Fr David Teasdale, Vicar of St Mary's and St Luke's received the Bethlehem Peace Light this week.

Fr David invited the people of St John's to the Ecumenical Service on Sunday evening and shared with us the Light of Peace.

Mr Robin Slavin, representing the Parish of St John's and the Scouting Movement, received the Light and it was brought (carefully!) to our community.

The Bethlehem Peace Light now also shines in hope and prayer at our Crib.

Our thanks to Fr David and the parishioners of St Mary's and St Luke's for their welcome and prayer.

Peace is not simply the absence of conflict but rooted in hearts and lives, in families and communities.

The world stands in desperate need of peace which begins in the human heart, not in religion or politics, in ideas, philosophies or Parties but in relationships, when heart speaks to heart. This surely is the essence of the feast we are about to celebrate. The heart of God has spoken to the heart of humanity. The message is that there is new way to live, another way of being, another way of loving. However, this new way is one which takes courage, faith and trust. Let us pray that old hurts, even current hurts, hatred and acrimonies may be put aside for the common good, for the sake of peace.

Lord, work Your wonders again in the Holy Land, let the heavens rain down peace!