LIGHT A CANDLE for SYRIA

On a blustery late January day in 2014, we opened our church for people to drop in and light a candle for Syria. There was a steady flow as people, came and went for various lengths of time , watching pictures from damaged cities and towns, refugee camps and of men in suits talking projected above a tent and realistic imitation fire, then lighting their candles. Those who lit candles also expressed their concern by leaving gifts for Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Out of the silence, this emerged

Imagine!

Above the wild, wild winds

and the lowering clouds

shine the same stars

that shine in the clear Syrian skies.

Their light has travelled

billions of billions of miles

to witness the destruction,

the misery,

the death throes,

the agonies

and the terror.

We light candles for that tortured place

offer prayer and our vigil,

as scenes of the unthinkable

roll on, roll on, roll on.

In our Fenland church it is cold,

yet as nothing compared to the frozen nights

alternating with the unbearable heat

of an unsafe bunker, overcrowded and fetid

as a family waits in fear

of an enemy thundering into

their precarious refuge.

And the same stars shine on the camps,

acres of barely protective canvas

where children die for want of water

and lack of food.

How long, O Lord, how long

must the stars witness such harrowing obscenity?

Our 'Light a Candle for Syria' event followed an earlier 'Song for Syria'. As with any event publicity is key - and here's the way we advertised the first event. We are situated on a through road from two main routes