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 10th, 2023 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.
We also will be holding a virtual candle lighting for those who would prefer to attend virtually. We will have four programs in the
Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones.
Register below for your time zone.
Virtual Worldwide Candle Lighting
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 Thursday, December 1st, through Friday, December 16th. 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
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.
Iowa
Muscatine
TCF of Muscatine
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral Home
2907 Mulberry, Muscatine, Iowa 52761
- Highlights:
Our evening consists of some poems read, music, a singer, video remembrance of our children, grandchildren, and siblings, and the candle lighting ceremony. Following will be a time of food, and fellowship.
- Bring:
Cookies, cake or anything they wish to share. Drinks will be provided.
- Special Events (after):
Fellowship as stated above.
- Contact:
- Thomas C Summitt
- Telephone:
- 563-263-2125
- Email:
- tcsummitt@machlink.com
Sioux City
TCF of Siouxland
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
Stoney Creek Hotel
300 3rd Street
Sioux City, Iowa
Look at the monitor to see what room we are in
- Highlights:
We will hi light the evening with music, poems, tuning into the on-line program, lighting the candles, and reading our children, siblings, and grandchildren names.
- Bring:
You are welcome to bring a picture or remembrance with you.
- Special Events (before):
It would be best to arrive at 6:15.
We will start the program at 6:30
join in on-line at 6:55
candles lit at 7:00
children, siblings, and grandchildren names spoken shortly after candle lighting.
a small dessert and fellowship at 7:15
- Contact:
- Roxanne Ellis
- Telephone:
- 712-251-2997
- Email:
- roxanne.ellis55@gmail.com
- Additional:
Other contact person is Nancy Webb
712-212-4032
wernimontn@hotmail.com
West Des Moines
The Coffee Cats Cafe
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 5:30 PM
- Location:
Coffee Cats Cafe is located at 312 5th St. in Valley Junction of West Des Moines, Iowa
- Highlights:
We will have readings, time and space to recognize and honor your loved ones, reading of names as candles are lit and a little pet therapy after program.
- Bring:
A picture of their loved ones to share, drinks or snacks for themselves, or to share, and a candle (I will have some extras). Most importantly, you. Show up if you’re in need of a space to share your loved ones with others who can understand. You are not alone, nor should you be. Choose today to introduce them to new people that would love to hear their story and yours. They and you matter!
- Special Events (before):
If you want to share something special about your loved ones, we will create space to do so otherwise a few readings will fill space between fellowship and candle lighting. I will provide a popcorn bar, of sorts, to snack on.
- Special Events (after):
We will be opening the cat room for some pet therapy and continued sharing if there are still guests who wish to do so. But there is something very calming and relaxing that happens when we share our love with others and that’s what this space allows for, showing local shelter cats a little love.
- Contact:
- Brittny Pinegar
- Telephone:
- 515-988-0279
- Email:
- brittnyp34@gmail.com
- Additional:
I will provide coffee, hot chocolate and popcorn. Feel free to bring your own refreshments and snacks.
