Worldwide Candle Lighting Memorial Service
The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting on the 2nd Sunday in December unites family and friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honor the memories of the sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren who left too soon. As candles are lit on December 13th, 2020 at 7:00 pm local time, hundreds of thousands of people commemorate and honor the memory of all children gone too soon.
Now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, the annual Worldwide Candle Lighting (WCL), a gift to the bereavement community from The Compassionate Friends, creates a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone. TCF’s WCL started in the United States in 1997 as a small internet observance and has since swelled in numbers as word has spread throughout the world of the remembrance. Hundreds of formal candle lighting events are held, and thousands of informal candle lightings are conducted in homes, as families gather in quiet remembrance of children who have died and will never be forgotten.
Add a Candle Lighting Program
IMPORTANT: If you attempt to submit your candle lighting service and we do not contact you or your service is not listed within 48 hours, please contact kathiek@compassionatefriends.org.
Every year you are invited to post a message in the Remembrance Book which will be available, during the event, at TCF’s national website. The Remembrance Book will be open to post a message Tuesday, December 1st, through Monday, December 14th. Photos can be posted on our Worldwide Candle Lighting Facebook page.
The Compassionate Friends and allied organizations are joined by local bereavement groups, churches, funeral homes, hospitals, hospices, children’s gardens, schools, cemeteries, and community centers. Services have ranged in size from just a few people to nearly a thousand.
Click on your state below to view Worldwide Candle Lighting events in your area.
View International Countries Virtual Worldwide Candle Lighting
If you do not see a candle lighting program in your area, contact your local chapter to see if they are planning a program. Find a chapter.
Florida
Gainesville
Alachua County Compassionate Friends Group
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 7:30 PM
- Location:
Milam Funeral Home, 22405 West Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669, 1 mile from the Newberry city limits
- Highlights:
Light refreshments and conversation, then Readings from Chapter secretary and reading of names by family members, followed by lighting of candles
- Bring:
Photos or remembrances of their child and must wear a mask and social distance while inside chapel
- Special Events (before):
6:00-6 :30 light refreshments
- Special Events (after):
None
- Contact:
- Marlene Hanna
- Email:
- hannarwmr@cox.net
- Additional:
Due to Covid restrictions we are limiting physical contact and requiring masks. Not open to the public but always welcoming new members who wish to participate
Sarasota
Compassionate Friends of Sarasota Florida
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 5:00 PM
- Location:
On the waterfront behind the Van Wezel Center building. Please bring a lawn chair and photo of your child, grandchild or sibling. Participants must wear a face mask and maintain safe social distancing at all times.
- Contact:
- Carl or Judy Levy
- Telephone:
- 941-564-9823
- Email:
- tcfsarasotafl@gmail.com
Lakeland
Lakeland/Polk County Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6:00 - 7:00 PM
- Location:
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
1520 West Pipkin Road
Lakeland, Florida
- Highlights:
Music by Eli & Anna Mosley
Reading of children’s names
Speaker – Tim Williams
- Bring:
Picture for Memorial Table
- Special Events (after):
Refreshments provided
- Contact:
- Steve Pleima
- Email:
- tcflakelandfl@gmail.com
Oviedo
Lynn Slivinski – Oviedo, Florida Area
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 7:00 PM
- Location:
In Person
1025 Gould Place, Oviedo, FL, 32765
- Highlights:
Christmas music, reading of children’s name and a small speech by each parent
- Bring:
A picture
- Special Events (before):
Sharing Time
- Special Events (after):
Nothing
- Contact:
- Lynn Slivinski
- Telephone:
- 407-538-5518
- Email:
- lynnslivi@aol.com
- Additional:
This is for a small group of parents who have lost parents in the same area. We have know each other since our children were very small.
North Port
North Port Florida Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6:15 PM
- Location:
Old World Restaurant in North Port, Fl. 34293
- Highlights:
Alan Pederson’s candle lighting service on a screen
- Bring:
Pictures of lost children.
- Special Events (after):
Sharing our children’s names and eating at restaurant to show courtesy to restaurant owner.
- Contact:
- Kathy Holder
- Telephone:
- 704-609-7411
- Email:
- spingirl41652@gmail.com
- Additional:
704-609-74111
spingirl41652@gmail.com
Jacksonville
Orange Park-Jacksonville, FL Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
Southside United Methodist Church
3120 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207
- Highlights:
Lighting Candles in honor of our loved ones and anyone who would like to read a poem may do so, we will end the service with the slideshow of our children, grandchildren and siblings. If you would like your loved one to be a part of the slideshow please email a picture, with their full name, date of birth, date of death and age of death to tcfjaxfl@gmail.com
- Bring:
N/A
- Special Events (after):
We will have cupcakes and drinks for anyone that would like to stay after the service for fellowship
- Contact:
- Pam Dampier
- Email:
- tcfjaxfl@gmail.com
- Additional:
We will be streaming the service live via Facebook. If you are unable to attend you may watch the service live but you must be a member of our Facebook page. If interested search The Compassionate Friends Jacksonville and request to join, you must answer three questions and agree to the rules, once you do that an admin will approve.
