Facts about the Faith
How do we worship?
We worship God through individual prayer and meditation, and by participating in Bahá’í Feasts. The Feast is a devotional gathering that is celebrated once each Bahá’í month. As well as devotions, we consult about affairs of the community, and enjoy a social time with refreshments.
We also worship in informal devotional gatherings at various times, and through service to our community. Each day, individually, we recite one of three obligatory prayers, as prescribed by Bahá’u’lláh. The Bahá’í scriptures contain many prayers for various purposes and occasions. Also, Bahá’u’lláh teaches that work performed in the spirit of service is a form of worshipping God.Bahá’u’lláh wrote: “It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades, and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and blessings of God and render thanks unto him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others…”
Where do we meet?
Often we meet in the homes of individual Bahá’ís. For some occasions we rent a hall. There is no Bahá’í Centre in Comox.
Are there Bahá’í activities in which I can participate?
Devotional gatherings, firesides, study circles, and social and educational gatherings for children, youth, and adults, are open to all. Study circles provide opportunities to explore Bahá’u’lláh’s teaching in a participatory manner. All are welcome to observances of Bahá’í holy days. Some events are held in Comox, and some are held in other communities in the Comox Valley for the valley-wide Bahá’í community. Several study circles are ongoing at various times and places to suit the needs of the participants. New study circles can be formed at any time. If you are interested in taking part in a study circle, or for more information about specific events, please call 250.702.3041.
How are the affairs of the Bahá’í community administered?
The Bahá’í Faith has no clergy. The affairs of the local community are governed by an elected body of lay people called the Local Spiritual Assembly. Governing bodies at the national level, called National Spiritual Assemblies, and the international level, The Universal House of Justice, are also elected. Read more...
If there are no clergy, who performs Bahá’í marriages?
Some Local Spiritual Assemblies appoint an individual as a marriage officer, who is registered with the provincial government and can legally perform marriages in British Columbia. Comox does not currently have a marriage officer, but there is one in the neighbouring community of Courtenay.
What about Bahá’í funerals?
Individual members volunteer to assist the bereaved family to prepare the service and will facilitate the service if requested by the family. Read more...
What about pastoral care?
Since there are no clergy in the Bahá’í Faith, service is provided by individual members of the community on a voluntary basis. For example, the Chaplain’s office at the local hospital has the name and phone number of a Comox Bahá’í who volunteers to visit Bahá’ís who are in hospital. Another volunteer from the local Bahá’í community visits the Extended Care Unit at the hospital regularly for Bahá’í devotions with residents there.
In the Comox Valley, Lisa Olsen is a Bahá'í serving on the pastoral care team at St. Joseph's Hospital. Lisa's role is to provide spiritual support to people of all religious backgrounds and variety of belief.
Where does money come from for Bahá’í activities?
All activities of the Bahá’í community are supported by the voluntary contributions of individual believers. Bahá’ís neither seek nor accept funds from others... Read more...