About This Course

Course Learning Objectives

  1. To study and reflect on some of the spiritual and wisdom principles that affect time and service choices.
  2. To consider the importance and implications of maintaining the unity of your marriage and family as a significant service priority when making time choices.
  3. To reflect and analyze your current time and service choices, understand what you allocate your time and energy to, and understand what motivates your choices.
  4. To ensure your time and service choices are consciously consulted upon and spiritual principle-based, with the implications for your couple relationship/marriage and family carefully considered.


It is possible for active members of the Baha’i Faith and their collaborators to meet the challenge of making time and service choices as individuals, a couple, and a family. Before and after marriage (and in all of life!), you face time choices. You want to stay connected with each other and your families, and you also want to be of service to each other, your family members, your neighbors, and your community. This course will help you understand the principles that relate to these choices and practical ways to apply them.

Note: Remember that how you manage your time on this course is up to you. Some couples set aside time on an evening or weekend. Other couples find that spending 15 minutes a day working on their relationship or marriage makes excellent progress. Experiment, learn, and do what works best for you.

Strengthening the Learning: We invite you to turn to your relationship or marriage partner to do the learning activities throughout this course. You may also find it very helpful to work with another couple on studying the materials and carrying out activities. Alternatively, a close friend may be able to help you with your learning. You may find it beneficial to choose someone consistent to work with, or you may find you learn more by doing activities with a variety of people. It may also assist you to communicate with the facilitators as well. Arrange what works best for you. Welcome to this exciting journey of learning! 

Course Schedule

Course Dates: February 15-March 15, 2026

The course runs on Sundays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. US Eastern time, with facilitated meetings occurring weekly at this time throughout the course.

  • February 15, 2026: Course Opening Meeting
  • February 22, 2026: Unit 1 Discussion
  • March 1, 2026: Unit 2 Discussion
  • March 18, 2026: Unit 3 Discussion
  • March 15, 2026: Unit 4 Discussion

Note: Time Zone conversions can be done using one of these tools:

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html

https://www.worldtimeserver.com/meeting-planner.aspx

Course Curriculum

    1. Please Introduce Yourself!

    2. Course Orientation

      FREE PREVIEW

    3. Course Communication Guidelines

    4. Pending: Course Schedule/Group Meetings Zoom Link

    5. Frequently Asked Questions

    6. Change Notes for the Course

    1. Elements of the Course Opening Meeting

    1. Unit 1: Goals, Learning Content, Activities, Questions

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Principles for Sacred Balance

    1. Unit 2: Goals, Learning Content, Activities, Questions

    2. Build Understanding - Love Map Activity (PDF)

    3. Activity Ideas for Couples (PDF)

      FREE PREVIEW

    1. Unit 3: Goals, Learning Content, Activities, Questions

    2. Time and Service Assessment Worksheets

    1. Unit 4: Goals, Learning Content, Activities, Questions

    2. Time and Service Consultation

    3. Consultation Guide for Important Topics

    4. Fun Family Meetings

      FREE PREVIEW

About this course

  • $40.00

Cost of the Course

We welcome everyone to this course who wishes to participate. This course invites you to commit time, effort, and money. We hope you can afford the cost of the course, as that helps cover the cost of the course platform and a small amount to the facilitators for their service. However, we do not want financial difficulties to prevent registration. If you or your partner cannot afford part or all of the fee, there are coupon codes available for financial aid. Please contact Susanne Alexander, course administrator, at [email protected] with specifics of how much you can afford or the discount you need. We are happy to help and look forward to welcoming you to this relationship-enriching course!

Facilitator

Karen Tucker Lynch

Coordinator/Facilitator

Hi, I’m Karen Tucker Lynch, a professional life coach, family communications specialist, and your facilitator and companion on this learning journey of helping Assemblies support couples with challenged marriages. Professionally, with my company Dawn of Well-Being (dawnofwellbeing.net), in collaboration with my husband Bob, we help people develop new skills, identify creative solutions to problems, and explore new opportunities.  I hold a Master's degree in group and family communication, which has aided me in integrating the Baha’i Writings, Laws, and principles into my years of service, education, and professional development. It’s my passion to help individuals and families improve the quality of their lives and family relationships and strengthen family unity through applying the Baha’i Laws of Marriage. I have used and honed my skills to serve the Cause of Baha’u’llah.  Among the roles I have performed include: an Assembly member, secretary, and chairperson; developing coursework for the Portland, Oregon, USA, Assembly’s Office of Marriage and Family; serving as the Project Coordinator for the US Northwest Regional Council’s Office of the Secretariat; coordinating the Portland Metro Baha’i Sunday school; and children’s class teacher in our community and neighborhood. Bob and I have been married for 40 years, and we have 3 adult sons, 3 daughter-in-loves, and a grandchild, as well as our intentional family of choice.