MADISON — The Compassionate Friends (TCF) Worldwide Candle Lighting, which 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, will be held Sunday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.
As candles are lit at 7 p.m. local time, hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate and honor the memory of all children who have died.
Madison Area Chapter of TCF will gather at 6 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5701 Raymond Rd. The service will include poems and music. Candles will be provided, as well as refreshments and cookies following the candle lighting.The 19th annual Worldwide Candle Lighting, a gift to the bereavement community from TCF, creates a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone, starting in New Zealand. The website — www.compassionatefriends.org — will host extended chat room hours and a message board for families to post tributes.
The TCF mission statement says: When a child dies, at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated. The Compassionate Friends provides personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family.