Candle Making, Bonfire & Movie Night in March
“Set our hearts on fire with love for You, O Christ our God, so that in its flame we may love You with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul and with all our strength, and our neighbors as ourselves, so that by keeping Your commandments we may glorify You, the giver of all good gifts.”
1. FKB: Candle Making
On March the 14th Saint Paul’s FKB event was candle making. Candles have long been used in the Holy Orthodox Church, both historically and traditionally being made from beeswax, however with beeswax prices being so high this has not been very viable for many parishes and has been lost for many.
As the attendees of this event found out, making candles with the traditional method is a slow practice, totally counter to the fast-paced world we find ourselves in today. Each participant would take turns, methodically dipping their candle wicks into a pool of melted beeswax, hanging this dry, only to dip it into the wax again, repeating the process over and over as layers of beeswax built up over time to form the candle. As they continued dipping their candles, each of them found their own rhythm in doing so, until their candle was complete.
While the participants were making their candles, Anthony provided a few reflections on the significance of the use of beeswax. Saint Basil the great has a parable of a bee, in which he points out that the bee will enter each flower and only take from it that which is good without carrying the burden of the entire flower to the hive. With this being the case, beeswax is a symbol of both the bees' hard work, but also one of purity, of taking the good and leaving the bad.
Written above is one of the prayers we have in the church for when we light candles. It’s a reminder that in the same way that the candle provides physical light and warmth, that we have Christ as our spiritual light and warmth. In the same way that the candle provides light to that which surrounds it, let us all burn with the love and light of Christ that we may also illumine those around us pointing each other towards salvation.
2. Youth Committee: Movie Night & Bonfire
On March 14th, St. Paul’s Youth Committee brought together our over 16’s youth for another memorable evening. The event followed the Akathist Service to the Theotokos, and welcomed everyone with two blazing bonfires, an outdoor movie and a night filled with lots of enjoyment.
A major highlight of the evening was the screening of The Island, a Russian film that tells the story of a monk living on a secluded island in a northern Russian monastery. Father Anatoly, though living his life in repentance, was granted the divine gift of healing people, exorcising demons, and foreseeing the future. It was an emotional yet captivating movie that highlighted the theme of repentance.
In addition to enjoying the movie, the youth gathered around the bonfire, engaging in conversations and laughter, while others participated in various sports activities. Some also embraced the opportunity to create candles, utilising materials from an earlier session for the under-16s. The evening was a success, filled with joy, fellowship, and meaningful connections were shared with our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.
