Peace Light .org2009 Testimonials
If you would like to share your experiences, send us an e-mail at peacelight@peacelight.org . If you would also like to have your community appear on our tracking map, please include your zip code and organization (if any).
Joe, Yuri, and Roger, Thank you again for helping me to bring the Peace Light to North Carolina and Fort Bragg. I shared the Peace Light with Haymount United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, NC. Pastor Wells received the light on 23 Dec and will share the Peace Light with congregation for Christmas Eve. The church maintains a perpetual burning flame, candle, in the sanctuary 24/7. The flame was extinguished and then re-light with the Peace Light. The church will maintain the flame in the sanctuary for years to come. I also shared the Peace Light with Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC. Pastor John Cook will share the PL during two Christmas Eve Services tonight. This evening the Peace Light will light the "Christ Candle" at Fort Bragg Main Post Chapel, Division Memorial Chapel, JFK Chapel, Wood Chapel, Division North Chapel. Thank you and I pray the Bless you all with a wonderful Christmas! David Lee Druckenmiller
Thank you for the information. It was very helpful to me in spreading the flame! I truly respect the endeavor that you have undertaken and commend you on a job well done. This is at the heart of Scouting. I held a Peace Light Distribution Ceremony at Minsi Trails Council on Monday 12.21.09 at 6pm. Six Scouts performed the ceremony (2 Boy Scouts, 3 Webelos and 1 cub) with my assistance. Units from all over Council attended. Several arrived after the ceremony due to traffic, so the flame continued to be distributed! I asked all that attended to contact you to let you know where they will bring the flame. I would be honored if you were to list me as a coordinator. Cathy Schneible, Pack 352 Committee Member
We received a Peace Light this evening and are at 55110 in Minnesota. We're so very happy to have one!! Karen Booth
Dear friends, This is to inform you that we have received the Peace Light this afternoon. We are most grateful for your work and continue to pray for peace from above. In Christ, Pastor Said Ailabouni, Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange, IL
Mohawk United Methodist Church (ZIP code 46140) has received the Peace light from Danville UMC. We'll be bringing it into the sanctuary on Christmas Eve. Rev. Greg Pimlott, Minister, Mohawk UMC
Dear Friends, Trinity Episcopal Church in Easton, PA will be a recipient of the Peace Light in 2009. Thank you for a great ministry! Blessings! Andrew+
Thank you for bringing the peace light to the United States and ultimately to Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Our local BSA council, Minsi Trails, performed a peace light ceremony in Allentown on 12/21/09. Boy Scout Troop 50 brought the flame back to our hometown in Phillipsburg NJ. There they passed the flame to the Cub Scouts in Pack 50 who delivered it to the Church of Saint Philip and Saint James on South Main Street. It will remain there through Christmas day. We're grateful that our scouts were given an opportunity to be ambassadors of peace. Peace, and God Bless. Boy Scout Troop 50, Minsi Trails BSA; Cub Scout Pack 50, Minsi Trails BSA
Just wanted to let you know that the Peace Light reached Bethlehem PA USA on December 21 for the solstice AND to be the light for the candles at our Holiday Court of Honor for our Troop. In addition, we had two young men who had earned their Eagle earlier in the year take the Eagle Charge last night. It was a very special moment for so many of us. Thank you! Tamie Swain – Communications, Boy Scout Troop 318
My name is Heather Wisniewski - in Glen Ellyn IL 60137 - I just received the peace light yesterday. Thanks so greatly - please map Glen Ellyn IL in the system!
