Worldwide Candle Lighting Memorial ServiceThe 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.
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.
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.
Cotuit Federated Church, 40 School Street, Cotuit, MA – park along street or across from the post office.
Music, readings, lighting of candles and saying our children, grandchildren, and sibling names.
Please bring a votive candle and framed photo of your loved one to place on the altar.
South Chatham Community Church
2555 Main Street, South Chatham, MA 02659
Email a picture of your loved one to be in the video to jtsauntie@gmail.com
Bring a special candle if you wish, if not a candle will be provided.
Doors will be open at 6 PM, we will begin the ceremony promptly at 7 PM.
We will have a potluck after the ceremony. If you wish, bring a snack to share.
Leominster Veterans Center, 100 West Street, Leominster, MA 01453
We will have poetry readings, sharing time, musical guest, picture slideshow, and individual candle lighting
Pictures of their loved ones.
Light snacks will be provided.
For questions, call Beth at 413 687-1073
More about the Candle Lighting:
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, grandchildren, and siblings 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, grandchildren, and siblings who have died and will never be forgotten.
Directions
From the South (Springfield)
Take 91 N 7.7 miles.
Take Rt-141 W exit 17B towards Easthampton 0.3 miles.
Turn slightly right onto Rt-141 W/Easthampton Rd/Hamden St. Continue to follow R.-141 W 4.4 miles.
Turn left on to Williston Ave.
The Angel Park is on your right.
From the North (Greenfield)
Take 91 S 16.7 miles.
Merge onto N King St/US-5/RT-10 via Exit 20 toward RT-9/Northampton/Hadley 1.7 miles
Turn right on to Main St/RT- 9/RT-10 0.3 miles.
Turn left onto South St RT-10. Continue to follow RT-10 S 4.2 miles.
Turn left onto Union St/RT-141 0.4 miles.
Turn right onto Williston Ave.
Angel Park is on your right.
Hi everyone.
On December 10, 2023, the 27th annual Candlelight Vigil to honor the memory of our children, grandchildren, and siblings, will take place at The Christmas Box Angel Statue in John Bator Park, Williston Avenue, Easthampton, MA at 6:50 PM. This is an opportunity to mention your children, grandchildren, and siblings’ names, and say a few words or read a poem if you wish. Please bring a candle. It can be battery operated. All bereaved parents and family are welcome regardless of when the children, grandchildren, and siblings’ death occurred, the age of the children, grandchildren, and siblings or the cause of death.
For questions, call Beth at 413 687-1073
More about the Candle Lighting:
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, grandchildren, and siblings 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, grandchildren, and siblings who have died and will never be forgotten.
Directions
From the South (Springfield)
Take 91 N 7.7 miles.
Take Rt-141 W exit 17B towards Easthampton 0.3 miles.
Turn slightly right onto Rt-141 W/Easthampton Rd/Hamden St. Continue to follow R.-141 W 4.4 miles.
Turn left on to Williston Ave.
The Angel Park is on your right.
From the North (Greenfield)
Take 91 S 16.7 miles.
Merge onto N King St/US-5/RT-10 via Exit 20 toward RT-9/Northampton/Hadley 1.7 miles
Turn right on to Main St/RT- 9/RT-10 0.3 miles.
Turn left onto South St RT-10. Continue to follow RT-10 S 4.2 miles.
Turn left onto Union St/RT-141 0.4 miles.
Turn right onto Williston Ave.
Angel Park is on your right.
Music
Reading of our children, grandchildren, and siblings names.
This is an opportunity to mention your children, grandchildren, and siblings and say a few words or read a poem if you wish.
Candle- Can be battery operated.
Optional-Picture and or poem
None
None
This event is held outside at the Angel Statue, so please dress for the weather.
The United Parish of Auburndale
64 Hancock Street
Auburndale, MA 02466
Testimonial by Beverly Loudin, Nick Epstein’s mom
Live music
Reading of children, siblings, and grandparents names
Social Gathering after the ceremony
The candle lighting will be live-streamed and if someone is interested, please email Beverly Loudin at beverlyloudin@gmail.com.
Pictures of your children, grandchildren or siblings
Social gathering in the church Parish Hall
