Light up a LifeCelebrating the lives of your loved ones

www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk/LUAL

Join us on Friday 4 December at 7pm for our online ceremony

Thank you for dedicating a light in memory of your loved ones.

It is only thanks to the kindness and generosity of people like you that every day hundreds of local families can receive the care and support they need. So, by dedicating a light and making a donation, you are also lighting up the lives of others - helping to ensure these vital services are available for people 365 days a year. Joining our virtual Light up a Life event

We do hope that you are able to join us online on Friday 4 December at 7pm. Visit www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk/LUAL to find out how you can watch the ceremony with us live. On pages 3-5 of this booklet you will find the order of the event along with three readings.

Remembering your loved ones in your own way

We understand you may not be able to join our virtual ceremony on 4 December, so within these pages we’ve included some special ways you could choose to celebrate and remember your loved ones this Christmas. You will also be able to view the recording of the evening after 4 December.

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Order of Event

Welcome from Penny Venables, CEO

Loving Memories at ChristmasRead by Surjit Heer, Wellbeing Team Leader

Prelude to a Kiss, Alicia KeysPerformed by c/o Mr & Mrs Grey

I Heard Your Voice in the Wind TodayRead by John Bagnall, Volunteer Ambassador

Reflection Shared by Jessica Bradbury

Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & GarfunkelPerformed by Midlands Rock Choir

Light a CandleRead by Pip Olliver, Clinical Nurse Specialist Team Leader

Candle Lighting

Somewhere Only We Know, Lily AllenPerformed by c/o Mr & Mrs Grey

Closing Words from Penny Venables, CEO

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Loving Memories at Christmas

Remembering the happiness And the feelings of good cheerWhen we celebrated Christmas

In the days when you were here.

For at special times like this oneAlmost everything we do

Seems to bring back precious memoriesOf those moments spent with you.

But your smile lives on foreverAnd your voice we often hear

And on Christmas Day, as always We will shed a silent tear.

And we’ll think of all those good times And the special bond we knew

For at this very special time of year We will never forget you.

Unknown

I Heard Your Voice in the Wind Today

I heard your voice in the wind todayand I turned to see your face;

The warmth of the wind caressed meas I stood silently in place.

I felt your touch in the sun todayas its warmth filled the sky;

I closed my eyes for your embraceand my spirit soared high.

I saw your eyes in the window paneas I watched the falling rain;

It seemed as each raindrop fellit quietly said your name.

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Light a Candle

And I will light a candle for youTo shatter all the darkness and bless the times we knew

Like a beacon in the nightThe flame will burn bright

Oh, today I light a candle for you.

The seasons come and go, and I’m weary from the changeI keep moving on, you know it’s not the same

And when I’m walking all aloneDo you hear me call your name?

You filled my life with wonder, touched me with surpriseAlways saw that something special deep within your eyes

And through the good times and the badWe carried on with pride

I hold on to the memories and the life we knew.

And I will light a candle for youTo shatter all the darkness and bless the times we knew

Like a beacon in the nightThe flame will burn bright

Oh, today I light a candle for you.

Paul Alexander

I held you close in my heart todayit made me feel complete;

You may have died…but you are not goneMy heart knows you are a part of me.

As long as the sun shinesThe wind blowsThe rain falls

These are reflections in my eyes forever.

Unknown

Remembering your loved ones

When a loved one dies it can affect you, your family and your friends in many different ways. Grief is a normal reaction to loss for both adults and children, and everyone will have their way of coping with this. Here are some ideas that may help you with your grief and to celebrate the life of your loved one.

Lighting your candle

Enclosed in your pack is a special candle for you to light to remember your loved ones. Lighting the candle can allow us to express what we might not be able to communicate with words or give time for a moment of reflection. During our Light up a Life event we will invite everyone at home to light their candles together.*

Music of remembering

Put together a playlist of your loved one’s favourite songs or listen to a piece of music that reminds you of your special times together. You could share this with your friends and family or ask them to contribute a song or piece of music too.

Creating a living reminder

Planting a flower, a tree or an entire garden as a memorial to someone you miss can be a way of creating a living reminder or special space to remember them.

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Memory chains

Using coloured paper chains, ask your friends and family to write messages or memories on the links. These can then be joined together and displayed at home or on your Christmas tree.

Begin a family tradition

Establishing a new tradition can create a special way to remember a loved one and can be very poignant during the festive season. This could be hanging a decoration, taking time together to visit a grave or memorial site or all wearing a special colour or piece of clothing at a festive dinner.

Do something you loved to do together

This could be watching your loved one’s favourite Christmas film, cooking their favourite festive dish or playing their favourite game.

*Please light your candle with care and never leave a lit candle unsupervised.

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We're here to help

John Taylor Hospice is here to support you after you have lost a loved one. Our wellbeing services are open to everyone who has had a relative or friend receive care from John Taylor Hospice. If you are our patient, you can be assured that we will be there for your family too.

Our team of counsellors, art therapist and trained bereavement support volunteers will be there to listen to your feelings, worries or whatever might be on your mind. They can offer psychological and emotional support in a safe and confidential manner.

The team is available to provide support for those affected by bereavement – including children and young people – as individuals or family groups. We can provide counselling in different languages including Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi.

If you believe we can help you or a loved one please don’t hesitate to contact 0121 465 2000 for more information.

Event supported by

John Taylor Hospice is a registered charity in England and Wales (No 1156964) and company limited by guarantee (No 08991245). Registered office: 76 Grange Road, Erdington, Birmingham B24 0DF.

76 Grange Road, B24 0DF

0121 465 2000

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John Taylor Hospice

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