

fluence," (Gls Pe 7)