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.
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
1806 Bridge Street SW
Grand Rapids, Mi 49504
Will be cancelled if heavy snow.
Plymouth candle lighting
Cody James Carrier reading of children, grandchildren, and sibling names.
Eric carrier 248-789-0277
St. Johns Episcopal Church
206 W Maple St (corner of Maple and Washington)
Mt Pleasant MI, 48858
Readings
Solo – My Precious Child
Reading of children, grandchildren, and sibling names and power point slide show of our precious children, grandchildren, and siblings.
Please send 3 photos of your children, grandchildren, and sibling by December 7th to gamac1dj@cmich.edu
Bring their favorite snack to share if you wish.
You are welcome to hang us your coat, sign in our guest book and get a free program between 6:45 and 7:00 PM. Use the door off Washington St.
Mingle with those who actually understand. Encouragement and hugs shared with our snacks after the program.
119 W. Dunbar
Alpena, MI 49707
Please join us as we celebrate the life and memory of our children, grandchildren, and siblings that have passed. There will be inspirational readings, music, a Power Point presentation of our children, grandchildren, and siblings and recitation of each our children, grandchildren, and sibling names. Candles will be provided.
Feel free to bring a picture of your children, grandchildren, and siblings or a special memento to display on our Memory Table. You may also wish to wear a shirt with a picture of your children, grandchildren, and siblings on it. We are collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots if you would like to bring one.
There will be time before the event to personalize and hang an ornament for your children, grandchildren, and siblings on Remembrance Tree. Ornaments are provided. Music will be performed during the event.
There will be time for sharing and enjoying light refreshments after the candle lighting.
Please dress warmly as the candle lighting portion will be held outdoors. If the weather causes us to cancel or if you are unable to attend for any reason, please light a candle at home for your children, grandchildren, and siblings at 7:00 PM.
