Bury St Edmunds families invited to get involved with Light Up Suffolk

Every household in Suffolk has been invited to light a candle to celebrate a global event.

The initiative is being held to mark Thy Kingdom Come, from May 21-31, which will not be going ahead due to Covid-19. Venerable Sally Gaze, the Archdeacon for Rural Mission, is coordinating an effort to unite Suffolk in lighting a candle.

She said: "We have created Light Up Suffolk with the aim of encouraging everyone to light a candle in their window and say a short prayer for their family or community.

“Wouldn’t it be great if lots of people have a candle in their window throughout the ten days of Thy Kingdom Come?”

For children, parents can download a rainbow candle poster for them to colour in and place in their windows.

“Rainbows are a sign of hope for people,” Archdeacon Sally added. “It’s encouraging for people to see and know that they have friends and neighbours who are taking part in Light Up Suffolk.”

Many churches across Suffolk including the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Salvation Army, Elim, New Frontiers and The Forge, are taking part.

People are also being encouraged to sign up to a 24/7, unbroken prayer marathon from Sunday, May 24, until Pentecost Sunday on May 31.

Archdeacon Sally said: “We have had lots of people sign up to take an hour’s slot already.

“The kindness of people has shone throughout this pandemic. There is a desire for prayer connection with neighbours and to be kind and help each other. It has reminded us of what is really important in life.

“The prayer marathon has come at a time in the last week of May which is proving to be a transitional phase with a lot of uncertainty. So, it’s an ideal time to be engaging in prayer as people move into the unknown as lockdown eases.”

For more information, visit the website www.light-wave.org/lightupsuffolk