Is a Privately held Feast Valid? (virtual, attend, pray, bible)

[Ninerays]

Last Thursday evening/Friday was the Feast of Izzat (Might) and everybody was out of town.So, I chose some selections from the Bible,Koran and Baha'i writings to read.I said some prayers, did the readings and said some prayers before the eating segment.My question is this:since the other Feasts I've attended were social gatherings, was what I did valid according to Baha'i Law?It might have 'felt"right, but I sort of want to make sure it was "legal", as I've never done anything like that before..
Allah-u-Abha!

[arthra]

Originally Posted by Ninerays

Last Thursday evening/Friday was the Feast of Izzat (Might) and everybody was out of town.So, I chose some selections from the Bible,Koran and Baha'i writings to read.I said some prayers, did the readings and said some prayers before the eating segment.My question is this:since the other Feasts I've attended were social gatherings, was what I did valid according to Baha'i Law?It might have 'felt"right, but I sort of want to make sure it was "legal", as I've never done anything like that before..
Allah-u-Abha!

Hey welcome Ninerays to the forum and to the Faith! as I heard you were newly enrolled!

Allah'u'Abha!

If your community has an Assembly it is suppposed to provide the community with a schedule of Feasts to observe every nineteen days..but if it is a Group and a little less formal in how it operates there is nothing against Baha'i law in having a Feast when the others are out of town. The important thing in a Baha'i community is to have unity...so we're supposed to consult and decide where a Feast is to be held... It would be contrary though I think to our Baha'i spirit to have "rival" Feasts. Or to have a fight over who is to host it, etc.

Forunately there's a lot of material on Nineteen Day Feasts and good compilation of Writings and guidance at

http://bahai-library.com/?file=compi...teen_day_feast

One of the real cool things is that as a new Baha'i you will find more than enough support and love from the friends! Unit Convention is coming up so you might be thinking of how to attend... maybe a car pool but this is an excellent time to learn more about your community!

Here's a video tthat was just released about Unit Convention:

http://unitconvention.usbnc.org/media/flash/lightning_round.html

Always ask questions!

- Art

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Ninerays

Last Thursday evening/Friday was the Feast of Izzat (Might) and everybody was out of town.So, I chose some selections from the Bible,Koran and Baha'i writings to read.I said some prayers, did the readings and said some prayers before the eating segment.My question is this:since the other Feasts I've attended were social gatherings, was what I did valid according to Baha'i Law?It might have 'felt"right, but I sort of want to make sure it was "legal", as I've never done anything like that before..
Allah-u-Abha!

Do you have a copy of Ocean or someplace where you can read "Lights of Guidance" or what's commonly called "the guidelines" but is really called "Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities"?

It's indispensible for answering questions like this.

Don't get too concerned about whether you're doing stuff "legal" or not...you'll figure it out in time, and even after years of being a Baha'i I still run across things I hadn't noticed before.

Feast is strongly encouraged, but it isn't mandatory. It's always better if you can make Feast, of course, but sometimes life intrudes in ways that can't be avoided.

For the past 5 years there have been a lot of times I couldn't make it to Feast. I send my husband with topics for consultation sometimes, and he gives me the rundown on things when he gets home.

Unit Convention is coming up -- the first weekend in October usually. Check with the Baha'is in your area and see if you can get to that. You'll meet a lot of people from the communities in your area.

[Ninerays]

Hey..
No, I don't have Ocean yet simply because I don't own my own computer at the present time..it sounds like a wonderful program, though.Some people in my cluster have recommended it to me as well.Thanks for the suggestion, though..I'll probably see if I can't find Lights of Guidance in a book form somewhere .

[arthra]

"Lights of Guidance" is available on line at

http://bahai-library.com/?file=hornby_lights_guidance

Also for those interested you can download Ocean for free from

http://www.bahai-education.org/ocean/

Free Software for the World's Religious Literature!

For a few bucks virtually the cost of mailing, they will send you an Ocean CD.

I give them out for free to Inter-faith groups.

- Art

[Ninerays]

Thank you kindly,Arthra
Allah-u-Abha!