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 8th, 2024 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.
Every year you are invited to post a message on our Memorial Wall which will be available, during the event, at TCF’s national website. The Memorial Wall will be open to post a message Sunday, December 1st, through Friday, December 13th. Photos can be posted on our TCF Facebook page.
Add a Candle Lighting Program
Scroll down and Click on your state below to view Worldwide Candle Lighting events in your area.
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
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.
Michigan
Alpena
Candle Lighting Remembering our Children, Grandchildren, and Siblings
- Date & Time:
- December 8, 2024 - 6;30 p.m.
- Location:
Grace Lutheran Church
119 W. Dunbar
Alpena, MI 49707
- Highlights:
There will be inspirational music, readings, candle lighting with recitation of each on of our children, grandchildren, and sibling names and a Power Point presentation.
- Bring:
Please bring a framed picture of your children, grandchildren, and sibling or a special memento for our Remembrance Table. Candles will be provided. We will also be accepting new unwrapped toys, and winter hats, mittens, scarves to donate to Toys for Tots in our children, grandchildren, and sibling memory if you would like.
- Special Events (before):
Before the event you may personalize and hang an ornament on our Tree to Remember.
- Special Events (after):
We welcome you to stay and share light refreshments and to view the Power Point as well as listen to the beautiful music.
- Contact:
- Karen McCormick
- Telephone:
- 989-619-7728
- Email:
- karenmariemc118@gmail.com
- Additional:
Please dress appropriately as the candle lighting portion will be held outdoors. In the event of a cancellation due to weather, please light a candle at home at 7:00 p.m. for one hour.
Grand Rapids
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (HDVCH)
- Date & Time:
- December 8, 2024 - 7:00 PM
- Location:
Revel Center Grand Rapids 1535 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
- Highlights:
Short program, music, speakers, reading of children, grandchildren, and sibling names followed by light refreshments.
- Special Events (before):
Group art project, if you would like to participate.
- Special Events (after):
Light refreshments.
- Contact:
- Becky Hibma
- Telephone:
- 616-267-1160
- Email:
- becky.hibma@helendevoschildrens.org
Mount Pleasant
Mid-Michigan Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 8, 2024 - 7:00 PM
- Location:
St. John’s Episcopal Church, 206 West Maple Street, Mount Pleasant Michigan 48858
Corner of Washington
- Highlights:
Readings, special music, photo, and readings of children, grandchildren, and sibling names.
- Bring:
Your children, grandchildren, and siblings’ favorite snack to share after candle lighting.
- Special Events (after):
Hugs and snacks downstairs.
- Contact:
- Donna Mayes
- Telephone:
- 989-330-2255
- Email:
- gamac1dj@gmail.edu
- Additional:
Use door with steps off Maple St.
