Just this evening I received official word that the 2012 Peace Light from Bethlehem will be arriving at JFK airport on the afternoon of Monday, December 10th! Although this is a much later arrival date than I had expected, I am relieved that the Peace Light will once again be making its way to the United States and I am excited about sharing it with you all!
I will once again be driving down to NYC to receive the Peace Light at the Ceremony of Reception at JFK airport and will make the flame available in New Hampshire as of December 11th. Just let me know when and where you need it and I will do my best to accommodate you. If you or your Scouts are interested in attending the Ceremony of Reception (exact time and place TBA) on December 10th, you are more than welcome to make the trip as well - just make sure you have an oil lantern or two and a safe transportation container for the long trip home! More information on the service will be posted at http://www.bsainternationalpeacelightusa.org/index.html
For those of you counting on an earlier arrival date (last year the Peace Light arrived on November 29th), I can hopefully console you by offering the 2011 Peace Light flame, which I still have burning at my church. Although spreading the 2011 flame will not count toward the official tracking of the 2012 Peace Light flame on peacelight.org <http://peacelight.org>, it is from the same source and will enable you to incorporate the Peace Light's powerful message into any events you have planned before December 11th.
I am attaching the updated version of this year's Peace Light flyer. Please pass it on to anyone who might be interested and contact me with any questions or requests.
Yours in Scouting,
Gretchen Osgood Peace Light Coordinator for the Daniel Webster Council
The Peace Light from Bethlehem is coming to Bedford Presbyterian Church on December 17
For over a thousand years lamps have been continuously lit in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Israel. For the last 22 years, a child from Austria has fetched the flame from a grotto lamp and brought it back to Vienna, where it is then distributed at a Service of Dedication to Scouts from all across Europe. From Vienna, these Scouts take the Peace Light back to their own communities to deliver it, with a message of peace, to churches, hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters, prisons, and places of public, cultural and political importance - to anybody who appreciates the significance of this gift of peace.
Since 2004, Austrian Airlines has flown the the Peace Light from Vienna to New York City and Scout leaders have begun spreading it across the North American continent. This year the Peace Light Coordinator for the BSA's Daniel Webster Council, Gretchen Osgood, is bringing the flame to New Hampshire to share it with any and all who are interested in taking the Peace Light home or delivering it to others. This is an event for everyone - individuals, families, church representatives and Scouts - so please spread the word.
The Peace Light will be available at Bedford Presbyterian Church, 4 Church Road, on Saturday, December 17, 2011, from 1pm to 4pm. Bring your own oil lamp or enclosed candle to the church and Boy Scouts from Troop 414 will share the Peace Light with you. More information is available at peacelight.org.
Peace Light from Bethlehem will be available to the public on Sunday 12/16 from 4-7pm at Bedford Presbyterian Church 4 Church Road, Bedford, NH 03110
The Peace Light from Bethlehem is a continuously-burning flame, originating from the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Israel. It is spread from person to person throughout the world each December, as a reminder that we can all be channels of peace through our words and actions.
Scouts have always played a large part in sharing the flame and its message of peace and this year Bedford Boy Scouts will once again be offering the Peace Light flame to the public in a brief and meaningful ceremony at Bedford Presbyterian Church.
On Sunday December 22nd, at 11 AM Bedford Scout Troop 414 will continue a journey that has so far taken many weeks. Following the worship service at the Bedford Presbyterian Church on Church Street, the Scouts will offer the light to anyone who would like to share in its warmth and its message. All are welcome.
The Peace Light began its journey in November in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The eternal light at the grotto was transferred to a special miner’s lamp so that it could be protected on its travels. Austrian Airlines brought it to its home country from where it was distributed to the rest of Europe and subsequently to the rest of the world. Arriving in New York on December 6th the flame is currently spreading across the US. The goal of the Peace Light project is to bring the message of peace to as many people as possible around the world.
Any scouts planning to attend the cooking campout please have a parent complete the permission form by this Wednesday, December 9th. It can be found here:
Mrs. Delamater and I are organizing an opportunity to earn the Personal Fitness Merit Badge. This is an Eagle required merit badge and is open to all scouts (including the new members of the Troop). The merit badge requires a 13 week commitment to a fitness program. The spring/summer is an excellent time to earn this merit badge. Tentatively, we are thinking of having a kick off on Sunday April 27th. More details to follow. If you are interested in this merit badge please email me at - bakernh@comcast.net - to sign up.
There will be an opportunity to earn the Eagle required Personal Fitness Merit Badge. The group will get started early in April at a time and place to be determined. This merit badge requires a 13 consecutive week commitment to an exercise program so it is ideal to start in the spring - you will then have a long stretch of warm weather to select a 13 week period. The merit badge is open to all scouts and is a good first merit badge for younger scouts.
Maureen Delamater and I (Martin Baker) will be working together to assist scouts in achieving this merit badge. If you are interested in getting started please email to me your name and best email contact to - bakernh@comcast.net.
