Light from Bethlehem enhances Christmas traditions

Christmas Eve candlelight service at Bethel UCC. Photo courtesy of Stephen Strobbe.

An eternal flame (The Peace Light of Bethlehem) burns in the Nativity Grotto, Bethlehem, Israel where Jesus was born.

For the past 30 years a Scout from Upper Austria fetches the International Peace Light from the nativity grotto in Bethlehem, at the site where Jesus was born. The light is then carried in two miners’ lamps on an Austrian Airlines jet from Tel Aviv Israel to Vienna, where it is then distributed at a Service of dedication to delegations from across Europe who take it back, with a message of Peace, to their own countries. On November 20th, 11-year-old Niklas Lehner, from Vorchdorf, Austria, is the Scout who was chosen to travel to the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where he received the light of peace from the eternal candles within the grotto.

Austrian Airlines then flies lamps containing the Bethlehem Peace Light to New York City. The Peace Light arrived from Tel Aviv by Austrian Airlines on December 1 at JFK International Airport, New York. A ceremony for the Peace light distribution was held at the Our Lady of the Skies Chapel.

From there, several “peace light ambassadors” from across the United States started on their own journeys. One such ambassador arrived in Ann Arbor on December 4. The Southern Shores Field Service Council of the Boy Scouts of America is honored to carry on as ambassadors for the Peace Light. Various Scout units across the Council, including Troop 426 of Manchester, received the Peace Light this year, and were honored to bring the light of peace to Manchester.

“The Bethlehem light came to Bethel Church thanks to Jeff and Tyler Elliott and our local Boy Scout Troop 426,” said Rev. David Bucholtz, pastor of Bethel United Church of Christ. “Bethel Church received the light on Christmas Eve. The light from Bethlehem was used to ignite the Christ candle in the center of our Advent wreath, and then distributed to worshipers, who each held a candle aflame while singing Silent Night in English and German (Stille Nacht).”

The Scouts from Troop 426 also delivered the light to downtown Manchester on Christmas Eve, where the flame was used to kindle the dozens of luminaria placed along Main Street in the business district.

“From Bethlehem to Bethel (and beyond!), the light of Bethlehem continues to burn in the hearts of each of us who received the gift of the Christ child on the blessed Christmas night, 2018,” said Bucholtz.  

Jacob Mann, Cristie Warren, and Ethan Waycaster helped deliver the light from Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.