‘See you soon’: last Sunday service held in the House of Worship before construction begins

MONA VALE, NSW – Friends from every corner of Sydney have visited the Baha’i House of Worship for the final public service inside the edifice before it closes for restorations. 

The restorations are part of the national ‘Dayspring of Light’ project – dedicated to repairing and beautifying the Temple and its surrounding grounds. 

Collis Ta’eed attended the final service on the “beautiful sunny April morning”. He said it was “clear word had spread that this would be one of the last chances to experience the temple edifice before restoration and beautification works commence”.  

“A crowd from every corner of Sydney met the moment with happy hearts,” he said. 

Four separate choirs joined in the service, singing prayers in Chinese, Tongan, English and Arabic. Afterwards at the communal morning tea, Chinese members of the community broke into song accompanied by the tones of an accordion and harmonica. 

Community members expressed mixed feelings about not being able to access the House of Worship edifice for some time, saying they were ‘devastated’ at not being able to visit so easily, but also that to the House of Worship, it wasn’t goodbye, but ‘see you soon’.

The national governing body of the Baha’i Faith, the National Spiritual Assembly, has advised that the rhythm of weekly public devotional and Holy Day services will continue uninterrupted elsewhere on site during the project. A large marquee is being put in place for this purpose on the Temple grounds. 

Temple Director Roya Shahgholi expressed her excitement at the great community turnout, and the physical commencement of what promises to be an audacious spiritual and material enterprise to rejuvenate and mature the House of Worship grounds.