The New Year will see the International Peace Light passed around all of the Scout Groups in Southport and Formby.
It will be shared around the Sefton North District via a variety of events between the groups and will be present at significant events in the Scouting calendar.
The message of the importance of peace will be shared among all members.
Local Scouts were honoured to be in possession of the International Peace Light at Christmas.
Now in its 38th year, the Peace light from Bethlehem campaign was part of a charitable relief mission – Light into Darkness, for children in need in Austria and abroad.
Since 1986 there has been a great deal of co-operation between Scouts and Guides which has allowed the light to travel throughout Europe, such that the light is passed on to 30 European countries as well as North America, Mexico and Canada.
Each year, a child kindles a flame from the Eternal Flame from the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
This light is then flown to Austria where it is distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe who take it back to their own countries, for use at services and events – to anybody who would appreciate the significance of the ‘gift’.
In past years the light has been presented to Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, UN Troops and continues to be taken to Ground Zero in New York.
In the current climate in the Middle East, the Austrian Peace Light organisation team decided that collecting the Light from Bethlehem Nativity Grotto may not be safe, therefore at the Vienna Distribution Service on Sat 14th December 2024, they lit the congregation lanterns from the Peace Light collected last year. That Light has been maintained and has been burning since it was collected from Bethlehem.
Debbie Coyne, Group Lead Volunteer from the 48th Southport (St Peter’s) Air Scout Group received the light from Andy Mageer of the 4th Crosby & District (St William of York) Scouts.
Andy and his son had recently represented Merseyside Scouting as part of the UK contingent at the service of distribution in Vienna, Austria and wished to pass on the light to Southport as a symbol of peace, hope and love.
The light was also passed on to a contingent of Scouts from the Isle of Man, who recently enjoyed a stay at Waterside Lodge in Southport and who attended the service of distribution in Crosby.
For more information about the International Peace Light, please follow this link:
https://www.peacelight.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=224969647220920
Sefton North Scouts, based in Southport and Formby, Merseyside, is home to over 900 young people – both Boys and Girls, from the age of four enjoying life-changing adventures every week.
For more information about Scouting in Southport and Formby, please follow this link to our District website.
https://seftonnorthscouts.org.uk/
‘May the kindly spirit of Christmas spread its radiance far and wide,
So all the world may feel the glow, of this Holy Christmastide,
So may this light of peace today that has travelled many miles,
Bring joy and hope to many and fill each face with smiles.
So may every heart and home continue through the year,
To feel the warmth and wonder of this season of good cheer,
And may it bring us closer to God and to each other,
With every stranger known as friend, whether Sister or a Brother.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com
