First Light Prayers for World Peace New Years Day and Schedule Update
✨ First Light: Lamp Offering to Welcome the New Year ✨
Begin the first day of the solar New Year with us at KTC Jax with the offering of candles and lamps in honor of World Peace.
🗓 Thursday, January 1, 2026
⏰ 10:30 AM
📍 KTC Jax | In-person & Zoom
⸻
🪔 About the First Light Ceremony
Lamp offerings have special meaning: they shine the light on our inner wisdom and remind us of the clear path to living each day in peace.
We invite you to light your lamps of peace—to join in our offering and prayers to help the light of wisdom reach all corners of the world.
Together, we celebrate First Light with KTD Monastery, other KTC Centers, and Buddhist communities around the world. We will make aspirations, dedications, offerings, and prayers for world peace and happiness.
⸻
🙏 Ceremony Details
The ceremony will include:
• Traditional Tibetan Buddhist prayers of the Chenrezik Sadhana
• A lamp offering ceremony dedicated to:
• Loved ones who have passed away
• Those who are ill
• All beings who may be suffering
Each participant will have the opportunity to light a candle, make aspirations, and offer prayers for loved ones or all beings.
⸻
🌸 Offerings & Shrine Preparation
First Light is an auspicious occasion to renew our commitment to practice for the benefit of all sentient beings and to make offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Participants are encouraged to bring offerings such as:
• Flowers
• Fruit
• Sweets or baked treats
• Monetary offerings
Making offerings is considered highly meritorious and an effective way of removing obstacles.
🕘 If bringing offerings, please arrive around 9:30 AM so the shrine can be properly prepared by volunteer shrinekeepers.
⸻
💝 Can’t Attend in Person?
If you’re unable to attend and would like to make a donation for First Light, please donate here:
👉 https://ktcjax.org/donating
Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
⸻
🥗 Vegetarian Potluck Luncheon
Following the ceremony, we will host a vegetarian potluck luncheon.
All are welcome—please feel free to bring a vegetarian dish of your choice.
✨ You do not need to be Buddhist to attend. All are welcome.
⸻
💻 Attend via Zoom
Zoom link to attend remotely:
👉 https://zoom.us/j/287048452?pwd=WFc5WEJrNUlzSjlvNzFuZjkxNG1uZz09
⸻
📌 Holiday Schedule Updates
• Saturday 12/20 – Last day for non-perishable goods donations for the Schulzbacher Center
• Tuesday 12/23 – Practice cancelled
• Saturday 12/27 | 11:30 AM – Volunteer Cleaning (Karma Yoga)
• Thursday 1/1 – First Light: Prayers for World Peace
⸻
📅 Save the Date
February 6–8
🧘♂️ Khenpo Tenkyong Meditation Weekend
⸻
❤️ Support KTC Jax
Your contributions help sustain Dharma activity in Northeast Florida.
Thank you for your generosity.
