Morning Star Staff
For members of the Okanagan Centre for Spiritual Living, it’s a special time of the year, the annual candle-lighting service.
“We have been celebrating this in Vernon for 22 years,” said centre president Bev Danby. “It presents a selection of beautiful music and inspiring messages. Each candle that is lit represents a religion of the world and an attribute of God, with a short reading corresponding to it.
“Some religions that have been included are Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Bahai, Buddhism and Earth-based spirituality. There are carols and Christmas songs to sing along with and musical presentations to enjoy. After the event we have a social get together with tea, coffee and snacks.
This year’s candle-lighting takes place Sunday at 7 p.m. at 2913-29th Ave.
Another special event is the World Peace Meditation on Dec. 31, which has taken place around the world since 1987, and at the centre since 1991.
“People from all over the planet join their hearts, minds and consciousness to meditate for peace,” said Danby. “We gather as one at noon Greenwich time on December 31, which in Vernon is at 4 a.m.
“This is a very powerful gathering of many individual minds and hearts coming together as one mind and heart. Come and join with like-minded souls in Vernon and around the world to pray and meditate for peace on the morning.”
