A Candle for Christmas
Christmas holds joy and ache at once: the people we love near us, and the ones we miss. Light a candle for someone you are thinking of this season, in remembrance, in gratitude, or in hope.
Guidance
A Quiet Moment This Christmas
Name Who You Miss
Grief and Christmas often arrive together. Naming the person you miss, out loud or in your heart, is not morbid. It honors them and makes room for both the ache and the joy.
Light a Candle for Them
A small flame is an old and simple way to keep someone present at the table. Light one for a name you carry, and let it burn while you celebrate.
Make Space for Both
You are allowed to laugh and to mourn in the same evening. The season is big enough for both. Let yourself feel what you feel.
Prayer
A Christmas Prayer
Lord, on the night your light came into the world, we hold up the names of those we love. Be near to the ones at our table and to the ones we miss tonight.
Turn our grief gently toward gratitude, and let the light that shines in the darkness shine in us. Amen.
Scripture
Verses for Christmas
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Luke 2:10
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:5
12-Hour Candle
A candle for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Add a name and your intention.
Light a candle24-Hour Candle
A full day in the chapel — the flame stays alight for a whole day with your name and intention.
Light a candle48-Hour Candle
Light it across Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so the flame stays through the holiday.
Light a candleFrequently Asked Questions
- Who do people light a Christmas candle for?
- For a parent or grandparent who has passed, for family far away, for someone going through a hard year, or simply in gratitude. Add the name and an intention like 'in loving memory' or 'with thanks'.
- Can I light it on Christmas Eve?
- Yes. A 12-hour candle is good for a single evening; a 48-hour candle stays lit across Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It appears in the 3D chapel within minutes.
- Is this religious?
- It is rooted in the Christian tradition of lighting a candle in prayer, but it is open to anyone who wants a quiet way to remember and to hope. There is no pressure and no payment for prayer.