Bahá'í devotional gatherings are occasions to explore our relationship with the divine. Through prayer and meditation we deepen our relationship to God, develop our spiritual capacities, and widen our consciousness of reality.

Around the world, and in New Zealand, Bahá'ís are experimenting with new forms of collective worship, coming together in devotional gatherings to pray and meditate. Relying on the words of God's Messengers and Teachers and striving for that detachment and independence necessary for an enriching spiritual life, participants use these gatherings to help them rise above the many problems and hardships of daily living.

Bahá'í devotional gatherings take place in virtually every Bahá'í community, however small, and are open to all who wish to participate.

Bahá'ís believe that collective worship is an important ingredient in the flourishing of community life. But prayer also reinforces individual spiritual development; and the spiritual growth that is generated by each individual devotion is strengthened by the friendship and caring among the group, the individual's service to God and fellow human beings, and the support that comes from worshipping as a community.

Informal and formal group worship has an impact on both individual and social growth. Bahá'ís organize regular devotional gatherings, wherever they reside, that fill this need and that allow followers of all the world's great religions to come together for worship. Depending on the number of people participating in a community, these devotional gatherings can take place in homes, rented halls, or community centres.

The make-up of a devotional programme can range from something as simple as prayers, said at each participant's discretion, to music and other forms of art. The frequency of these regular gatherings, again, varies from community to community.

To find out about devotional gatherings in your town or city, email the Bahá'í National Centre.

Source

This article is adapted from the Canadian Bahá'í website.