Marlborough Bahá’ís host heartfelt interfaith gathering for world peace
On 18 October, the Bahá’ís of Marlborough—a small community of mostly elderly believers—hosted an interfaith gathering in honour of the 50th anniversary of the International Week of Prayer for World Peace. This intimate and wonderfully received interfaith gathering is a great example of how people of all ages and backgrounds can serve as instruments of unity within their communities. These efforts show that fostering peace and friendship can be simple, humble and not rely on youth-led initiatives. It can begin with small gatherings, shared prayers, and acts of kindness that are meaningful for all peoples and faiths. We offer below, a brief account of this lovely gathering, from a report shared by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Marlborough.
In Blenheim, on the evening of Friday 18th October, a small but spirited gathering of Marlborough’s Bahá’í community, supported by Bahá’ís from Reefton and Motueka, took place to celebrate the 50th International Week of Prayer for World Peace. The event, held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Hall, was all about opening their circle to others, inviting friends and neighbours from different faiths to join in a shared space of peace and reflection.
With posters in local churches, advertisements in the newspaper, and personal invitations, this small cohort of Bahá’ís spread the word, encouraging people of all faiths and backgrounds to participate. On the evening itself, people from Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Bahá’í backgrounds turned up—24 in total, with 16 guests and 8 Bahá’ís. As everyone settled in, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Marlborough, warmly welcomed the group, leading them in an uplifting ukelele sing-along to “Blessed is the Spot”.
The prayers that followed were a Buddhist chant, a Bible reading, and a range of passages from the Week of Prayer for World Peace booklet. The night wrapped up with a stirring group rendition of “Te Aroha” in Māori, a nod to the spirit of unity and friendship that filled the room. Everyone stayed on for tea and treats, sharing thoughts and laughter over light refreshments. It was clear that the interfaith gathering had sparked meaningful and deep conversations, and it left everyone feeling a little closer, a little more inspired, and a whole lot more unified.
Linked below is an article, recently published in Bahá’í Aotearoa, inviting Bahá’ís to share in collective devotions, for the 50th International Week of Prayer for World Peace. You can find in this article the Week of Prayer for World Peace booklet that was used during this lovely gathering in Blenheim.
