Message from the National Spiritual Assembly regarding availability of film about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

2 November 2021 / 19 Knowledge 178

All Local Spiritual Assemblies
All Regional Bahá’í Councils
All Registered Groups

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

In a few short weeks, Canada’s representatives will join friends from around the world to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Holy Land, under extraordinary circumstances. Canada, too, prepares for this special commemoration of the Day of the Covenant on 25 November and the centenary of the Ascension of the Master at 1:00 a.m. on 27 November.  The National Spiritual Assembly has been thrilled to hear how the friends are engaging and expanding the circles of those they plan to invite to these gatherings, how the booklets about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have been used to nurture deep and meaningful conversations about Him, and how natural it therefore is to expect all these friends to participate in the worldwide conferences that will take place in Canada between the end of February and the Festival of Ridván 2022.

We hasten to share details just received about the expected date for the availability of the film about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.  In a letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies written on its behalf, the Universal House of Justice stated “The film, titled Exemplar, will have a running time of 56 minutes and, as was mentioned in the message dated 25 November 2020 from the House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the world, is a portrait of the Person of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. It will be released up to a week prior to the Commemoration of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for use on that occasion or during the activities associated with the centennial event. It is envisaged that, following the Centenary Commemoration, this film may continue to be used on an individual and collective basis for a wide range of purposes, including during the upcoming series of conferences to be held throughout the world. Of course, the film will have an enduring utility in many endeavours of the community into the future.”  The National Assembly is arranging for the film to be quickly available online, to view or download in various formats and languages.  Detailed information will be shared with you shortly.

Dear friends, we have been assured that those who will represent our National Spiritual Assembly and Canada’s Regional Bahá’í Councils in the Centenary Commemoration in the Holy Land will remember us all at the Threshold.  Let us, in turn, pray for their safe and joyful travel to this historic event.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF CANADA
Karen McKye, Secretary