We hope you will be able to join us on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 6:30 pm, when the Oneonta Region Chapter of The Compassionate Friends will join other chapters worldwide to observe The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting (WCL). The special ceremony will be held in-person at the Unitarian Universalist Society Church, 12 Ford Avenue, Oneonta, NY.
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This year marks the 28th annual Candle Lighting for the TCF worldwide community; however, this will be the 29th year the Oneonta Region Chapter has hosted the Candle Lighting. This annual event provides a time to remember our departed loved ones and to acknowledge the special place they will always have in our hearts. This simple act of remembrance may help to make the holiday season more bearable. Anyone who has lost a child, grandchild or sibling of any age is welcome to attend. Other close relatives and friends are also most welcome.
 
Even though the official ceremony begins at 7pm, participants are encouraged to arrive at the UUSO between 6:30 and 6:45 pm to sign in, and to set up your ornament. Please bring a small, framed picture of your child, grandchild, or sibling, if you are able. The photo will be placed behind one of the individual votive candles that will be arranged on our special Memory Table. During the ceremony, your family will be invited to come forward to say a few words (if you wish) and to light the candle in front of your child’s photo, at which time you will be presented with a long-stemmed rose.
 
While other chapters far and wide are holding their own Candle Lighting Ceremonies simultaneously, our ceremony is unique to our community and involves the sharing of a variety of music, a photo memories slideshow, poetry and personal stories contributed by many folks that you may already know. Candles will be provided, and there will be time for refreshments and conversation at the conclusion of the ceremony. This event replaces our December Sharing Session that would normally take place on the third Thursday of the month.
 
If you would like a photo of your child to be included in the photo memories presentation, please send a digital photo (jpeg file) by December 6 to kandadavino51@gmail.com. For those who contributed a photo last year, it is not necessary to send a photo, unless you wish to replace the photo we already have.
 
Please note: If you're interested in sharing any music, poetry, or stories please contact Diana Friedell at 607-433-2089 or dianafriedell@gmail.com as soon as possible, so that we might include you in our program. Even if you haven’t settled upon an exact reading or song, contact Diana to let her know you wish to be included.
 
Local artist David Geer has once again been commissioned to create original hand painted ornaments for each family to personalize with their child’s name. This year, Dave has designed a beautiful scene of the sun breaking through the clouds. This is a fine metaphor for what we hope will happen to each of us as we come through our deep grief (see photo above). The ornaments will be displayed on our Memory Tree during the ceremony, and they will be a gift from the Oneonta Chapter of TCF to each family in attendance.
 
For more information: Call Al or Kathryn Davino at 607-746-7396 or Diana Friedell at 607-433-2089. 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 for the ceremony, we hope you’ll join us in spirit and light a candle to remember your child at home. You may also choose to join the virtual candle lighting found at https://www.compassionatefriends.org/, sponsored by the National TCF organization.
 
And though it doesn’t seem appropriate to wish you happy holidays, we wish you  peaceful holidays, we wish you holidays filled with love, with tenderness, and with only good memories.
 
May love be what you remember most…
The TCF Oneonta Steering Committee