Remember loved ones during hospice’s services

Thanksgiving services paying tribute to lost loved ones, organised by a local charity, are being held this festive season.

It is hoped the Light up a Life events, organised by St Nicholas Hospice Care, will help those who attend to remember special times they had with their loved ones and reflect on fond memories.

The series of remembrance events, which feature readings, music and prayers,will take place in Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury, Newmarket, Thetford, Haverhill and Lavenham.

Sharon Connell, St Nicholas Hospice Care’s Chaplain and Spiritual Care Co-ordinator, said: “Christmas and the run up to it is often a busy time for all of us. We hope our Light up a Life services give people the time they need to be able to remember those that have died and those that we miss.”

This year there will be some changes to the way the charity’s Light up a Life calendar works.

The hospice’s traditional Light up a Life services will still take place across the community, but the charity has decided to add to the ways people can remember lost loved ones.

Working with Echoleft, an online memorial website, people will also now be able to remember their loved ones virtually by lighting a candle in memory of a lost loved one.

Just like the charity’s Light up a Life services, this act of remembrance is open to all, regardless of whether they have any connection to the charity.

Emma Clements, the Hospice’s Major Events Fundraiser, said: “For many, remembering the people we miss becomes especially poignant over the festive season. We hope this opportunity to remember people online will enable families and friends to come together and feel a sense of community and closeness while thinking about the person they all cared about.”

You can find out more and light your candle here: www.stnicholashospicecare.echoleft.com/campaigns/light-up-a-life-2018.

For those attending the hospice’s traditional Light up a Life services, there is no charge, but donations to the charity are welcome.

Those who attend the events are also invited to bring along personal dedications, including messages, poems, stories and pictures which can be written on tags provided at the ceremonies, and tied to the hospice’s Light up a Life tree which will be present at all nine of the services.

The annual Bury St Edmunds Light up a Life service will take place at St Mary’s Church, on Sunday, December 9. The outdoor ceremony on Angel Hill will not take place this year, but an additional event will take place at The Apex on Wednesday, December 12.

Reservations are not required for any of the Light up a Life services other than the ceremonies at the hospice site, in Hardwick Lane, Bury, on Saturday, December 8, where space is limited. The events at the hospice will take place at 2pm and 5pm.

For more information on any of the services, or to book a place at the hospice’s service go to www.stnicholashospicecare.org.uk/lightupalifeor telephone 01284 766133.

Light up a Life dates:

Sudbury, St Peter’s Church,  December 2

Lavenham, Salvation Army Hall, December 4

Thetford, United Reformed Church, December 6

St Nicholas Hospice Care, Bury St Edmunds, December 8 (2pm and 5pm)

Bury St Edmunds, St Mary’s Church, December 9

Bury St Edmunds, The Apex, December 12

Newmarket, All Saints Church, December 13

Haverhill, St Mary’s Church, December 15