With regard to placing Bahá’í prayer books inside the airport chapels. We in Kingston do not have an airport but I wrote to the Tolworth and Kingston hospitals to ask if we could place a Bahá’í prayer book in their chapels. I also enclosed a leaflet about the life of the soul after death. The Reverend Mary Godin, the Trust Chaplain replied to say she would like us to meet to hear more about the Bahá’í Faith, and that her responsibility is to people of all faiths and of no faith to serve their spiritual and religious needs while patients in her care.

A few days later I took the Bahá’í prayer books along to the Chaplain at Tolworth Hospital, she made me a cup of tea and we spoke about the faith for over half an hour. She wanted to know so many things about us. She showed me around the chapel which is very beautiful and peaceful - it reminded me of my childhood - a smell which churches have, sort of incense and old books.

I gave the Chaplain a copy of Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era since she was so interested. Bahá’í leaflets and smaller prayer books to leave just inside the chapel on a table for people to take away have since been requested.

I don’t know if others have already done this but it is well worth placing prayer books inside the local hospital chapel.

Dianne Mahbouby

On a holiday visit to Barcelona in June I saw a sign on a stand in the distance at Placa Catalunya, which stopped me in my tracks. It read, "World Book"! On closer inspection and having read the poster advertising the event, I ascertained that the "World Book" referred to was an initiative to help UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) by giving visitors the chance to contribute, for a small fee, to a giant page (4.30 x 4.2m), suspended from the top of the stand, any thoughts, feelings or messages they wished to share.

This was just one of many giant pages to be filled with people’s thoughts gathered worldwide as a record for posterity, of what people were thinking as they approached the millenium. Each contributer is given a signed certificate registering the authentication (see photo).

The written entries, along with all the hundreds of thousands of others from people of different cultures, nations and beliefs will be published in a miniture edition, to be distributed world wide.

Starting in Barcelona, it is planned for the "World Book" stand to visit major cities in five continents on a huge tour and it should be in London soon, so Londoners look out!

I took the opportunity to write Bahá’u’lláh’s words - "The Earth is but one country and mankind its citizens". What better way of spreading the Faith and the Writings?

More information about the "World Book" can be found on the Web site: ,a href=".the-world-book.com" target="_top">www.the-world-book.com

David Ridehough

David Ridehough standing by the World Book

I believe that there is massive scope for involving caring, despondent, disillusioned and frightened people by asking them to help us devise new stories for children with themes such as unity, morals, prejudice, virtues, trustworthiness, service and many more.

I belong to a local writer’s group. The membership of which is made up of retired teachers, people with theatre links, a devout Christian or two, a communist and one or two others besides myself.

I told the members of the writer’s group about Camp Unity and that the youth there would be creating and hosting a Unity Feast for children during which they would perform a short drama with a spiritual or moral message. I explained that Bahá’ís were dedicated to uniting the world and that we taught our children to accept all religions and nationalities and to overcome prejudice. I asked if any of the group would like to help by writing stories or playlets for the youth to perform, or if they would like to take part in a storytelling workshop at the camp, based on the universal principles of the Faith. (At the time of preparing this item Camp Unity hadn’t happened, so we will have the outcome of this in a future Journal, Ed). Another approach I have made has been to the local lay clergy, with a view to our youth/children joining with the Sunday school classes. The writer’s group would provide material based on unifying principles.

This is an idea that could be utilised elsewhere, an opportunity for us to ask for help and virtually inviting them in under Bahá’u’lláh’s umbrella. I would like to float it to as many writers, thinkers, dramatists and project co-ordinators as possible.

Christine Rees

The approach of the new millennium offers opportunities for teaching the Bahá’í Faith in a climate of universal hope for a new beginning, a new era. The millennium conjures up a multitude of meanings and expectations, depending on which culture or religious background people come from, and it was with this in mind that I plunged into a new project, the writing of the play, "Threads".

Based on the extraordinary history of millennial zeal, or Adventism, during the nineteenth century, it follows the lives and spiritual journeys of three people who believed so strongly in the second coming that they devoted all their energy to studying it, teaching it, and seeking it. Using contemporary material from a variety of obscure sources, I threaded together the stories of three characters on three continents who certainly never met, and most probably knew nothing of one another’s existence - William Miller in America, Joseph Wolff in Europe, and Mulla Husayn in Asia Minor.

Since writing the play, (more properly a monologue for three voices), it appears to have taken on a life of its own. Given an initial experimental performance over the new year with three women taking the parts, it received a substantial re-work with new material before being submitted to and passed by the National Spiritual Assembly’s review panel.

In April I approached the head of drama at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, who offered me three actors and a director. My several meetings with the director have been exciting and inspiring, as not only is she fascinated by the story and its implications, but also by the Faith itself. She is steeped in the text and the personalities which it portrays, and is keen to produce the best performance possible.

"Threads" can be seen on the following dates - 13th November, Hexham; 20th November, Scarborough (at National Conference); 27th November, Edinburgh (Netherbow Theatre); 28th November, Glasgow (Stevenson Hall, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama).

Enquiries are now arriving from other cities, communities and countries. To know more about the current production, or about using the script in other ways contact me, Tel: 01429 420239, e-mail: viola@sparey.demon.co.uk

Carolyn Sparey-Gillies

If I remember correctly, in the Ridván message 156 the Universal House of Justice called for greater emphasis on arts and crafts. I see plenty of articles in the Journal regarding arts, but not crafts. I am wondering why not? After all, "crafts" encompasses everything from knitting to woodwork and can be a satisfying hobby or a way of earning a living.

I have two ideas - A community where the members share an interest in a particular craft could get together with friends and family to learn and practise it. Also, local, regional or even national exhibitions could be held, for all comers, on a theme such as "unity in diversity".

What do others think?

Shelagh Smith

Totnes, Glasgow, Birmingham, Scarborough, Allendale, Sidcot, Hexham, Durham, Liverpool and York.

All these venues have seen performances by the exciting youth dance group, Express Freedom. If you missed them, be there next time. This dedicated group of young people from the North East is touching many hearts with their dancing, and drawing people to the Faith wherever they appear.

Since the international group Diversity Dance Theatre taught our youth they have rehearsed every two weeks and they are now very professional. Performances have taken place in community halls, in schools, in streets (sometimes in torrential rain) and nothing dampens their enthusiasm and energy. After street performances people gather and ask questions and find out about the Faith. This group of youth are committed to taking the Bahá’í message to wherever it is possible.

A local headmaster was so impressed with their portrayal of the issues of drug abuse, prejudice and poverty, that he asked them to teach a group of his Middle School pupils. That they duly did and parents came to watch the result. There were not many dry eyes in the audience.

Some Express Freedom members have started a dance group for 9-13 year olds. It is called "Shine" and is going well.

It is exciting to read the following in the Universal House of Justice’s Ridván message 156, "But a word, too must be said in recognition of the prominent part being played by youth all over the world in their employment of the arts in the teaching work; renditions by their dance workshops, in particular, have acquired renown within and outside the Bahá’í community." The dancers have great clarity of vision and know exactly what part they can play during these last months of the Four Year Plan. We must support them wholeheartedly.

Transport - hiring halls for rehearsals and costumes for Express Freedom all cost money and funds are very low. If you can contribute towards the upkeep of this wonderful way of teaching the Faith it would be much appreciated. Donations no matter how small can be sent to: The treasurer, Angie Jameson, Burnlaw, Whitfield, Hexham, Northumberland NE47 8HF. Cheques should be made payable to: "Tynedale Spiritual Assembly".

Sue Renwick, booking secretary, Tel: 01434 602888