Thank you Troop 113 from Bayport MN! This is our second year receiving the peace light and we have distributed it a little further this year. We live in Hudson, WI and have taken it to Eau Claire, WI, River Falls, WI, and around the Twin Cities. Some of those people are planning to take it to their parents in Redwood Falls, MN and in Bemidji, MN. Hopefully you'll get email confirmations that it got there. Having the Peace Candle burning in our home gives an added feeling of mystery, peace, and awe during the Advent season. God Bless!- Chuck Roach
Thank you for the opportunity to share the joy of this "light" of peace with our friends, family and loved ones. Have a safe and blessed Christmas. Noreen Davis, Easton, PA 18045
Thank you for allowing us to warm our hearts and home with the gift of a flame from the Peace Light. We are going to offer the flame to the First Moravian Church in Easton, PA to light all the candles at our annual Christmas Eve Candle Light Services. Have a blessed and joyful holiday. Joni, Kyle & Kayden Stocker, Cub Pack 51, Phillipsburg, NJ
Pack 152 of Adel, IA proudly possesses the 2009 Peace Light and will start to share the flame with our communities. Thank you for allowing us to serve. Mark Hinds Asst. Cubmaster, Pack 152
We received the Peace Light in Wiesbaden, Germany on 20 December 2009. Blessings, Tawona Katz
The Peace Light is still burning here at Fort Bragg and it was shared with the Christ United Methodist Church on Raeford Road in Fayetteville, NC. The PL was shared with the Main Post Chapel at Fort Bragg on 13 December 2009. I light the Candle Lantern on the altar with the flame I received from you and it has burned continuously since. The Third Sunday of Advent was a blessing with the Peace Light as we worshiped with a lighting of the Peace Light at the beginning of the service and then we enjoyed a Cantata. The PL will burn in this community of soldiers and families throughout Christmas. The Christmas Eve services at Fort Bragg will be blessed as we light our Christ Candles and share the PL with every individual attending. Have a Blessed Christmas. Christ is the Light of the World and He will come again for all who love His appearing! "Even so come. Lord Jesus. Amen!" Chaplain David Druckenmiller
Today we received the “Peacelight” in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, from Zenon Stepchuk, a member of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization U.S. A.(Minneapolis) who in turn received it from Troop 113 in Bayport, Minnesota. We will try to connect with the Boy Scouts in Winnipeg. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate in this wonderful world-wide Scouting tradition. Marta Hnatiw, President of Plast, Ukrainian Youth Association of Manitoba
Plast Winnipeg has received the “Peacelight” Zenko Stepchuk from Minneapolis. We are organizing a special ceremony at our Cathedrals on January 3rd. Marta Hnatiw, head of Plast Ukrainian Scouting in Winnipeg Manitoba
We were able to connect and transfer to our fireplace at our office at the Central MN Council. It was a great experience and they took a picture of the exchange. I will put together the other information to forward to you.
THANKS for the opportunity! Bob Rueter, District Director, Central MN Council BSA
To let you know I have received the 2009 Peace Light from Bethlehem. Helen Rush St. Paul, MN
Our Peace Light ceremonies are going very well. Several Ukrainian churches have received or will receive the Peace Light before their Christmas celebrations and the Peace Light will burn throughout their Christmas celebrations. The Greater Cleveland Plast Ukrainian Scout Organization will share the Peace Light at their Annual Candlelight Ceremonies. Our Ukrainian Radio Hour (Cleveland Public Radio) will dedicate a portion of this Sunday's program to the Peace Light. Happy Holidays to all! Lydia
We picked up the light from Bethlehem Lutheran in Bayport, MN. We have it at our house and will be sharing it Sunday Dec 20th at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Excelsior, MN.
Howdy, thank you to all involved in the Peace Light. We have it now from Sydney Chollett, in Weimar, Texas. Peace, Kecin Page
Three more churches form the Southern Suburbs:
Emanuel Lutheran (Inver Grove Heights 55077)
Grace United Methodist (Burnsville 55306)
Risen Savior Catholic Church (Burnsville 55306)
Yours in Scouting and Christ, Bob Elliott
The Peace Light will get a LOT of use in the
Southern Suburbs this Christmas season. So far the following
churches have all agreed to use the Peace Light in their services in one
form or another this week and next.
Berean Baptist (Burnsville 55306)
Christ Church on Capitol Hill (St Paul 55103)
Christus Victor Lutheran (Apple Valley 55124)
Easter Lutheran on the Hill (Eagan 55122)
Easter Lutheran by the Lake (Eagan 55122)
Hosanna Lutheran (Lakeville 55044)
Prince of Peace Lutheran (Burnsville 55337)
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran (Apple Valley 55124)
Southcross Community Church (Burnsville 55337)
Berean, Easter, SOTV, POP and Hosanna are all "mega churches" with memberships that range from about 2500 to over 9000. Yours in Scouting, Bob Elliott
My family has received the day today the light of the peace. The members are: Bertha Ramos Andrea Silguero Ramos Jorge Alberto Silguero Ramos Lark Alhelí Silguero Ramos. Congratulations. Ing. Marcos Virgen Tronco, Residente de Obras, Servicios y Asesoria Tecnica, H. Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Mexico
Hi, I'm Zenon Stepchuk. We chatted yesterday about Canada. We are planning to hand off the light in Fargo on Sunday to Plast, Ukrainian Scouting Organization - Canada members, weather and health permitting., I'll get you the contact information as soon as I receive it. Can you tell me what device you used to transport the light from JFK? The 7 day candle we were planning to use is OK, but the flame is rather small and the candle does not burn quite uniformly in circumference. We will be lighting candles here in the Twin Cities at two churches - St. Constantine Ukrainian Catholic Church in Minneapolis, and St. Stephan Ukrainian Catholic Church in St. Paul. Others may be included, but we have not made any arrangements beyond these two. By the way, the Lydia you met in Akron is Lydia Bazarko, whom we know. Her son is a member of our Minneapolis Plast branch, and his parents visit a few times a year. Zenon
I am a life Scout representing Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hinsdale, IL 60521. I carried the light from a Latvian Scoutmaster and presented it to my church. Then, in good spirits of friendship, I distributed the peace light among some family friends in Western Springs, IL 60558. Please add Hinsdale and Western Springs to the map. Justin
I received the Peace Light today around 12:30pm 12/13/09 @ Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Bayport, MN. I would like to say a big thank you to the Boy Scout Troop 113 for doing that from the community. I hope for one day that I have the opportunity to see the original manager site of our Christ’s birth. Many Thanks and Shalom to you, Melissa Thatcher, Lakeland, MN. 55043
I have just received the PeaceLight from our Latvian scout friend, Guntis Dabolins, Park Ridge, IL. My name is Laura Lapinskas. I am the Chief Executive Officer of Nerija, the girl Lithuanian Sea Scouts (Lemont, IL 60439), which are part of the Lithuanian Scouts Association (worldwide). We are extremely privileged to be part of this international endeavor. Thank you. We will be passing it on to many others.
