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Worldwide Candle Lighting - December 14, 2008

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Light a Candle for All Children Who Have Died

 

Every year, since 1997, on the second Sunday in December The Compassionate Friends (TCF) hold a Worldwide Candle Lighting in memory of all children who have died too soon.

On this day people around the world are encouraged to light a candle to so that...Their Light May Always Shine.

This year the event will be held on December 14, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in all time zones around the globe.

Image Source: The Compassionate Friends. Worldwide Candle Lighting Image. Used with Permission.

Remembering Children in Poetry 

Poem Excerpt about the Compassionate Friends Candle Lighting

    Children we remember
    Though missing from our sight
    In honor and remembrance
    We light candles in the night...

    We will not forget
    And every year in deep December
    On Earth we will light candles
    As we remember

    Jacqueline Brown

Photo Source: Eli Ratner. Blue Candles. Royalty Free Use.

More About the Worldwide Candle Lighting 

Circling the Globe in a Virtual 24-hour Memorial

When
The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting is held at 7:00 p.m. for one hour in every time zone around the world on the second Sunday in December.

As candles go out in one time zone, they are lit in the next creaing a virtual 24-hour memorial of candles that encircles the globe to honor and remember all children who have died.

Why
The Worldwide Candle Lighting is a way of giving bereaved families around the world the chance to share their loss and remember their child...so that their light may always shine.

...that their light might always shine 

...that their light might always shine

Worldwide Candle Lighting - 2008

A Squidoo Lens on Anniversary Reactions 

Memorial Vase and Candle in the Amazon Spotlight 

This Light Memorial Vase and Candle

Amazon Price: $31.99 (as of 10/11/2008)

A beautiful way to remember loved ones a this floating vase and memorial candle

The words engraved on the vase read, ''This light shines as a symbol of lives and loves remembered.''

The Vase measures 7 in high x 3-1/2 in wide

How Can I Get Involved? 

Participating in the Worldwide Candle Lighting

How Can I get involved?
As the dates draw closer to December check The Compassionate Friends website for listings of planned observances.

If you are interested in holding your own candle lighting event you can download guidelines for planning or check on information to hold your own.

Listings of the known planned observances and guidelines for planning and holding your own Worldwide Candle Lighting will be posted as they become available on The Compassionate Friends Website.

Worldwide Candle Lighting for the Compassionate Friends 

On Flickr

These were some of the images from the Compassionate Friends' Worldwide Candle Lighting in memory of a loved one.

Elisabeth's Candle by kimbear

Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting - December 10 from 7-8 pm local time by Photophool

TCF Worldwide Candle Lighting by LTTay7

The Largest Mass Candle Lighting in the World 

Lighting Candles for all Children Who have Died Because Grief Has No Boundaries

The Worldwide Candle Lighting is thought to be the largest mass candle lighting in the world. Thousands of more events are held around the world informally at home or other special places of remembrance.

The Compassionate Friends Candle Lighting event started in 1997 in the United States as a small Internet observance, but over the last ten years has grown in size and spread around the globe.

The Candle Lighting is a way to commemorate and honor children in an event that transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries, because grief knows no boundaries.

I will light a candle for you... 

Shattering the Darkness with Light

    To shatter all the darkness
    And bless the time we know.
    Like a beacon in the night
    The flame will burn bright
    And guide us on our way.
    Today I light a candle for you.


Source:
I will light a candle for you... Magnolia Jazz. on Flickr.

Photo Source: Kathryn McCallum. Blue Star. Royalty Free Use.

A Squidoo Lens on Coping with Grief 

Compassionate Friends WorldWide Candle Lighting 

Remembering those who have died.

Taking Off by LTTay7

Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting by **Magnolia Jazz**

TCF Rose by DaveTheC

Elisabeth's Candle by kimbear

I will light a candle for you... by **Magnolia Jazz**

TCF Worldwide Candle Lighting by LTTay7

The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting 

More Information about the Event to Remember Children Who Have Died

The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting is a way of uniting family and friends around the globe as candles are lit for one hour to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause.
The 2008 Worldwide Candle Lighting
General Information page about The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting.
Worldwide Candle Lighting News Stories 2007 - Before the Event
Links to articles about what the media said before the 2007 Worldwide Candle Lighting.
Worldwide Candle Lighting News Stories
What the media said after last year's Worldwide Candle Lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Worldwide Candle Lighting
Frequently Asked Questions about The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting.
Guidelines for Holding a Candle Lighting in Conjunction with the Worldwide Candle Lighting
A pdf file with information to help in organizing and planning a Worldwide Candle Lighting in your own area.

More Candles on Flickr 

Images from other Candle Vigils

peace candle glow by mimbrava

Hope Drips by bdmckeown

Chater Garden, 4th May, 2004 by laihiu

Vigil by J. Random

Vigil Candles by Lerxst Ohio

About The Compassionate Friends 

Assisting Families Following the Death of a Child of Any Age

The Compassionate Friends is a national nonprofit, self-help support organization that offers friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. Their mission is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive. There is no religious affiliation and there are no membership dues or fees.

The Compassionate Friends works on the premise that as seasoned grievers reach out to the newly bereaved, energy that has been directed inward begins to flow outward and both are helped to heal.

Image: The Compassionate Friends Logo.

Flameless Candles Available on Amazon 

A safer option for Vigils...the new flameless candles.

A Squidoo Lens on the Safest Candle Ever 

The Compassionate Friends - Home Page 

Offering Hope to Bereaved Parents and Families

The Compassionate Friends is a national nonprofit, self-help support organization that offers friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings.
The Compassionate Friends
The home page for The Compassionate Friends (TCF) Organization.

Reader Feedback on the Worldwide Candle Lighting Lens 

Your place for comments, messages, suggestions, ideas and feedback

Have you participated in the Worldwide Candle Lighting before? Do you plan on participating this year?

Be sure to share your comments, rank the site, pass on the word about the site (email) and leave a message (Reader Feedback).

Macey

You have done a great job! I came to know about a great celebration.I will celebrate this with my family this year.
Feel free to visit my lightingeasy blog

Posted September 05, 2008

HarmonyRoad

Thank you for your ministry. As someone who lost stillborn twins nearly 28 years ago, I know we have a come a very long way in terms of finding ways to help people grieve such a loss. This is a beautiful ritual that lets people they are not alone and offers a meaningful way to articulate their loss.

Posted December 04, 2007

Evelyn_Saenz

Thank you for sharing this great celebration. I just told the kids about it. Because of this lens my family and I will be celebrating this year.

Posted November 30, 2007

createthechange

What you are doing is wonderful. We are adding you to our event calendar at www.createthechange.com
so that everyone can see how you are helping to Create The Change in the world.

Posted November 29, 2007

JenniferAkers

What a wonderful way to commemorate children - in a worldwide embrace and ceremony. Thanks for sharing the info - I'll be sure to watch for this year's Worldwide Candle Lighting in December.

Posted August 30, 2007

Benefitting the Squidoo Charity Fund and Save the Children 

This lens benefits the Squidoo Charity Fund and Save the Children as part of SquidAid.
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