The Power of One
One woman….
One hope….
One dream…..
Our Peace/Prayer Candle Tradition
In 1985, the Rev. Blair R. Monie, pastor of the first Presbyterian Church (York, Pennsylvania) visited the Soviet Union. In the small town of Voronezh, he was approached by an old woman who pressed a small sum of money into his hand and requested that he do something for World Peace. He recognized a deep desire and strong devotion in her eyes and in her voice and determined he would do something special when he returned to the United States.
What could he do with three rubles? After much thought he purchased a small votive candle, placed in on the Communion Table and lit it. On hearing his story, his congregations agreed to make it a permanent accessory of the chancel and purchased a supply of votive candles so that they would make a “peace candle” available to any visitor wishing to take it back to his/her sanctuary.
And so a tradition of burning a peace candle during each service began. The candle for Knox United Church, in Brookfield was presented to us by Durham Presbyterian Church, Nova Scotia. It was dedicated on December 7, 2008. Visitors to Knox United Church Brookfield will be offered the opportunity to take a candle back to their congregation.
When we see the glow of our peace candle burning on the Communion Table we offer our prayers of peace. This small non-threatening symbol of peace helps us to be praying people and to play our part as peacemakers as Jesus Christ called us to do. Today candles burn in England, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Kuwait, South Africa, and Denmark.
