The Light of Peace returns to Iowa December 7

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 through Fri., Jan. 1, 2016

Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016

Office opens at 2:00 PM
Martin Luther King, Jr, Day

January 18, 2016

IRMS Annual Meeting & Board Meeting, Iowa Conference Center of the United Methodist Church

 

January 25-27 

Disciples/UCC Ministers Institute, Christian Conference Center, Newton, Iowa

Suite 15

The Bethlehem Peace Light is a beautiful reminder of the reason for Christmas and fills those who share the Light with joy, hope and love. We asked several of our clients who have collected the Light from IRMS in the past to reflect on what this Light means to them.

Rev. David Sickelka, pastor of the Urbandale United Church of Christ, said that sometimes a discussion is lifted in his church regarding safety concerns about having open flames. They consider that perhaps the church should replace the lit candles with battery-powered "candles." He says it doesn't happen because an artificial light is not the same as a flame. He went on to tell us,

"There is something deeply symbolic about light and candles on Christmas Eve. When I first heard about the Peace Light, I just knew we had to do it. The gift of the Child is not something that we can celebrate in isolation or receive for ourselves without remembering the whole human family. The Peace Light forces us to expand our mindfulness to include places and peoples that are foreign to us, but are also one with us in our need for hope and peace. The flame from Bethlehem burns on our communion table during the services and then is passed to each person in the room. It is a powerful symbol of God's reconciling power."

Joan Sieczkowski, from Our Lady's Immaculate Heart in Ankeny, shared that the church's theme for last Advent was "Be the Light" and everyone was encouraged to think of ways to bring the face of Christ to others. Joan said, "Having the Peace Light was a natural off-shoot of this theme. We displayed it right under the stained glass window and included cards with a prayer for peace on them so folks could pray in the chapel or take them home to continue prayer with their family, neighborhood and community."  Joan was thankful for the opportunity to share in a world-wide prayer for peace.

Last year Pastor Joan White, of First Presbyterian in Perry, collected the Bethlehem Peace Light for her congregation. She shared that the people attending the Perry Presbyterian Christmas Eve service were provided a candle in a container to protect it from the wind and were encouraged to light their candles using the Light. They were then asked to take their little flames home to become part of their family's Christmas celebration, remembering that these lights represent love, hope and peace and a source of joy that is meant to be shared.  Joan went on to share what the Bethlehem Peace Light meant to her.

"Christ came into the world as a baby, to be light to the WORLD - the whole WORLD (not just our little part of the world). He came to transform the present world into a place of joy, peace, hope and love. It started in Bethlehem that night long ago. Somehow, bringing the Bethlehem Peace Light from the traditional Bethlehem birthplace of Baby Jesus into our lives over 2,000 years after the birth reminds us of Jesus' purpose, God's vision for us, and the fact that this vision is still in the process of becoming - one person passing it on to the next, until the entire world is transformed. We are blessed to be a part of this transformation."

You, too, can experience the blessings of the Light of Bethlehem. You may come to IRMS to collect the Light starting the afternoon of Monday, December 7. It will also be available Monday through Friday, December 8-23 between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:30 pm, and by special arrangements on December 24. Don't miss this meaningful opportunity.