ASHTABULA - The Northeast Ohio Chapter of The Compassionate Friends, a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child, will participate in the 10th annual worldwide candle lighting service 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at Faith Lutheran Church, 504 Lake Ave. The event is believed to be the largest mass candle lighting in the world. The service will feature music, readings, poems, reflections and a remembrance ceremony. Annually tens of thousands of families, united in loss, light candles for one hour. Candles will be lighted at 7 p.m. local time just west of the International Date Line. As candles burn down in one time zone, they are lighted in the next, creating a 24-hour wave of light as the observance continues around the world.
"The holiday season is a difficult time for families grieving the death of a child," said United States TCF executive director Patricia Loder. "This marks a decade that Worldwide Candle Light-ing has united bereaved families around the world as a symbolic way of showing the love we continue to carry for our children, even though they can no longer be with us physically. This candle lighting surpasses all political boundaries as people participate in countries around the globe."
"Here, throughout the U.S., members of nearly 600 chapters observe this day in many ways, some alone, some with friends and family, and some organize candle lighting ceremonies. We invite everyone, whether or not they have suffered the personal loss of a child, to join in this moving tribute."
With the theme, "That Their Light May Always Shine," the ceremony has grown larger every year with services in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, as well as approximately a dozen countries.
The national TCF website www.compassionatefriends.org will feature a remembrance book Dec. 10 for families to post tributes. The site will also host extended chat room hours.
To contact the Northeast Ohio Chapter of The Compassionate Friends, call Herbert Saari of Ashtabula. For more information about the national organization call toll free 877-969-0010 or visit the TCF website. The Compassionate Friends has a presence in nearly 30 countries and is the world's largest self-help bereavement organization.
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Currents
Worldwide candle lighting service set
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