When

Sunday, December 11, 2022 from 6:45 PM to 8:00 PM EST
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Where

Unitarian Universalist Society 12 Ford Ave., Oneonta, NY 13820
OR on ZOOM- ZOOM Link sent when you REGISTER

Contact

Diana Friedell
The Compassionate Friends of Oneonta
607-433-2089
dianafriedell@gmail.com

Please register to attend the ceremony, either in person or on zoom at the ----------------------> yellow "REGISTER NOW" Button

After registering, you will receive a reply email with the Zoom link to join the ceremony.

Even though the official ceremony begins at 7pm, participants are encouraged to join us on or before 6:45 pm at the UU Church- to have time to get your ornament & place your child's picture and name card on the altar table. ZOOM attenders can hop on the zoom about 6:50 pm. During the in person ceremony, each family will be given an opportunity to say a few words about their child, and light the votive candle in memory of their loved one. Special Note- Those attending via ZOOM will be only OBSERVING the Ceremony, and will not be speaking during the zoom meeting.

The program includes a variety of music, poetry and personal stories. However, the focal point of the evening will be the candle lighting.

Endicott artist David Geer, has been commissioned once again to create original hand-painted ornaments for each family to personalize with their child’s name. You can view this year's creation in the picture above. A limited number of ornaments are available, and will be available at the in person Service. They are a gift from the Oneonta Chapter of TCF to each family in attendance. If you are attending via ZOOM, & want to reserve an ornament, CLICK on the "REGISTER NOW" button above, and follow instructions.

The Compassionate Friends 26th Annual Holiday Candle Lighting Service -12/11/22

Join the Compassionate Friends of Oneonta as we light candles in memory of our children, siblings and grandchildren who have died. Our ceremony joins with the TCF world-wide observance, creating a 24 hour wave of light as candles are lit in each time zone. The service gives bereaved families a time to honor their loved ones during the holidays. You may attend this service IN PERSON this year, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, 12 Ford Ave., Oneonta, or via ZOOM link at the yellow button below. . . Registration to attend in person is optional, however it does help us in the planning.

More Information

We hope you will be able to join us on Sunday, December 11, 2022 when the Oneonta Region Chapter of The Compassionate Friends will join other chapters worldwide to observe The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting (WCL).

Please note: We are seeking participants who would like to share any music, poetry, or stories as part of the program- please contact Diana Friedell at 607-433-2089 or dianafriedell@gmail.com as soon as possible, so that we can include you in our program.

Slide Show of our Children who've passed- Kathryn Davino invites you to send her a favorite pic of your child, and she will include it in a Slide Show she is making to show at the Service.

Masks are encouraged but not required. Use your own judgment.

Hospitality- You are invited to stay for refreshments, coffee & tea, which will be served after the Service.

The Compassionate Friends WCL unites families and friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honor the memories of the children, siblings, and grandchildren who have died from any cause, and transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries. As candles are lit at 7:00 pm local time, hundreds of thousands of persons honor the memory of all those precious children who are no longer with us. The WCL creates a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone, starting in New Zealand. This ceremony gives bereaved families everywhere the opportunity to remember their children so “…that their light may always shine!”

This year marks the 26^thannual Candle Lighting for the TCF worldwide community; however this will be the 27^th year the Oneonta Region Chapter has hosted the Candle Lighting. The annual event is a time to remember our departed children and to openly acknowledge the special place they have and will always have in our hearts. This simple act of remembrance helps make the holiday season more bearable. Anyone who has lost a child of any age is invited to attend. Grandparents, siblings and other close relatives and friends are also most welcome.

For more information: call Diana Friedell at 607-433-2089 or Kathryn or Al Davino at 607-746-7396. You can also send us an email at tcfoneonta@gmail.com or visit our website https://www.tcfoneonta.org.

If you’re unable to join us this year, we hope you’ll join us in spirit and light a candle to remember your child at home.

May love be what you remember most,

TCF Oneonta Region Steering Committee