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Over 100 candles
provided a brilliant reception for the Bethlehem Peace Light when it
arrived in Luton on its journey around the UK in time for Christmas. It
had travelled over 2,500 miles from the Church of the Holy Nativity in
Palestine for a service of commemoration at the candlelit All Saints
Church in Shaftesbury Avenue. Attended by the mayor of Luton, over 60
Scouts, church people and various religious leaders, the event has
attracted support from many denominations for 10 years. The service was
conducted by Father Richard Franklin the vicar of All Saints and the
Revd Roberta Rominger led the blessing of the light. She helped to light
numerous lanterns that will now be taken to churches and other locations
in Luton and Bedfordshire.
Peter Sharples, a member
of the British Rail Scout fellowship, planned the annual event which was
started in 1986 by the Austrian Broadcasting Company. The light was lit
from the eternal flame at Christ's Grotto and began its journey from
Bethlehem at the end of November in the safe hands of 11 year old Judith
Pitzer a schoolgirl from Austria who flew with it to Vienna. From there
it went by Orient Express to Paris where it was given a guard of honour
by French Scouts who accompanied it by rail to Dover. Here, Peter
Sharples collected the peace light and escorted it the final 270 miles
to Luton.
Peter is one of those
responsible for sending the light on its way to towns and cities all
over the UK from Luton in the south to Glasgow in the north and over the
Irish Sea to Belfast and Dublin. More than 25 countries take part in the
venture and it is expected that the light will be taken direct from
Bethlehem to New York to light up ground zero as it has done since 2001.
Peter said, “The light
is a symbol of peace in a world of conflict.” He went on, “This year the
conflict in Israel and Palestine and their neighbours just serves to
emphasise the need for a message of peace and tolerance. I am proud that
the Scouts and Guides of Europe and the Middle East make the effort to
bring this message not just to Luton but to the rest of the UK.”
Peter added, “The light
is not just a religious sign. It also brings a poignant gift of joy and
hope to hospitals, old people’s homes, prisons and public places.”
The mayor of Luton, Cllr
Julian Wates said, "This is an important message for all peace loving
people. I am especially pleased to see the interest it has generated in
inter faith groups who have joined us tonight to share the peace light
symbol with us." |