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.
Pennsylvania
Jenkintown
Abington Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6 PM
- Location:
Grace Presbyterian Church chapel
444 York Road
Jenkintown, PA 19046
- Highlights:
Program begins at 6:30 PM. There will be poems, readings, and music. Slideshow of member’s loved ones (children, grandchildren and siblings) will be played on a loop throughout program. Candles will be given out and we will all light at 7 PM..
- Bring:
Pictures of their loved one (s) if they choose
- Special Events (before):
Light refreshments
- Contact:
- Donna Wyche
- Telephone:
- 215-694-1469
- Email:
- tcfabington2@gmail.com
- Additional:
Up to (2) photos can be submitted to the slideshow. Please email to Lisa Cohen at lcohen@broomstreet.com.
Elizabeth Township/ McKeesport
Delaney’s Family and Friends
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:15 PM the doors open.
- Location:
429 Duncan Station Road
McKeesport, PA 15135
Building 1
- Highlights:
Doors will open at 6:15 PM. There will be a little bit of social time before and after.
- Bring:
Please bring a picture of your child, grandchild or sibling. Also please feel free to Bring their favorite drink or snack.
- Special Events (before):
Sharing time before. Doors open 6:15 PM.
- Special Events (after):
More sharing time after program.
- Contact:
- Kelly Coccia-Stanczak
- Telephone:
- 412-298-6546
- Email:
- klcs1@aol.com
Dawson
Laurel Mountain Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:00 PM
- Location:
Philip G Cochran Church Griscom Street Dawson, PA
- Highlights:
Please share a picture of your loved one and name will be read
- Bring:
Refreshments and desserts
- Contact:
- Lora E Voycik
- Telephone:
- 724-963-2531
- Email:
- Lpost1976@gmail.com
Schuylkill Haven
St. Johns Reformed Church of Friedensburg
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:00 PM
- Location:
The program will be held in the church sanctuary at 17 Chestnut Street, Friedensburg, PA 17933. We’re located behind the Friedensburg Fire House that is located on Route 443. Handicapped parking is available on the west end of the church.
- Highlights:
Special music and a slide show with our children, grandchildren, and sibling pictures and bios will be presented. A meditation time with Pastor Matt Kenitzer will be shared.
- Bring:
If we do not have your children, grandchildren, and sibling pictures, you can e-mail it to debramarbarger@yahoo.com
- Special Events (before):
There will be a quiet time with soft music before the service starting at approximately 5:30 PM.
- Special Events (after):
A light supper will be offered in the church fellowship hall. Any donations of food to share with this meal will be greatly appreciated.
- Contact:
- Debra Ann Marbarger
- Telephone:
- 570-789-2071
- Email:
- debramarbarger@yahoo.com
- Additional:
If help is needed for handicapped guests, please call the contact number and arrangements will be made to park your vehicle and help you into the church.
Harrisburg
TCF Camp Hill Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:00 PM
- Location:
St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church
4200 Londonderry Road
Harrisburg, PA 17109
- Highlights:
Service of remembrance with a candle lighting and reading of children, grandchildren, and siblings names. If you would like to add our children, grandchildren, and sibling names to the list of names, please contact Lisa Neiter at 717-991-0177.
- Contact:
- Lisa Neiter
- Telephone:
- 717-991-0177
- Email:
- lisamn94@yahoo.com
Danville
TCF of the Susquehanna Valley
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - Doors open at 6:45 PM and program begins at 7:00 PM
- Location:
Free in person candle lighting will be held at the Henry Hood Center on Center Street next to the Geisinger Medical Center Complex in Danville, Pennsylvania. Parking will be across the street from the Henry Hood Center. Program will be on the first floor in the rooms across from the desk.
- Highlights:
Families whose children, grandchildren, and sibling who have died are invited to join us for this special remembrance program.
Children and special friends are also welcome to attend this event. Doors will open at 6:45 PM and our program will begin with the lighting of our main candle at 7:00 PM. There will be poems, readings, and music. If attendees have a special poem, they would like to share they are welcome to bring it.
After the main program we will gather in a circle where we will each light our individual candle. (Individual candles will be provided free of charge by our Compassionate Friends group) As we light our candle, we will say the names of the family member or members we are remembering. After a final song, candles will remain lit as we gather for refreshment and sharing time.
- Bring:
Attendees are welcome to bring pictures of their loved ones or remembrance items to display on tables during the program. Items will be returned after the program. You are welcome to bring some kind of refreshment to share if you wish although our chapter will be also providing snacks.
- Special Events (after):
After the program and lighting of individual candles for our loved ones, there will be time for fellowship, sharing, and refreshments.
- Contact:
- Renee Beisswanger
- Telephone:
- 570 847-2078
- Email:
- plumprd2@ptd.net
New Brighton
TCF of Tri-State Pennsylvania
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:45 PM
- Location:
Westminster United Presbyterian Church
115 N. Mercer Ave.
New Brighton, PA 15066
- Highlights:
Readings, poems, music, candle lighting (candles are provided), and slide presentation with children, siblings and grandchildren .
- Bring:
Pictures or a momento to be placed on our “In Loving Memory” table
(to be taken home at thr end of the evening).
- Special Events (before):
Butterfly Gift Shop (doors will open at 6:15 PM)
- Special Events (after):
Light refreshments
- Contact:
- Sharon Kovach
- Telephone:
- 724-847-1494
- Email:
- kskovach@yahoo.com
