• All Faiths Public Gathering for Prayer and Devotions – April 3^rd, 4^th, and 18^th
• Informational Talks — April 14^th & 17^th
• Ridván Festival Days  – April 21^st, 29^th, and May 2^nd 

"Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice, of the Promised One."
                                                                                                                          ~Bahá'u'lláh

The purpose of the Oxnard-Ventura Bahá'í News is to provide information about the Bahá'í Faith and activities of the Bahá'í's to those who wish to learn more or attend Bahá'í devotional gatherings. If you have comments or do not want to receive the Bahá'í News, write PO Box 7344, Oxnard, CA 93031, call 648-1222. No donations requested or accepted.

Informational Talks

A brief talk on a general topic about the Bahá'í Faith is followed by discussion. A time to bring up any question in your heart about spiritual topics.

Wednesday, April 14, 7:30 PM
            Tuman Residence, 984-1222

Saturday, April 17, 7:30 PM
Jaine Toth will bring her eloquent style in speaking about the Bahá'í Faith and perspectives on current issues.
              Quick Residence, 659-4660

Ridván Celebration

1^st Day of Ridvan, Wednesday, April 21, 5:30 pm, potluck dinner, music and fellowship. Home of Haideh and Dara Motadi, 4920 Via Fresco, Camarillo (805) 484-2424

9^th Day of Ridvan, Thursday, April 29 , 7:30 p.m. Tuman Home, 1077 Offshore St Oxnard, Call 648-1222 for event information.

12^th day of Ridvan, Sunday, May 2, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 pm, Centner Home, 7550 Henderson, Ventura (805) 647-5153

Ridván

The greatest of Bahá'í festivals, the Festival of Ridván, is here. For a period of 12 days starting on April 21st, Bahá'ís around the world will celebrate Bahá'u'lláh's public declaration of His mission, an event which took place on the eve of His departure from Baghdád for Constantinople.

No less than three Holy Days are celebrated in the course of this time period, and elections for Local and National Spiritual Assemblies take place.

The significance of Ridván for Bahá'ís can't be overstated. In 1844, the Báb had arisen to proclaim the coming of a great Messenger from God, the Promised One of all religions. During His six-year ministry, which culminated in His public execution on July 9, 1850, the Báb called the people of Persia to purify themselves in preparation for the arrival of "He whom God shall make manifest."

Bahá'u'lláh, one of the Báb's foremost followers, was imprisoned in 1853 on false charges. While in prison, He experienced a revelation from God in which He learned that He was to be that Promised One. But upon His release from prison a few months later, He told no one of this experience. Indeed, for ten years, the entire duration of His exile in Baghdád, He kept silent on this matter. Even so, His character, wisdom, and deep spiritual insight affected all who came into contact with Him.

His growing influence prompted the authorities to seek to move Him to another place. Baghdád was an important crossroads at that time, and it was feared that the new religion might be spread far and wide if He were permitted to stay there, coming into contact with travelers from all quarters. Arrangements were therefore made to transfer Bahá'u'lláh and His party to Constantinople.

On the eve of His departure, Bahá'u'lláh took up residence in a garden which has since become known to Bahá'ís as the Garden of Ridván. (Just to confuse matters, there is also a Garden of Ridván near Mazra'ih and Bahjí, where Bahá'u'lláh spent His last days.)

He spent 12 days there in preparation for the long journey ahead. Guests flowed into the garden, rich and poor, powerful and lowly, all paying respects to the great Personage whose influence had touched them all. Sometime during the midst of all this activity, Bahá'u'lláh declared to the gathered Bábís that He was the Promised One spoken of by the Báb.

"Ridván" means "Paradise", from which we can gather something of what the atmosphere must have felt like during that 12-day period.
[continued next month Used with permission from www.bahaiplanet.org ]

All Faiths Public Gathering for Prayer and Devotions

Fillmore CommUnity
1st Saturday of the Month, April  3rd. Call Luanne at 524-0683 for details

Oxnard CommUnity
1st Sunday of the Month, April  4th. 10:30 AM. Locations may vary. Call Barbara at 984-4390

Ventura CommUnity
[This Month]3^rd Sunday of the Month, April 18^th, 10:00 a.m. at the Clubhouse, 3700 Dean Drive.

Camarillo CommUnity
3rd Sunday of the Month, April 18th. Call Renee at 383-3904 for details

Websites to Visit [or Recommend]
The Bahá’í World,   Planet Bahá’í,   Bahá’í Youth, and our very own: Ventura Bahá’í Website.

To order Bahá’í books, magazines, or videos, call the Bahá’í Distribution Service at 1-800-999-9019 or email bds@usbnc.org for more details.

To learn more about the Bahá’í Faith, contact the Bahá’í House of Worship or the Bahá’í community in your area [link to Contact page coming soon]. Further information is also available at www.us.bahai.org and www.bahai.org.