Devotional Gatherings · Free

Prayer gatherings

Simple, informal gatherings where people come together to pray and read from sacred texts. Everyone is welcome.

Come to a Gathering See All Programs
A small group gathered in a living room for prayer

About prayer gatherings

Gatherings where anyone may experience the sweetness of prayer and commune with God in the loving company of others.

The format

What is a prayer gathering?

Baha'is commonly gather with their friends and prayers to offer prayers. These meetings, called devotional gatherings, are held in community centers or in one another's homes and consist largely of reading prayers and passages from holy scriptures in an informal, yet respectful, atmosphere. Uplifting music and song are often included. There are no rituals; no individual has a special role. These simple gatherings bring people of all backgrounds and beliefs together in prayer and generate a unifying spirit that begins to permeate the community.

The spirit of fellowship and harmony that binds us all together is strengthened through acts of worship like these. Baha'is consider daily prayer as essential for spiritual sustenance and growth, just as food is essential for physical sustenance. Through prayer, one praises God, expresses love for Him, or beseeches Him for insight or assistance.

When people have just shared a spiritually heightened experience together — when hearts have been softened and the ordinary social barriers have dropped — the conversations that follow take on a different quality. Questions that rarely surface in daily life come naturally to the foreground: questions about meaning, purpose, the nature of the soul. Praying together helps us recognize the nobility and dignity in others and have more meaningful conversations that overcome artificial barriers.

In your neighborhood

Something deeper
than conversation

Gatherings meet in living rooms, community centers, and gardens across the Boston area. The setting is intimate and familiar — a space where the atmosphere itself invites reflection.

Some gatherings draw from prayers of many faith traditions. Others focus on the Baha'i writings. All are open to anyone who longs for something beyond the material. You don't need to pray aloud, recite anything, or do anything other than be present.

Find a gathering near you
Group praying together in a living room
Small group in conversation after prayers
Friends gathered around a table with tea
Backyard gathering on a warm evening
Outdoor devotional gathering in a park
Diverse group at a community welcome gathering

Prayer in the Baha'i Faith

Conversation with God

Baha'is understand prayer as conversation with God. And this conversation has real power. It creates spirituality, stirs celestial feelings, and awakens what the writings call "the susceptibilities of the higher intelligence."

The writings describe prayer plainly:

a fire that will burn away the veils which have shut me out from Thy beauty, and a light that will lead me unto the ocean of Thy Presence. — Baha'u'llah

Every Baha'i prays on their own during the day. They also gather often to pray together.

Common questions

Questions people ask

What is Baha'i prayer?

Baha'is generally pray using prayers revealed by Baha'u'llah, the Bab, and Abdu'l-Baha. Baha'is understand these as God's own language for speaking with Him, which is why they carry a particular potency. But Baha'is are also free to speak with God in their own words. At gatherings, people recite these prayers aloud, one at a time, taking turns as they feel moved to. Some recite from memory, others read from a prayer book. The focus is on speaking with God, not on the reading itself.

How is this different from going to church?

There is no service, no sermon, no worship leader, and no fixed order. No one stands at the front. A prayer gathering is a small group of people praying together in an informal setting. It is closer to sitting in a quiet room with friends than attending a service.

Do I have to pray out loud or participate?

No. You can simply be present. Some people recite a prayer, some listen, some sit quietly. There is no expectation and no pressure. Come as you are.

Do I need to be Baha'i?

Not at all. These gatherings are open to everyone. Most include people who are not Baha'i. You don't need to know anything about the Baha'i Faith, and no one will ask you to accept any belief.

Is this like meditation?

Prayer gatherings have a contemplative quality, and some people find them meditative. But the focus is on prayer, specifically speaking with God through revealed prayers, rather than silent meditation. If you are drawn to mindfulness or meditation, you may find the atmosphere resonant, though the practice is different.

Where are gatherings held?

In homes, community centers, and shared spaces across the Boston area. They are not held in a temple or a Baha'i center (there isn't one in Boston). When you fill out the interest form, we'll connect you with a gathering near you.

How long does a gathering last?

Usually 30 to 60 minutes for the prayers themselves. Most gatherings are followed by a period of conversation or socializing between friends.

Is it free?

Yes. Always free. No fees, no collections, no fundraising.

Are readings only from Baha'i texts?

It depends on the gathering. Many include prayers and readings from multiple faith traditions. Others focus primarily on the Baha'i writings. All are respectful of every spiritual background.

I'm not sure I believe in God. Can I still come?

Yes. These gatherings welcome anyone who wants to sit in an atmosphere of prayer, regardless of where they are in their spiritual life. Honest questioning is respected here.