INTRODUCTION
"We gladly receive the light as a sign of our willingness to be channels of peace, by our words and actions.."
Now in its 20th year, the Peace Light from Bethlehem campaign was originally organized by the Austrian Broadcasting Company - ORF (Linz) - and was part of a large 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 in many countries which has allowed the light to travel throughout Europe, such that the light is passed on 23 European Countries and for the past few years on to America.
Each year, a child from Upperaustria fetches the light from the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The light is then flown to 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 for use at ecumenical services throughout the Continent. Scouts and Guides can then take the light on to other churches, hospitals, old people homes, prisons, and places of public, cultural and political importance - to anybody that appreciates the significance of the "gift".
In past years the light has been presented to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, Mikhail Gorbachov, former King Hussain of Jordan, EU President Romano Prodi and other member of the European parliament in Strasbourg, the UN Troops in Kosovo and to Ground Zero, New York.
The Peace Light's message is Peace, Love, Joy, Respect, Care, Compassion and Brotherhood. It is exchanged as a gift by members of the World Scouting Movement to individuals, families, houses of worship, community groups, organizations that can be reached by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts by New Years Day.
When receiving the light you are asked to repeat the following message:
"We gladly receive the light as a sign of our willingness to be channels of peace, by our words and actions.."