This Interfaith Devotional program focuses on how God is like a Father to us and guides us. These readings have been selected from various religious traditions. Please come and join us on Sundays at 9:30 am at the Beaverton Baha’i Center.
Opening Prayer
O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household. In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence.
O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy.
O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.
O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind.
O God! Establish the Most Great Peace.
Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together.
O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy Providence.
Thou art the Mighty and Powerful, Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind.
Bahá’í Faith, `Abdu’l-Bahá
First Reading
God! Give us wisdom as a father gives to his sons.
Guide us, O Much-invoked, in this path.
May we live in light.
Hinduism, Rig Veda 7.32.26
Thou art Father, Mother, Friend, Brother.
With Thee as succorer in all places, what fear have I?
Sikhism, Adi Granth, Majh M.5
…unfurl the Divine Banner of justice, …treat each nation as a family composed of the individual children of God; before the sight of God the rights of all are equal. For all of us are the children of one Father
Bahá’í Faith, `Abdu’l-Bahá
Music
Second Reading
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
Christianity, Romans 8:12-16
He Who is the Everlasting Father calleth aloud between earth and heaven. Blessed the ear that hath heard, and the eye that hath seen, and the heart that hath turned unto Him Who is the Point of Adoration of all who are in the heavens and all who are on earth….
Blessed be the Lord Who is the Father! He, verily, is come unto the nations in His most great majesty. Turn your faces towards Him, O concourse of the righteous…
Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh
Those of noble soul who tread the path celestial, worship Me
With hearts unwandering,- knowing Me the Source, The Eternal Source of Life. Unendingly they glorify Me; seek Me; keep their vows of reverence and love, with changeless faith…
I am- of all this boundless Universe, the Father, Mother, Ancestor, and Guard! The end of Learning!
Hinduism, Bhagavad-Gita
Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all.
Christianity, Ephesians 4:2-6
Music
Third Reading
Thou art, now I know, Father of all below, of all above, of all the worlds within.
Therefore, with body bent and reverent intent, I praise, and serve, and seek Thee, asking grace.
Hinduism, Bhagavad-Gita
I pray that you may grow in Divine fervour, and that the power of unity in the Spirit will augment, so that the prophecies may be fulfilled, and that in this great century of the Light of God all the glad tidings written in the Sacred Books may come to pass. This is the glorious time of which the Lord Jesus Christ spoke when He told us to pray `Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’. I hope that this is also your expectation and great desire. We are united in the one aim and hope that all shall be as one and every heart illumined by the Love of our Divine Father, God!
May all our actions be spiritual, and all our interests and affections be centered in the Kingdom of Glory!
Bahá’í Faith, `Abdu’l-Bahá
Music
Open Prayers
Music
Closing Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Christianity, Matthew 6:9-13
- Cover – Everlasting Father
- Local Cover – Everlasting Father
- Program – Everlasting Father
- Program (rtf) – Everlasting Father
- Readings – Everlasting Father
Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash
