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.
Texas
El Paso
El Paso Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:45 PM
- Location:
Program to be held at First Baptist Church, 805 Montana, El Paso, TX
- Highlights:
Special music, pre-ceremony and as part of the ceremony.
- Bring:
Pictures
- Special Events (before):
Pre-service music
- Special Events (after):
Refreshments and fellowship
- Contact:
- Stormy Cagann
- Telephone:
- 915-433-0594
- Email:
- tcfept@gmail.com
Paducah
First Christian Church of Paducah
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 7 PM
- Location:
First Christian Church of Paducah
1901 Zula St
Paducah, Texas
- Highlights:
We will light candles and say our children, grandchildren, and sibling names aloud.
- Bring:
Bring anything that reminds you of your children, grandchildren, and sibling pictures, toys, instruments, blankets, or other items.
- Contact:
- Shannon Waitman
- Telephone:
- 940-631-6493
- Email:
- swaitman@paducahisd.org
Dallas
First Unitarian Church of Dallas
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:30-8:00 PM
- Location:
First Unitarian Church, 4015 Normandy Ave. Dallas, 75205
Parking: On Normandy (north of the church), on St. Andrews (south of the church) or in the parking lot behind (east of) the church. If you park on the south or east side of the church, follow the sidewalk east of the fellowship hall through the entrance to the garden.
Entrance: Please enter through the main doors on Normandy Avenue.
- Highlights:
Our evening begins at 6:30 PM in the church parlor. Weather permitting, we will light candles in the Memorial Garden at 7:00 PM, then return to the parlor to share remembrances and light refreshments. Candles will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own candle if you prefer.
- Bring:
Bring picture or other remembrance of your loved one.
- Special Events (after):
Light refreshments will be served.
- Contact:
- Nancy Watson
- Telephone:
- 972-824-8348
- Email:
- nancyamlinwatson@gmail.com
Cleveland
Happy Life Church
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 7 PM
- Location:
24591 Highway 321 Cleveland Texas 77327
- Highlights:
Reading of children, grandchildren, and sibling names.
- Contact:
- Betty Watson
- Telephone:
- 281-592-1870
- Email:
- betty-watson@sbcglobal.net
Spring
Houston Northwest Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:15 PM
- Location:
The Houston Northwest Chapter of The Compassionate Friends
Candle Lighting Service will be held on
Sunday, December 10, 2023
Time: 6:30 PM
Trinity Lutheran Church
5201 Spring Cypress Rd.
Spring, TX 77379
- Highlights:
There will be a program of High School Drama Department students doing readings, poetry and songs. The Klein Collins Theatre students will provide the presentations.
- Bring:
Please bring a framed photo of your children, grandchildren, and siblings to place next to their candle.
- Special Events (before):
Light snacks, drinks and sandwiches starting at 6:15 PM will be provided by the chapter.
- Special Events (after):
There will be a remembrance slide show of our children, grandchildren, and sibling.
Email 3 or 4 pictures of your children, grandchildren, and siblings along with their names, birth and angel dates to Darry Heino (darrylheino@gmail.com).
Please have them sent in by December 4th to allow time to construct the video.
- Contact:
- Darryl Heino
- Telephone:
- 832-492-2610
- Email:
- darrylheino@gmail.com
- Additional:
Please enter the church property off Spring Cypress Road.
Go to left side of the building and enter near the flag poles. We will be in the Middle School Gym for the program.
Cotulla
Joshua’s Gift
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 7;00 PM
- Location:
Veteran’s Park, Cotulla, TX 78014
- Highlights:
Speakers, Readings, Music and Children, Grandchildren, and Siblings Names
- Bring:
Pictures, Rememberance
- Contact:
- Minerva Rios
- Telephone:
- 956-286-4006
- Email:
- minerva.rios08@yahoo.com
San Antonio
M.E. Rodriguez Funeral Home
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 7:00 PM
- Location:
511 Guadalupe St. San Antonio, Texas 78207 in the United States – in person
- Highlights:
Memorial video tribute, staff member to give speech regarding the importance of this event, music/singer during the lighting of the candle.
- Bring:
We would need families to email us pictures of their children, grandchildren, and siblings with full name and date of birth and date of passing to mer@merodriguez.com and we would have them sign a paper giving us permission to post their photos.
- Special Events (before):
6:00 PM the event starts we will provide hot chocolate and light dessert for all who attend.
At 6:30 PM we will have a small ceremony and begin passing out candles and by 7:00 PM we will begin lighting candles with the memorial tribute video playing.
- Special Events (after):
Closing acknowledgments.
- Contact:
- Alexandria K. Buckner
- Telephone:
- 210-854-8663
- Email:
- alexandria@merodriguez.com
- Additional:
This is our first year participating in the event and would like to welcome all families, even those who did not have services with our funeral home. We would love to honor and remember your loved ones.
Sugar Land
Sugar Land/SW Houston Chapter
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
First Presbyterian Church Sugar Land
502 Eldridge Rd.
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
In the Fellowship hall. Enter at the covered walkway at the far end of the parking lot.
- Highlights:
The program will consist of a few readings and meaningful songs followed by each family lighting a candle in memory of their children, grandchildren and siblings.
- Bring:
A framed photo of their children, grandchildren and siblings.
A snack to share.
- Special Events (after):
After the program we will have a time visit and share
- Contact:
- Tricia Scherer
- Telephone:
- 832-541-4959
- Email:
- triciatcf@gmail.com
- Additional:
This is a family and friends event. Children are welcome along with any family or friends you would like to invite.
Greater Austin Area
TCF of Brushy Creek
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
In-Person Event at 510 Luther Drive, Georgetown, TX (Christ Lutheran Church, right end of the building). Call 512-348-7885 for questions or email TCFBrushyCreek@gmail.com
- Highlights:
Music, refreshments, readings, candle lighting, and reading each loved one’s name.
- Bring:
Framed picture of your loved one.
- Special Events (before):
Light refreshments.
- Special Events (after):
None
- Contact:
- Penny Leone
- Telephone:
- 512-966-8139
- Email:
- penny@fpcgeorgetown.org
- Additional:
Friends, family and the whole community is invited. If you knew our loved one, come and share your love for them.
Longview
TCF of East Texas
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
Spring Hill First Baptist Church
4000 Gilmer Rd, Longview, TX 75604
Close to Spring Hill Schools and next to Sonic on Gilmer Road.
- Highlights:
Videos, songs, and readings. Everyone gets to say their loved one’s names as a candles are lit.
- Bring:
Tables will be set up for pictures or other memorabilia. We will be able to walk around and look at everyones memorabilia during the refreshment availability.
- Special Events (before):
Refreshments served after ceremony. Candle Lighting will be during ceremony.
- Special Events (after):
Refreshment aerved after program. Finger foods and drink.
- Contact:
- Elgin Lary
- Telephone:
- 903-806-8927
- Email:
- e_larysr@hotmail.com
Houston
TCF of Houston Inner Loop
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:40 PM
- Location:
Jewish Family Service
4131 South Braeswood Blvd
Houston, Texas 77025
- Highlights:
Poem – Five Candles, music, and every family comes to share something about their loved one after lighting their candle.
- Bring:
5X7 photo
- Special Events (before):
None
- Special Events (after):
None
- Contact:
- Neda Scanlan
- Telephone:
- 713-877-8626
- Email:
- tcfhoustontexas@gmail.com
- Additional:
Enter on the Linkwood side of the building. The you will be let in through the gate. Candles provided by the chapter.
Lubbock
TCF of Lubbock, Texas
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:00 PM start and light candles at 7:00 PM
- Location:
Faith2Faith
6202 Iola Ave
Lubbock Texas
- Highlights:
Speakers, Reading Music, small meal, decorations bags of treats for the Kids and The Grinch or Santa
- Bring:
Pictures for Remembrance table
- Special Events (before):
Small meal, music
- Special Events (after):
Snacks
- Contact:
- Isabel Espinoza 806-401-7039, Deneis Arriaga 806-549-6476, or Cynthia Acevedo 806-786-4413
- Telephone:
- Isabel Espinoza 806-401-7039, Deneis Arriaga 806-549-6
- Email:
- isabel.espinoza@ldc.com
- Additional:
Bring family and friends
Kerrville
TCF of Texas Hill Country
- Date & Time:
- December 10, 2023 - 6:30 PM
- Location:
Kerrville’s First United Methodist Church. 321 Thompson Drive
- Highlights:
Sharing of children, grandchildren, and siblings name for each candle lit.
- Bring:
Pictures or remembrances and refreshments
- Special Events (before):
Informal sharing time and snacks
- Special Events (after):
Informal sharing time and snacks.
- Contact:
- Jackie Burton
- Telephone:
- 830 285-1332
- Email:
- tcfoftexashillcountry@gmail.com