![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||
. | . | . | . | ||||||||||||||||||
. |
Saturday, February 1, 2003 Religion
Bahai chapter in Valley has been around since 1960s
Melodie Little The Bahai faith has a chapter in the Spokane Valley that has been up and running since the early 1960s. About 35 to 45 people make up the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai's County Commissioner District Number 2. The Bahai chapters follow the same boundaries as governmental districts, which help chapters allocate community service projects. Subsequently, the Valley chapter's boundaries will change when Spokane Valley incorporation becomes official March 31. Spokane Valley resident Joseph Urlacher has been a practicing Bahai since 1975, when as a student attending Whitman College in Walla Walla he found the faith fit his spiritual values. "I became a Bahai. I use that term lightly because people don't become Bahai, they discover they are Bahai," Urlacher explains. Bahai teachings promote values of family, diversity, spiritual growth, love, reverence toward God, respect for all faiths, universal peace and spiritual unity. "In the Bahai writings, it will tell you this is an ancient faith. The Bahai believe the spiritual foundations of all faiths come from one source, that being God," Urlacher explains. Founded by Baha'u'llah in 1844, the faith seeks unity, universal peace, spiritual development and the investigation of truth as a means of promoting a healthy world. The various chapters meet at members' homes within their districts and gather with Bahai from North Spokane, the city of Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai for classes and devotions. The classes offer spiritual education and are free and open to members of all faiths, said Urlacher. "You don't have to be a Bahai to come and be a part of what we do." Classes are Sundays at 10 a.m., at the Star of West Bahai School, at the Avalon Dance Studio, 117 E. Boone Ave. To find out more about the Valley chapter of the Bahai faith, call 326-0152. Lutherhaven auction next SaturdayGood Shepherd Lutheran Church is hosting its annual Lutherhaven auction next Saturday. Featured items include a mix of collectibles, crafts, theme baskets, hotel stays and a shed. Speed dating, times twoIn addition to tonight's speed-dating session, the group is holding a session on Feb. 15. At the evening's end, contestants write down the number of the person who interests them. If contestants list corresponding numbers, they are introduced for a date. Food, fun at Valley NazareneChurch Notebook appears every Saturday in the Valley Voice. If you have news about activities or events at your church, please let us know so we can help spread the word. Write or send a church bulletin to Church Notebook, Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane, WA 99216. Call: 927-2168. Fax: 927-2175. E-mail: melodiel@spokesman.com.
©Copyright 2003, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA, USA) Following is the URL to the original story. The site may have removed or archived this story. URL: http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=020103&ID=s1296727&cat=section.spokane
|
. | |||||||||||||||||||
. | ![]() |
. | |||||||||||||||||||