For the first time Manx Scouts and Girl Guides are to bring the Peace Light From Bethlehem to the island in December.
Now in its 28th year, the Peace Light campaign originated in Austria.
Since 1986 there has been a great deal of co-operation between the Scouts and Guides in many countries to spread the Light
The Light has traveled throughout Europe and in more recent years the Americas, Canada and Australasia. 2014 will be the first time the Light has been brought to the Isle of Man.
Each year a child from Upper Austria travels to Bethlehem and kindles a flame from the Eternal Flame burning in the birth place of Jesus. It is then flown to Austria where it is distributed at a Service of Dedication and Distribution to delegations from worldwide, who take it back, with a message of Peace to their own countries. Scouts and Girl Guides then take the Light into their own communities and distribute it further to Churches, old people’s homes, residential homes, hospitals, prisons and places of public, political or cultural importance - to anyone who appreciates the significance of the ‘gift’.
In past years the Light has been presented to Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Mikhail Gorbachev, the former King Hussain of Jordan, EU President Romano Prodi and other members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, UN troops in Kosovo and Ground Zero, New York among many others.
Five members of the island’s Scouts and Girl Guides, representing each of the older sections (Scouts, Sea Scouts, Explorers, Guides and Senior Section) will travel to St Helen’s and bring the Peace Light to the island on December 17 where it will stay in St Matthew’s Church.
On December 20 there will be a Service of Distribution where members of the Scout and Girl Guide Associations will take the Peace Light into their own communities - churches, old people’s homes, town halls, to anyone who would like to receive the gift. The service will open to everyone who wish to attend.
On Sunday, December 21, there will be commemorative services and the Peace Light will be presented.
We would like to share the Peace Light with the whole island and as many places as possible. If anyone would like to receive the gift of the Peace Light to their local Church, hospital, old age home etc and take part in this event please contact either Julie Leece - jjwd@hotmail.co.uk or 264499 (Scout Association - Isle of Man, Girlguiding - IOM) or Father Robert Boyle (St Matthews Church) - robert.boyle7@btinternet.com or 676310.
You can learn more about the Peace Light of Bethlehem at peacelight.org.uk.
Kevin Brew
Scout Association
To contribute to Your News, which features in the Isle of Man Examiner, write a report and email it to newsdesk@newsiom.co.im. Please include a daytime phone number so we can quickly check any queries.