Atlantic seasonal school

More than 63 people from Newfoundland, together with visitors from Halifax, N.S., attended Summer School 2013, which took place in Salmonier Line, near St. John’s. Nine children, 20 youth, and adults from all walks of life experienced the spirit of life in a community that is striving to put into practice the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh – the spiritual blessing that the summer school always provides.

New members of the Torbay junior youth group and several from the Chalker Place and Forest Road groups welcomed the participants to the school. The junior youth also prepared a presentation that spoke to the importance of the arts in an individual’s life.

The children made bookmarks and prepared a short play based on one of the stories about cooperation from the Grade Two children’s class materials, complete with costumes and scenery. Children, junior youth, youth and adults all participated in making the play happen.

Harry Connors and David Hallett facilitated discussion groups focused on the challenges and opportunities presented by considering the themes in the Frontiers of Learning film. The discussion centred on the common needs of the Faith worldwide including the challenge of mobilizing sufficient numbers of people to serve the Plan. Participants also talked about the power of the Faith to create revolutionary transformation.

Frank Carroll addressed the attitude of the Faith towards politics with a focus on the letter of 2 March 2013 from the Universal House of Justice to the believers in Iran. He concluded with an exercise that encouraged participants to think about how the principles mentioned in the letter could be put into practice in real-life situations.

Carolyn Miri gave a very ‘whole-audience friendly’ talk on the law of Huqúqu’lláh. She called attention to the prayer for Huqúq and focused on the distinction between ‘bought’ happiness and the contentment that arises from genuine assistance to the common weal. She told a story of Hájí Amín, who carried contributions to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which illustrated the benefits of spiritualizing the economy.

Participants at the Newfoundland summer school share a meal together.

Marian Burnett, drawing principally on the book A Love Which Does Not Wait by Janet Ruhe-Schoen, highlighted the lives and contributions to the Faith of three of its early female pioneers: Susan Moody, Marion Jack and Martha Root. Their work in education, health care, social transformation, and many other areas, in addition to their apparently inexhaustible energy in returning time and again to the pioneering arena – even at ages by which many people would have retired – is truly inspirational.

Bob Gagnon referred to the book Manna from Heaven, by Dalton Garis, to discuss Islamic contributions to modern economics, especially with respect to principles regarding financial dealings, the avoidance of interest, and the encouragement of profit-sharing and equitable investment processes. He showed video clips from contemporary investment situations to illustrate the different ways in which capital may be risked or ventured. He also stressed that spiritually-founded economic practices are essentially based on consultation.

There was the usual variety of activities such as swimming, hiking, campfires and canoeing, which the junior youth and children especially enjoyed. The organizers secured the services of a lifeguard who immersed himself in the camp; not only did he come for a few hours of swimming, but also stayed overnight and participated in camp activities and mealtimes. During the last session, the friends delighted each other with a variety of performances including piano, violin, guitar-playing, singing, story-telling, poetry, visual arts, knitting and more.

–David Hellett