Thu 8/17 @ 3:00 pm EDT – Mon 8/21 @ 12:00 pm EDT
Nurturing strong families and vibrant community life through the interweave of sacred study and the arts.
This session will offer classes for children and youth in the mornings following a community wide devotional session each day. The adult morning program will include panel presentations on how applications of the Nine Year Plan are emerging in diverse community settings. The format will be collaborative and participatory. Afternoons will be devoted to workshops with an emphasis on integrating the arts into our community building endeavors. There will also be time in the afternoon for less structured reflection, fellowship and multi-age activities. The focus is on nurturing our identities with Bahá’í families, young and old, in artistic, recreational, and community-building events. Evenings are for the arts and feature family-focused musical concerts, dance, storytelling, and games.
Registration for housing for this program is now full. If you are interested in attending as a commuter, please reach out to the Homecoming Planning Team at wendy@mottahedeh.com.
Daily Schedule
Responding to the Call: From Inspiration to Action
In this new series of Plans, increasing attention needs to be given to other processes that seek to enhance the life of a community – for example, by improving public health, protecting the environment, or drawing more effectively on the power of the arts. What is required for all these complementary aspects of a community’s well-being to advance is, of course, the capacity to engage in systematic learning in all these areas – a capacity that draws on insights arising from the Teachings and the accumulated store of human knowledge generated through scientific inquiry. As this capacity grows, much will be accomplished over the coming decades.
—The Universal House of Justice, Riḍván 2023
THURSDAY, August 17
5:30 – 6:45 PM — Dinner – Sarah Farmer Inn
7:00 PM — Orientation
Welcome – Everybody meets! Orientation and Service Needs.
FRIDAY | August 18
Day 1 Question: How can we live in healthy harmonious relationship with the earth and all of life?
9:15 – 10:15 AM — Panel Presentation 1
Environmental Relationships and Principles panel
10:15 – 10:35 AM — Break
Refreshments
10:35 – 11:15 AM — Whole Group Conversation
1–2–4 Activity
11:35 AM – 12:15 PM — Panel Reconvenes
Whole group
Lunch — 12:30 – 1:30 PM
2:00 – 3:30 PM — Workshop/Activity Choices
Workshop choices TBA. Check the activities board in Reimer Hall.
4:00 – 5:15 PM — Open Space
Porch Talk. Informal discussion on topic of interest (see activities
board). JY meet together.
Dinner — 5:30 – 6:45 PM
After dinner storybook time for little ones – 6:45 – 7:10 PM
7:15 PM — Evening Activity
Tellers Garden Theater Group in Reimer Hall
SATURDAY | August 19
Day 2 Question: How can individuals and institutions draw on the power of the arts to create more connected and flourishing communities?
9:15 – 10:15 AM — Panel Presentation 2
Healing Power of the Arts panel
10:15 – 10:35 AM — Break
Refreshments
10:35 – 11:15 AM — Whole Group Conversation
1–2–4 Activity
11:35 – 12:15 PM — Panel Reconvenes
Whole group
Lunch — 12:30 – 1:30 PM
2:00 – 3:30 PM — Workshop/Activity Choices
Beach day!
Some workshop choices TBA.
4:00 – 5:15 PM — Open Space
Porch Talk. Informal discussion on topic of interest (see activities
board). JY meet together.
Dinner — 5:30 – 6:45 PM
After dinner storybook time for little ones – 6:45 – 7:10 PM
7:15 PM — Evening Activity
Concert – The Ron Savage Jazz Quartet with Grammy Nominated guest vocalist Farayi Malek in Reimer Hall
SUNDAY | August 18
Day 3 Question: How do we promote the health and well-being of body, mind, and spirit for all members of our communities?
9:15 – 10:15 AM — Panel Presentation
Public Health panel
10:15 – 10:35 AM — Break
Refreshments
10:35 – 11:15 AM — Whole Group Conversation
1–2–4 Activity
11:35 – 12:15 PM — Panel Reconvenes
Whole group
Lunch — 12:30 – 1:30 PM
2:00 – 3:30 PM — Workshop/Activity Choices
Workshop choices TBA. Check the activities board in Reimer Hall.
4:00 – 5:15 PM — Open Space
Porch Talk. Informal discussion on topic of interest (see activities
board).
Dinner — 5:30 – 6:45 PM
After dinner storybook time for little ones – 6:45 – 7:10 PM
7:15 PM — Evening Activity
Documentary and Panel Discussion: The Dialogue between the Eliot Police Dept. and Green Acre Staff on Race: New Insights and Future Goals in Reimer Hall.
MONDAY | August 21
9:15 – 10:35 AM — Session 1
Integrative Learning – Action Planning
10:40 – 11:00 AM — Break
Refreshments
11:00 AM – 12:20 PM — Session 2
Art project & children’s class presentations
Final devotions
Lunch — 12:30 – 1:45 PM
Meal Times:
Meals are for registered overnight guest only.
Breakfast: 8:00 – 8:45 AM
Complimentary coffee & tea mornings in the Piscataqua Room at 7:15-8:00 AM and available in Café all day.
Lunch: 12:30 – 1:30 PM
(Parents with young children and Senior citizens first)
Dinner: 5:30 – 6:45 PM
(Parents with young children and Senior citizens first)
Morning Devotions: 9:00 – 9:15 AM (every day except Monday)
Everyone meets together for devotions on Friday. Children (ages 4–11) go with their teachers after devotions. On Saturday and Sunday – Children have group devotions outside!
Look on the Activities Board in Reimer Hall each day for workshop descriptions, Open Space (informal discussion) locations, and extra events.
Your loving care and acts of service make Green Acre special. What can you offer of your talents and service during this week?
Dining Room Cleaning:
This will be arranged by age groups assigned specific mealtimes (Junior Youth, Youth and Adult)
Dining Hall Servers:
Servers make the long lines at Green Acre go faster. You can be JY and up to serve in this capacity. 2-3 individuals per meal is ideal arriving to the kitchen 15 minutes beforehand. You’ll need closed shoes, pant leg to the knee or lower, no jewelry, and please wear a hat or hairnet will be provided.
Morning Hospitality Shift:
Are you an early riser? Much of the cleaning Hospitality does is in the morning prior to the start of breakfast/session. They start at 7 am and could use all the help with the number of people on campus. An hour or hour ½ can make a huge difference.
Evening sweeps:
If you’re not an early riser, you can make a cleaning pass in all the rooms and public spaces for cups, empty snack bags and trash and/or grab a vacuum 15 minutes prior to Kelsey shutting down.
Adult Accompaniers:
Undoubtedly the youth will want to enjoy Rice Cottage in the evening, but there will need to be two adults present. Can you volunteer?
Thank you in advance.