The flame will be stored at Danville United
Methodist Church, where the troop meets. The Peace light is available to
all who want a reminder that the light of peace is present even in a
troubled world. Flames from the Peace Light will be distributed to
churches and the public on Christmas Eve, December 24th from noon until
3pm at the Danville Town hall parking lot at 147 West Main Street, just
west of the town square. Persons wishing to receive the flame should
bring their own method to transport the flame: a tea light candle in a
clean soup can is a good way to carry the flame. Persons wishing to
receive a flame from the Peace Light sooner than Christmas Eve may
contact Danville United Methodist Church at 317-745-4330 or Jeff Decker
at 317-938-1860 or e-mail at jeffrey.decker@sbcglobal.net.
My name is Cathy Schneible. I am a Committee Member of Pack 352 in Bethlehem Pa, Minsi Trails Council. My father delivered the Peace Light to me yesterday from Brooklyn NY. He was at JFK when the light arrived, as he is every year. I am interested in getting the light distributed...any suggestions? YIS, Cathy
This light will remind me of the true meaning of Christmas. What a
gift to myself and others! Judy Bush, Brookshire Texas
I received the Peace Light today (Monday, 12/7/09) from the Mid-Iowa Boy Scout Council Office in Des Moines, IA. The light we be present in our home, plus the our Cub Scout Pack 222, will pass the light to our Charter Organization, St.Pauls Lutheran Church tonight in our home town of Martensdale, IA. It will also be available for those that want to take the light home. We had more interest then time. We didn't find out about the light until Friday afternoon which didn't allow other churches (representing the boys in our pack) to get something together to receive it. We look forward to receiving the light again next year. Thank you, Beverly Thorpe, Pack Committee Chair
Guntis Dabolins passed the Peace Light along to me this morning and asked me to drop you an e-mail. This is now the 2nd year that I will be a receiver and further distributor of it. Last year I shared the Peace Light with three churches near my home. This year I hope to increase that number substantially. You guys are doing a wonderful thing. It means a great deal to those of who have participated. For me it's become one of the best joys of Christmas. Best Regards, Kalvis Cers, Cubmaster Pack 3362
We received the light yesterday afternoon at the boy scout camp, Lazarus, in the Simon Kenton Council. Representing the Arrowhead District , Troop 560 from Westerville Ohio 43081-4035. (a suburb of Columbus) We think this is a great idea to spread peace throughout the world. I have it in my home now and will be sharing it with the towns people as best as I can. Today it is going to my church to light the advent candle. Again thanks to all who make this beautiful thing happen. Byron Mann- A.S.M. troop 560
Today, we made some new friends and received the Peace Light for the first time. A contingent from Minnesota arrived in Westerville, Ohio (43081) and delivered the light to our troop (560) during a campout. We distributed the light to those we could at the campout and brought the light back ourselves. Tomorrow, we have arranged with our pastor to bring the light to our church (St. Paul Lutheran, Westerville, Ohio) were we will keep a flame and continue to distribute to all who appreciate the gift. Thank you so much for your efforts in this activity and for including us in the gift this year. I look forward to participating as we can in the future. In Christ, Stephan
The Peace Light will be available at the Mid-Iowa Council office until Christmas. More info at http://www.bsa-ia.org
The Peace Light was delivered to the Juniata Valley Council office Saturday morning 12/5 at 8:00 AM. We plan to have the Peace Light available during regular business hours until December 23rd at noon. See http://www.jvcbsa.org for more information.