Hundreds of twinkling lights will be lit in memory and celebration of loved ones at a range of moving hospice services this winter.
In the weeks leading to Christmas, there will be six St Richard’s Hospice Lights of Love services or events – offering the community a place to remember and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.
The first two services will be held at Worcester Cathedral on Friday 22nd November at 2.30pm and 7pm.
The evening service will be followed by a procession to St Andrew’s Spire where a Christmas tree will be illuminated, full of dedicated lights of love.
Services will then be held at the Pershore Abbey on Thursday, 28th November; Droitwich Spa Methodist Church on Wednesday, 4th December; Great Malvern Priory on Tuesday, 10th December and Carols at St Richard’s Hospice, Worcester on Thursday, 19th December.
Claire James, Fundraiser at St Richard’s, said: “These moving, community services are deeply comforting for the people who attend. Many people joining the services have had family or friends cared for by the hospice.
“We find each service unites people in their shared experience of missing a loved one, while providing support and solace through lighting a candle and taking time to reflect.
“Last year, more than 2,600 names were dedicated and £55,134 was raised to help support our specialist care to people living with a serious progressive illness, their families and bereaved people across Worcestershire. We are so grateful for the continued support of the community.”
Anyone is welcome to dedicate a light in memory or celebration of a loved one and attend a Lights of Love service if they wish – not simply those who have a connection to St Richard’s.
The dedicated names will be displayed around St Andrew’s Spire and in books of remembrance at Worcester Cathedral, Pershore Abbey, Great Malvern Priory and Droitwich Library.
Supporters can dedicate and donate online with the added benefit of their personal message being displayed on the St Richard’s online Christmas tree.
If requested, dedicated names will also be printed in the Worcester News on Tuesday, 24th December.
If you would like to make a dedication please go online to www.strichards.org.uk/lightsoflove or call the Fundraising Team on 01905 958262.
Lights of Love is kindly sponsored by Fisher German.
Lights of Love events
November
Friday 22nd, 2:30pm* and 6:30pm for 7pm, Worcester Cathedral, Worcester,
Thursday 28th, 2:15pm, Pershore Abbey, Pershore
December
Wednesday 4th, 7pm, Droitwich Spa Methodist Church, Droitwich Spa
Tuesday 10th, 7pm, Great Malvern Priory, Malvern
Thursday 19th, 7pm, Carols at St Richard’s Hospice, Wildwood Drive, Worcester
*We will have a sign language interpreter at the Worcester Cathedral afternoon service.
To ensure that all names are displayed on the banner for the Lights of Love Service at the Cathedral and Tree switch on at St Andrew’s Spire, please dedicate a light by Tuesday, 19th Nov 2019. After this, additional banners will be added on 6th and 24th December. To ensure that your loved one’s name(s) are displayed on the banners at St Andrew’s Spire and in the Worcester News, please return this form and your donation by 17th December
St Richard’s Hospice cares for adults with a serious progressive illness, improving their quality of life from diagnosis, during treatment and to their last days. It also supports their loved ones.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,400 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
St Richard’s is an independent charity and relies on donations and gifts in Wills for the majority of its income with 20% funded by the NHS.
The hospice is also raising funds for the Build 2020 Appeal and is part way through developing a bigger hospice, enabling more patients and families to be cared for in Worcestershire. The total cost for expanding and redeveloping the existing building in Wildwood Drive, Worcester, is £5.3m.