The Peace Candle is a small votive candle that we light each time we worship.  The history of the candle dates back to 1986, when a group from York, Pennsylvania visited a number of churches in the Soviet Union.  Following a service in a Russian Orthodox Church, an elderly woman in the congregation placed three rubles in the hand of an American pastor and asked him to buy a candle for the church he served, to be lighted during each service as a symbol of peace.  Since then, a Peace Candle has burned each Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church in York. It was confirmed in July 2026, that they still light a candle.

In fall 1986, the York congregation passed the light of their candle on to 100 other churches.  Since that time, this light has traveled in ever-widening circles to thousands of congregations all over the world.  There is no way to know all the places it has gone, but this mission of spreading peace and light in our world, which these churches listed here are now part of, can be traced directly back to York, Pennsylvania.  

Shoregate United Methodist Church in Willowick, Ohio, has shared this Light of Peace with these 75 churches in honor of its 75th Anniversary in April 2027.  

Shoregate UMC offers a candle as an opportunity to join churches all over the world in praying for peace.  Shoregate UMC humbly requests that each church dedicate a candle, put it in a visible place, and light it when they worship.  Shoregate UMC encourages each church to lift up a particular place as they pray for peace.  Shoregate UMC encourages all churches to pass a new Peace Candle on to other churches with an updated/adapted history to reflect their own church’s information.  

The following churches have confirmed their receipt of a Peace Candle.  Please pray for them. 

Clovis, California:  Reverand Akiko Miyake-Stoner has sent these photos from the United Japanese Christian Church.  When they lit the candle, they prayed for our congregation on World Communion Sunday, October 4, 2026.  They send us warmth and blessings for our 75th Anniversary.  If you feel moved to send them a card, their address is 136 N. Villa Avenue, Clovis, CA 93612

Willowick, Ohio: Pastor Jason was presented a Peace Candle on October 4, 2026 upon the inaugural church service for Bethesda Baptist Church within Shoregate United Methodist Church's building.