Lutheran church to share Bethlehem's Peace Light Dec. 22 in Rehoboth

Each year, a child from Upper Austria fetches the Peace Light from the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The light is carried in two blast-proof miners' lamps on an Austrian Airlines jet from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Vienna, Austria, from where it is distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe who take it back, with a message of peace, to their own countries. Austrian Airlines then flies the miners’ lamps containing the Peace Light from Bethlehem to New York City.

The Boy Scouts of Troop 1 in Lewes want to help the light spread like the branches of a huge tree, rooted in New York, and spreading across the continent.

At a ceremony at JFK Airport Dec. 10, Boy Scouts from many states, including Troop 1548 from Virginia, collected the Peace Light flame in their own oil lanterns and transported it back to their own communities, houses of worship, state buildings and retirement homes.  Later that day, Troop 1548 of Virginia met Dr. Christine Fox and Thomas Roberts, along with Mike Price of Lewes Boy Scout Troop 1, who collected the flame to transport to Rehoboth Beach.

The general public is invited to the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Saturday Dec. 22.  Those who would like to take part in collecting their own flames to take home should bring an enclosed candle or oil lantern.  A pilot light from a stove or water heater will keep the Peace Light burning.

Those who collect the light will have the opportunity to provide information to PeaceLight.org, and add their location to the growing international map on the website. For more information go to PeaceLight.org.