Springfield, Illinois Bahá'í Community

HomeAbout Bahai'sStudy CirclesDevotionalsChildren / YouthCalendarNews / EventsLinksContact Us

 

News & Events

Click here for the Monthly Calendar of Events






October 20 - 22, 2017 - Bahá'ís celebrate The Light of Unity Festival
The 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah
 

Springfield Bahá'ís celebrated the 200th birthday of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet whose teachings form a blueprint for establishing peace and justice throughout the world. The celebrations here spanned three days (Oct 20 to 22) with participation from Baha’is, our friends, and other like-minded people working to make Springfield a more welcoming, unified and compassionate community.

Key note speaker, Mr. Kiser Barnes and his wife, Nancy, who traveled from North Carolina to took part in the celebrations. Mr. Barnes, a former member of the international council that guides the worldwide Baha’i community, offered inspiring remarks throughout the weekend, remarks that offer hope and perspective to everyone who cherishes justice.

We thank the Central Illinois African American History Museum for hosting Oct. 20 a well-attended presentation on local, national and international efforts to promote unity and overcome the racism, “otherness” and “we vs. them” attitudes that appear so prevalent today.

One lasting, physical remembrance from the weekend is the addition of two October Glory maple trees at Comer Cox Park. As these trees grow and mature, they will provide shade, protection and beauty to visitors of Springfield’s major east-side park.
 


Click image for full size

Our thanks to Mayor Jim Langfelder for attending the
October 22, 2017 Crowne Plaza gala marking
Baha’u’llah’s birthday, and for authoring a
City Proclamation praising the
oneness of mankind/religion that is
the cornerstone of the Baha’i Fait
h

2014 - Bahá'í Unit Convention District #73

"The Bahá’í Electoral Unit Convention is an institution that, in many ways, is in the early stages of development. As the Bahá’í community matures and develops, these Unit Conventions will, more and more, embody the rich spirituality of Bahá’í elections, provide for deepening on the spiritual nature of the Bahá'í electoral process, and be a source of sharpened focus, inspiration, and encouragement for the advancement of the current Plan."

The Bahá'ís of Springfield Illinois will be the host to the upcoming Unit Convention for the District # 73.
 
  • Date: Sunday, October 5, 2014
  • Time: 9:00 am to 10:00 am Registration,
    Convention 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
    .
  • Where: Springfield Bahá'í Center
    1131 S. 8th Street
    Springfield, IL 62703
    Click here for map
  • Mail Absentee Ballots to: (Deadline 10/1/2013)
    Springfield Baha’i Community
    PO. Box 1841, Springfield, IL 62705
  • Questions or need more information
    Call: 217-415-1299 or
    bill.krajec@gmail.com

2013 - Bahá'í Unit Convention District #73
 
  • Date: Sunday, October 6, 2013
  • Time: 9:00 am to 10:00 am Registration,
    Convention 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
    .
  • Where: Springfield Bahá'í Center
    1131 S. 8th Street
    Springfield, IL 62703
    Click here for map
  • Mail Absentee Ballots to: (Deadline 10/1/2013)
    Springfield Baha’i Community
    PO. Box 1841, Springfield, IL 62705
  • Questions or need more information
    Call: 217-415-1299


Springfield Illinois'
Annual Race Unity Rally

14th Annual Race Unity Rally

Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Rotunda Capitol Building
Springfield, IL (Click for Map)

The annual Race Unity Rally and related Race Unity Art and Writing contests are designed to broaden the collective vision of Springfield-Area residents, to provide a means through which young people may pause to consider their interconnectedness to others, and to create a forum for celebrating the growing cultural, religious and familial diversity that marks modern-day Springfield. Click Here for More Information


A Heartland just for You(th)

Making plans for the Winter holidays? Wishing that you could get your teens out of the house and into the spirit? Does Heartland have a retreat for you!

School starts at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec 30, 2010 and ends on Sunday, Jan 2, 2011

Springfield Bahá'í Center
1131 S 8th St
Springfield, IL (217) 544-9595

A comprehensive retreat is being planned for high school students, including 8th graders, with plenty of art, music, drama, prayer, study, and a dip into Ruhi. Our featured speaker is Mr. Greg Schweitz, currently attending medical school in Chicago. Stay tuned for announcement of other special guests speakers, teachers, musicians and artists. The young people will make their own meals, and stay as overnight guests in local Baha'i homes.

Our goal is to encourage those strong bonds of love and unity amongst the Youth that form every year at summer school.     Click here for registration & More Information

A Vision of Race Unity Rally

Sunday, June 4, 2010 - An opportunity to show support for "Unity in Diversity", while reviewing the state of race relations in Springfield and beyond.Dance groups, drummers and other musicians were scheduled to perform at the rally.  The Kuumba Dancers directed by Doris Chambers A group of African American Drummers Kate Kanaley Miller - Native American Flute. Children were recognized as winners in the 6th annual Vision of Race Unity Art and Poetry Contest. Following the event, cake and refreshments were served.

Featured Speaker: Jim Lewis recently nominated by President Obama for the post of U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois.

Springfield Baha'is to hold May 29 Commemoration of Founder's Passing

A special gathering had been planned for May 29, 2009 to commemorate the ascension of Baha'u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith. The commemoration began at 7 p.m. Friday, May 29 at the Springfield Baha'i Center (corner of 8th and Allen), 1131 S. 8th St., Springfield, IL.

The program included prayers and writings revealed by Baha'u'llah who, at 74 years of age, ascended to the spiritual world on May 29, 1892.

A Vision of Race Unity

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Featured Speaker:
Dr. Walter Milton Jr, District 186 Superintendent of Schools

11th Annual Race Unity Rally

A Vision of Race Unity

 Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. State Capitol Rotunda, 2nd and Capitol Springfield, Illinois.

Keynote Speaker: Karen A. Davis, Former Springfield resident (born and raised) and currently a Senior Vice President with Regions Financial Corp based in the St. Louis area. David Honigs: Master of Ceremonies. The Kuumba Dancers performed, as did the Praise Dancers from Grace United Methodist Church. Kate Kanaley Miller played reflective music on her Native American flute, and other musicians performed as well. Members of the Baha'i "Black Men's Gathering" group provided the invocation and benediction.

For more information, please contact:

217/544-9595 or Email: info@springfieldbahai.org

   

Copyright © 2012-2013 Springfield Bahá'í Community