It is a light that has burned for more than 1,000 years.
For the past several years, Peterborough residents have had the opportunity to light lanterns and candles carrying flame that has traveled from lamps lit at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a light that has stayed continuously lit for more than a millenium.
Each year, a child from Austria fetches the light and brings it back to Vienna, where it is then distributed at a service of dedication to Scouting delegations from more than 30 European countries, and is taken back to various communities to share at ecumenical services – including a light that is carried to the United States and shared from New York City.
Peterborough’s Boy Scout Troop 8 and Cub Scout Pack 8 will share the Peace Light with the community at a service at the Union Congregational Church in Peterborough on Sunday at 7 p.m. Attendees will each share the light from candle to candle, and have the opportunity to take the light home with them, if they wish.
“It’s symbolic of the light of Christ,” explained the Rev. Bob Marrone, of the Union Congregational Church. “Especially at Christmas. It’s a beautiful thing. When you have that many candles in one place, it’s amazing how bright it is.”
Marrone said that he attended last year’s service, hosted that year by the Methodist church, and kept his lantern lit well into 2016, and used it to light the Advent candles.
This year, said Marrone, the church will use the flame to light the pilot light on a gas stove.
“The Peace Light will live here,” said Marrone.
Lauren Martin, who leads Troop 8, said the Peace Light has deep personal meaning to her, alongside its more universal message.
“It helped me to find peace the first Christmas after my father passed,” she said. “When I went to get the light that year, I prayed all day that it would bring me peace, and it really did.”
The first year the light was brought to Peterborough, said Martin, it was only two days after the Newtown Elementary School shooting.
“When the candles were lit, and the lights were off, and everyone was holding this candle silently, it just felt healing to me,” said Martin. “It’s a beautiful opportunity to gain a sense of peace and healing and get in touch with the foundation and deep meaning of what this time of year is all about.”
The hour-long service is open to everyone from every faith tradition. It will include a few songs and readings, a message from the Rev. Marrone, and the sharing of the Peace Light.
Participants are welcome to bring lanterns to take the Peace Light flame home and to share it with family and friends.
The path of how the Peace Light is being shared can be seen on a map at www.peacelight.org.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.