Contact: Wayne Loder, The Compassionate Friends, 866-964-4000

OAK BROOK, Ill., Nov. 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- Houses of Worship throughout the country are extending their kindness and caring to bereaved families as they join The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting. The Worldwide Candle Lighting, held annually the second Sunday in December, is one special day each year when bereaved families can unite to remember all children who have died regardless of age or cause of death.

The Compassionate Friends (TCF), a national self-help bereavement organization with more than 600 chapters in the United States, started the remembrance 12 years ago and it grows larger every year. The event officially lasts for one hour beginning at 7 p.m. local time, creating a 24-hour wave of light around the globe, although formal services open to the public are held throughout the day. More than 500 services in the United States are expected to be listed on TCF's national website by the day of the event, as well as services from approximately 25 countries around the world.

Many different denominations have already listed services on TCF's national website and hundreds of churches have also opened their doors to allow services to be held within their facilities by local groups participating in the Worldwide Candle Lighting.

In addition hospices, funeral homes, medical centers, memorial gardens, and many other community groups and individuals are planning dedicated services. Chapters of several national bereavement organizations are expected to join The Compassionate Friends this year including Twinless Twins, MADD, MISS, SHARE, POMC, and BPUSA.

"We are very pleased to see so many faith based groups joining in this time of remembrance," says Patricia Loder, executive director of The Compassionate Friends. "We invite all churches to join us in this event as a way of reaching out to their own membership as well as the community in remembering and honoring those children who have died."

Faith based groups are invited, if they are unable to hold a special service, to set aside a time during their regular worship services to remember and honor the lives of all children who have died by lighting a candle or having a full candle lighting of those present. All organizations that do so in conjunction with The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting may submit the information through the online form at www.compassionatefriends.org and have the service listed with Worldwide Candle Lighting services.

Bereaved family members, relatives, and friends unable to attend a formal service are invited to light a candle wherever they may be. Everyone is also invited to post a memorial message December 14 in a Remembrance Book on TCF's national website. Last year several thousand messages were received from around the world.

For more information regarding the Worldwide Candle Lighting, call 877-969-0010 or visit The Compassionate Friends national website.