Brevard County
Space Coast Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 5:45 PM EST
- Location:
Coastal Community Church, 5795 Falcon Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32927., Facility provides Covid social distancing seating for up to 150 people, Masks required. Temperatures will be checked on arrival.
- Highlights:
Program includes readings, slide show of children accompanied by music, lighting of Five Candles, reading of children’s names of those attending the event while lighting individual candles, and a closing reading. We will not have a processional outside this year due to social distancing concerns. The event will be streamed live by the church on their website.
- Bring:
Due to Covid restrictions, no food this year. Mementos will be provided for attendees who have already signed up. Pictures of children welcome.
- Special Events (before):
We will show a slide show starting at 5:45 of our recent Picnic/Walk to Remember/Butterfly Release. This will precede the official start of the Candle lighting at 6:15. Arrive early so that social distancing and temperature screening can be accomplished before the event
- Special Events (after):
None
- Contact:
- Mary Lane, Chapter Leader
- Telephone:
- 321 442 3540
- Email:
- izzinmac@icloud.com
Davie
St. Bonaventure Church
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6:45 PM
- Location:
1301 SW 136th Ave, Davie, FL 33325
- Highlights:
Candle lighting, reading of poems, singing
- Bring:
A candle, if not one will be provided
- Special Events (after):
An angel ornament will be give to each family.
- Contact:
- Susan McCrea
- Telephone:
- 9544765204
- Email:
- redirector@stbonaventurechurch.com
- Additional:
All area invited to join us in person or live stream. The information for the live stream will be on our Church website.
Miami
TCF – Miami Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QTCYB95o79z9tNnZAufBYWW9uyYpsFL928ySn5H0u1k/edit?usp=drivesdk
- Highlights:
Special music, pictures, poems
- Bring:
Just have a candle ready to light up at 7 pm
- Special Events (before):
N/A
- Special Events (after):
N/A
- Contact:
- Yakelin Vazquez
- Telephone:
- (786) 271-2914
- Email:
- yakie58@hotmail.com
- Additional:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QTCYB95o79z9tNnZAufBYWW9uyYpsFL928ySn5H0u1k/edit?usp=drivesdk
Stuart
TCF of the Treasure Coast Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
TreasureHealth.org
YouTube.com/TreasureCoastHospice
Facebook.com/TreasureCoastHospice
- Contact:
- Janice Mauriello
- Telephone:
- 914-325-4912
- Email:
- jmaur15@aol.com
Boca Raton
The Compassionate Friends of Boca Raton
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86366958556?pwd=cUJhaXJHQWxXS1hJOWNDWHJhOEZ0QT09
Meeting ID: 863 6695 8556
Passcode: 028969
- Highlights:
Speakers will read poems and lighting of 5 candles prior to everyone lighting their candles and acknowledging their loved one, followed by video of loved one’s pictures and music.
- Bring:
Bring a candle and matches or lighter or battery operated candle.
- Contact:
- Anna Hollingsworth
- Email:
- annajh23083@gmail.com
- Additional:
Another contact persons:
Annette Blackwell, email: blackwella5@hotmail.com
Kathy Kaether, email: kkaether@gmail.com
Tallahassee
The Compassionate Friends of Tallahassee
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6:45 PM
- Location:
This is a virtual Candle Lighting Service via Zoom. Please email tcfot@yahoo.com in advance to request the Zoom link.
- Highlights:
Our program includes the lighting of five candles, readings, music, reading of children’s names and slide show while lighting individual candles in your homes.
- Bring:
Gather a photo, item of remembrance if desired and have an individual candle ready to light at your home.
- Special Events (before):
Please Email tcfot@yahoo.com in advance to request the Zoom link for the Candle Lighting Program.
- Contact:
- Becky Barch
- Telephone:
- 850-296-8413
- Email:
- tcfot@yahoo.com
Naples
The Compassionate Friends SW Florida
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6: 45 PM
- Location:
None
- Highlights:
We will begin at 6:45 with some readings and we will light our Chapter Candle at 7 pm to continue the lighting around the world. We will be displaying our loved ones picture and reading their names as families light their candles at home.
- Contact:
- Linda Wallace
- Telephone:
- 6128120186
- Email:
- info@tcfswfl.org
- Additional:
To get registered to be part of our chapters please email us at info@tcfswfl.org and we will send you the form and information.
Volusia/Flagler Counties
The Compassionate Friends Volusia and Flagler Counties, Florida
- Date & Time:
- December 13, 2020 - 6:45-8:00 PM
- Location:
This will be a virtual Candle Lighting Service. We will meet via Zoom. Please check our Facebook page, Compassionate Friends Volusia Flagler for the link. https://www.facebook.com/CompassionatefriendsVolusiaFlagler
- Highlights:
We will have readings, poems, music, and a sharing of our loved ones names and photos
- Bring:
Please join the Zoom Meeting by 6:45, so that we can light candles right at 7PM. Have your own candle ready to light, and bring photos to share.
- Contact:
- Trish Armor and Carol Fisher
- Telephone:
- (386) 290-8752 or (386) 793-1779
- Email:
- trisharmor@outlook.com
