The Baha'i Faith in the Sisseton area

03/31/2024

Yesterday Mehran & I hosted a spiritual gathering at our home on the topic of 'spiritual springtime'. What follows are my thoughts: There are two levels of spiritual springtime, and that a 'springtime' implies that it was preceded by a winter, and that was preceded by a spring, summer and fall.
We understand that a spiritual springtime occurred with the coming of each past Divine Messenger. This was followed by the cycle of spiritual seasons of summer, fall and winter in each past Faith, just like it does in the cycle of earth's seasons. We Baha'is accept that the coming of Baha'u'llah has ushered in another spiritual springtime for all humanity.
Another point to make is that many people experience a personal spiritual springtime where we have a renewal of our faith in God. This is like having a physical renewal by improving one's diet and exercise or healing an ailment. It is also implies that many of us have gone through a 'winter' of feeling distant from our Creator, and often not knowing where to turn to find the answers to our questions, even though we were raised as children to believe in God (a springtime).

01/20/2023

We testify that when He [Christ] came into the world, He shed the splendor of His glory upon all created things….Through Him…the eyes of the blind were opened, and the soul of the sinner sanctified. He it is Who purified the world. Blessed is the man who, with a face beaming with light, hath turned towards Him.
- Bahá’u’lláh
(January 24)

01/20/2023

Prayer for the departed:
O my God, O Forgiver of sins and Dispeller of afflictions! O Thou Who art the Pardoner, the Merciful! I raise my suppliant hands to Thee, tearfully beseeching the court of Thy divine Essence to forgive, through Thy grace and clemency, Thy handmaiden who hath ascended unto the seat of truth. Cause her, O Lord, to be overshadowed by the clouds of Thy bounty and favor, immerse her in the ocean of Thy forgiveness and pardon, and enable her to enter that sanctified abode, Thy heavenly Paradise.

Thou art, verily, the Mighty, the Compassionate, the Generous, the Merciful.

01/06/2023

News release to be printed the week of 1/9/23:
Martin Luther King, Jr. / Civil Rights Day Celebration
Sunday, January 15

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
This coming Sunday, January 15th is the local Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Please join with other Sisseton area community members in celebrating the Civil Rights and spiritual changes that Dr. King led.
The Celebration will be held at the 4-1-7 Soirée event center, at 417 Veterans Avenue in Sisseton, from 3 to 5 PM (next to Veterans Park).
Darren Renville will MC an open mic for participants to share poems, prose, prayers and comments. We ask that sharing be related to love and justice among all people. There will be meaningful group discussion of what is shared. Refreshments will be available.
To get more information on this gathering, call or text Rick DeLoughery at 605-419-2169, or email: [email protected]. More information can also be found on the ‘Meaningful Conversations of Sisseton’ page.
Continuing Dr. King’s uplifting efforts, the King Center in Atlanta asks everyone to take the BE LOVE pledge which includes: “Starting today, I make a personal choice to BE LOVE.” (https://thekingcenter.org/belove/)
“Past civil rights achievements do not bring unity. Only personal friendship with everyone, based on love and recognition of the oneness of mankind, can do that.” said Rick DeLoughery, a member of the Baha’i community in Sisseton.
This event is sponsored by the Baha’is in the Sisseton area. Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith said, “As the human heart, as fashioned by God, is one and undivided, it behooveth thee to take heed that its affections be, also, one and undivided. Cleave thou, therefore, with the whole affection of thine heart, unto His love, and withdraw it from the love of anyone besides Him.”

ALSO: See the poster of this event on the previous FB 'post'

Send a message to learn more

01/06/2023

We invite you all to join us at this gathering to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

11/11/2022

He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful! O God, my God! Thou seest me, Thou knowest me; Thou art my Haven and my Refuge. None have I sought nor any will I seek save Thee; no path have I trodden nor any will I tread but the path of Thy love. In the darksome night of despair, my eye turneth expectant and full of hope to the morn of Thy boundless favor and at the hour of dawn my drooping soul is refreshed and strengthened in remembrance of Thy beauty and perfection. He whom the grace of Thy mercy aideth, though he be but a drop, shall become the boundless ocean, and the merest atom which the outpouring of Thy loving-kindness assisteth, shall shine even as the radiant star.

Shelter under Thy protection, O Thou Spirit of purity, Thou Who art the All-Bountiful Provider, this enthralled, enkindled servant of Thine. Aid him in this world of being to remain steadfast and firm in Thy love and grant that this broken-winged bird attain a refuge and shelter in Thy divine nest that abideth upon the celestial tree.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

07/28/2022

Join us in prayer in person or on Zoom, Wednesday evenings, OR an evening of your choosing: call 605-419-2169 for the link, or meeting ID and password

07/28/2022

O My servants!...Follow not...your earthly desires...With firm determination, with the whole affection of your heart...turn ye unto Him, and walk not in the ways of the foolish. The world is but a show, vain and empty, a mere nothing, bearing the semblance of reality. Set not your affections upon it. Break not the bond that uniteth you with your Creator...
- Bahá’u’lláh

04/04/2022

This gathering is this evening!
Mehran & I invite you to our home this evening for a spirit-filled conversation. Here is the reason: "Kevin Locke, Lakota flute player, hoop dancer, singer, speaker and writer will be in Sisseton, SD, on Monday, April 4th. All are welcome to meet with him at 7 PM at 211 3rd Ave W (1/2 block N of the elementary school). He will speak on the spiritual unity and authority of all the Divine Messengers, including those who came to the Americas."
Kevin has co-written at least 52 articles on the Indigenous Divine Messengers to the Americas: https://bahaiteachings.org/search/Kevin+Locke/
Kevin co-teaches courses for the Wilmette Institute. Here are two of them: "The Great Spirit Speaks: Voices of the Wise Ones" https://wilmetteinstitute.org/.../the-great-spirit-speaks/ and "Indigenous Perspectives on the Sacred"
We ask that all guests wear masks since this gathering is in our large living room. If you have any concerns or questions, please text or call me at 605-419-2169, or email me at [email protected].

03/25/2022

150+ years ago Bahá’u’lláh wrote letters to all the kings and rulers of the world. All but Queen Victoria ignored Him. Here are samples of what He said:

“O rulers of the Earth! Be reconciled among yourselves, that ye may need no more armaments save in a measure to safeguard your territories and dominions. Beware lest ye disregard the counsel of the All-Knowing, the Faithful.” – Bahá’u’lláh
www.bahai.us

Be united, O kings of the earth, for thereby will the tempest of discord be stilled amongst you, and your peoples find rest, if ye be of them that comprehend. Should any one among you take up arms against another, rise ye all against him, for this is naught but manifest justice.”
– Bahá’u’lláh
- for more info. call 605-419-2169, or go to www.bahai.us

Official website of The Baha'is of the United States. It’s time for humanity to come together as one family, to create a world where everyone can thrive.

03/16/2022

“I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness." - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá