House of Worship in Sydney, Australia—a beacon of light
"The House of Worship in Sydney, Australia, is emerging as a beacon of light as ever-growing numbers of souls from all over the country are inspired by news of worship and service that is emanating from this, the Mother Temple of the Antipodes. During the lead-up to the bicentenary, some 200 people gathered for a conference to reflect on their community-building efforts at the Temple. The conference participants, inspired by the welcoming spirit of the Temple, spoke with visitors and residents of the surrounding neighborhood about the edifice and the teachings it represents. Other groups of friends gathered in its vicinity to pray and consult about how to honor the 200th anniversary of the Báb. In addition, singers from across Australia came together to perform sacred music from a variety of cultures at the Bahá’í Choral Festival, held in the Temple. The music was interspersed with prayers and readings from the world’s major religions.
The bicentenary celebration held in the Temple involved people from all strata of society including religious and government dignitaries. It was followed by an evening musical devotional reflecting Bahá’u’lláh’s exhortation, “Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men.”
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