Happy Fourth of July (four day!) weekend here in the US. Looks like it will be very summery weather just about everywhere in the country, and families and friends will gather to share food and all the news since last year at this time. There will be public and private celebrations, music, dancing, FOOD, games, parades and boat races, not to mention baby cuddling on the newest family members. More than any other US holiday, July 4th is a celebration of community, intensely local and personal, celebrating the diversity of neighbors and even family with whom we don't spend much time the rest of the year.

With that in mind, here's the latest article from the Baha'i site at BellaOnline.com.

Characteristics of a Bahá'í Community
What does a Bahá'í community look and act like? What are the congregational goals and behaviors of Bahá'ís as a group?

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art26991.asp

For more about the Baha'i Faith, do visit bahai.bellaonline.com.

To ask questions, share ideas and participate in online discussions, stop by the community forum located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=321

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message.



Cheryll Schuette, Baha'i Editor
http://bahai.bellaonline.com

One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com