Bahá’ís across Surrey join with friends and neighbours in devotional meetings for collective worship.
Because there is no ritual or clergy in the Bahá’í Faith, devotional gatherings are often held in people’s homes or in public places, and they are diverse in form. Prayer and reflection upon sacred scriptures are at the heart of such programs, and music and poetry may be incorporated as well.
These gatherings are held in every Bahá’í community to nourish a pattern of life characterized by its devotional character. The spiritual atmosphere created within a devotional meeting imparts a sense of joy, fellowship and love that enriches the relationships among participants.
Bahá’í devotional gatherings are intended to capture the attitude of prayer and the practice of devotion that is universal to all religions, and they are open to people of all beliefs and backgrounds.
For many, the gatherings provide an opportunity for peace, reflection and revitalization. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings—one may simply sit, meditate and enjoy the spiritual atmosphere, or take a more active role.
Please click here to learn more about the benefits of collective worship.
“…make of my prayer a fire that will burn away the veils which have shut me out from Thy beauty, and a light that will lead me unto the ocean of Thy Presence…” —Bahá’u’lláh
You are invited to share prayers and passages from holy texts at these warm and welcoming gatherings. Contact us to find a devotional gathering near you.
In diverse settings throughout the world, Bahá’ís and their friends unite with one another in prayer. Whether in urban settings or villages, these devotional gatherings consist largely of reading prayers and passages from the Bahá’í sacred texts in an informal yet respectful atmosphere. A spirit of communal worship is generated by these simple gatherings and the spirit begins to permeate the community's collective endeavours.