Memorial Candlelight Service

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <A NAME="memorial_candlelight"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="id15_the_minneapolis_chapter_of_the.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Minneapolis Chapter"><U><IMG SRC="19158590.gif" border=0 width="88" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="worldwide_candle_lighting___candle.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Worldwide Candle Lighting in Memory of A"><U><IMG SRC="18f44570.gif" border=0 width="68" height="87" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id15_butterfly.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Minneapolis Chapter"><U><I><B><U><IMG SRC="1c94c310.gif" border=0 width="76" height="49" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="alex_charles_campbell__a_c___a_father_s_prayer.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alex Charles Campbell (A.C.) with link t"><U><B>"A Father's Prayer" was read at The Memorial Candlelight Service.</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="alex_charles_campbell__a_c___reflections_by_alex__mom_trudi.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alex Charles Campbell (A.C.) with link t"><U><B>"Reflections" was read by a Child's Mother</B></U></A></div> <div> Minneapolis TCF voice mail:  952/975-3627</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.compassionatefriends.org/links.shtml" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.compassionatefriends.org/link"><U>Link to National Websites</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate"><U><I><B><U>Home</U></B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Minneapolis Chapter"><U><IMG SRC="1d65b630.gif" border=0 width="91" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> The Butterfly:</div> <div> A Beautiful Symbol of Life and Transformation</div> <div> This Symbol Provides much comfort and meaning for us.</div> <div> <A HREF="id59_top_new_years_resolutions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Years Resolutions"><U><IMG SRC="12c82620.jpg" border=0 width="130" height="98" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate Friends</B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="chapter_calendar.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meetings: Times and Places"><U>Meetings: Times and Places</U></A>   |   <A HREF="minnapolis_compassionate_friends.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A warm welcome"><U>A warm welcome</U></A>   |   <A HREF="tcf_newsletter.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletter for the Minneapolis TCF."><U>Newsletter for the Minneapolis TCF.</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Children Remembered"><U>Our Children Remembered</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Memorial Birthday Tables"><U>Memorial Birthday Tables</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love gifts"><U>Love gifts</U></A>   |   <B>Memorial Candlelight Service</B>   |   <A HREF="worldwide_candle_lighting.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Worldwide Candle Lighting in Memory of A"><U>Worldwide Candle Lighting in Memory of All Children</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TCF Buttons"><U>TCF Buttons</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The TCF Quilt"><U>The TCF Quilt</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Library list of books in our collection"><U>Library - list of books in our collection:</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mpls_tcf_special_lives.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Lives Legacies of our children"><U>Special Lives -Legacies of our children</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Steering Committee Thoughts Suggestion"><U>Steering Committee - Thoughts & Suggestions</U></A></div> <div> Memorial Candlelight Service</div> <div> A Memorial Candlelight Service</div> <div> by Shirley Doering</div> <bR> <div> The Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate Friends held their annual Candlelight Service of Remembrance  at Calvary Lutheran Church in Golden Valley.  The Church offered our group the main sanctuary since the small chapel used in previous years was not available.</div> <div>   </div> <div> About 90 family members and friends attended the service.  A pre-service reception was held in the new narthex of the church.  Mary Weiss and her daughter Sarah set out a beautiful and delicious spread that included cold cuts and veggies. Carol Hawk baked holiday cookies.  Beverages of all kinds were available.  Sarah Weiss decorated beautiful white ceramic angel ornaments in memory of our children.  The new TCF bracelets were available too.  (They say “Forever in my heart”)</div> <bR> <div> Steve Rudenick invited everyone into the sanctuary and once again this year, the service began with beautiful music by Michelle Marie.  There were several readers and Richard and Shirley Doering read the Ceremony of Remembrance and lit the five candles. Those candles represent Grief, Courage, Memory, Love and Hope.  At that time, everyone was invited to come forward and light a candle in memory of their child or friend and say their child's name.  For the first time this year, a Power Point Photo gallery of everyone's child (those who chose to submit) was presented.</div> <bR> <div> After the service, people were again invited to the narthex for fellowship and more refreshments.</div> <bR> <div> <B>It was indeed a memorable and beautiful event</B>.</div> <bR> <div> There are many people to thank for an event like this.  Special thanks go to Mary Weiss (event coordinator, programs, invitations, food, reader). Thanks to Chuck Campbell for creating the beautiful photo gallery presentation.   We also thank Sarah Weiss and Carol Hawk (reception decorations, angels, Steve Rudenick (reader), Steve Hawk (reader), Chuck Campbell (reader), Sherry Swanson (reader), Selma Twigg (reader), Mary Ann Begin (reader), Michelle Marie (vocal music), the Tech team at Calvary, and the rest of Mary's team. A special thanks to Mary's employer, Jerry's Enterprises, for the gift of food.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="worldwide_candle_lighting.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Worldwide Candle Lighting in Memory of A"><U><About the Worldwide Candle Lighting></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Minneapolis Chapter"><U><I><B><U>back to Minneapolis Chapter TCF</U></B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index_maps_1_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate"><U><B>map to our meeting</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Minneapolis Chapter of The Compassionate"><U>home</U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Gathering of Friends</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In the Old Chapel of Calvary Lutheran Church.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Michelle Marie, with her beautiful voice, graced our service, a cherished tradition for us, moving and inspirational.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Readings, lighting of candles, and fellowship.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>